The Parthenon
314 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL, 60661
The Parthenon Menu
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Address :
314 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL, 60661 - Phone (312) 726-2407
- Website https://www.theparthenon.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Greek Cuisine
Greek food is a fine melody of the finest pressed olive oil, fresh fermented bread, colorful vegetables, juicy meat, sea food all cooked in spices and fresh rosemary. The people from Greek were great scholars who aimed to excel in everything they do. The results are quite visible in their food as they are the inventors of olive oil which is beneficial to health. Greeks also made different type of wines from the best quality of grapes fermented in controlled environment.
Today, you can find hundreds of restaurants offering authentic Greek food or popularly termed as Mediterranean cuisine in New York city alone. People wait in line to taste the exotic Greek dishes like saganaki, taramasalata, souvlaki, loukoumades, spanakopita, moussaka, and many more. One thing which most people like about these authentic Greek dishes is abundant use of lemon juice, olive oil, fresh rosemary and sea salt. A smart mix of few ingredients can virtually take you on the pebble streets of beautiful city of Greece.
For those who don't have time to enjoy fine dining should try tasting the famous souvlaki with pita which is type of meat dish, also a trademark Greek fast food. For those who are vegetarian, or vegan can try different versions of Greek Salad. So, if you wish to enjoy a hearty yet healthy meal that tastes divine then try dining at the best Greek restaurant in your city. Greek cuisine not only tastes good but also help maintain your body in a natural way through healthy diet.
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adam C.
My favorite salad is a Village salad. I just got one from these guy. It had ONE olive, and 4 slices of cucumber. It was as piss-poor a Village salad as I've ever gotten. How sad :(
(2)Emily K.
The Parthenon is fine. I'll come back again but if someone asked for Greektown suggestions I'd probably tell them to check out other places. It seems less like an actual restaurant and more like an experience or theme restaurant. I'd probably bring my family here from the suburbs since it's so unique and they'd get a kick out of it. I wouldn't come here for a dinner with my girlfriend if we happened to be craving Greek food. It's like going to Cafe BaBa Reeba because you're hungry- you only go there for an event or for the experience. Both times I've been here I've left full and underwhelmed. Both times I had the Combination Plates (both vegetarian and regular) which had a little bit of a lot of their offerings in it. The food was good. But not amazing. I'm open to other Greek restaurant suggestions.
(3)M Terri O.
The lamb with artichoke hearts in avgolemono sauce....oh MY! So filling, but SO yummy! bring it home & have leftovers for the next night's dinner. Yeah, everything else is fantastic too. But I love lamb, & this restaurant has more lamb dishes than anyplace else I've ever been (and I come from a town with dueling Greek & Albanian festivals).
(5)Jeff G.
I really enjoyed the food at Parthenon. I came here while studying at UIC 10 years ago and wasn't that impressed. This time I was pleasantly surprised. I had the stuffed chicken (stuffed with spinach and feta) and it was delicious. The manager came by and saw that the piece of chicken was rather small, so he brought me a second one, with a second serving of potatoes. I told him I couldn't possibly eat any more, so he suggested I take it home! That is great customer service if you ask me. The only issue I had with my experience at Parthenon was the noisy table we were seated by. Six women drinking and shouting about very inappropriate subjects. I realize the restaurant can't do much about that, but seeing that I was on a date, they could have sat us in a more secluded spot. The place was practically empty and they sat us right next to these horrible women.
(4)Jim M.
For whatever reason my family has taken out of town guests here since I was a child. We're rubes... I know. It's always been fun, moderately priced and delicious. But after our last visit I don't think we need a family meeting for consensus on this one. We're gonna switch it up. What I remembered as kitschy and fun has become tacky and mediocre. For the benefit of the inexperienced we usually go family style to prevent them having to order by throwing a dart at a map of Greece. While not the most sophisticated place on this stretch of Halsted, I think I've always enjoyed the food. Unfortunately, last night most of the Traditional Family Dinner was terrible. The taramosalata was off- the roe had to have been old. It smelled like a can of tuna fish left on the dashboard of a hot car. The dolmades were bland and loosely rolled, just sloppy. But worst of all was the roasted lamb. The skin was cooked hard and was inedible. The meat was sparse, fatty and riddled shards of bone. I couldn't believe it. I was embarrassed. The service was fine but it wasn't the show of manic attention I've come to expect. Maybe the energetic waiter act has gotten as tired as the decor. I mean the fuse box was sloppily painted over rather than getting a facade. The whole place felt half assed. Also the strange woman covered in small bells and wearing a bejeweled acrylic sweater telling fortunes and shilling for tips in the dining room was more than a little awkward. To be fair, the gyro was fine, the pastitsio was delicious and the desserts (baklava and galaktoboureko) were both perfect. Unfortunately for the price, which is now close to other better places a block north, that isn't good enough for me.
(2)Kenny L.
Man, their traditional family style meal is HEAVY! But for $20/person, we were able to have left over for dinner the next day. I do recommend getting something else other than the roasted pig for the meat choice. theparthenon.com/dinner-… Holy Moses am I still digesting this meal? Perfect for groups!
(4)Mary A.
Amazing amazing food. The flaming cheese is a MUST appetizer. for entree I got stuffed tomato an green pepper. All I can say is..... Wow. 5 stars!!!!
(5)Veronica M.
BEST FAMILY STYLE DINNER EVER - took my boyfriend & his family for dinner, was 7 of us, ordered the $25 per person family style dinner, so much food, so good, and service was very nice. Trying to get reservations of 7 on a Friday night with only an hour notice, when I called there, the woman who answered with her Greek accent was very nice and said "no problem honey, you come in at 7:30"
(5)Tara M.
Oh YUM! Took Molly C. out for her farewell lunch with another coworker (Mols, what am i to do without you?) and have to say I enjoyed my lunch immensely! Our waiter was a sweet white haired man, who may have been one of the first Greek-Town waiters, very attentive though. Started with saganaki, which was wonderful! Perfectly yummy! Of course we received a bowl of Greek bread and butter, how can you go wrong. I had mini chicken shish kabobs, two little skewers with a perfect ammount of Tzatziki sauce( made with yogurt and just to die for!) and a bowl of really good navy bean soup. Coworker had the regular chicken shish kabobs with came with potatoes and rice rather than the Tzatziki and pita like mine, and looked just as good! Molly had a small order of Moussaka and said it was really good. I think, I know, I'll go back again because it's been years since I have been there and it was just as good as I remember.
(4)Amanda T.
After a long hiatus I have returned to the Parthenon. When I was younger Parthenon was my favorite Greek restaurant, probably because it was the only one my family ever went to besides little corner greasy gyro places. And I loved it. I tried saganaki here for the first time and learned the phrase OPA! As I got older and maybe wiser, I discovered some of the other restaurants in Greektown that I liked more than good old Parth. But my grandparents still love this place and this is were we went one Sunday evening. Everything looked as I remembered. The walls filled with all sorts of Grecian fare. The staff was attentive. Our saganaki was pretty good, the Greek salad with anchovies was delicious and the calamari was decent. For my main dish I ordered a gyro. The entree comes unassembled so you have to put it together yourself and I liked it this way. It allowed me to put as however much meat and tzatziki and whatever as I pleased. The gyro wasn't a complete bust, but not as good as I remembered. The gyro meat was very dry, so it wasn't as enjoyable as I had hoped. Parthenon will probably not be on the itinerary for my next Greektown adventure, but the place is not a bad at all. And if my grandparents enjoy it, I will more than happily go with them again.
(3)Mario H.
Food wise this place gets a 4 1/2. Everything was great and delicious. This was are 1st time here and the food was great. Kids loved seeing the HUGE FLAME from the cheese. OPA... Lamb was great, chicken was great gyro was great rice & potatoes were great, but rating everything to do with restaurant is where we had problems. Only 2 valets working on a Saturday afternoon so having someone take the car was at least a 10 minute wait. Getting someone to get the car after dinner even longer. Valet guys were very nice though, busting their ass to try to get everyone taken care of. Service was another problem, hard to get refills on drinks. Our server an older gentleman basically took our order and brought us our food, that was it. Had to grab busboys on several occasions to get us an extra plate we asked our server for, get us refills, bread, grab us our waiter cause he forgot to give us our check. Everyone one was hustling in their except our server, that is the reason for the 3 stars. Would definitely go back to get a much different service experience but did wise GREAT!!!
(3)Jeanette K.
I've been to the Parthenon many times, and with the exception of last night, its always been a 5 star experience. The food has always been excellent, service has been attentive, and the atmosphere is fun. Plus the free valet is a HUGE plus in Greektown. So, last night the BF and I went here after trying to go to the Golden Steer in Forest Park (closed on Sundays). I veered from my usual choices at Parthenon, and went with the rotisserie lamb. I'm typically a gyro or chicken kabob girl. The BF ordered the gyros and lamb kabobs. Of course we ordered the saganaki (they invented it here!). The saganaki came out and our waiter was less than enthused about his Opaa. We yelled "OPRAH!" like we normally do and it broke the silence of the restaurant. The main courses came out and looked good. However, my lamb was very fatty and we thought the chicken kabobs were undercooked, but weren't sure. Our shared illness later confirmed that they probably were undercooked. The service was surprisingly poor this visit. Our drinks sat unrefilled for at least 30 minutes, even though we asked for refills. The gyros were also delayed from the arrival of the rest of the food. I still give Parthenon 4 stars, since before this I've always had such great experiences. Hopefully with the next visit I will be able to upgrade my review to 5 stars, like I've always thought they deserved.
(4)Miriam B.
I lived in Greece yrs ago and the cuisine here is very authentic. We had the family style dinner saganaki, gyros, moussaka, egg lemon soup, roast chicken, lamb, spinach pie, baklava, custard and coffee for 19.96 a person!. Very nice service too.
(5)Elizabeth W.
Absolutely love this restaurant! I came here yesterday for mother's day and as soon as my family and I crossed through the doorway, they handed all the mothers flowers. We had a table of 9 and the service could not have been more courteous or efficient. We had drinks almost as soon as we had settled into our seats and our flaming cheese was blazing in front of us within 5 minutes of ordering it! Our Greek salad was so fresh and the dressing was zesty and delicious. We had 2. For dinner (that arrived to our table with such speed that I thought it was for the table next to us) we ordered gyros, roasted lamb, braised lamb, moussaka, the pig roast, and the chicken riganati. Everyone had their favorite and everyone left full and satisfied. My only complaint: not enough of the roasted potatoes! As if the saganaki, salad, and our meals were not enough, we had dessert too! Most of us had baklava, including me. Their baklava is one of my favorites, not overly sweet and delicious with a cup of coffee. My husband tried the chocolate mousse cake...a MUST try for the chocolate lovers out there! To put the cherry on top of our experience, the valet parking is free!
(5)Gasper S.
I returned to Chicago after 35 years and just had to go the Parthenon again. I can't believe it is still great. There was only two of us so we could't taste all that many dishes but what we had was perfect and the portions were just right. Of course we had the saganaki, the moussaka, a greek salad and the baklava. Although we don't really like Retsina wine, we had to try it just for old times sake and somehow it went perfectly well with our meal. Great job Parthenon.
(5)A W.
Saganaki over here! (saganaki over there!) Saganaki everywhere! (saganaki everywhere!) Now take it to da floor! (what? you scared, you scared) I said take it to da floor! (what? you scared, you scared). . . . . . . .*ahem*. . . So, yea, um the Saganaki here is pretty damn popular. It was rushing out of the kitchen like Niagra Falls. Left and right Saganaki was being set ablaze. Often times, like 5 at a time. I felt the heat as a set of Saganaki (make it a game and take a shot every time I write it) was being lit for a table behind us. I was feeling more along the lines of "Op---- ah ah ah, not to close to my hair!" Eh, but I could understand why so much Saganaki was flowing, outside of slight pyromania. I usually order Saganaki when I go to Greek restaurants despite the fact that it's usually too salty for me. Parthenon's Saganaki, however, is without the heavy salty flavor leaving only crisped cheesy goodness. Seek and ye shall find!! So, enough about the Saganaki. My dinner companion and I got the Traditional Family Style Dinner, cause I mean. . . it's damn near buffet, right? When I saw that on their website, being the buffet queen that I am, I had to partake. You get three appetizers (saganaki is one of them), Greek Salad, 3 main course sides and a selection of meat PER PERSON (awesome), and a serving of two different desserts all for $19.95. Unlike Maggiano's family style dinner where you need a min. of 4ppl to get it, 2ppl or more can get it here. Run through of the meal: +Appetizers Saganaki = Excellent. See above for more details Taramosalata = I'm gonna keep it real with you and say I thought this was a type of hummus, which I'm happy I thought or else I wouldn't have eaten it. When I looked at the menu online later I was reminded it was fish roe whipped with lemon and olive oil. Well, those whipped fish babies were good. Gyros = Self-explanatory, but these were great. We killed this! +Greek Salad = The feta cheese was wonderfully fresh. The dressing was nice, but a little thin for my liking. I would have preferred sliced Kalmata olives rather than having to do it myself. +Main Course Moussaka= The eggplant was tender and the bechamel sauce was well seasoned. Some Greek places have this taste a little too Lasagna-like, but this was right on. Pastitso= This was Ok. I only tasted slight differences from the moussaka. Seeing as they had a number of different ingredients, that's not good. Dolmades= Now, I love dolmades. The grape leaves were gritty and the filling left a lot to be desired. I was quite disappointed with these. Our meat selections= We got the Suckling Pig and the Athenian Chicken. Both were terribly dry and lacking flavor. +Dessert Galaktoboureko= It was my first time having this and I didn't really like it. The menu said it was vanilla custard in phyllo dough, so I was expecting something creamy. It was quite bready. The texture and I weren't seeing eye-to-eye. Baklava= Was wayyyyyyyy too sweet for me. What I could eat was yummy, but sweet to the 3rd power. I'm giving this place 4 stars because of the food I did like, the attentive service, and the lively atmosphere. They had like 3 Christmas trees on our dining side and lots of lights/other decorations everywhere. It was so festive and made for a great dining experience. I think the Family Style Dinner is great, but I'm gonna order a la carte next time. Probably will get like 3 orders of Saganaki though, lol.
(4)Steven K.
The first time I went to the Parthenon was for a rehearsal dinner. I enjoyed the food, and the staff seemed great. My second trip was another story. I went there on a date with another guy and wound up experiencing my first bout of homophobia in a restaurant in almost 10 years. The waiter, when he could be bothered to show up at our table, was very short with us and couldn't have made it any more obvious he wanted to be anywhere else but at our table. He was pleasant and talkative with his other customers, as well as attentive to their table. We ordered a humus appetizer and got baba ghanouj instead. I don't like baba ghanouj, and instead of addressing the issue, he just said, "Well, that's humus," so we asked him to take it away. I've been eating at Mediterranean restaurants for over 20 years, so I know what humus is. He avoided even looking in our direction when possible, and we had to flag him down to get more water. The best part had to be when we caught him making faces as he walked away from the table. Apparently, the sight of two men eating at the same table is a revolting experience. This was a disaster - we were polite, quiet (as one should be in a restaurant), and aside from me being a little indecisive about what I wanted for dinner, we were hardly the picture of difficult guests. The food was only ok this time, and coupled with our homophobic waiter, resulted in a lousy experience. I will not be back, and will be recommending that my friends go anywhere else but the Parthenon when visiting Greektown.
(1)Mike S.
Parthenon is a great alternative in Greektown. While Greek Islands may get all the main line pub, Parthenon struck me as being more authentically Greek, and more authentically Greek-American. Also, the place was PACKED when I went, so if you can call ahead, definitely do so. As opposed to Greek Islands, where both times I made reservations but really didn't need to. As with any other restaurant in Greektown, you gotta ge some Saganaki. I got a Gyro platter and as I recall it was quite good. One of the bonus features of Parthenon is they offer FREE valet parking! Make sure to get the car after you leave though. I may have taken a bit of a detour to another bar up Halsted, come back like 5 hours later and found my car about to be towed! Ooops!
(4)Amanda P.
By far my favorite greek restaurant. Everything and I mean everything is amazing here. The house wine is fantastic as well. My friend and I want to go back more often but have to put a hold on ourselves!
(5)tages t.
Friendly staff although slow for a not so busy night. I'm vegetarian so not a ton of options but definitely an adequate amount. I ordered the spinach and cheese spanakopita, very tasty.
(3)John T.
Best lamb in Greektown, by far. I love everything this place has, even if sometimes it feels a bit too greasy and fast-food Greek. Nonetheless, it is open late and the food is usually very good! Always try to taste the food before you add salt or pepper as this place is inconsistent with it's spicing. Great place that I recommend to everyone.
(4)Cage H.
While in medical school, I went out with a couple of Greek friends (Greek-trained physicians finishing fellowships in the US), and was surprised when they were surprised that saganaki, the famous Greek appetizer of fried kasseri cheese, was set alight at our table to a cry of "Hopa!" It turns out that the practice of flaming saganaki in ouzo before dousing it in lemon juice was started at Parthenon and later adopted by other Greek restaurants in the US who recognized good presentation when they saw it. Though I've tried many of the places in Chicago's Greektown (Roditys, up the street, probably has the best skordalia, if you want your mouth to burn pleasantly with raw garlic and are more concerned with warding off vampires than impressing your date), and find myself returning again and again to Parthenon. The service is efficient and friendly with a very homey atmosphere; the prices are quite reasonable and the portions substantial. Most of their entrees can be upgraded to a full meal with soup, salad, dessert, and coffee for about $8; when I do this, I plan on eating leftovers for at least the next day's lunch as well. I am partial to the sweetbreads, which I've normally had roasted with a hint of lemon. They're listed as lamb sweetbreads, but they taste just as delicate as veal. On my most recent visit, with several friends, I ordered an appetizer sampler with small bits of liver, Greek meatballs, sausage, and the sweetbreads; in this case the sweetbreads were delicately breaded and fried and everything was in a rich brown sauce. It was not as light as the roasted sweetbreads, but it was delicious. I also tried the cubanelle peppers, roasted and stuffed with an intriguing blend of fresh dill and feta; everyone at the table loved them. Most of the dishes here have been good to great. The Athenian chicken is a standard. The egg-lemon soup is light and tangy. The lamb dishes and moussaka are consistently good. It's a good place to take friends visiting town.
(4)Candy C.
Food was delicious. Saganaki was terrific. The only reason it is not 5 stars is because they did not come back after serving the food for several minutes and my husband's pop sat empty for at least 10 minutes before refill. There was only two other tables of guests so it was not busy. Staff was nice and really put on a show with the saganaki for our 2 year old daughter! They also surprised her with a special little drink.
(4)Cathie H.
If you're looking for REAL DEAL, this is it! I would recommend any of the traditional Greek dishes...as they area the best you'll find anywhere. Every trip home to Chicago ALWAYS includes a meal at the Parthenon.
(5)Jon C.
Not bad, not bad. Chill dinner for a Monday night. Staff was excellent and attentive. The pork kabob was a little well done but everything else was great. Excellent spanikopita, and the Greek combo plate was to die for. Fresh bread, potato, and veggies too.
(4)Carrie S.
The Parthenon is the second restaurant that I've experienced in Greektown. I really liked the classic interior of the restaurant where it felt like a restaurant not that Greece horked up all over the walls. The party room was nice and festively decorated. I had an excellent dinner here. The saganaki was hot and super tasty. For the first time, I had egglemon soup which was really good. It was a surprising mix of lemon and rice. The greek salad was so good here. It was how a greek salad should be. I really liked their mousaka. It was flavorful and a little explosion of Greek flavors in your mouth. The spankopita was good, usually not my favorite, but I really liked theirs. The lamb was great, but a little disappointing. It was from the bone and was impossible to find good chunks of meat. I was looking for big pieces of lamb and there wasn't any. The dessert was super delicious. As someone with a peanut allergy, I avoided the baklava. Thankfully, they served a yummy custard wrapped in phyllo dough. The custard was probably the most solid custard I've seen and so good. I'm definitely going back here for the excellent and pleasant decor.
(4)Melissa H.
I have been to the Parthenon in Greece and it does not disappoint! The restaurant in Chicago however...disappointing. Perhaps if you are a suburbanite or if you are visiting Chicago for the first time, then maybe you would enjoy this restaurant. We were here on a Saturday, and it definitely felt like we were amongst tourists and suburbanites from afar. This is a very loud restaurant. The people were loud and disrespectful, yelling profanities for everyone to hear, and they were obnoxious. Our waiter seemed very scatter brained and disoriented at times. I ordered the Orange Roughy, and the Beef Stamnas. We also had a Greek salad. Just a side note, a Greek salad in Chicago is not an actual Greek salad such as the kind you have in Greece. I was hoping that this restaurant would be more authentic, and it was not. Our food was pretty disappointing. The Orange Roughy and vegetables were bland and drowning in butter. The Beef Stamnas looked absolutely horrifying. I was pretty grossed out as I watched my husband attempt to pick the fat off the meat. I tried to give him some of my butter with fish to make up for his disappointing cow corpse, but he didn't seem to care for my dish either. For dessert we had the Chocolate mousse cake. It wasn't too great but it was better than both of our main dishes. The cake had an after taste that reminded me of food that had sat in a freezer for too long. I have not been to all of the restaurants in Greek town yet, but so far this is my least favorite. I would recommend Santorini as the best restaurant in Greek Town so far and more authentic.
(1)Jason P.
The only thing better than having Bulls tickets is having Bulls tickets and being able to get a good meal before the game from one of the many nearby restaurants. The menu has the gluten free and vegetarian items designated which is helpful for the vegetarians of the world, well only if there was not any confusion. I was all set to go to town on an order of flaming cheese, but it was not starred on the menu as vegetarian, so I decided against it. I then turned to the catering portion of the menu and under vegetarian they listed saganaki, though without the designation. I was just confused as it is just flaming cheese, but really who would have thought McDonalds puts beef flavoring in their fries?? My dining companions ordered the cheese and the flame was massive when they lit it. I have to say that this isn't the safest procedure especially with the spot next door burning down recently... I decided on the vegetarian special combination as it let me sample a lot of the dishes that I had not tried before. The highlight was moussakka which seemed like a more healthy version of eggplant parmesan. The food was pretty good here, but I probably won't be back until I have tried some of the other spots in Greek town. I might just need an expert to tell me which of these restaurants are the best...
(3)Emily Y.
People are always asking us, "What is your favorite Greek restaurant in Chicago?" - since my husband was born and spent half his life in Athens and I myself have traveled there twice. The Parthenon is usually our answer - the food is pretty authentic, service excellent, and the decor only slightly kitschy. Which is why we decided to hold our rehearsal dinner there, and we were extremely pleased with the experience. We had the small banquet room toward the back of the restaurant, and immediately upon arrival the waiters were filling drink orders, bringing out bread, and making sure everyone had what they wanted. We had chosen the Family Style dinner, which consisted of several courses. Soon after everyone arrived and was seated, they made a big display of firing the Saganaki, which of course all our guests loved. My husband wasn't a huge fan of their tsatsiki, but he has yet to find some in Chicago that he likes. Next were the Greek salads and gyro plates, followed by moussaka, pastitsio, and lemon chicken with rice and potatoes. All of the entrees were a huge hit, especially the moussaka. Oh I think there was some spanikopita somewhere in there too. It was an overwhelming amount and variety of food! The food here is pretty classic "Americanized Greek", but it's done very well, and all our guests were absolutely raving about it. And the price was right - the Family Style dinner is $19.95 a person. It is more food than anyone can possibly consume, even a ravenous adolescent brother or portly uncle. Drinks can add up, but they have decent prices on wine by the bottle. And dessert! How can I forget dessert! It is included in the price of the Family Style dinner - baklava and galaktabouriko, a sweet custard in phyllo. We ordered some chocolate cake as well to appease our pickier guests. Parthenon is a terrific place to hold an event - be it a rehearsal dinner, graduation or anniversary celebration or whatnot. You get a lot of delicious food for not a whole lot of money, and the meal itself is an entertaining experience. Or just go for a dinner on a Saturday night - order the moussaka. Their excellent service gets a nod from me as well - and they were so kind when our party got a bit rowdy and started doing shots at the bar....a bar that doesn't seem to get a lot of "shots" action on a weekly basis. Mine and my Greek husband's pick for a night-out in Chicago's Greek-town!
(4)Mark G.
Four of us went for dinner on Saturday night and I was extremely disappointed. Service was poor for starters. I kept looking around for our server and when we ordered all of the food came out at the same time including hot and cold appetizers and salads. It would have been nice to have some pacing. We then waited a half hour for our entrees which were slammed onto the table and we never saw our waiter again until we stood up to leave because he wouldn't come over to give us our check. The menu says that they make everything in house including their own gyros. Let me say, they should buy it from Kronos which is a hugely better product. Theirs was greasy and the meat fell apart. Actually, grease was the primary seasoning of the whole meal. Our whole fresh fish was dry and obviously had been long frozen. The chicken kabob, so dry that it was impossible to eat. No one wanted to risk desert of coffee. If someone says that they get great food there, they have no concept of quality. There are plenty of other Greek restaurants in the area which are much better. No surprise that they were 3/4 empty on a Saturday night. How do they stay open?
(1)Meridith H.
Here we have a great standard restaurant. You've got your almost kitschy interior, clean surroundings, friendly and attentive waitstaff, and expected Greek offerings on the menu. At a nearby table, an American man was treating two business guests from overseas to dinner - and he was spot on. The Parthenon is where you take people for an introduction to Greek food (provided they are not from Greece). Everyone in the room ordered saganaki (after my partner ordered it, that is - something about the flaming cheese struck a cord with all of our fellow diners that evening). The cheese was ok (tip, soak up the remaining grease and lemon juice with the bread - delicious & tangy). I ordered the vegetarian dolmades, and got 6 really big stuffed vine leaves. They made a solid dish and a satisfying dinner. I would be more likely to try my hand at recreating it at home and tweaking it a bit before returning to the Parthenon to revisit the dish, however. Would I come back? Yes, quite happily. Would I insist on doing so? No.
(3)Bobby D.
What another great Greek restaurant. The Avgolemeno soup is great, Yet a little salty. But still good. The dolmades are great. The Skordalia is fantastic. The meatballs OK. A bit on the disappointing side. But the greek-style rice is great too. Nice small array of liquor decanters at the bar.
(4)Sam B.
After having been to Greek Islands several times, I wanted to try a new restaurant in Greek town. I picked another four star rated restaurant on yelp, and had high hopes. We made a reservation for 7pm, arriving promptly. We were told that there would be a 20-25 minute wait. After a half hour of waiting, we were finally seated. Our table was crammed in the back corner of the restaurant, and there seemed to be a serious cold air leak in the wall. I'd say the temp was about 60 degrees where we were sitting. We waited about 20 minutes after sitting down before we pulled someone over to say that we had not been visited by a waiter. After another ten minutes, a waiter finally came over who seemed to be inconvenienced by our presence. He also had difficultly seeing and hearing. I'm sure the poor guy just doesn't have enough saved for retirement and has to keep working. The overall ambiance was seriously lacking. The lighting was like an operating room and there are no windows in the entire place -- it was a bit claustrophobic. Also there were many large parties of families and the restaurant was very loud. The food took forever to come out, and was only mediocre. We had to basically beg our waiter to bring the check over. He said, "okay but it will be a few minutes." I'm glad we didn't have anywhere to be after dinner or I would have been more upset. My recommendation would be to go to Greek Islands and avoid this place altogether. If you do choose to go here, order two drinks at a time, and make sure you have your appetizer and dinner order ready when the waiter finally comes over. Otherwise it could be awhile.
(1)Nikki C.
Hi is Nick there?lol ;-) greek food is family food. Loud, big portions, wine, olives, cheese, bread, lamb, fish, tzatziki, cucumbers, gyros, souvlaki, feta cheese, salads and more! Parthenon reminds me of the big family dinners I would find my way into growing up with greek bestfriends, houses with big tables filled with hungry and lively mouths, dinners were always a great party and it happens here everynight. I'm not eating again for a week. me so fulls ... ugh;-)
(4)Lisa C.
We stumbled to Greek Town after endlessly asking for directions. With no place in mind, we found the Parthenon and quickly went in for shelter from the cold. Since we came during the non-busy hours we were seated immediately. I was amazed with how much choices we had from the menu. Since it was just me and my sister we shared the Gyros with slices of mixed lamb and beef. This didn't really wow me because the meat was a little dry. But they do give a generous amount. Get the Tzatziki sauce to dip and ask for pita bread. I did enjoy the Special Platter with mini pork and chicken breast shishkabob, cheese pie, spinach-cheese pie, and trigono. The Alfa beer was lite and washed down all that food.
(4)Colleen C.
Plusses! 1. Free valet parking (like most other Greektown restaurants). 2. Greek owner/host/overseer...very charming. Greek waiters. 3. Flaming cheese staple. 4. LARGE and in charge portions. 5. Lots of seating. 6. Tastey food, lots of options... Negatives... Hmmmmm? I guess, they don't have fountain diet coke, so you pay up the rear for refills. Boo to that, Cheers to everything else! I still like Greek Islands better though, but Parthenon is cheap and a very close second....
(4)Kristin S.
Perfect place to take out of town guests or family. Such a lively, fun atmosphere and really great food! I came here with my boyfriend's family while they were in town and everyone gushed about it. The only bad thing we could think of was the wait for the valet at the beginning of the night. If you get there and there's a long line, don't despair! It's totally worth the wait. We ordered the family style dinner which is totally the way to go if you're into sharing. For around $20 per person, you get to try so many different items! You start with the flaming cheese for everyone. (Oopa!) and also get an eggplant spread, tzatziki, and gyro meat with onions as appetizers to share. Then egg lemon soup and greek salad for everyone followed by four main course items: Moussaka: SO GOOD! The spices were so perfect with a mix of sweet and savory. I loved this layered eggplant dish. Spinach Pie: This was the table favorite with so much flavor and the flaky, phyllo crust, we were all fighting for the leftovers. Chicken: This was so tender and juicy that it was falling off the bone, but still had a great chicken flavor. Very nice. Rotisserie Lamb: This was good, but my least favorite. It tasted a bit too gamey for me, but everyone else seemed to really enjoy it. Then we were treated to coffee and two kinds of dessert. Baklava (very yummy, though a bit soggy) and Galaktoboureko which was a custard dessert that I liked, but didn't finish since I was so full. There were five of us and we all ate until we were STUFFED and still had leftovers. We also drank very well splitting a carafe of ouzo, wine and some beer, all very good and reasonably priced. Service was attentive and fun, with flambes happening all around us. The food was delicious and we all left feeling like we'd gotten more than our money's worth. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Alefiyah M.
My husband and I came here because we bought a travelzoo deal. The deal included one shared appetizer, two egglemon soups, two greek salads, two entrees, and two desserts. We thought this was a great deal for $35 and the reviews looked pretty good. We came on a Friday night at 8:30pm, the place was very crowded. Luckily, the 7pm dinner crowd was getting ready to leave so it got quieter and less crowded soon after we arrived. I also think that's a reason that our service was superb. As for the food...We got the panfried zucchini appetizer which was okay. They were too greasy and there was oil at the bottom of the plate. They were not evenly salted so some pieces were perfect while the others were unbearably salty. The egg lemon soup was nothing special. The greek salads were well dressed and a nice refreshing break in the heavy meal. For the main course, I got the vegetarian special combination which came with vegetarian moussaka, pastitsio, spanakopita and vegetables. My husband got the vegetarian pastitsio. Both were terrible. I thought my dish would've been great since I would've gotten to try a little bit of everything, and surely, one of those things had to be good. I was wrong. The only thing on my plate that was worth eating were the vegetables. My husband took a few bites of his pastitsio and didn't want any more. For dessert we had ice cream and baklava. The baklava was good. Not the best I've ever had, but definitely not the worst. The only reason I'm giving two stars instead of one is because the service was very good. Our courses came out every ten minutes so there was no waiting around and our waters were always full. Unfortunately, the service isn't enough to bring us back again.
(2)Rita B.
First off, I love Greektown. I've been to many of the restaurants on Halsted but for some reason, never stopped at The Parthenon. I purchased a travelzoo voucher last year and finally made time to head to Greektown. I'm giving a lot of background so you readers can understand the type of quality, quantity and service we received. I informed our server that we had a voucher (in case we needed to order off of a different menu)...which is what we expected to do. We were able to order (get this...you sitting down?) 2 apps, 2 salads, 2 entrees, 2 desserts and 2 coffees for $49. Wow! The apps were delicious! Saganaki was good but needed a bit more lemon. The second app was some kind of ground beef in phyllo dough. Couldn't finish the second app. Greeks salad was to die for! We would have loved the extra feta cheese and kalamata olives but it didn't make the salad any less delicious. For the entrees we had the spinach and feta stuffed chicken breast (which was the size of a man's palm). It came with rice and potatoes AND a size of ... Rice. HUH? More rice? Ok! My husband had the lamb chops which also came with rice, potatoes and more rice! We couldn't take more than one bite out of our entrees so we packed them up to take home. Dessert was this genius concoction of custard and phyllo dough (yes, I love phyllo dough as much as the Greeks do). The second dessert was a flan-type called crema caramel. Literally, only one bite of each and those too were packed to go. Complimentary parking is always a plus. Service was slow but good. Never got our order wrong, always made sure our cups were filled with our beverage of choice. I have to say....I'll be back to visit this awesome restaurant again.
(4)Sarah Z.
I went here a few weeks ago on a Saturday afternoon with a 3 year old, a 7 year old and their exasperated Mother. We had a great lunch and everyone was happy. What more can you ask for? Opa!
(4)Zoey K.
The service is good and they have complementary valet but they get filled fast. Food is alright, I enjoy the salad more. Banquet layout isn't that nice.
(3)Allison M.
Loved the service here! Our waiter was so, so friendly and recommended the saganaki, which was fun (if a little cheesy, pardon the pun). My food wasn't outstanding though, I had the vegetarian combo which came with moussaka and spanakopita-- both good!-- as well as the vegetarian pastitsio and some very, very weird-tasting peas and carrots. The spanakopita was the best part, by far... Next time I think I'd get just that!
(3)K P.
The food was... boring. Not in step with the times. The service was slow. There are much better options in the area. If you're looking for atmosphere that is lively, you won't find it herem
(2)Ali K.
Great food and service. The flaming cheese was fun! We each got a salad and small gyro and like a lot of the other tables brought back a doggie bag! We were glad we were able to get reservations - the place was packed but the service did not lack!
(4)Shannon S.
I get the dolmades almost every single time. The only time I stray away from it is to get the combination plate so I can eat dolmades and a bit of everything else. I've never had anything I didn't like here. Every dinner starts with sagnaki, consists of constant flowing roditis and ends with a very happy (and full) girl. The service and that atmosphere are great. The free valet is a major bonus and even if you don't want to use it street parking is usually pretty easy to find.
(4)Steve A.
This was a fantastic recommendation! Why? Atmosphere was upbeat, vigorous, positive, crowded but family-ish, overall an 8.5 of 10. Staff was frenetic but super friendly, helpful, ethnic, happy, overall a 10 out of 10!! Food, this is where they shine!! Tons of selection and all fantastic!!! Great prices. We got a family meal where you pay $XX per person, there were about 3 appetizers, salad, soup, 2 entrees, several sides and 2 desserts,....it was only about $20 per person and everything was flavorful, authentic and delicious! Highly recommend!! If I lived in Chicago this would be a regular spot, for sure!
(5)Connor C.
3.5 stars. I came here for a birthday party and had a great time! The food was pretty good: big portions for a good price. The staff was exceptionally nice and accommodating. The flaming cheese was pretty cool. Opa!
(3)Karissa K.
This is the BEST Greek restaurant in Greek town (in my opinion). My family has been coming here for almost 50 years and have never been disappointed. We always get the saganaki, gyros, and pistichio. The staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed and amiable. There are lovely wall murals and soft Greek music in the background. Perfect for dinner, business lunches, dates, etc. Everytime I come to Chicago, my family eats here. Perfection !
(5)AV G.
I moved to Chicago in the mid 70's. I worked at a Stereo store where we sold an 8track with speakers installed for $49.99.. My illegal alien Irish boss and the other co-worker who looked like a female Ziggy Stardust ate here all the time. Over the decades I remained a big Greektown fan. I have been here numerous times and was here for the last time on Saturday. This is not a bad place, but i think one of the weaker choices, however, the bar is one of the cooler looking spots,
(2)Fedai F.
Came for a business dinner, was looking forward to dinner. Such a disappointment! Highlight was free valet.
(1)Ananda R.
Where do I begin! This place is the best Greek restaurant I've ever had. This place introduced me to Greek cuisine since I was a little girl. My father began dining here many years ago when he first moved to Chicago. From as young as I can remember, I remember coming here for my kindergarten graduation. I'm 22 now. I've celebrated family reunions here, 3 graduations, my parents wedding, my brother and sister's graduations, engagements, and now, tomorrow my brother's wedding. The owners are super kind and polite and always accommodating. I wish them truly the best in years to come, because through their food and business they have watched my family grow. Thanks Parthenon!! Food is delicious! Music is spot on! Atmosphere is on the money! And service is excellent!
(5)Amit I.
Big portions - all ( salad / shawarma etc) but.... Sorry - it's not better than 2 stars. And also the restaurant was almost empty - the service were slow and for sure not "friendly" as Greeks should be
(2)Chris S.
I was excited to try this place because I heard they have great authentic Greek food. However, our experience was awful. I will never go back to this establishment. When we arrived, our waiter took forever to take our order and we couldn't understand what he was saying. The worst part was the food. Someone ordered the chicken skewers and every piece of meat was raw. So naturally we sent it back. The food returned with half of the pieces cooked and the other half still pinker than a breast cancer parade. We insisted on talking to a manager. A large, elderly man came over and asked what the problem is. We responded with showing him the cooked pieces and the raw pieces. He was shocked and said "this is the first complaint in 47 years". Based on the yelp reviews, that's shocking to me. In addition, he said "do you know what a marinade is" and "I don't understand why some pieces are cooked and why some aren't. They were put in the microwave for the same amount of time". For the record, yes I know what a marinade is but it's very insulting when an owner is talking down to a customer about their mistake! I think the bigger problems are that he didn't understand that some pieces are larger and take longer to cook and that a restaurant uses microwaves to cook their food. I guarantee that this restaurant won't be around for another 47 years if they continue to serve raw meat, disrespect their customers, and cook everything out of a microwave.
(1)Aimee H.
I have been here before years ago and remember enjoying it. So I met my husband for lunch today and I have to say it has gone WAY downhill. First of all there were only like 5 tables taken at noon- red flag. In looking around the room i noticed a significant amount of dust and dirt on the ceiling tiles near the vents- enough to be totally grossed out by. Now let's talk about the food. we had the Saganaki and Hummis to start. Both were ok, nothing special but not horrible. then we had the calamari which was either old or over cooked or both. I would give it a 4 out of 10. totally rubbery and the sauce had barely any flavor to it. and we shared the gyro plate. this was HORRIBLE. I was so craving a good gyro too. it tasted very strong of lamb, which I LOVE lamb but this was more like mutton and super chewy and dry. so gross. we had over half of it left on our plate at the end of the meal. I will not be going back there again. huge let down.
(1)Jake L.
I will confess that I have been coming here since I was five years old, so I may have a slight bias. I can honestly come here and just feast on the delicious appetizers. I also start with the saganaki, which is always solid. (even though it was better when they used stinkier cheeses ten years ago) From there, I always go with the egg lemon soup, which is the best soup I've had anywhere in Greektown. The Parthenon also has some of the best gyros you will ever have in your life. They are warm and crispy, just like they should be. Also, do not skip out on the char-broiled octopus. If you love calamari, you'll like this even better. If you have any room left, get the loin of lamb with boiled potatoes. The key to this dish is the lamb gravy, which can turn any meal into pure gold. Get the lamb gravy and just dump it all over whatever lamb or potatoes you get. (You'll thank me, I promise!)
(5)Yao X.
The service is so slow and horrible. Takes forever for your orders. So you'd better have some snacks with you before you come in. The entree didn't come in 2 hours.
(1)Raj D.
Recently dined for restaurant week. Food portions were significantly large and plenty of food to take home... for restaurant week diners you will definitely get your moneys worth. To start we were brought a plate of gyro meat and cucumbuer sauce as I like to call it... OUTSTANDING and perfectly cooked gyro.. slightly crispy is how I like it. The cucumber sauce was well whipped and thick which gave you the feeling that you were fine dinging. The next plate we obtained was the famous greek cheese and an ample OPA followed - cheese was perfect on the hot plate but slightly chewy for my liking. 2 soup options... the lemon rice soup and the beef stew... i recommend the beef stew due to the lustrous flavor of the tomato broth but for a lighter option the lemon soup will due. A greek salad followed which was nothing out of the ordinary however the olives were on point!. For my main entree I tried the braised lamb... BEST COOKED LAMB i've had in a long time... meat fell off the bone and was perfectly tender and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Deserts - Try the chocolate mouse cake and THE BAKLAVA -- the waiter was generous and offered us to do a split half and half so you could try 2 deserts for the price of 1... Restaurant was very clean, our waiter was very nice and generous who offered a fair share of honest opinions which is very important to me and he was not pushy at all. He made our dining experience very relaxing and even brought me a few cucumbers for my water! Will definitely come back and in my opinion top spot in GREEKTOWN!
(4)Mary C.
Dinner date. Enjoyed it. The family dinner deals they have are great. The service was nice and the atmosphere is great. Although we did have a problem when we tried to use our expired groupon for its value. Make sure u check with them on how to use it before ordering. The manager gave me this crazy thing about a minimum order of over $100 in order to use my $46 value groupon. After a minor debate, I got to use it as a normal value but still made no sense to me how they even thought they can make people have a minimum order to use it. But overall, other than the hiccup it was good.
(4)Emily W.
Huge portion which is good, but the chicken salad I ordered was mediocre. Hubby ordered suckling pork, tasted OK but i would not come here again.
(3)La Tonya G.
We had a Groupon for this restaurant and almosst didn't go because of the bad reviews we saw about how the Groupon customers were being treated. I'm glad that we decided to go and see for ourselves. This was an amazing deal from Groupon at the end of the day we got a bottle of House Wine, 1 cold appetizer(6.50 and under) 1 hot appetizer (7.50 and under), 2 Main Dishes(17.45 and under) and 2 Desserts anyone on the menu except the Brandy Ice. We ended up getting the flaming cheese after we saw so many people ordering it around the restaurant which not included in our Groupon deal since we had already ordered our Hot appetizer. Being this was our first time here we didn't know what to expect but our waiter was great and we even got one waiter in training which was okay with us but we weren't able to truly experience the flaming cheese dish (Flaming Saganaki) because he didn't pour all of the Brandy on the cheese so we got a puff of flames and not a burst of flames. The flaming cheese was the highlight of the meal for me though...I love love loved it!! We also had Hummus which was okay but my girlfriend liked it a lot and I also appreciated the fact that they gave us extra pita for the mound of Hummus we had left. Meat Pies were okay and they were very fresh it just wasn't my cup of tea but again my girlfriend enjoyed it. There was a lot that came with this Groupon deal including a bottle house of wine which was not top shelf but it was good and did what it was suppose to do. The soup was a creamy chicken and white rice soup with a lemon essence to it which was good but not the best soup I have ever had. The house salad was made with fresh lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, olives and peppers. It had a piece of Feta Cheese and drenched in a house dressing. Unfortunately, I didn't like the Feta Cheese, peppers and Olive but my girlfriend did so I just transferred it to her plate. I ordered the Rotisserie-Roasted Lamb topped with a lamb sauce it was good but I think it was slightly over-cooked but I could be wrong I'm not sure what the coloring is suppose to be on a Lamb. I only had a bite of it while at the restaurant but I took it home and ate it for lunch and it still had a good flavor if not better. The Lamb came with a half order of Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans...I was not a fan of the potatoes I can't put my finger on it but I wasn't wowed...the green beans were good but kind of greasy...I would have preferred some fresh green beans that were not overcooked. My girlfriend ordered the Shrimp and Spaghetti (Tourkolimano) the shrimp was cooked perfectly and I found myself wishing I had got a shrimp dish. For Dessert I got the Chocolate Mousse Cake (Sokolatina) it was so good I wish I had a piece right now. My girlfriend got the Greek Yogurt with Honey and Walnut (Yiaourti) I tasted a little of it and it was very good. I am still glad I got my cake but for a healthy opinion this is great. This wasn't the best place I have ever gone too but it also wasn't the worse. The waiter and I wish I could remember his name made the experience a very good one for us and I even have to say there was an older gentlemen there who was celebrating his birthday and the entire restaurant sang along with his waiter and his dinner guest...It was fun and awesome to see people having fun. I will give this place another try and I will definitely make sure I have that Flaming Cheese and Chocolate Mousse Cake. Enjoy!!!
(3)Katie K.
This place is awful, on so many levels, don't waste your money, go some place else. My boyfriend and I went here with the Groupon deal back in October, I was incredibly disappointed with both the service and the food. Also the Groupon is not much of a deal anyway, they have family style ordering on the menu for similar prices. When we arrived we informed our waiter we were using a Groupon and he was polite about it. He promptly brought the "house wine" which, no doubt was watered down and came from a box. What can you do, we thought. It tasted like church wine, maybe. Next we ordered our cold appetizers and hot appetizers. Our waiter then brought out the salads. The salads were made with iceberg lettuce. They were also drenched in olive oil. The soup was next, it tasted like cream of chicken soup bought in bulk with lemon juice added. It was basically disgusting. The waiter acted insulted that I didn't eat it. This was comical because it was not like the soup was homemade. After the waiter brought our appetizers, I asked if we could order and he acted insulted that I was requesting to order. I really did not understand. I thought it was weird we had not ordered, or been offered to. We ordered our entrees and after that we never saw the same waiter again. Some how we insulted him to his core... not sure how. The entrees were completely so-so. I ordered the chicken kebab and to me it was inedible because it was drenched in oil. Very disappointing. It was also dry. My guest ordered the combination plate and everything tasted old, not fresh and pre-made. It tasted like it had been sitting out awhile too. In the end we got our desserts to go. We left a tip on the table and left. We figured that be fine since our waiter had not been paying any attention to us for most of the meal. But naturally, he noticed and chased us down, letting us know we need to pay "4.50" in tax. This I found to be absurd. Why are we paying tax on the cost of the Groupon when 1. the restaurant does not get the full groupon amount (groupon takes a cut) 2. I did not pay the full groupon amount (promo code). It seems to me they were trying to squeeze a little extra cash out of every groupon. I was appalled and found this practice to be unethical. Overall, major disappoints in food and service. I recommend never visiting this place even with coupon/deal/ etc. We would be better off ordering less food and real wine at a better restaurant. We would probably pay comparable prices to this "Groupon deal" after tax and tip. Don't go!!!
(1)Rohan D.
One of the first restaurants we came to when we first moved to Chicago as a family, then later I came here on my first dates out of the neighborhood I grew up in. I like the touristy decor, the food is still good American-Greek with nothing fusion, pretentious, or nouvelle. This is where they invented Greek-American, like saganaki (when we were in Athens as a family, dad ordered saganaki and the waiter derisively called us "Americans."), both the cuisine and the restaurant style. This is a dependable place to eat before downtown shows, you'll pay less than you would at the trendier places, and they will get you in and out more predictably. There are two bars (not sure why) and they would never upcharge you for ordering Ouzo or Greek Brandy wihout ice. I lived for a while in Greektown way back when I was working my way though a couple of degrees at the University of Illinois Chicago Circle Campus (now UIC), and I asked myself many times, is the Parthenon really any better than the dozen other Greek-American restaurants around here? Well no, but I've got a number of fond memories here, and it hasn't changed in a lifetime. I find value in that.
(4)Eric F.
After moving to Los Angeles where there are very few good Greek restaurants I really began to appreciate the wonderful and authentic Greek eateries on Halsted St. in Chicago's Greektown. And of these eateries, The Parthenon is one of the most established. I have been going there since I was a kid. And little has changed since. First and foremost, this is one of the best places to get really good inexpensive lamb, including chops off the rack. Also, leg of lamb, and frankly any lamb dish here will be good and not expensive for what you get. Now to the meal. The Parthenon offers a large menu of traditional Greek fare, including specials that are especially authentic (like tripe soup which is delicious), plus combo plates, and family meals for sharing. But whatever you get, I recommend starting the meal with a glass of Retsina (a white wine with resin, which gives it a slightly turpentine flavor that is unique and surprisingly satisfying when matched with the food), and the Saganaki (cheese doused in brandy and then set aflame with the waiter shouting "Opa"). Once those two things are consumed, your personal meal choices can begin. The Greek Salad is good here, but the AgvoLemano soup (creamed lemon soup with rice or orzo) is more interesting. And don't even bother getting the Greek Salad if you are not going to have it with the anchovies (only my opinion but in Greece they looked at American tourists like they were from the moon if they didn't eat the anchovies). Another starter that I like is the Grilled Octopus (Greece is one of the few countries that favors octopus, along with Sicily, Spain, Mexico, Peru, and japan). Of course you can also get appitizers that have nothing to do with Greece even though we all think they do, like Hummus (chick pea paste with olive oil and tahini) or Baba Ganush (eggplant dip with garlic), which are both Lebanese dishes brought to Greece by the Ottoman Turks. Then of course there are fried Calimari Rings, which everybody likes, even kids (for them I think it's the Catsup, which adults are not allowed to use of course). As far as main courses go I am always stumped, because I really want the starchy items like Mussaka and Pastiscio (both are like baked Lasagna, but the Mussaka is meat sauce and eggplant with beschemal cream, while the Pastiscio is meat sauce and wide hollow noodles like macaroni). But I also always want the meat to, like leg of lamb in a stew, or chops. There are about six types of lamb dishes at the Parthenon, all different cuts, and all different preparations, and the are all good. But whatever you do DON"T GET THE GYROS (unless it is on the combination plate). Of course it is as good here as at any Greek Gyros stand in town. But think about it, you can't get lamb chops or Mussaka at a Gyros stand, so why waste the opportunity. Whatever you get... make sure to order the vegetable side dish of green beans stewed in tomatoes and served over rice. When I was in Greece, everyone ate this with almost every meal. For the real starch lover, there is also a Greek Spaghetti, which is surprisingly different and good (a nice dish for fussy kids). The sauce is burnt butter and Greek cheese. There are so many good things to eat here that honestly, I usually order a combo, because I need to taste everything. After the meal it is nice to have a Turkish Coffee (they call it Greek Coffee because they don't like the Turks, who ruled over the Greeks for 400 years), and a nice piece of Baklava. As a side note: the owners and the waiters and all Greeks are friendly and talkative. Be prepared to have at least one conversation with one of them. It is part of the meal.
(4)Michael C.
The groupon feast for 2 is an insane deal. My girlfriend and i were so stuffed by the time the main course came around but I was super grateful that the deal let me try just about everything I wanted to on the menu. They first started off with bread which felt like it came from a supermarket stand. I really wish it had come warm and baked instead of cold. Still, I can never reject wonderful free carbs before a meal. The hot app came out pretty quickly and it was fun to see flaming cheese. The dish went really well with the bread served prior and though it was served alone, it definitely needed a starch alongside it. Next we had the hummus which strangely didn't taste like any hummus that I've had before. It had very subtle flavor but great fluffy texture to company the hot fried pita. Next came the salad and soup which were both pretty meh. Soup could've been warmed from a can -it was lemon rice- while the salad was decent only for the feta blocks. My girlfriend got the gyro and damn it was delicious. It was nothing like the stuff you get from a Coney- it was meaty and well seasoned. I had the chicken riganati which was an entire baked half chicken. it was super tender and had just the right amount of acid. The desserts here were nothing special but the impeccable service more than made up for deficiencies in some of the food. Fun times in Greek town! Almost took my entire entree home and that never happens.
(4)Cali G.
I love greek food, and I especially love dining in Greektown, but this was my first experience at this restaurant and it will be my last. I decided to take my date here on a Friday night at around 8:30pm. I was planning on dining at a different greek restaurant just a block away, but figured since we were already next to it, to give it a try. We walked in, and no hostess. I was a bit taken back cause the staff walked right by us and did not engage us with a smile, or hello, someone will be right with you.. nothing. 5 minutes past by and the hostess finally showed up. She sat us right away, but it seemed as if she was drained and unhappy. We look around the room and notice that we were surrounded by mature couples in their 50's, 60's, 70's.. There was absolutely no energy or laughter inside the room. The restaurant was beautifully decorated, but lacked energy and sign of life. The waiter comes by, and takes our drink order. 2 minutes later, a second waiter comes by to take our drink order. We inform him that a different waiter took our order. He looked frazzled and confused, not to mention that he was sweating and had greasy hair. Not exactly someone that I would want as my waiter serving me my food. The first waiter was no prize winner either, but nothing we could do at that point. The staff looked underpaid, unhappy, and overworked. We ordered a glass of cabernet each. I want my wine in a wine glass and unfortunately they arrived in smaller glasses. I asked the waiter to bring us regular wine glasses, and it took him forever to find 2 wine glasses for us. We ordered the greek salad for 2 to start with and when it arrived it was a dry little sad plate for 1. Normally, I love dipping my bread into the sauce, but this time.. there was no sauce to dip in. I ordered the octopus with rice and potatoes, and my date ordered the chicken. The octopus was ok, but the rice and potatoes was a dissapointment. It's normally my favorite part of the meal. As if things were not weird to begin with, that 2nd waiter comes back to our table and starts rambling on and on about the mix up that happened earlier. 5 minutes later, my date and I looked at each other in disbelief.The whole experience was like the twilight zone.
(1)Melissah L.
Came here with a Groupon deal and definitely got my money's worth! In my opinion, most of the food is only so-so, but the deal gives you SO much food that I completely saved my entree for lunch the next day. the good: - gyro platter- the pita and the meat is amazing. also, the dish could easily feed 2 people. - hummus and pita- i've never tasted hummus like this before but it was creamy and delicious. the pita is served hot and is thick and chewy! the not-so-good: - egg lemon rice soup- very coney island-ish, tastes like it came from a can - greek salad- coney-island ish as well, ice berg lettuce, mealy, flavorless tomatoes, pass on this one the flaming cheese was good (though, hard to mess up), and the desserts were decent as well (i've had better baklava elsewhere though).
(3)Kyle D.
Was just at Parthenon, although it is great that they have free valet... I will be heading to another restaurant in the area. The food was ok not great for the price and the waiter was a total crab and not friendly or helpful and didn't know the menu or how to work the cash register so I had to take picture of my receipt.
(2)Daniela M.
Ok so they had an African wedding going on..... Super loud but interesting...... The service, the waiter didn't even look at you when asking you questions. It looked like it was hard for him to concentrate on what he was doing. It was terrible. Also in watching the other waiters.... I saw one waiter literally drop the plates in front of the patrons and walk away...... I was stunned to say the least..... It was crazy..... My chicken was a roasted lemon chicken breast.... It was so hard I could have used it as a hockey puck... the potatoes looked like they came out of a can..... My boyfriend had the Chicken spinaka However you spell it...... he asked for a vegetable... He got green beans that were soaked in butter or oil and you didn't even have to chew them... It was gross...... Needless to say of all the greek restaurants in that area this will be the last place I go......
(2)B M.
I have Celiac Disease and while the menu lists the gluten free items, the waiter had absolutely no clue what an allergy meant. I continuously asked him to tell the kitchen about my gluten issue but he still wasn't understanding. I don't think the restaurant should advertise gluten free menu items if their staff isn't properly trained. I ordered a gyros without a pita and rice pilaf. Both were marked as GF on the menu. The waiter came back and said the chef wasn't sure if the rice was gluten free and offered me potatoes instead. He came back again and said the chef also wasn't sure about he potatoes and said he didn't know what to do. I ended up with just the gyros meat.
(2)Tangy Marie C.
After 30 years, my favorite place for lunch or a special dinner. My personal waiter is Salvador. He's perfect and knows me personally. My order is exactly: bread comes with a bottle of Roditis, Order lamb chops but with Greek potatoes (don't care for rice) first bcos of cook time. Order saganaki ASAP. Then eat salad before dinner arrives. It's so methodical I can give a person directions. Oompa!!! There is no better food or waiter. My Salvador whom is like a big version of tattoo saying the plane, the plane. I love him! Go and u will return, ask for Salvador for sure and tip him well
(5)Susan C.
I went here many years ago and decided to go back and try it again with my husband since he never been there. We order lamb sweetbread for an appetizer and that wasn't what sweetbread was to us and it was so salty which kept drinking a lot of water. I order the Lamb chops for an entree with roast potatoes and rice pilaf as a side dish. My lamb was ok but the side dishes had no flavor at all. My husband order the roast loin of lamb and it was horrible. The gravy on the lamb from what we can tell came out of a can and the lamb wasn't even tasty or had any seasoning. The service wasn't good at all. Our waiter was busy talking to a lady at another table. He didn't even offer if we wanted desserts. I would not go back to this place ever. Afterwards we said we both said we should of gone to Popeyes because we can get more for our buck there.
(1)Mad I.
3 or 4, 3 or 4....torn...great atmosphere, CRUMMIE gyro, good everything else....but that gyro.... Had the Groupon for $46 dinner for 2. Pleased with our choices, for the most part... *Soup= was yummie (whatever that was!) *Salad =was just okay... *Saganaki= delivers, nothing out of the ordinary if you've had it. Not the best or the worst. *The fish roe dip= was really disappointing...it was this funky bright pink stuff that some how tasted like NOTHING. I asked what it was made of and waiter said carp roe and bread.... questionable spread to be avoided.... *Sampler platter for $16 which had like 4 things on it, all pretty tasty. *Gyro= CRUMMIE. We were there before it got packed and I got the you know what end of the stick, or should I say spit. Lots of crumbled, burned little pieces with no flavor. The tzatziki was super duper lemon, if you like that.... I did see the girl next to me with a plate that looked juicy about an hour later... *house wine-good *Dessert=YUM! Tiramisu is better than any I've had at Italian places. Chocolate mousse cake-BOMB.
(3)Lauren F.
I'll be honest...Greek Islands has always been my family's go-to restaurant in Greektown. However, when my mom and I started looking for a large room to host a get-together for my family after my wedding abroad, The Parthenon had far and away the best options as far as private room and event menus went, so we decided to give a new place a try. Starting with the free valet service that they offer, everything at The Parthenon was great. The room we had was large and colorful, has a dance floor and stage, a private bar, and a projector and an audio hookup so you can play movies or slideshows and play your own music. The waiters and bartender were all very nice and helpful and our food came out at the perfect pace so we didn't feel rushed. We had Saganaki (flaming cheese), Greek Salad, Taramasalata (fish roe dip), Gyros with tzatziki dip, Avgolemono (egg lemon) soup, Moussaka (beef and eggplant casserole), Dolmades (beef and rice wrapped in grape leaves), Pastichio (a greek lasagna with noodles and beef topped in a bechamel sauce), Lamb, Chicken, Rice, Potatoes, Baklava, and Galaktoboureko (custard pie). Yes, it was a serious feast! Everything was delicious and everyone was totally overwhelmed by the crazy amount of food. After dinner we danced the night away until they told us it was time to go. The only downfall was that the room was incredibly hot, even with the A/C turned up all the way. We were definitely sweating when the dancing began. Despite that little hiccup, it was the perfect evening and my family had such an amazing time, much to the credit of the great food and service we received at The Parthenon.
(4)Gerry A.
After reading many of the excellent reviews on the Five course Groupon with a bottle of "house red", we boldly went this afternoon at 5pm. No problem with the groupon, we saw a lot of them, we did make a reservation but we did not identify ourselves as having a groupon. We had already printed our menus off and picked out what we were interested in within the price ranges. No flexibility in ordering more expensive entres and paying the difference, we asked just to see what they said. I have liked the Greek Rose Roditis in the past but this tasted more like an even cheaper white merlot in an unmarked bottle (picture a LARGE box of Wisconsin White Merlot back there with a funnel). We are going to go get some Roditis for a taste test and I will report. I don't think that house was the Greek Rose Roditis. But it was cold and wet and part of the $46 package, and of course we drank most of it. Update. Had some Roditis at the Greek Village in Schaumburg, MUCH better, they are decanting that stuff at the Parthenon out of boxes into unmarked bottles. Went with Flaming Saganaki for old times sake, were warned off the homemade sausage by our able server Peter and went with the Eggplant/babaganoush, good enuf. Went with Peter's recommendations on our choices and had the rotisserie lamb and the broiled octopus. Both were good, the lamb portion was ENORMOUS, we took home 2/3 of it, tender and not overseasoned and my octopus was also very tender and flavorful, and I took half of that home. The lemon soup was ok, so was the Greek salad. We went with the teramisu and Vanilla pudding wrapped in philo with honey, we thought both were good. Our bill was about $5, half the tax which Peter had told us in advance, and we tipped $19, nobody suggested any amounts but we can do the math on the hypothetical bill, and liked Peter's recommendations. So our total was $46 plus $24, $70 with LARGE leftovers. Service was slow and it's loud in there. I don't think we'll be back without another Groupon like that one. We would probably rather find someplace to eat that has outdoor seating and better wine and just order a couple appetizers and split a main course, might be the same $46, but we thought the Groupon package was a DEAL and today we are FANS.
(4)Tami S.
My maternal grandfather had an oft-repeated saying: "If anyone here goes home hungry, it's their own fault." Normally I reserve mentions of this phrase for jovial but fond reminisces around the family dinner table, but it TOTALLY fits in relation to my experience at the Parthenon. We (co-workers and I) had a group dinner here, and the food just kept on coming. It felt like we ate everything on the menu, but that'd be exaggerating. Barely. Service is "family style" in every sense of the word. You share the food. And the service was like "family," too -- you're a guest in the restaurant. (Except you'll get a bill at the end.) In came plates of the saganaki. We got the show... alcohol poured over pans of cheese, then lit on fire with a woosh. It was especially good with the crusty bread that came to the table. The bread also went well with the tzatziki and the fish spread. The gyro meat was flavorful. I snagged a couple crispy pieces and was quite happy. Thoroughly enjoyed the lamb. Lamb is tough to get right (pun intended), but they do a very good job here. Chicken was tasty, but was especially good with a bit of the sauce drizzled on top of it. The Greek salad was really tasty. Lightly dressed but full of oregano. I could eat a whole platter of that for dinner and be happy. Yum to the pilaf and the potatoes as well. They also brought out plates of pastitsio and dolmades, which I did not try... but both looked good and were popular. Along with dinner, we had bottles of red and white wine (the Tsantali Rouge and Blanc). Both Greek. Both good. Don't hesitate to try them. And of course, they go well with the food. I can't eat baklava, so I couldn't try the dessert, but it looked tasty and well made, and others seemed happy with it. The "American" coffee was enjoyable. All told I'd recommend this restaurant for parties and large groups. It's fun, but not rowdy; the food is good; and the service is welcoming, too. Just wear your stretchy pants!
(4)Jo K.
Best smelts in Greek town. Just ate at another restaurant in greek town and the smelts were frozen not fresh...no taste. Walked down the street to Parthenon and ate the best smelts I have ever had (and I have had a lot). Small fried fish lightly battered excellent with just lemon. YUM
(5)Colleen C.
This place is the best! The atmosphere is beautiful, reminiscent of the city of Santorini. I went for my 21st birthday, and while my family was away the bartender poured my sister and I shots of Jack understanding that the exchange had to go quickly. Our waiter was a buff version of John Stamos, and had a sharp sense of humor. The rose was cool and crisp, and the dessert was to die for! Anyone who eats in Greektown knows that when you go out you get fed until you can't see your feet. It was a great experience with great food. I recommend the saganaki appetizer, and the galaktoboureku.
(5)Mary C.
Had the groupon deal, dinner for two. Loved the wine. I had the stuffed chicken breast which I loved. My husband had the pork chops which he thought were okay. We had the fried sausages and potato garlic dip as an appetizer. Both were good. For dessert we had the tiramisu and chocolate cake. It was PACKED. We had a very friendly waiter who helped make the night special!
(4)Rachel R.
I haven't been here in two years. Thought why not. Should have thought of another place. Made reservations for 9pm. The Host was rude and said that we had to be placed on the "List." Not sure why we had to be placed on a list to wait when I made a reservation. Went to the bar to wait and the bartender was ok. No drink menu and couldn't recommend a mixed drink. What kind of bar does that? Ordered a simple vodka martini to hold onto. It was delicious but the service was not their. Finally the wait was over and we were asked to follow a waiter who was showing two other couples where to sit. No personal touch, very disappointed. Ushered to the table to get a burst of energy by the buser as he throwed down plates and silverware on the table. To be greated by the waiter who was less than happy to have us. Had to ask for napkins and flag down some one for them. Started to place our order to find out no sou, they were out. Hummus out. The waiter did try to accommodate and brought out eggplant, but we didn't want it and he said their was nothing else. Not a great start what so ever. The entrees where good. The braised lamb was delicious but greasy with more rice than anyone person should eat at dinner. I had enough rice for leftovers for two more meals. The chicken was well seasoned but dry, no juice to be found. We had the house wine and I must say PASS on it. It tasted like the cheap wine I bought when I was a freshman in college. Last but not least ... dessert. They were out of everything expect Flan and a Lemon custard. Not the best by any means. If your thinking of Greek food, check out another spot in Greektown. It wasn't worth the money and I should not have two meals worth of leftovers at the end.
(1)Katie K.
Like most other reviewers I came here with a Groupon. If you're a senior citizen and love gigantic quantities of mediocre food, this is the place for you. I went on a Friday night, was promptly seated, waited around 10 minutes for a waiter to come. Handed him the Groupon, he said not a word, but appeared 5 minutes later with a bottle of wine that tasted like watered down Boones Farm. Again the waiter said not a word, departed and later appeared with 2 salads and some sort of dip with pita. Tastes eggplanty, but not sure since I didn't order it. The waiter follows the same routine, and appears 10 minutes later with flaming cheese. He says "Opa!" and promptly leaves the table. At this point I'm really confused...do I get to order anything today, or do I look so drunk off the boones farm the waiter has made the executive decision to order for me? He did come back to take the entree orders (I ordered the Athenian Chicken, tasted decent, but chicken was dry). At the end of the dinner, the waiter returns and tells me and my date that he will now bring out the dessert. At this point we have mustered up the courage to ask if he will be selecting our dessert for us, or if we get to pick? He says we get the custard since apparently everything else in the restaurant is sold out. At the end of the meal he brings out the check, smiles and says this is my gratuity (a nice $20 tip). This is the most I've heard him say all night, I'm even surprised he speaks English, but we don't argue since we're confused and sugar wasted on Boones Farm.
(2)Kyle P.
Came here on the Groupon and was pleasantly surprised. As everyone has mentioned, the Groupon deal is the deal of the century; you get an obscene amount of food and will end up taking home lunch or maybe even dinner for the next day from your leftovers. Positives: - Saganaki was hot like fiyah... literally and figuratively from a taste perspective. It was much better than the saganaki I got from Melanthios up in Lakeview - Baba Ganoush (on menu as "egg plant spread") could have been the best I've ever had - Salad was fresh and I liked the Greek dressing - Soup was unique and creamy... and yummy (contrary to a post or two below) - Braised lamb entree was SO FREAKING GOOD. GET THIS. Neutrals: - Gyro entree was just so-so - Galaktoboureko dessert was bland. This was probably just a matter of personal taste, though. - Wine was some sort of rose which isn't my favorite. But hey, it's alcohol and I got a whole bottle of it so there. Negatives - Our waiter looked rushed and wasn't the most personable. Not going to hold it against him as they were really busy but maybe they should schedule another few staff members... - Service was slow. People next to us ended up leaving without their dessert because they got sick of waiting. - Host seemed unorganized. We had reservations for 8. Called at 7:30 to say we would be about half an hour late. Were told it would be no big deal and weren't even asked for our name to change the reservation. Showed up at 8:30 and it was packed, ended up waiting 15-20 minutes. So what was the point of the reservation again? Okay so despite these negatives, notice my review is FOUR STARS. Simply come in with the expectation that it might take a while between courses and you should be able to relax and enjoy the experience of indulging in a massive, tasty Greek feast. We will be back!
(4)Heather L.
Best sit-down place in Greektown. That's not saying much though - I am pretty sure all the major restaurants on the Halsted strip is just owned by one large Greek family: Free valet. Passable service. Identical menus. Decent food. 3-Stars, really. But being the creative genius behind the delicious show-dish, the flaming saganaki, Parthenon, here you go - another star.
(4)Rhianna M.
So stuffed and full of happiness. This place has a theatrical Mediterranean theme and wonderful lamb. Try the loin of the lamb large portion and so tender
(5)Ginelle S.
Food was awful, service was more so. Go elsewhere. The Parthenon gives Greektown a bad name. I've been up and down the Halsted, Greektown strip since I was a wee-babe - Santorini, Greek Islands, Rodity's all of which I love - and never have a had a worse experience than at Parthenon. I've given it 2 tries now, but will be sure to stay away, from here on out, and encourage others to do the same...
(1)Daniel N.
Food was good. Service was friendly and attentive. Portions and prices reasonable. Decor and ambience could use some work. The house wine was surprisingly quite good, especially for summer. Hummus was some of the best I've ever had. Stuffed chicken was delicious. Rotisserie Lamb was good. House salad and lemon rice soup were both good. Chocolate mousse cake and tiramisu were both ok. We were so full by dessert it probably impacted the taste a bit.
(4)Richard J.
Very disappointed. I have been here a handful of times in the past but man things have changed. I used to like Parthenon, but not anymore. My wife and I used a groupon for the five course meal plus a bottle of roditis wine. The Greek salad was a joke. I could have a better Greek salad from Panera..no joke The other food was good (minus the moussaka entree) but my other big issue was that the bottle of wine was definitely watered down. I actually buy roditis wine from binnys (9.99) by the way. The wine they served tasted like a watererd down version. Very dissapointed compared to the past. I think you lost a customer Parthenon
(1)Ryan B.
I was recently entertaining some out of town guests, and our meal at the Parthenon was a huge hit with all. The saganaki is, of course, awesome, and the vegetarians in my group were pleased with their options. I'm a big hummus guy, and I wasn't disappointed. The meal was delicious, the atompsphere was relaxing (I'm sure the flow of table wine helped), and the service was friendly.
(4)Lexi P.
I went here over the weekend with a large group of people. There were eight of us in total and we had made a reservation. We were seated when all of us were present and did not have to wait to be seated (i.e. they had set aside a table for us). When they brought us back to the table it was not completely ready. They had not put all the place settings down and had to bring more white paper to put over the table. Okay, not a big deal but we were seated 10-15 minutes after our reservation time so I would think they'd have it all set up. We waited a bit for the waiter but it was nothing out of the ordinary. We ordered a bunch of plates of saganaki for the table and it came fairly quickly and was very good. Then we told the waiter we were ready to order but he must not have heard us and walked away. Once he came back everyone ordered. We sat for a while waiting for our food. When it did come out it came out in spurts (i.e. 2-3 people's food came and then a few minutes later 2-3 more plates came). My boyfriend and I were one of the first people to receive our food. We had ordered a chicken dish which was supposed to have vegetables on the side and a vegetarian macaroni dish. The chicken dish came out with rice pilaf instead of vegetables and both dishes were lukewarm at best. Both dishes tasted awful due to the temperature and must have been sitting in "the window" without being kept heated while they waited for other food to be ready. When the waiter came (he did not bring any of the food) I caught his attention and told him both dishes were cold and asked if we could have them heated up. Instead of apologizing the waiter looked at us and said, "really? Both dishes?" Yes, we want both dishes taken back and heated up. I then repeated what I had said, that both dishes were cold and seemed to have been sitting around for a while. When I said this he rolled his eyes at me, said okay, and walked away...without taking our food. He went to the table behind us and spoke with them for a few minutes and then came back to take our plates. He brought them back (the same food we had had) with vegetables instead of rice for the chicken dish several minutes later. The food was the appropriate temperature this time. The vegetarian macaroni dish was okay. Nothing to write home about. The chicken dish which was stuffed with feta and spinach was also okay but again, nothing I would order again or go out of my way to have. When the bill came we were charged full price for everything. I was not the person paying the bill so I could not complain but had I been paying I would have asked to speak with a manager. I did not deserve to have a server roll his eyes at me when I asked for my food to be re-heated. I'm sorry I know what food tastes like when it has been sitting around for a while after being cooked but I grew up and worked in the restaurant industry. This restaurant is not worth the visit at all. There are plenty of other restaurants in Greek Town, I'd recommend going to one of those.
(1)Edward W.
With all the great places in Greektown this is one to skip. Service was terrible and the food was just ok. We went as a small group of four. The server forgot half the things we asked for. Food was served not the way we wanted. The gyro plate was fairly small for the price and the meat was a little cold. It was a Wednesday night and the place was not crowded at all. No excuses.
(2)Laura P.
A severely disappointing experience. Actually it was more like a Greek Tragedy. Appetizers were wonderful, Saganaki is hard to mess up. And so are meat and cheese pies that are wrapped in phylo. My dining companion ordered a T-bone steak as they were out of the NY strips. (As indicated by the waiter). Great, ordered the T-bone. When it arrived the steak was NOT well-done as he had indicated it to be cooked. It was hot pink on the inside a clear indication of a medium-well. You are probably thinking that is not a big deal and it isn't but unfortunately the steak smelled as if it had been marinated in garbage, shit and blood. The steak was rotten. Completely and disgustingly rotten. The kitchen had literally taken an old steak and cooked it. The manager came over and said, 'We don't specialize in steaks, we specialize in lamb but this steak is overripe.' Who the hell cares? And what the hell is 'overripe'? You had steak on the menu. Why not say that you are out of steak, like the waiter originally did with the NY strip? I had the braised lamb. It was not much more than a fatty chunk of meat that was covered in an unflavorful red sauce that was more grease than red. The rice pilaf was also swimming in this sauce. Disgusting. For $25 an entree, I am sorry but I expect more. Totally and completely unacceptable. And the last thing the manager said to my companion was that 'They didn't do it on purpose.' What didn't you do on purpose? Serve a disgusting rotten steak to someone you thought wouldn't know the difference? Shame on you. Never again. Never again. My hope for this experience is just to NOT have food poisoning.
(1)John A.
My folks took me here for a late lunch or early dinner. I have been going to greek town all my life. Love the greek food. This place surprised me. I thought this was going to be an old stuffy place that has hung on since the 70's but I was wrong. A strong 3 1/2 stars. Atmosphere: Typical greek town. Not as nice as some and better than others. Service: Service was very good. Not great but on mark. Food: Here is where they surprised the heck out of me. I ad the combo plate to try it all. It is my greektown goto selection at almost all of them. The food was excellent. Specifically, the lamb was better than the lamb anywhere else I have been in greektown. Worth checking out. Might raise my score to 4 after another good experience.
(3)Jordan B.
My gf, friend, and I went yesterday night. Once we arrived, we were promptly seated. As we sat down, the waiter placed a loaf of bread on our table--the bread tasted fresh unlike some other Greek restaurants. Our waiter was very knowledgeable when asked for several suggestions. In terms of quality, the food was terrific. My pastitsio, which is similar to lasagna, was very tasty. My gf ordered the special--roasted lamb ribs--which she enjoyed. My friend ordered the Greek staple gyros but was already full from the bread and the Kalamata olives. Also, the portions are huge, even for Chicago. We're actually going to have our leftovers for dinner tonight! For a moderately priced Greektown restaurant, the Parthenon is a very good choice.
(4)Barbara K.
We were bedraggled, tired, and very hungry at 10:45 pm. We were actually looking for a different Greek restaurant that was down the street but this one came up first in our walk. A very nice woman told us that if we stayed there we would be very well taken care of and we could make a meal for the three of us with two entrees to keep the price reasonable. We decided to give it a try. Thank goodness we did! The service was impeccable; the wait staff was very attentive without being intrusive and kept our water glasses filled over and over again. Ambiance: relaxing, quiet Greek music, nice clean murals painted on the walls. Food. Omg. We ordered cod, broiled chicken cut into pieces, and braised veggie plate. Delicious and the meals are generously portioned. Prices very reasonable. The 3 of us got out for $45 including tax and 20% tip. Highly highly recommended.
(5)Li L.
Great staff, very friendly. Enjoyed two nights at the hostel next door and both nights I sat in the bar and enjoyed chatting with the bartender and manager. I'll look forward to a return visit.
(5)Betty H.
Service: 2, did not offer to take back undercooked lamb chops Cleanliness: 5 Food: 2 lamb chops were way undercooked, greek potatoes flavorless
(2)Andrew W.
Please do everything in your power and bring back the old saganaki cheese. I have been a loyal customer for my entire life. The new cheese is like rubber. Please please bring the old stuff back. It's a signature dish in Chicago and should have never been messed with. Thank you
(1)John B.
I can't bring myself to try any other place in Greektown. Always good food and service whether your party is for two or twenty. I will never forget the flavor combination of the home made bread, saganaki, and retsina wine. The only thing I can say that is negative for me is their Dolmades used to be served nice and chilled (which should be the correct way). Now they are served warm with a gravy that tastes like cream of chicken soup. I also miss the spinach cheese pies. The baklava is the best I have tasted. Also love their Greek coffee. Always good to see the same family managing the place for over 20 years - probably much longer. Free valet - but you be nice and tip them, ok? :-)
(4)Malcolm B.
The food is good! Our service was terrible... Please don't make me: go to a bartender, go to the other bar/bartender, then to the valet (who was doing his job, valet-ing cars/not out front) just to finally have another server break change ($40) so I could in theory, prep my group so we didn't need to split the check 8.5 ways (there was a baby with us, to be fair)... Water is also a nice touch while dining :(
(2)Kevin C.
Friday night dinner for four. Free valet is nice but the service was a bit pushy. The place had a funky smell upon entering. The food and experience added up to average and nothing more. Of course you have to order the saganaki which came off as kitschy to me. It was pretty tasty but then again its melty cheese. Out of the lamb dishes our server recommended the rotisseries-roasted lamb but he brought out the spare ribs. It was fine and I didn't feel like sending it back so I ate it. The meat was tender and fell off the bone but lacked appeal. The pile of roasted potatoes on the side were just there and unappetizing. The folks? A combination plate and the market whole fish. They were both pleased with their choices so that was a win for me. My date went with the kotopita. Crisp phyllo filled with chicken, veggies, smothered in a creamy white sauce. "Not as good as when I spent a week in the Mediterranean", she remarked. What a snot. Very large portions for all the dishes. That is always a plus but I just couldn't get past the mediocre flavors. My first trip to Greek town left me underwhelmed. I may have started off at the wrong place. Another adventure is certainly in store to get it right next time. Any suggestions?!
(3)Peter G.
I haven't been to the Parthenon for a long time and I'm unhappy to report I won't be going back. I took my wife here to celebrate her birthday and if I had to use one word to describe the food it would be "dry." We ordered saganaki and it was dry, looked as if it had been sitting in the kitchen a long time and we had to ask for lemons to go with it. We also had the pink fish roe and while it was good, there wasn't enough pita to go with it, but there was bread on the table so we just used that. We also ordered Greek sausage, grilled, and it to was dry and I again, had to ASK for lemons. For dinner my wife had shrimp and scallops that was flambéed tableside and it, too, was dry and didn't have much flavor. I had three thick lamb chips and while good, and well seasoned, they weren't high quality and tasted rather gamey. And once again, I had to ASK for lemons. Is there a lemon shortage that I'm unaware of??? Dessert was nothing to write home about; Greek custard and it too, tasted as if it had been laying around for a long time. Our entire meal, from start to finish, was $104.00 and considering the portion sizes of the dishes I consider that a fair deal. However, taking into account the QUALITY of the food, I believe I overpaid.
(2)Tiffany S.
I used my groupon which was a fantastic deal!! I came here a few months ago with my friend and I have a nice visit.The waiter was very fast and friendly. The food was good...The soup could have been a little tastier, but it was alright. Everything else was fabulous. I liked the flaming cheese the best. I will be coming back here.
(4)Jen R.
Been coming here for years. Bring your friends and enjoy the experience. Flaming Cheese, Pastistio, Spanokopita oh my. Greek wines a plenty. Family owned & operated. Check them out. Opah!!
(4)Drew F.
THE BEST place I have ever eaten. The cheese they set on fire is to die for. The spaghetti and lamb, gyro, broccoli and pasta, all excellent dishes. And it isn't even that expensive. I go here whenever I get the chance.
(5)Reuben H.
Skordalia is my new best friend! After not having any for years, I fell in love with it all over again last night over dinner with some friends (and the Mrs.). Good thing too that we are already friendly with each other, because the amount of overpoweringly delicious garlic and potato spread that was consumed probably had us smelling obnoxious to the neighboring tables, let alone amongst each other. Enjoying that along with some fish roe spread is a good way to start things off. For me, it is the simple things about Greek food that I love so much, and The Parthenon does a good job of sticking with traditions (some all their own) to maintain that timeless Greek-Chicago feel. I had a difficult time deciding what to order, so luckily for around $15 there is a massive amount of food on offer through their Special Traditional Combination dinner plate. Just about everything I was craving is offered on the plate (almost- some grilled octopus would have been a most welcome dessert). Special Traditional Combination (both traditional and special): - Dolmades (always a tasty combination of meat, rice and grape leaves- served with a tangy, lemon sauce) - Moussaka (kind of like pasta-less lasagna- eggplant and meat sauce cut from a dish that includes bechamel) - Pastitsio (another lasagna-like dish, but this time with pasta- stringy pasta, not sheets or layers of pasta) - Roast Lamb (really delicious here!) - Potatoes (another simple delight that if I knew ahead of time- I would have just ordered this along with the skordalia... braised to perfection- outstanding!) - Vegetable (green peas and carrots, not sure if that changes or if that is standard with this dish) Everything was delicious, but as I said before, the simple things really stood out. Roast lamb slices, braised potatoes and the delectable smear of garlic and potato known as skordalia have me dreaming of an entire meal of that next time around. Oh, and Saginaki was invented here. Yet another "traditional" thing many think of that is actually a Chicago invention. Much like Cracker Jack, the Ferris Wheel, Chicken Vesuvio, the skyscraper, and CLASS.
(4)Josh P.
My wife's family has been coming here for years at Christmas time, and they are so accommodating. The food is wonderful, the wait staff is super helpful. Nothing but great things to say about this place.
(5)Garrett T.
One of our favorite restaurants in the city, these guys have been doing it right since my now-65 year old dad lived and worked in the here. They do it low key, with silverware that you would see in a high school cafeteria and "wine glasses" that would be more suitable to some 2% milk, but that's the charm of this place. Good food, simply done. Easily the best and most authentic Greek in Greek town, don't let anyone tell you different. My perfect meal: Bottle of retsina and a shot of ouzo to start Saganaki (they invented it) Patstitsio or moussaka Family style w spit toasted pork or lamb, both are exceptional The service is friendly and the rooms are spacious, truly a must-visit spot.
(5)Danielle S.
Wish I could give negative stars. Who cares what the food even tastes like (and it's average) when their staff might be the rudest people on the planet earth. There are so many amazing restaurants in Greektown; this one isn't even worth your time.
(1)Cristie F.
They say everything is bigger in Texas, but personally I think that applies to Greek restaurants too. Big portions, big families, large amounts of flowing booze, an "OOPA!" every couple minutes, lots of loud laughter and conversations...you get the point. So, if you're looking for a quaint little spot to have a nice, quiet, romantic dinner, then the Parthenon is not for you. My experience was rather lackluster. However, I blame that primarily on our server. ((He brought on big attitude...imagine that...)). Why is it that when you whip out a Groupon or coupon of some sorts, servers immediately tune out? Not to mention I received a good amount of attitude and up charges when asking for accommodations due to food allergies and intolerances. The food itself was a mixed bag. Some things were amazing and others left me wishing I was elsewhere. My biggest complaint is the abundance of olive oil used in everything. Even olive oil can make a dish fatty and greasy... Let's review what made the cut, and what didn't... The good: - Navy bean soup. Amazing. - Flaming Saganaki - Cheezy, boozey, and delicious. - Mini Spanakopita pies - Pastitsio - Meaty, cheesey, creamy pasta. Yum. - Chicken Breast Shishkebob - Baklava The forgettables: - The hummus ((I'm still convinced we were brought the eggplant spread)) - Dolmades - Way tooooooo much meat, not enough rice. ((Unless that's your thing)) - Gyros - Dry and flavorless... - Greek Salad - Death by salad dressing. Overall the Parthenon left me with that "meh" feeling. Would I go back? Sure, I'd definitely give it another go around. Perhaps a server with a little less 'tude and more flexibility would turn a low 3-star review into a solid 4.
(3)Bob M.
Never been to a Greek restaurant before, so wasn't sure what to expect. We had a large group from our conference - a banquet room to ourselves. The food was fantastic and the people were great. Wonderful atmosphere. The flaming cheese was amazing as was everything else on the menu. We had the family style #2 which had many different courses. We went on a Thursday night, and the place was pretty busy. Highly recommended.
(5)N S.
Not busy ,day after Xmas,, octopus grilled, very tender. triropitakia (cheese pies) excellent. Okra and peas, excellent.. all I need for business lunch is fast, so we can return to wk. Now here is why I wrote the review; Greek chicken OK,, not as good as last week. The Fresh Snapper, was terrible, smelled fishy.. mentioned it on the way out.. the owner offered to replace next time, that was nice of him.Unable to finish, thought it was unsafe. so, that 's why the two stars .And its coming from a physician who knows fresh fish..!!!! Also it took a very long time for the the fish to be cooked, and it was not busy, also getting the check took a long time.. Overall its a hit or miss. Not the gold standard of Greek Isles.
(2)Becca G.
Review based solely on service since the food was adequate for the price range. Server although authentically Greek did not know what pasteurized cheese was, if you work in the food industry this is common thing. He not only didn't know but couldn't understand what I was saying when I asked if the cheese was made in house. We then waited 15 mins for the check while he was MIA. However he hovered while I was calculating the tip and scooped up the bill before I put the pen down.
(2)Allison B.
I would have liked to have put no stars. I have been a Groupon customer for years and have had a lot of great experiences. I have also discovered a lot of restaurants or services that I would use again and again. The Parthenon was by far the worst experience I have had using a Groupon. From the second we sat down at our table, I felt as if we were being punished for using a Groupon. I understand that they were busy and that mostly everyone at their establishment was using their Groupon that night because it was expiring, but there is no excuse to treat a customer badly. The waiter made it very clear from the beginning how annoyed he was that we were using a Groupon. On top of that the food was horrible. I had checked the exclusions of the Groupon and it said that the entree was only worth $17.45. The meal that I wanted was $18.25. When the waiter came to take out order and I asked if I could pay the difference in order to get the meal that I wanted. He looked at me and responded as if I had asked him the most insulting question in the world. He responded with that all Groupon customers are the same and that I was not special. I could have the dinner I wanted but I would have to pay the full amount. I felt assaulted. I then asked the waiter to come back because I didn't know what I want and he walked off with no response. Needless to say, the meal that I ended up ordering was tasteless and didn't eat it. It could have been because I was so angry but probably not. Then it came time for the bill and he dropped off our check and pointed to the full amount and stated, "You have to tip me on this amount" and left. I have ALWAYS tipped on the full amount when I use a Groupon but in this case, I tipped him on the tax and left very upset. I will never go here again.
(1)Elaine M.
This place is a great value. Portions are large and reasonably priced. We began our meal with an order of the MINI SPANAKOPITA PIES! Easily the tastiest part of our meal. The order came out hot and delicious. The inside all gooey and the outside nice and flaky. Then we had the egglemon soup. It was cozy and comforting on a cool spring evening. Followed by the Greek salad. The salad was okay but the dressing could have had more flavor to it. Our main course was the ROTISSERIE-ROASTED LAMB. The flavor was good but the cuts on the plates were inconsistent. There was a lot of bone on my plate but mostly none on my husbands. To finish we had the BAKLAVA. It was good but I have had better. It was a bit dry and needed more of the gooey honey sauce to make it great! The Parthenon restaurant is easy to get to, just a couple of blocks off of route 90/94 and has complimentary valet parking (although we exited at just the wrong time and had to wait for our car for bit as there was a line).
(4)Sarah C.
I went here on a groupon deal. The food was great, however the customer service was terrible. The waiter was not personable and seemed annoyed that we had a groupon. He did not attend to us much throughout the meal and we waited a long time for the check. The thing that upset me most was the fact that he told us what the total balance was and that we had to tip on the total balance. We left our tip on the table and as we were leaving, he stopped us to ask us where the tip was. It was extremely rude and awkward. I will never go back nor recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Amy T.
I think this is the first time I went to an actual Greek restaurant for food. I usually go to artopolis bakery and cafe that is closer to Jackson. Right at the door is the host who will seat you. They are dressed distinctly. What captured me was the roasting lamb at the window. (not to mention the huge craving for meat). I came in with my friend and we had some awesome lamb spaghetti and the hot appetizer. Sorry, I forgot the names. The appetizer platter for one has one of each sample and kebabs. I was pretty amazed how the meat were so tender. The same goes for the lamb. It was juicy and had the taste I was craving for. The place had soft music that fits the mood. Lighting was not bad either. It was in between romantic and well lit. The decor got me amazed as well. I thought I was sitting outdoors for a minute. They had what I would call "clothkins" that were neatly folded on the plate. One thing was the servers weren't as attentive. We told them we were in a hurry, and it seemingly took quite some time for us to depart. I still had a good experience here. The serve tried to recommend some food for us as well. They were really helpful. I guess the price is reasonable, but I wish they were negotiable. The lamb leg spaghetti price threw me off... Not a bad place overall.
(4)Dana R.
I have been here a few times for dinner with my wife, and also with my in-laws, and each and every time I have been here I have left satisfied. All three times I have been here I have had the same waiter named Stasis, and he has always done a fantastic job making us feel as though we were eating at his dining room table. One of the times that we ate dinner here, my wife and I ordered a separate entrée, and the other two times we ate family-style. The food, especially the gyros and tzatziki sauce were especially good. The desserts on the other hand, were always the highlight of the dinner. If you are in the mood to get a large amount of food at a relatively cheap price, this is a good place for you. Besides being a Greektown staple, the old world charm is worth at least one visit if you are considering dining in this neighborhood. If you are, definitely ask for Stasis, he is the best waiter they have guaranteed!
(4)Deb H.
Had a great dining experience here -- amazing bread right off the bat, good service, flaming saganaki, and a wonderful entree of spanaki. The only thing that stops me from giving five stars instead of four is that I was less than impressed by my rice side to the entree.
(4)Linneh M.
Came here because of the groupon. The amount of food for lves than 50 was amazing. They were nice to offer us an alternative when we asked since the groupon came with wine. The waiters re kind to keep coming around and checking how we were, but too much. There were many waiters cominf around and it confused us, but there were lot of people. The portions are large and fulfilling, but dessert was meh. Great experience, but nothing worth going back again.
(4)Diana C.
Went to the Parthenon when I was in town helping my boyfriend move to Chicago, and I'm definitely a fan. The decor is a little dated, if not charmingly cliche, but it adds to the overall atmosphere. It's great that their menu features a lot of gluten free items (without making major substitutions) so my boyfriend (who has Celiac) was able to enjoy an authentic Greek meal that reminded him of his mom's home cooking. I ordered spanakopita for myself (not being gf) and I was in heaven when the waiter brought them over. They were piping hot fresh from the kitchen, with crispy phyllo dough and that wonderful creamy spinach and cheese center. The appetizer could have been a meal for me, but I stopped myself from eating everything so I could enjoy my entree. My bf ordered dolmades and I can't even remember if I managed to snag one off the plate before he ate them all - they were apparently THAT good. Broiled octopus & rice pilaf for my boyfriend - already tipsy from ouzo, he enjoyed the perfect texture of the octopus & pilaf. I had the Greek style chicken & potatoes - simple but delicious, with just the right amount of seasoning. The potatoes were a little overdone/oily, but nothing a little bread couldn't fix. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in Chicago.
(4)Amanda K.
We specified gluten allergy and our meal was delivered on a bun and with a roll on the side. In addition to the meal being completely incorrect, the beef was absolutely horrible. I think we could have received better beef at White Castle! Very disappointed!
(1)Arun A.
Went to this place before a bulls game and i always wanted to try Greek food but i was very disappointed. I'll start this with environment, I had a group of people screaming and drunk sitting behind me again they were drunk at 6 o clock. Now the food, Lets just say it was OK and it won't make me go back to that place.
(2)Meredith B.
Came here for lunch with two friends last Saturday, and we had a nice time, but sadly going to take things down a star. I had some coffee and ordered some appetizers to make a meal. I got the Greek salad, chickpea soup, and taramosalata (pink fish roe dip). The dip was good like last time, though not as strongly flavored as I recall, but I went to town on that stuff with the sesame seed bread from the basket on the table. The chickpea soup was just silly. It was literally broth and chickpeas. Not a thing else. Homemade broth, I think, but still. There were just like, 50 chickpeas sitting in it. What? I expected other veggies, a partial puree, ANYTHING but chickpeas floating in broth. If i want that for lunch, I will pour some broth into a bowl and open a can of chickpeas into it. I'm not saying it tasted bad, but it was totally ridiculous. Greek salad was okay - too much lettuce, not enough other goodies, but the olives and big hunk of salty gorgeous feta definitely elevated it. Bummer is that my friend who came a little late ordered a chicken salad - we all heard her - and they brought an Aegean salad out instead. Easy mistake, she corrected him, he took it away. And he didn't bring back the chicken salad for AGES. The Greek empire could've risen and fallen in the time it took him to bring the right salad. I seriously hate this at restaurants - if there's a problem with the food, take it away and bring back a replacement ASAP. No excuses, especially when you're not busy! That needs to take priority over whatever else the kitchen is doing. By the time they brought it out, she had to wolf it down so we could make our 3 pm appointment in the neighborhood. She ordered the salad around 2 pm. The whole thing took that long. Silly. I had nibbles of the spanakopitakia and it was rich and creamy inside, and my friend really liked her chicken salad. I think I need to order food-food here next time, not appetizers, to judge more thoroughly. That soup was seriously just goofy. I think the food here is generally good, but the service could stand to be improved for sure!
(3)Gina K.
Ah Chicago, who does gyros better than you. I walked in to this restaurant and i seriously felt like I was walking onto a set from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Super warm greetings from everyone. It's in your face hospitality and like the movie, lots and lots of food. The lunch plate is more than enough food but it's tradition for us to indulge in Saganaki, flaming goat cheese. yelp.com/biz_photos/kybu… Rumour has it that the Parthenon was the one to start with the blazing cheese. The warmth from the flash flame can felt from across the room. It amazes me that such a huge fire can be put out with a puny lemon wedge as shown in the picture. I'm almost tempted to try extinguishing the next fire with a lemon. Well almost... Even though they were super busy with a large tour bus sized party in the other room and large tables in the main dining room, service from our server and kitchen did not suffer and that a big deal during a lunch time rush. Good service, decent food, add the time saved from the free valet service and the Parthenon becomes one of my Chicago gems. Ef-kari-shto Thank you Parthenon. =)
(4)Sarah T.
I went with a group of 4 on a Sunday night and the place was packed. The worst service I've ever had & our server barely spoke English. The food came out cold and they could have cared less, never again!
(1)Jacob K.
The service was excellent. The groupon gets 2 people way more food than we could ever eat. The house wine is a light sweet red (similar to zinfandel). Hummus and zucchini were great apps. Dip the zucchini in the hummus. Then a small soup and salad, both Greek. Many of the nicer entree items are not available with the groupon. Do not be deterred! The gyro platter is the way to go (not like fast food gyro, much better). Then 2 desserts, baklava is a must.
(4)Alan R.
For the restaurant that claims to have created Saganaki, I was disappointed in Parthenon. The Saganaki was definitely the best part of the meal, but I felt like everything else was pretty average. The gyros were dried out and everything else was just pretty average.
(3)Loretta P.
My DOP and I came here on a midweek evening in May. Our server was personable, and helpful. We had Flaming Saganaki (Pretty tasty kasseri, until it starts to cool off and get rubbery), Egg Lemon Soup (I actually enjoyed this uniquely tangy, creamy sensation!), Greek Salad (Not so good: bitter iceberg lettuce, too much oregano, and cheapy little cubes of feta), and Pastitsio (This was a winner, made even more tasty by the the extra creamy/tomato-ey/gravy/sauce stuff the busser brought me!). The bread was your standard slices of french bread, but warm, with butter, it made my night! Opaaa!
(3)Jeannie A.
Met a few friends for dinner here on a Wednesday night. We had a Restaurant.com certificate which gave you $75 off of $112.50. Great deal!!! There were 5 of us, so we knew we'd spend the money - and you can use it on drinks. I sat at the bar while I waited for my friends to show up. A bit uncomfortable as the people around me all were speaking Greek and there was one crazy-guy at the bar getting very loud. But then he bought me a drink, so all was cool :) The house red wine was awful. We ordered the saganaki, meatballs, and spinach cheese pies for appetizers - and they were all very good. I had the combo plate for dinner and none of it was very good, so I would not recommend. Two friends go the braised lamb - one had a good cut of the lamb, and the other was completely not good. Strange. The other friends ordered this shrimp/scallop dish that looked amazing. I would try that next time for sure. Had a few of the oouzo mixed drinks where were strong. Didn't have dessert. I will say that service was GREAT. Our waiter was fantastic. The place was empty and we were there from 5pm - 8pm. It's a good place to go with a group, but I don't think the food is all that great. Too many other places to eat at in Greektown.
(3)Duncan S.
This is one place where the expression 'you could do worse', would not be used as it would be hard to be possible. We had a group of 25, one server who was surly, forgetful, disinterested and incompetent. The drink service was non existent, with the wine in tiny shot like glasses and the waiter offering red or white as the selections (both barely drinkable and from a box). The soup egg, lemon and rice soup was bland and lukewarm. When all the food was finally served after plenty of comedy and plates going back, I was left with no main. The waiter asked me if I was eating? Huh? Yes the gyros I ordered. You do remember telling me after enquiring about the difference in price on the menu was the children's serve versus the adult serve. The gyros were just OK and the pita bread was stale. My wife had baked chicken that was over cooked and dry and the salads were made with the care of a prison cafeteria. The one pro; valet parking and the décor is kind of interesting old school style. I sure scratch my head when seeing places like this in Chicago attracting big crowds. Maybe the sentiment overrides the need to have good food and service.
(1)Kevin B.
I don't recall ordering an entire farm, but I do believe I got it. The Parthenon's Athenian Chicken special was by far the largest pile of meat I had ever dared to take on. I think they have to contract with a different farm for each entree, there's no way there were any chickens left from wherever they came from. We had the flaming cheese that everyone else talks about in their reviews, and everyone yelled "OPA!" and all that, but seriously, the meat. If you like heaping piles of meat upon meat, well-spiced meat at that, The Parthenon is your place. Guys (or ladies who love eating mounds of meat), take a date here. You'll look cultured, and you can act surprised when all that meat comes out. Act like you don't really want that much, but it would be a shame for any to go to waste...
(4)Risto D.
Great saganaki Egglemon soup that tasted like watered down mashed potatoes with rice Good fresh greek salad Overcooked roasted leg of lamb Waay too salty (steamed) roasted potatoes Undersalted broasted potatoes Overcooked lightly seasoned very rubbery tasting pan fried calamari with dipping tomato sauce that didnt taste like absolutely anything Sesame bread that was good Even the tsatsiki sauce that my wife asked for on the side was tasteless We had to wait such a long time between the salad and the entree. The tables that got seated after us got their entrees before we did. I asked for my potatoes to go along with my wifes calamaris buy only got the calamari. And that was after waiting pf 20min for someone to come and check up on us. Terrible service. Not going back
(1)Liz M.
We enjoyed the Parthenon last night. The Saganaki, Egg lemon soup, and Salad were all tasty . I had Chicken Spanaki, which is chicken breast filled with spinach & feta. The portion was large and tasty and I took some home. My husband had the combination plate, which was a nice full plate of Greek specialties. The wine Roditis is nice, not too sweet, or too dry. For dessert we enjoyed the chocolate cake and Baklava. The atmosphere was crowded and happy. We didn't wait too long, and weren't rushed out either.
(4)George R.
Free valet parking at restaurants in Greek Town? Flaming Saganaki? Sign me up. Came here with the groupon for a 5 course meal for two: two appetizers, two soups, two salads, two entrees, two desserts, and a bottle of house wine. The flamaing saganaki, eggplant spread, and salads were really good. The wine was light, and my girlfriend really enjoyed it (good thing I was driving). The soup was decent, but kind of salty and heavy. I thought my entree lacked flavor, although it was decent, but my girlfriend seemed to really enjoy her entree. The service was good, but a bit slow when we initially sat down. Our waiter was kind of goofy unintentionally, but we found it fun and endearing. He did hold a plate of cheese while setting it on fire for us after all.
(4)Tim J.
My first visit to this place in sixteen years since I was in college and my parents thought this was haute. This visit was for someone's preference in our party, and we were a party of six. Same loud environment. Terrible garish, sophmoric mural style paintings on every damn wall. Loved the family and b-list celeb photos. Hated the self indulgent magazine and newspaper food reviews mounted and modpoged. Ok. so just a so so interior. Then came the torture chairs. They were wooden and covered with vinyl. Half way through dinner service, my ass was killing me. Service was not horrible at first...but I knew things took a turn when everyone's food came out but me and one other in my party. We both had gyros. This confused me because gyros are pre-cooked and waiting on a spit. Not a huge deal, but nine minutes of people awkwardly waiting for me to get food coulda been avoided. No, come to think of it, bullshit. This is inexcusable. A party of seven can get their food at the same damn time at a McDonalds... Later, on my way back from the restroom, which I had to get to by walking through a bar..., I slowed my walk so as to not bump into a lady and a waiter carrying three empty pitchers slammed into my back from behind me and almost knocked me off my feet. He screamed, "Oooooh!" and didn't look at me, didn't stop or slow down and certainly didn't apologize for ramming pitchers into my back. Now this was just inexcusable. No apology, I should have left there in an ambulance. IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH...NOW THE FOOD... Four servings of their signature, flaming cheese was ok. Spanokopita was too wet with too much spinach. Feta and olive plate was the best with lots of oil to sop up with plentiful and yummy sesame bread. Entres were brought and the waiter had the poor sense to argue with our guest of honor about his side of veggies vs what he ordered, which was rice....instead of simply apologizing and getting him rice! he actually raised his voice and said, "no no you have the vegetables". I sat across from him. he ordered something unusual and I listed to him carefully. He specifically said "rice pilaf". No big deal, right? just bring a little side plate of rice...but nooooo......we have to argue about the fucking rice with the guest that I am trying to impress. Just fucking great. Our check was $240.00!!! What would have a side. I could not believe it. I was extremely embarrassed. Greek Chicken was ok, but undercooked and too oily....and several of our party mentioned that the dish was better at Omega or Olympic star (kinda dive greek places in the burbs). Gyros were paper thin slices and cooked into meat potato chips. If this is good in your eyes, so be it. Not for me. Weirdly, they brought one plate of pita and one large plate of tzatziki sauce...so the other dude that ordered gyros was all the way at the end of the table from me. So an awkward passing of these condiments back and forth ensued. Food taste was ok. When we finally got our food. Then the service took another bad turn. A party of 16 was seated next to us and we became invisible to our elderly waiter. Dessert was totally screwed up. We got an extra of the "carmel cream" which turned out to be store bought flan....and then we waited twenty minutes for the plain single scoop of ice cream and another 20 for the check which we thought was correct. After the fact we found out that the other gyro guy and I actually got brought the small portion of gyro, which should have been 8.95. Instead we were charged for the large portion for $12.95. This should be a world class restaurant. Certainly the prices are pretty high. I would expect decent food and better service. I would have rather gone to Nero's Gyros. I am reminded of that teeny bopper song my grand daughter listens to...."you and I...are Never Ever...Getting back together..."!!!
(1)Amy H.
I had such high hopes for the Parthenon, but I was underwhelmed after reading their awesome story and rave reviews on the website. Sadface. A super sweet guy brought me here on a first date, and I was excited to be WOWed by both him and this restaurant, but only he ended up WOWing me. PARKING: Free valet!! Sooo awesome! Sets up a dinner date nicely. SERVICE: This aspect of my experience underwhelmed me the most. Our waiter was not very attentive, and whenever he lit up the Saganaki, and said OPA, his face and voice showed that he had done it 1000 times already...which he probably has, but it was my first time! He kinda killed the excitement of the blazing fire for me. FOOD: I originally wanted the Vegetarian Special Combination, but they didn't have pastitsios (booo), so I went for the Vegetarian Moussaka. I regret my choice, as it was just too intensely flavored for me. Too salty. However, my date loved it, and I loved his Sea Scallops, so he was super sweet in basically trading dishes with me =) Sighh the scallops...so plump and flavored just right. Yummy. Oh and of course we had the Saganaki, which was heavenly. I definitely wouldn't eat it too often, though, because it's oily...I thought about how many extra minutes I would have to hit the elliptical for after each bite. AMBIANCE: Love the decor! I wish we had been seated in the room with the beautiful murals of calming Greece scenes. Maybe next time. I'll definitely come back for the decor, Saganaki, and Sea Scallops...hopefully I'll have a more enthusiastic waiter next time. =)
(3)Mister M.
This is my favorite spot in Greektown. I find the atmosphere and food preparation far superior to Greek Islands. The Parthenon actually invented Saganaki. This is not a traditional Greek dish, but invented right here at The Parthenon in Chicago. What you get here is a more traditional Greek experience than you will get at Greek Islands. The food tastes like has been prepared for you, instead of taken out of the food warmers like the Islands does it. Service can be lacking at times, but the food generally makes up for it. Reasonably priced. Greek salads are wonderful Moussaka is terrific. Housemade Gyros are fantastic. Lamb dishes shine-if you are lucky you will be there when the lamb comes off the spit and gets paraded around the restaurant in a celebration of love for the animal and it's sacrifice. Reasonably priced wines served in traditional little glasses like they would do in Greece. If you are unfamiliar with Greek wine, you will be pleasantly surprised. Try a bottle of Naoussa Boutari for under $30.00 and the whole table will be happy.
(5)Meg G.
I have really enjoyed my many experiences at the Parthenon, my family has been going there for about 50 years. I am actually hosting my rehearsal dinner at the Parthenon this summer. I feel they have very reasonable prices for such large parties. I wouldn't order a steak(I can't say if its good or bad since i have never had one there) but i would say the braised lamb is delicious and appetizers are to die for. Some places over salt the Saganaki, but the Parthenon has it just right!
(5)Adam R.
Our recent experience at Parthenon was brought on by finding a great online deal but the experience was only average. We arrived right on time for a 7pm reservation, but waited 30 minutes before we were seated. Once at a table, we fell into the "service abyss" that exists somewhere in every restaurant, waiting another 15 minutes or so before a waiter came to start taking drink orders. When we went to order, the theme of the evening (at least for what we wanted) was that they were out of it. I have no issue with a restaurant wanting to keep their food fresh and thus running out at the end of a busy day, but we were not closing down the restaurant that night and I felt the missing menu items became excessive. Food was slow to arrive, but everything we ended up ordering tasted great aside from a couple more issues: a chicken entree was incredibly dry, a pork entree was incredibly tough, and two lamb entrees arrived cold. Again, we definitely enjoyed the taste of everything but stars were lost in execution here. As for atmosphere, we felt quite cramped when waiting for a table. There's almost nowhere for waiting parties to be, so everyone's just crowding into the entry or bar and running into each other. Decorations were as to be expected, but needed a refresh. The carpeting in our area was beyond worn out and the decorations and even the walls were covered in dust as if they hadn't been cleaned in a while. It was definitely a bit disconcerting. Many things about this experience would have lead me to rating this restaurant two stars, but in all that happened everyone we encountered was incredibly friendly and apologetic about any issues. I may try this restaurant again for that reason, but probably won't be rushing back
(3)Laura E.
I was here last weekend for a family reunion. About 25-30 people attended so we had the private room. Everything from the flaming cheese to the lemon rice soup to the spanakopita was great. We had a bunch of appetizers but unfortunately I can't remember exactly what they were but they were good. So good that I was full by the time the main entrees came!
(4)Yolanda S.
Absolutely Love this place!! I have been eating here since I was a kid! We come every year for my mom's birthday and we usually get the family style dinner. You can't go wrong with any of the food! The gyros are authentic, the potatoes melt in your mouth, and the saginaki has you yelling Opa because it is just that Awesome!!
(5)Liz J.
We visited The Parthenon based on a recommendation by a Greek local we encountered elsewhere in Greektown. We weren't quite ready for dinner, and only wanted drinks and an appetizer, but they didn't seem too happy about that. We ordered one appetizer for three people, but they tried to get us to each order our own. It was late in the afternoon, and they were prepping for dinner, and they clearly wanted us to either stay for a full meal, or not be there at all. It wasn't a very friendly atmosphere.
(3)Julie D.
We are long time residents of Chicago who dine out regularly - I personally, have not had a worse meal at a restaurant - ever. We took our 11 year old daughter who is working on a school project relating to Greece, with the hopes to inspire her a bit with the cuisine. To start with, the place was empty - we thought because it was off peak (2pm on Sunday). Then we found out why: Unfriendly service - the place was empty, but we were rushed to place our order. Drink order was wrong, and the waiter insulted my daughter by picking a napkin up from the table and saying "is this yours?" Simply because she didn't have it on her lap yet. All of that aside, the salad I ordered tasted like it was dressed with cheap oil and water, completely tasteless and unappealing. Then the entrees came - only two - we waited another 10 minutes for my dish. The gyros was like sliced shoe leather, completely dry, served on a pile of plain raw onions. The tzatziki sauce (which is one of my favorites) was a tasteless lump on a plate that looked like cottage cheese - not resembling a sauce in any way. The calamari was fresh (the best I can say) but VERY greasy, and the sauce it was served with, was a reasonably good herbed marinara, but cold, should have been served warm - it was not a cocktail sauce. My husband said he liked his vegetarian Moussaka, as he tried to save the day! My daughter's pasta was enough for a family of 4, but was scantly dressed with a redish sauce that tasted like apple pie, very strong on the cinnamon, served with parmesan cheese? Very strange! The place has seen better days, I'm sure. After what was a very unenjoyable family lunch, I conclude, that this restaurant at best is for the tourist passing through, with no repeat business expected. It is NOT for the discerning local who knows the difference and has many choices, or for anyone who knows good food. We were never asked how the food was! This is the very first I compelled to write a review because the experience was so despicable! This place needs to shut its doors!
(1)Noemi P.
Sat night party of 6. Took my new GREEK inlaws there for their first visit to Chicago.Would definitely not come back here. The best thing was probably the Tzatziki and the taramosalata. Our orders were messed up. drinks as well. I ordered the pastitsio and it was cold and bland. My party's food was cold in the center. Kinda tasted microwaved or reheated. I'm not an expert at greek food but my new family is and their take on it wasn't very good.
(1)Taha R.
IMPORTANT!!! If you have a Groupon, DO NOT go here. I REPEAT, DO NOT go here. DO NOT PURCHASE THE GROUPON!! This place was a horrible experience. Almost every review if not every review for this restaurant by people who used a groupon was negative. Please do not purchase the groupon! We are vegetarians and we thought there would be some decent choices on the menu for us even with the groupon. Now one reviewer below mentioned that she felt like she was being punished for using a groupon. The same happened to my brother and I. As soon as we pulled out our groupon, the waiter completely changed his attitude. Throughout the evening, we could barely get a hold of him. Every other server was around to answer any question we had. This guy dissapeared as soon as we showed him our Groupon. We told him we were vegetarians and he told us "I'll take care of you". He didn't offer any suggestions. Just gave us our food accordingly. We were served salad for our cold appetizer and hummus and eggplant dip for our hot appetizers. The salad was unbelievably oily. The hummus and eggplant dip were actually pretty decent. Now for our entree since we are vegetarians, he offered us only two vegetarian options and we asked him if there was anything else he just asked us what we wanted. I just had a plain spaghetti with marinara. Now the desert, I had a chocolate cake which was very very good! He never asked us for refills on our drinks and he came by handing us our check and saying he tipped him self. We looked and the dude tipped himself $17. The only reason I gave this one star is because the desert was fantastic and on second thought the eggplant dip was great. But I really wanted to give the restaurant 0 stars. Like I stressed dont bother if you have a groupon. NOT WORTH IT!
(1)Linda G.
We have been going to Parthenon now on a monthly basis. Definitely the best food. We compared it to Greek Islands. The food is better at Parthenon. Greek Islands has a better entrance and nice tile and a good bar set up but for food, Parthenon wins. Try the Lamb with dill and artichokes. and remember FREE PARKING in Greek Town!!! Old Town should try that.
(5)Kenneth R.
My Big Fat Greek Conference Banquet was held at the Parthenon. Plusses: fine Greektown ambiance and huge quantities of food. Negatives: the dishes were really kinda mediocre (reminiscent of a college dining hall, let's say) and the banquet seemed to last forever. After over two hours sitting at the table, I excused myself on the grounds that I needed my beauty sleep. For all I know, the banquet is still going on.
(2)Gail K.
We visited using a Travelzoo Deal last weekend with another couple. It was a good deal for a lot of food - 1 shared appetizer, Greek salad, lemon rice soup, entrée and dessert. The problem was that the entrée choice was limited to those below $15.75 so if you wanted something more expensive you had to pay the full price for it not just the difference above $15.75. Of course we chose Saganaki for the appetizer as The Parthenon invented it. The salad was fine but they brought the soup too soon and it cooled off while I was still working on the salad but was good none the less. I wanted to try something different for an entrée so ordered the kotopita (chicken and vegis in phyllo dough with a cream sauce) and it was very good. I experimented again ordering custard in plyllo dough for dessert and didn't care for it. I should have ordered the Tiramasu or chocolate mousse cake like others at the table. Portions are large so we all had leftovers to take home.
(4)Amy A.
I sooooo want to give Parthenon 5 stars, but it was just shy of a perfect score due to a few minor issues here and there. Overall it was fabulous and I would definitely come back. Like the rest of the bazillion diners last night, we had a Travelzoo voucher for a 5- course dinner for two people. I did not notice any less service or attention due to the voucher, but the restaurant was just very crowded, so service was slow. Also, the room that we were in echoed, so when we were sat next to a party of 8, it got fairly loud. Anyway, onto the food... First we shared an appetizer and we chose the Saganaki. Who doesn't love flaming cheese??? It was flavorful, fun presentation, and just downright delcious. 'Nough said. Second came the Egglemon soup. It was delicious. For those people that are gluten-free, the menu indicates that this item is one of them. Score! The only thing I would have tweaked was maybe add a tiny bit more lemon, but this one was tasty and appealed to the masses. Third came the Greek salad. Again, so yummy. Normally I am not a fan of Greek salad because they are always underseasoned and too greasy or too vinegary. This one was the right combination of everything put together. Fourth were the main entrees. This is where they fell short. We ordered 2 different entrees: Special Traditional Combination - I loved half of it and really hated the other half. Here are the components broken down piece by piece: Dolmades - Great. Flavorful, perfectly balanced. Moussaka - Too much bechamel. It tasted like flour and nothing but flour. Pastitsio - Again, too much bechamel. Tasted like flour and I could not taste anything else. Roast Lamb - AMAZING. Perfectly done. Not gamey. Not chewy. Just great flavor and texture. Poatoes - Great. A tiny bit tangy, and tiny bit roasted, perfectly fork tender. Just really nicely done. Vegetables of Peas - Good, nothing to write home about, but fine. Chicken Breast Spanaki - This is the broiled skinless breast of chicken stuffed with spinach and feta cheese. Poorly executed. The chicken was extremely overcooked and dry. Overuse of the feta on dry chicken is not a good combination. It basically tasted like a salty piece of cardboard. We also ordered braised potatoes to go with it, but they brought out the rice pilafi. It took awhile for the entrees to come out, so we didn't send it back. Rice was good, but we would have preferred the potatoes. Fifth came dessert. We ordered the crema caramel which is like a flan. FABULOUS. It was light, tasty, and perfect way to wash away the disappointing entrees. We also got ice cream which is standard. No complaints. Beverages - be careful as some are non-refillable. We got dinged twice for the 2 apple juices for my son. I ordered the Greek iced coffee and it was yummy, but it was kinda tiny and no free refills. So as you can see, there are many great elements to our meal, but they need to work on the entrees and figuring that part out. We'd come back, but we'd probably not order entrees again unless we were very specific about instructions on how to cook or prepare the items. Everything else, they've got it covered.
(4)Rebecca R.
This is good places to grab lunch. I always go there with a couple of my friends and we never had any problems with the waitresses that were serving us. My favorite thing to eat would be Kotopita. I love that with every meal they give you an option of a full meal or just lunch. The lunch is very filling, my guess would be that dinner is served in an even bigger portion. This place is usually very busy which means that you have to wait a little for your food, so be patient when going there! It is also a bit pricey. The place itself is nice, but the bathrooms are pretty yucky. After my first visit to the bathroom I decided I will never use it again. However, overall, good service and great food! Plus for Parthenon Restaurant
(3)Rebekah H.
Had an amazing Travelzoo deal and went as a party of 6. We had an amazing time, the waiters were so patient and helpful. The saganaki was delicious and well prepared. I love feeling the heat of the flame when they light it! The food was very good for the most part, the chicken lemon soup was great, the feta in the greek salad was full of flavor. I thought the suckling pig, while tender and juicy, was lacking in flavor and seasoning. All in all, another great experience and we can't wait to go back! P.S. They have free valet parking so no need to scour the streets for a spot!
(4)Sarah D.
I dined at The Parthenon last night and has a really disappointing experience. My boyfriend and I went in without a reservation and were seated within a few minutes. The restaurant itself is huge, many rooms with a large number of staff scurrying around the restaurant at all times. We were seated at a table in a back room near the kitchen. The overall appearance of the restaurant is dingy. Carpets are stained and bits of food all over. Quite unappetizing to eat in a room so filthy and hectic. We were seated and our waiter said something very quickly, which neither my boyfriend or I could understand. He seemed confused that we weren't ready to order after having just sat down, and he left without a word. He returned a few minutes later and we put our drink order in. He brought back my boyfriend's soda a few minutes afterward, but did not bring me the glass of wine I had ordered. We ordered the flaming cheese - which pretty much cannot be messed up. It was good; unfortunately that was the only thing we ate that was edible. My boyfriend ordered a lamb entree. I ordered a Greek chicken dish, and reminded the waiter I hadn't yet gotten my wine. We never did get refills on our water glasses. Our food took quite a while to come out. When it finally did, my boyfriend's lamb was cold, and my chicken was very dry. The waiter had also not asked what our preference was for side dish (potatoes, veggie, rice), so my chicken came with potatoes (my last choice). Both entrees were pretty bland and I could tell they had been sitting in the kitchen waiting to come out for a while. I've been to many Greek restaurants in this area. One of my favorites being Greek Islands. If you're in the mood for Greek food, I definitely recommend you check out yelp reviews and go elsewhere.
(1)Char Y.
We came with a coupon for meal for two. We ordered braised octopus - good but greasy saganaki - good, melting cheese! special combination - good, a selection of entrees scallops - ok, very greasy crema caramel - great, not too sweet and very soft baklava - ok galaktobeureka - ok I thought the food was ok, but tend to be on the fatty & greasy side.
(3)Caitlin S.
We came here for the first time with a groupon. Overall, I would say the food was really good. I enjoyed the flaming saganaki, eggplant spread, greek salad, and egg lemon soup. Actually, loved the egg lemon soup! However, we had an issue with one of the entrees. I ordered the chicken rigatani and loved it! Half a chicken in an oil, lemon oregano sauce with the braised potatoes. So good! My husband ordered the roast leg of lamb...because it was a greek restaurant and they supposedly specialise in lamb....big mistake. The roast leg of lamb was actually shaved lamb (looked just like gyro meat) doused in gravy...that's it...it tasted ok, but was not worth the price and looked like cafeteria food. Also, our groupon came with a bottle of house red wine....gross...stay away from this wine....I agree with other people who posted on here when they said it was watered down....it didn't taste very good, and I am almost convinced it had no alcohol content...normally if I drink half a bottle of wine I feel something....it felt like we drank a bottle of nasty tasting juice....and don't expect "red"...it was more like a rose juice. My biggest complaint though was that the entire time we stepped foot in their restaurant there was a really loud and obnoxious man that continually shouted things and dropped F bombs while he watched a basketball game on a huge tv. Apparently, my husband and I were seated in the bar...because I was first confused why a fancy restaurant would have giant tvs in the dining room... So much for a romantic date night....My husband and I saw the man and his table take several rounds of shots....so I can only imagine he was severely intoxicated. He repeatedly shouted "chang chang chang". He was very disruptive and obscene...however, no one from this establishment ever spoke with him or told him to quiet down...the entire time we ate, this man was shouting and swearing. No one apologized to us either for him ruining our dining experience. Also, this man was not a young kid...he was a grown middle aged man acting foolish....why did no one at this restaurant tell him to quiet down or cut him off?? By allowing that one guy to have a "great" night...everyone else had a crappy night...so well done...I'm sure my husband and I won't be the only ones not coming back...
(1)Carla S.
I wasn't expecting much, as my boss recommended this restaurant. Mind you he ate here back in grad school, which is more than a few years ago. But being from San Francisco and coming here to meet even more of my girlfriends family, we went along with the suggestion. Celiacs rejoice, there is a gluten free menu! And there are options. Many many options! I started with the broiled octopus and wasn't sure what I was getting into. But I saw others here loved it and thought what the hay. It was amazing. I was going to share with the table but decided not to after all! I was a bid disappointed that the flaming cheese wasn't gluten free, but after such a good dinner, I let that go! I ended up having the Greek style chicken and potatoes and it was a great choice. I think I had a whole chicken. And the potatoes were the stand out dish. Forget what everyone says about being oily - the oil is added flavor. My mouth is watering right now thinking about them. Gluten free done right!
(5)Marjorie F.
I should always listen to my Greek friend when it comes to dining in Greektown. This was the site of a Meetup event, so I thought I would sample the fare while I was here trying learn how to write a screenplay. First of all, the server seemed bothered by the fact that he was assigned to our group. Geez... Cheer up, big guy! I wanted to remind him that there are lots of people out of jobs, so he should be happy that he has one. My order was very simple: taramosalata (fish roe dip), egg lemon soup, and the gyros plate. The taramosalata looked good, but what I tasted was AWFUL. One bit and I was done with it. Blech. The waiter did not give me any pitas so I sampled it sans bread. Why would you serve me a dip without something to dip into it??? I'm wondering. Next, the egg lemon soup was delicious. It was perfect for a chilly November evening. It made me hopeful for the main course. When my main entree finally arrived, there was only ONE pita and a plateful of overcooked meat with a bunch of chopped onions underneath. The tzitziki sauce was OK, but served long before my plate arriving. It was all very unpleasant. Maybe I'm a food snob, but having wonderful experiences at other establishments in the area, I expected more. As for the restaurant as a venue for a workshop, I think that this Meetup group should investigate other options. There were two other events going on simultaneously which was very distracting as I was trying to focus on what our speaker was saying. Overall, I was not impressed by the Parthenon. There are so many other options in that part of town --- skip this one!
(2)Kate G.
As a hardcore fan of Greek Islands down the street, I had said I'd never need to try any of the other restaurants in Greektown; however I came across a Travelzoo deal that was two good to pass up. For $35, we go one appetizer (under $6.95), two small salads and soups, two entrees (under $17.95) and two desserts (under $6.95, I believe). We went on a Sunday night and the place was pretty busy. For how huge their staff was, our waiter seemed to be pretty frazzled, but the service was still fine. For our appetizer, we got the spanakopita. The filling was really good, but there definitely wasn't enough phyllo on the outside, because it was lacking flakiness. It also seemed like it had been sitting under a warmer for a couple hours, which probably contributed to the sub-par exterior. The Greek salad was standard, but good. They were out of the avoglemono soup (sad face), so we were given a navy bean soup in its place, which was actually really good. At this point, I was already getting full, so had to laugh when I was presented my ginormous entree, the special combination (dolmades, pastisio, moussaka, lamb, peas and potatoes). I did manage a couple bites of everything. Dolmades are one of my favorite Greek foods, but these were not great. The filling was mostly beef and would have benefited from more rice; it had been packed in very tightly, so it was like taking a bite of a dense hamburger patty. Normally I am not the biggest fan of lamb or pastisio, but I thought both were pretty good. As for the moussaka, it was good, but not nearly as good as the one over at Greek Islands, which is heavenly. The boyfriend had the gyros, which he seemed to enjoy. We got our desserts to go, both ordering the baklava. I got a second wind at home and tried mine. Not bad, but definitely not the best ever. If you are hoping to get dessert in Greektown, definitely walk over to Artopolis, which has absolutely amazing baklava and other desserts. The value of the Travelzoo deal was amazing and I'd say I had a good experience here, but I doubt I'd come back knowing there are better places (Greek Islands and Artopolis) just down the street.
(3)Seth F.
One of the best places in the city for a group that you don't have a reservation for (didn't want to end this sentence in a preposition so I added this parenthesis, take that Strunk & White). On more than one occasion I have had a large group of people (10+) over at my house when we were deciding on where to eat and The Parthenon wins a fair amount of the time. In my review of Greek Islands I mentioned my conflicted stance on reviewing Greek restaurants. They are usually very efficient and I've rarely been disappointed with my food. But that same efficiency generally comes with a very impersonal atmosphere, making the restaurant feel more like a factory than place to enjoy food. On top of that, I feel that every Greek restaurant's menu could be changed with another's, but the family-style option here is what sets it apart (and why it's so good for groups). Parties of 2 or more can order a prix fixe option that comes with like 7 courses (most of which is what you would typically order at a Greek restaurant anyways) and it only costs $20 a person. That's a dern good deal and a great option if you're looking to satisfy a group with some members who don't like to spend a lot on a meal. They also have a house wine, which we eventually discovered is most likely just white wine with some cranberry juice mixed in, but still order it despite it losing its mystique.
(4)J N.
Went here with three others, so I was able to try 4 main course dishes. They were all pretty average. It mystifies me that it is so busy. Perhaps they have a loyal following? It is a family type establishment-- nothing wrong with that, but be prepared for lots of kids running loose, cheap and boring dishes lacking subtle flavor, with an emphasis on portion rather than taste. Like a greek Denny's (or other family style chain). This place was awful on so many levels- obvious that they are cheaping out on quality. They are making shortcuts on ingredients and wine quality and it shows. The waiter was very nice, but not helpful, and incredibly inattentive. When I asked about the different wines he always said "it's nice ". Well, he was wrong. The two reds we tried were of poor quality. we had to send the first one back because it had changed into vinegar. i am not a wine snob and for me to send back anything it would have to be completely unacceptable. We started with the lemon rice soup. Ugh. I am certain that the broth was from a can. It tasted like Campbell's chicken soup with rice. You would think the management would notice that no one finished it.. I had the spinach pie. I asked the waiter for spanikopita and that's what he suggested. I was soooooo disappointed. It was almost indelible it was so salty. Yes, I know, feta can be salty. However, they should have balanced the feta with the spinach in proper proportion. The phyllo was good but only on the top layer. I guess this is easier to make than real spanikopita. Too bad they don't make it! The roast chicken was way too dry. But if u like dry chicken order it because the portion is huge. The roast lamb was tough and way over cooked. I don't recommend it. One in the party ordered steak. Personally, I think it is kinda silly to order steak in a Greek restaurant, but anyhow... it was a meager cut, thin, over-priced and unseasoned. Although we told the waiter at the start that we need two checks and he thanked us for telling him in advance, he forgot at the end and we had to wait a long time for him to fix this problem. When he finally did bring up the final checks he hadn't bothered to actually seperate the items , so we had no idea who was paying for what. Our table was next to the dish station in the back. The bus boys smashed and crashed so many dishes it was impossible to talk. I even heard a few breaking. It is my feeling that these guys must hate jobs and are trying to get fired.! The hostess came by and asked if we were enjoying our meal, then didn't really wait for an answer. We skipped dessert. The womens bathroom was a mess. Yuck. Over all, I would go to this other Greek place nearby. I also reviewed them. The competitor is by far a better restaurant.
(1)Carrie W.
The Parthenon has become a mainstay to our friends and family... Every January we go out to celebrate my Brother.in .law's birthday.... about 12 of us came out to celebrate amongst the frozen tundra (usually there would be more of us... but the flu took them out) to celebrate "Grecian-style". On this specific night the place was very busy... after a beverage or two at the bar we made our way to this cozy little back room (it was just our large party and another party, about the same size). Our friend Jimmy took the helm and talked to the waiter that was assigned to our table.... The food and wine then started coming out in waves.... We started of course with their house "the pink kind" wine; this stuff is so smooth it's dangerous! (All night we never had an empty bottle) Food-wise.... You can never go wrong... The "waves" started with your Saginaki... which was flamed up tableside, with all that came out (about six orders) it could've started a five alarm fire! That was eaten very quickly, since we ALL love it... scraping the leftover molten cheese off of the hot metal plate... spread it on some of their bread... HEAVEN! More wine... Gyros and pita came out next... And don't forget the Tzazhiki! They make it all in house. All in house... the meat itself was a little bit drier than I was used to, but that's not a bad thing. They use a blend of meats... and they don't use any preservatives or fillers... and the flavor was so there, spot on! Even more wine... Octopus, my favorite came out... Has to be the best octopus in town... perfectly brined and grilled... always the best! This was followed by a traditional Greek salad. The wine just kept coming.... Now came the Lamb Chops, Greek Chicken, rice... green beans.... and potatoes... this part was more a tidal wave; surfs up? Don't stop a pouring.... The Lamb Chops, always grilled to perfection... the Greek Chicken, always so juicy... the rice, always love the rice; always so good (I went for 3rds!)... the green beans, a group favorite... and the potatoes, who doesn't like potatoes? And then came dessert.... all the Greek classics were offered.... and coffee too... We ended our evening back in the bar, and end all be all closed the place down. Is that a bad thing?! So for a group or for a table of two, The Parthenon has a lot of great options out there for everyone. Check it out and give it a try!
(4)John D.
Great late night service. Pleasant helpful staff. Food was well worth the trip. This is now my go to Greek restaurant when I am in Chi Town.
(4)Ben S.
I'm no connoisseur of Greek cuisine so keep moving if you would like something more critical or professional. The restaurant was packed so there are definitely some good things to report. We had a party of eight with the infants and had no problem with the space or service. The place was a bit noisy but the baby slept through it like a champ. My favorite part of the meal was the house wine, Roditis (spelling), so that should tell you a little bit about the food. Wine was very reasonable and tasted great. Flaming cheese appetizer was good but a bit greasy. The soup was decent and the Greek salad was very good. But the entrees were mediocre and I was not a fan of the desserts. I had the meatballs which were ok and the rest of the table had gyros and spanakopita. The pita was good but the spanakopita was made with frozen creamed spinach and was not memorable. I give the place a 3 for the wine alone. Everything else was blah.
(3)Amy R.
We had a LARGE group for lunch, and it was great! They gave us a private section, and the service was fantastic for a group that size. We didn't have to wait long for our appetizers or our entrees! And the portions....enormous! We had a cheese appetizer which they flambed on the spot, and it was really gooey and delicious. I ordered the gyro, and it was pretty much a plateful of meat, but they were the kinda crispy texture I like. The only negative is that you have to specifically ask for the pita bread, which I thought was weird. Everyone at the table seemed to enjoy their food, and there were plenty of leftovers for the next day! I highly recommend it for the price and portion and especially if you're in greektown.
(4)Mahsa T.
Lunch special is a good value ($10) and includes soup, salad and entree. Portions are small but enough for lunch. Egg lemon soup and Greek salad were good but my gyros entree had too much fat on the meat, never seen gyros with that much visible fat on it. Probably the worst gyros I've had. I had a taste of my friend's tilapia and that was good. Service was friendly but painfully slow, especially if you're in a hurry to get back to work. Free valet is a plus. The food and service at Greek Islands is much better.
(3)Bonnie A.
The saganaki is a must. I love watching them set the cheese on fire and say OPPAH! It always makes my day. I really like the eggplant moussaka. It is my favorite dish there. You can never go wrong with that.
(4)Liz O.
This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in general. The food is delicious, the service is great, the atmosphere is lively -- what more can you ask for? My all time favorite dish here is the Grilled Octopus...super delicious! I also like the location, it is accessible by train and they have valet. It is a perfect place for a Friday night date...
(4)Chris M.
Great place. Highly recommend the lamb chops, the flaming saganaki (very unique!), meze platter. Family friendly. Free valet parking.
(4)Barry f.
I have been coming here since I was a child. Great food. I recommend the braised lamb, Gyro, and the saganaki. Everything else is pretty good as well. Great place and very nice ownership. Love it! Also they changed up the menu in 2013 so check it if you have not tried it.
(5)Janet E.
We came here straight off the blue line (Halsted stop). Super easy to get to. Snagging a table here was easy too because the restaurant is very large. They had a private party in their party room that did not disrupt our dinner or food service at all. (And if it did, I did not notice) We shared the pan fried zucchini with skordalia (cold garlic mashed potato dip), egg lemon soup, and braised lamb with rice pilaf. Plenty of food for two people and we even had left overs. The service here was good but not better than Greek Islands. The servers didn't seem happy themselves so I could sense they were not going to go out of their way to make us happy. We saw two waiters standing around talking to each other. When we called them to tell them we were ready to order, they said they would call our waiter over to take our order. I guess they don't do team work service here?
(3)Andrew S.
I've been a couple times and have made this my go-to Greek in Chicago. The saganaki always comes out correctly, and lamb and rice never disappoints. Service can be spotty at times depending on your server. If I could individually rate the food and service the food would get a 4 and service would get a 3.
(4)Kristin K.
Aaaaaahhmazing. Great authentic Greek food, great selection, good prices. Lots of seating. Their specialty fried cheese with brandy is excellent as is there lemon rice soup. I had the pastitsio which was pretty good. I would love to come back when I'm back in Chicago. They also have a little market where you can buy Greek groceries.
(5)Richie D.
WOW! I have hit up almost all the Greektown restaurants and eventually found myself always going to Greek Isles next door (well until they were shut down by the health commission). This time I guess I saved "the best for last" by venturing into The Parthenon. I'm SO glad I did. According to all the newspaper/magazine postings on the walls, it is supposedly home to the famous Saganaki burnt cheese and gyro! I wanted to try something different so I ordered the Kotopita (Crisp phyllo case filled with boneless chicken and vegetables, served with rice). For all those dill fans, this is a not-to-miss. Another little thing: Service is always attentive and authentic in Greektown, but not necessarily friendly. Our waiter at Parthenon made us feel at home with all his jokes stated in his sexy accent. He definitely added the cherry to the top of the cake. Don't go elsewhere! And with all the rest of Greektown, take advantage of the free valet. One downfall could be no outdoor seating.
(5)Jennie C.
Have to give this only 3 stars. Came here with the travelzoo voucher, which got us a ton of food. The saganaki was excellent, though a bit runnier than any other I've encountered (not a bad thing, just pointing out the difference). The egglemon soup tasted like neither, but it was hearty & warm. Greek salad was nice and crisp but my veggies were drowned in the dressing. Friend got the rotisserie lamb, which was very dry. My stewed lamb was fork tender and richly flavored, but it seemed kind of greasy too. Desserts were letdowns...tiramisu flavors didn't really marry, and the galaktoboureko was surprisingly hard. But they win points for not making the desserts cloyingly sweet. Service was excellent if a bit slow, but it was a busy night. My biggest problem with them was the valet. Right in front of my eyes, he made a huge U-turn on Halsted st even though there were cars coming at him (my car!), slammed on the brakes and ended up grazing one of the traffic cones in front of the restaurant. I'd think twice before valeting my car with them again.
(3)Jeffrey Z.
The service was a 0/5, the atmosphere was a 1/5, the food was a 2/5. Any time we needed the waiter, we had to ask a random busser because he never came to check on us. The egg lemon soup was perfect after I added a little extra lemon, and it was the highlight of the night. The flaming cheese and spinach-cheese pie appetizers were ok. The gyros was the absolute worst I've ever had, and I've had a lot of gyros. It tasted like a cross between beef jerky and old end pieces of fatty steak. There are plenty of other options in Greek Town...
(2)Sandra M.
The food is great here...what else can I say. The lamb, rice, potatoes, the cold garlic mashed potato appetizer, flaming cheese...YUM! We had my son's Baptism luncheon here and they took great care of us. We had about 100 people in the party room. The food came on time, hot, delicious, and I was able to relax and enjoy the afternoon.
(4)Lucy N.
We bought the Travelzoo voucher but I still feel robbed. They have, very sneakily made the limit for the entrée course $17.85 - so of course the better items on the menu are all $17.95+...there really wasn't anything that caught my eye and it is not possible to pay the extra to get the better items either. The 'greek salad' was a pile of iceberg lettuce with a square of feta, two olives, two bites of cucumber and two segments of tomato. An authentic greek salad it certainly was not. The soup was an unappetising glob of blandness. All of the food was very poorly presented. I had a terrible upset stomach the next day which I'm blaming on the humungous pile of fried mini-fish I was presented with. I am sure that no human being could consume that much. The baklava was reasonable but probably store bought. They are only getting two stars because the waiter was adorable.
(2)Alice D.
This place has tasty food! I liked what my friend and I ordered. My complaint is that the service is quite below average. We were ignored for such a long time for this and that. It took so long to get our check that we were wondering if we left, how long would it take for them to notice. But the food is pretty good.
(4)Mike K.
$12.95 for a gyro feast and this idiot argues with me over ketchup packets? I asked him for six little packets he says "I give you two" Opens up the ketchup vault and forks over two more with a look of distain on his face. So, my advise go down the block to one of the other 10 gyro places that don't micro manage ketchup. And when I asked him for two more he said " I already gave you four" These are like really small packets. They give you more packets of ketchup on Maxwell street when you get a polish. For a really nice looking fancy smancy place they sure acted pretty low class. I was also disappointed with the lack of meat in this $12.95 feast. It was worth at most $8.00 Not very much meat more onions than anything. Wonder when this place with be for lease. Must be loosing money.
(1)Jonathan C.
If you want to eat at the first place that 'made' Saganaki (Flaming Cheese), then come on in. It is a good tourist spot because almost everyone I know thinks saganaki is an authentic Greek dish, sort of surprising as brandy is not traditionally thought of as a Greek liquor. But the food is not my favorite Greek food in the Chicago area. For that I usually go to one of the Greek restaurants near my parent's house in Niles. We have some Greek family friends who prefer those to Greek town, so I take their word on that. All in all, go here for your standard run of the mill, nothing suprisingly good, nothing suprisingly bad Greek meal. I, for one, would only eat here if other people really wanted to.
(3)Geo P.
We went here Sat nite. There was no wait. We walked in even thou we were 20 mins late . The food was very good . I love the gyros plater...The services was great too!! I'd come back again !!
(4)Ed U.
"Dance? Did you say dance?...O-PAH!" Want to smash a plate? Dream about dancing the Sirtaki shoulder-to-shoulder with a mustachioed waiter? Ah yes, my friend...when you are in Chicago, you must come to Greektown. And when you are in Greektown, you must eat at the Parthenon. You can feel like an extra in a restaurant scene from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". Everyone here talks like Anthony Quinn in "Zorba the Greek". Even the women. They must all be related because they want you to feel like you are in their home back in the old country. There are painted murals of the Greek islands on the wall to take you away. All the waiters are in their crisp whites. If this isn't a port on the island of Crete, it sure must be close. I arrived a little before 11AM just as they opened for lunch and was immediately seated in the main dining room. As an opener, I had what else but the $4.50 Greek Salad with anchovies (see photo) - very fresh tasting with a big square of feta cheese and a wonderful vinaigrette. My main entree was the $12.95 Braised Lamb, a hearty portion of meat that was falling right off the bone (see photo). It came with lots of rice to sop up the juice. This is good, gut-busting comfort food, perfect for a brisk, wintry day. Take advantage of the city's diverse ethnic neighborhoods because you are unlikely to find more authentic Greek food outside of Greece. At least that's what they told me...and I believe them. O-PAH! FOOD - 4 stars...lamb falling off the bone...how you say "yum-o" in English? AMBIANCE - 4 stars...yep, it's a Greek restaurant alright SERVICE - 4 stars...they want you to eat good and have good time...O-PAH! TOTAL - 4 stars...a must-stop on your around-the-world Chicago dining circuit
(4)Marissa M.
So there were other restaurants more packed on Halsted in the Greek Town area, but my brother wanted to go to this one after hearing about it from a friend we all trust as a foodie and chef. Huge dining area, but there was food under my table from previous diners, which made me want to move. I hate when things aren't perfectly clean when I am dining. It seemed lazy and made me feel like anything could be dirty after that. Not a good way to start the dining experience. The food though was stellar. I ordered the braised octopus, my brother had some Greek sampler thing and my Mom got spinach and cheese stuffed chicken. EVERYTHING was delicious! I ate my Mom's leftovers for lunch the next day cold and it still was packed with flavor. My octopus made it out the door in my belly...I did not have any leftovers...nor did my brother. If the floor under my table had been cleaned up, I would have rated this place higher. Grade: B -Worth checking out. Street parking I think.
(3)J N.
We got a Travelzoo voucher for the Parthenon. $35.00 for five courses for two people,the meal was fine. Service was slow and the room was loud. The waiter lost interest when he saw the voucher. BUT The "complimentary" valet parking just ruined it!!!! I told the valet the took my Jeep how to open the door. He must not have passed it along to the guy that returned it. He could not get out of the drivers side door because he broke the door mechanism. I had to crawl across the front seat to get in, and had to do so every time I drove until I could get it repaired . It cost $97.00 to have it repaired. So my meal cost us $132.00 I emailed the Parthenon but to date, no reply. There was no disclaimer on the "free complimentary parking' sign prominently displayed in front of the restaurant. Employers are liable for damages to property done by employees. We won't be back. Go to Roditys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)Dee D.
I was here a while back with two of my now deceased aunts, and BOY was the food great. Being as naive as I was about Grecian food at the time, I ordered chicken. I mean, how can you go wrong with chicken? Service was quick. Dropped a napkin? Replaced before you can even think to ask. Drinks refilled automatically. Good background music. The food was off the chain. I will be back.
(5)Nikki K.
Just finished dinner and there's nothing to mull over... Hands down, the worst dining experience in Chicago. Our food was lukewarm at best, and my entree was cold. It was tasty, but it was obvious that my pasta was pre-made, sliced into a brick and served without a visit to an oven to warm up. I never saw the waiter check up on us. But what's terrible is that when the waiter asked us if we wanted boxes, I asked him if the dish was meant to be served cold. He told me that no, it wasn't. He brought back our check and tried to play it on me, like it was my fault or that I was trying to scam him out of a cold $14 pasta dish. "You should've said something." Apparently he did check in with one member of our party on the end, but he NEVER checked with me. And he should have because I needed another drink as well! We all had empty glasses. What decent restaurant lets that happen? Shoddy service and the server (short, pudgy, shaved head) should be moved to the bar/carry out orders only. If he sincerely apologized for my food being cold without the attitude, I might have given this restaurant another chance. Now? I'm telling everyone to avoid the place. The food's cold and the service is unprofessional. Never!
(1)Erica P.
Good food. Good service. Great ambience.
(3)Kandi G.
I love Greektown, I enjoy going to the restaurant itself - but this is about catering. Although their food was good, delivery went well, and they tried to work with me to fix the issues - I was very disappointed in the serving sizes for the cost of the catering order. When you go to the restaurant you always receive an ample portion, catering was a different story. I would go to the restaurant again, but won't do catering.
(1)Courtney W.
This is hands down my favorite place in Greek Town and quite possibly my favorite Greek restaurant period! What do I love about this place? First, they provide free valet parking. Not many places do this anymore and finding street parking in the area is almost impossible. When you walk in, everyone is extremely friendly and you are treated like royalty the minute you walk in. I have eaten here about fifteen times and I have never received poor service. They handle large groups well and it doesn't take three hours for all of the food to come out. Now, for the food. Start out with an order of the saganaki (goat cheese). It isn't rubbery like most places and it has just the right amount of salt. Scoop some onto one of the poppy seed slices of bread at the table and you've got a winning appetizer. Get the greek salad, they'll even give you some extra amazing feta on the side. It's a huge salad and easily feeds a large group. The dressing is amazing. For the main course, get the supreme lamb chops. They are rather large and deliciously juicy. They come with a plate of rice and some lemon potatoes and both could be great meals by themselves. For dessert, the lemon custard pastry with honey is fantastic. I can never remember the Greek name of it but it's heavenly. Let me not forget the alcohol, the rodidas wine is to die for. I brought home an entire jug of it the other day for some friends. It comes from Greece and they store it in giant jugs in the basement. Everything considered, this is a great spot in Greek Town. I haven't found a better place for lamb chops. It's a no frill establishment that has been in the area for quite some time.
(5)Tera D.
So fun! I highly recommend the Parthenon for a group dinner outing. They have a great family style menu for only $20 per person, which really has something for everyone and will leave you stuffed. We went with a party of 8 on a Saturday night. At first it looks like a fairly nice restaurant where a group shouldn't be too loud or obnoxious - not true! Once flaming cheese starts flying out of the kitchen every 5 minutes, you can't help but get a little rowdy! They also have a big wine list with lots of bottles in the $20 range, so you can definitely have a very reasonably priced night of fun. Extra bonus - they take reservations. Some of the other restaurants in Greek Town do not.
(4)Susan C.
Oopa! Oopa! Before I left California for Chicago, friends told me the Windy City was perhaps the place for the best Greek food outside of Greece. The Parthenon did not disappoint me. What a menu. Just about everything Greek you could think of -- a fantastic selection of hot appetizers, cold appetizers, tapas, salads, vegetables, soup, pasta, lamb, chicken, beef, pork, seafood, desserts, wines. The restaurant is vegetarian friendly, too. For an appetizer, my 'ol college roommate and I settled on the house specialty: Saganaki or mild kaseri cheese flamed in brandy. The waiter delivered it on his arm served in a round dish and set the gooey, stringy, delicious dairy product on fire with liquor, all the while crying Oopa as other wait staff joined in. My braised lamb simmered in tomatoes and wine was so tender it fell off the bone. And the serving size so ample, I had it boxed and gave it away to a local leaving the restaurant since I had no place to keep it. It came with rice pilafi cooked to perfection. My friend ordered skinless breast of chicken broiled with lemon and oregano; it also came with rice pilafe. The taste, moist and tender, and the serving size, again, ample. We wanted to order dessert and quite frankly were too full. Service was good and friendly. Definitely not intimate dining yet a lively atmosphere that made eating here festive and lots of fun.
(4)Nancy G.
We ordered through Delivery Wow and the food took almost two hours to be delivered and it was horrible. The gyros plate was totally dried out and they didn't include any sauce. spanakopita was greasy and small. We couldn't have been more disappointed.
(1)B L.
If I had to choose the best in Greektown, Greek Isles would be it, but Parthenon is a very close second. I've had a banquet here with about 30 people and the prices were extremely, extremely reasonable. The servers were very nice and I was very pleased with the experience. On a side note I tried booking the banquet at Greek Isles first but was unable to. I think it was a blessing in disguise because it let me try this place out. Give it a whirl!
(5)Jean C.
I ordered the avoglemono out from here a few weeks ago with my friend. She was in the mood for soup or rice so I said, why not both? She hadn't tried this before and I told her that she would love it. We placed the order to be ready for an 11:15am pick up. They were on time and when we brought our soup back, it was still piping hot. The bread was plentiful and perfect for dipping into the soup. It wasn't the best avoglemono I've had in Greektown but it still hit the spot. The price for the soup was inexpensive and the service was friendly. I'll definitely be ordering from here again since it's so damn close to work.
(4)Lizabee H.
I have been coming to the Parthenon for about 30 years - literally since I was born. I am a HUGE Greek food fanatic, and can honestly say that no other restaurant in Greek town compares. The food here is consistently awesome and the owners are friendly and wonderful. But now onto the most important part - THE FOOD! I think with any restaurant there are standout dishes. I can't say I've ever had a bad meal here, but there are certainly dishes that I always order, and are the best Greek meals I've ever had in chicago. Here are my ultimate go tos - the all time favorites! 1) Cold Combination Appetizer plate: I ALWAYS order this. This cold combination plate is the best I've had anywhere PERIOD. Included in this plate is marinated cold octopus (frickin delicious!), bean salad with dill and olives, taramosalata (fish roe spread), melitzanosalata (eggplant-garlic spread), a dolmade and a cheese puff. This cold plate alone, for one, is enough with bread to be a meal. If there are two of you, only order the cold combo plate for one - it is PLENTY of food. If you have four guests, order it for two. Another excellent appetizer is the broiled octopus - the most tender octopus I've ever had. Order it, you won't be sorry! 2) Tigania: at the Parthenon, their Tigania is slow cooked pork medallions in a wine-tomato based sauce. AH-MAZING. Not only is it my favorite dish at the Parthenon, but it's my favorite Greek dish period. The pork is soft and melts in your mouth, the sauce is soooooo flavorful, and the rice absorbs all the goodness. It's an easy dish to overlook. Don't overlook it! Order order order!!! 3) I am not a pork chop fan. Typically I don't like them at all. BUT, the pork chops at the Parthenon are the JUICIEST pork chops I've ever had in my life. GET THEM. 4) Best Moussaka I've had. 5) Whole fish of the day prepared Greek-style. GET IT. My dad's favorite, along with the lamb chops. 6) Lamp chops - GET THEM. Huge, and like butter. 7) Lamb with artichokes is delicious. 8) My favorite avgolemono (egg-lemon soup). 9) For vegetarians, their veggie combination entree is delicious and huge. 10) The rotisserie roasted greek chicken is AMAZING. SOOOO juicy and delicious. When you bite into it you will be shocked. Another easy dish to overlook on the menu and assume is boring. DON'T overlook it!!! SOOOO good!!!!!!!! 11) All the entrees come with a side - I highly recommend going with the braised eggplant, braised okra, or the spinach rice (served on weekends). Typically they just give you rice or potatoes as a side. Ask specifically for one of the above dishes. There are waiters that have been working here for thirty years. It's an institution. Get a bottle of house Roditis wine, put some lemons in it the Greek way, sit with your cold combo plate, and enjoy! The other places in Greektown just don't compare. Don't follow the sheeple and tourists and go to other places like the Greek Islands. Over the years I have tried other places and always felt disappointed and underwhelmed. The Parthenon is a Chicago classic and probably my favorite place in Chi-town! I have never made a reservation here in my life, so I wouldn't worry about trying...I didn't even know they took them, except for large parties! The wait is usually very very quick, so no worries about this issue. Oh - and free Valet parking, of course :) Oh, and just FYI, the Parthenon invented the deeeeeelicious flaming saganaki!!!! 'Nough said.
(5)Jenny F.
The BEST Greek food in Chicago. I have been coming here for years and the staff is friendly, the atmosphere is nice, and the food is AMAZING!!!! I love it.
(5)Matt C.
As I stated in my Mr. Greek Gyro review, I am Greek. Very much so! So when I stayed in Greektown during my first visit to Chicago, I stayed in the Parthenon Hostel which also has a restaurant right next to it! When I checked in I discussed with the person who was working there about a good Greek restaurant to eat at for dinner and she told me that the Parthenon next door is good AND I get a discount for staying at the Hostel! This was perfect for a 21 year old with a budget! So, I went and had the best food experience that I had in Chicago. I've been to Greek restaurants, I've eaten Greek food. We have a nice Mediterranean restaurant here in Upstate NY called Aladdin's, but this place is what I have been looking for. When you first walk in the decor, the people, everything says traditional Greek and as I walked in I got excited because I knew that I was in for a good experience. We sat down and checked out the menu and I was excited to read all of these delicious foods that my YiaYia and her friends would make homemade on different occasions. Spanakopita, Gyro, Saganaki, Moussaka - so many choices. My fiancee ordered the Spanakopita and I ordered the Moussaka for our entrees and we ordered Saganaki for an appetizer. If you didn't know Saganaki is a traditional cheese dish that when the waiter brings it out for you they actually start it on fire, yelling 'Opa'! According to Wikipedia, this actually started here at this restaurant. I don't know if that's true or not, but it's pretty cool nonetheless. The entrees were delicious. The Moussaka was perfect and just like my YiaYia and her friends make! The Béchamel sauce was delicious, as was the meat and eggplant. I am unsure about whether the meat was traditional lamb or beef, but it didn't matter to me because I actually have never (knowingly) ate it with lamb and it was delicious anyway! I have yet to find a Spanakopita that I can successfully compare to my YiaYia's, but this is as close as it comes! My YiaYia's is less spinach and more cheese, when most Spanakopita that I find is the opposite. In conclusion, this is definitely my favorite place that I have eaten at in Chicago thus far and I'd be interested in finding more Greek restaurants that I can compare to this! Opa!
(5)Kathryn R.
The Verdict: Go for the saganaki, then leave to eat somewhere else. One star for the saganaki, one star for the location and valet parking. On a Saturday night I ended up apologizing to my out of town guests for the rushed service, loud environment, and overly salted poor quality food. In the room we were sat there were even crooked pictures on the wall. This place has gone downhill in recent years. It used to be a family owned and run business. The attention to detail, flavor, and service are not worth the prices or the stomach ache afterwards.
(2)Eric D.
Chicago has a great Greek population and thus some great Greek restaurants. This one was decent and had a very friendly staff w/ a great table show of the flaming Saganaki...they created it! Atmosphere - Loud, touristy, bright, traveling card reader, flamethrowers over there over here. Food - I had the braised lamb - full dinner, which for $23 came w/ egg-lemon soup, Greek salad, and baklava which I split w/ some Galaktoboureko (vanilla custard). I am a dessert fool. The soup and salad were decent. The lamb was good but had starchy gravy poured over the top. Next time I would ask that it not gravy-fied. The desserts were great! If I had to choose I would go w/ the Galaktoboureko. But I like custard. I chickened out opting for the Saganaki as I have a problem w/ cheese. It still looked good and watching the waitstaff light it was amusing. Service - Friendly, helpful and prompt. This place is a machine! Price - The $23-ish full dinner/ combo meal is a decent bargain in the area. Overall - None of the dishes w/ exception of the desserts made me go "yeah, I need to get back here".
(3)Ariana T.
Better than I thought, love the octopus and the pita, the salad is great.
(4)Paul S.
Soooo much to eat & delicious - let me tell you. Our meal. The yummy Saganaki - can you say "Ooooppah". Also had delicious mini spinach cheese pies Entrees Kotopita (Greek chicken pot pie) And Scallops Saganaki a LaSoto. Huge scallops with a tomatoe based sauce and rice. Our server was Elias - very friendly.
(5)Steve P.
If you have a Travelzoo, do yourself a favor and throw it right in the shredder, just consider the $35 a sunk cost. It is not a deal at all. We prob saved like $10 overall and were unimpressed about nearly everything. My fiancé wanted to surprise me with it and take me to an "authentic" Greek restaurant; I almost broke up with her for choosing this place; just kidding. We thought we had a choice for the appetizer, soup, and salad but our waiter brought us some fried cheese appetizer, which was awful, some thrown together salad, OK at best, and lemon-egg soup which was nearly inedible. Following these courses we had the octopus and lambs leg for dinner. Wow, were these terrible. The octopus was swimming in oil so I had to douse in lemon to offset the oil taste. The lamb was very overcooked and was covered in some brown sauce, which seemed to be the kind that came from a can at Dominicks - needless to say, this was not appetizing at all. For dessert we had ice cream and chocolate cake, this was the best part of the meal and would recommend to only come here for this if your tried the restaurant. One other plus for the restaurant was the Greek wine, elios; would recommend this and lots of it to make the food taste better. Also, the waiters seemed to treat us differently compared to other tables. They only came by after the meal was nearly done but were very attentive once they dropped the check and waited to get a tip. The plates we had seemed to be presented very different from other tables - ours seemed to have been sloppily thrown together and were half the size of other plates being carried around the restaurant. Not sure who rated this place above two stars, which would beg me to ask, have you even been to another establishment outside of McDonalds or Subway? Do yourself a favor and go to one of the gyro places a few storefronts north, they are 100x better.
(1)Riley B.
My fiance insisted we go to The Parthenon one evening as she had been eating their all her life. I thought to myself, like an idiot, (like I'm sure many of you do when walking/driving down Halsted/Greek Town) that the other more "posh" looking places had to have better food, service, etc. But man was I wrong! We pulled up. Got free valet parking. Walked in to friendly smiles. Sat down. The old waiter (who had been my fiance's server millions of times previously) was reminiscing that he knew her when she was just a little baby. He remembered exactly what she wanted to order (without asking) - Roditis and a Cold Combo Appetizer. Holy moly was it delicious! I couldn't stop eating the delicious foods in the appetizer (cold octopus, bean salad, taramosalata = the best, melitzanosalata, dolmade, and a cheese puff). Then came the meal, Tigania (slow cooked pork medallions in a wine-tomato sauce). After the appetizer and bread I was nearing belt-busting but it was too delicious to not finish! On subsequent visits I've managed to save some to take home in a doggie-bag and, man oh man, is it delicious the next day! Also, according to wikipedia (with references) The Parthenon invented saganaki - which, of course, their's is delicious. All in all, go to the Parthenon for great food, great service, great value, and an overall amazing experience. Keep going and the dedicated staff (which seems like they've all been their forever) will get to know you.
(5)Laura K.
Atmosphere was a 5, food was a 3. We went here on a Saturday night with a group of 8 and luckily this place took reservations. It is a great place for big groups both the atmosphere and the menu. There was flaming cheese being served left and right, and they even do the whole Happy Birthday singing for people's bdays (the table next to us). So with our group of 8, not once did I feel like we needed to take it down a notch which was great - especially with all the wine that was being consumed. As far as the menu, they offer a very reasonable family style menu ($20/pp) where they bring you a TON of food: greek salad, flaming cheese, gyros, chicken, macaroni with eggplant, dessert, etc. While the food wasn't the best I have had, I still was impressed with the amount they bring and left feeling full and pretty satisfied. So overall, I really enjoyed my experience here, however I think the next time we venture out to Greek Town, I will want try somewhere different.
(4)Tom O.
Not a fan of Greek food. But was invited as a guest to meet there before a Hawks game, so I didn't want to be rude. Figured I'd hang out, then go to the UC and eat a hot dog. I decided to try the Gyros, again, not to be rude. It was AWESOME!!! Then decided to try to flaming cheese (saganaki). FANTASTIC!!! Then tried the meatballs with onions (I think the meatballs were made with lamb). DELICIOUS!!! I tried a few more, liked most of them too. The staff was great, extremely attentive which I really appreciate. I've already gone back, just a really nice experience!!! And they have complimentary valet, which is nice too.
(5)Leaha P.
The Parthenon has been the place to go in my family for many years. My grandfather was born in Greece and first took me here when I was a kid. We take the train into Chicago so we don't have to worry about parking. It is the best stress free way to enjoy Chicago. This place is all about family and great food. The Saganaki is always fun to get because it is flamed in brandy right at your table. The moussaka is something never to pass up when you come here it is rich but they also have a vegetarian choice. The wonderful people who own the Parthenon have kept up and amazing place to enjoy food, family and of course the Ouzo. I try to go back every year when I visit my family in Chicago. I will always love the Parthenon!
(5)Nicolas L.
No offense, but you people are crazy. Do not come to this restaurant if you have any hopes of having a decent meal. I will say that the service was fantastic--prompt and friendly. The service was the only good thing about our experience here. Drink menu--the wine list leaves much to be desired. Course one--appetizer: we ordered the saganaki and gyros. The saganaki was good (standard for saganaki). The gyros were tasteless and fatty. Very strange. I've never had fat strips on gyros meat, and there was virtually no seasoning on the meat. It was dry as well. Course two--greek salad--skip itand save yourself 5 bucks. Iceburg lettuce with a few veggies. Course three--We ordered two meals--Pork chops and the combo platter: The pork chop was decent. Could have been better. There was nothing "stand out" about it. I could have cooked it at home. The combo platter was a disaster. It looked like banquet hall food. The "lamb" was actually a slice of beef (who are you trying to fool!) and the dolmades were gooey and tasteless. The moussaka was pretty yummy though. Course four: the baklava was yummy, the flan was blah and the vanilla custard with phyllo dough was pretty good. Bottom line: The server was great and the food was awful. We had tons of leftovers and didn't bring any home. An overall disappointment. We will not be coming back. Even though the prices are cheap, the food isn't worth it. You'd be better off making a frozen meal at home!!
(1)Anne S.
We just went here again last week for my birthday, and I realized I should have tons of updates for this place to show how many times I have been here. I couldn't help buy notice that there were tons of large groups (15+) in the dinning room. It made me think of how perfect that place would be for a group outing. It's a friendly place, with great food, and they handle groups well!
(5)Andrea H.
So half of my family is Greek, so I know I've been here before, but I don't really remember it. Seems like this will be the case in a few years as well. I came here with a group of 10 the other night. Our server was good, the food was good (I like how they offer half portions), the atmosphere was family friendly. All around good, but nothing was too memorable. Except for maybe the palm reader... A few of the girls had their palms read. I swear one of the girls was looking at the lady like she was completely nuts when she gave her the results. Turns out I was wrong, apparently she was exactly right. So yeah, if you like to have your palm read, you are in the right place.
(3)Sheila T.
We purchased a TravelZoo Voucher for The Parthenon and our party didn't know what to expect but we were all looking forward to the experiencing. The Voucher was very specific in that we could only redeem on specific days and not on any holidays, Greek or otherwise. Also, it included 1 each appetizer, soup, salad, entrée and dessert all within a specific dollar amount which ended up being on the high side of each course. The PROs: The Saganaki! It was very good. The presentation was done well. The downside; it's usually served with some form of flat bread for spreading. We were served bread at our sit down but it was gone by the time the saganaki arrived. Our Server was 4-star! He was engaging and informative. It was very busy and he did a good job with checking on us regularly. Our water glasses and drinks were continually refreshed. The Valet! An absolute must. The Dessert! Not bad at all. The CONs: The Salads. They were drenched in oil and the lettuce was soggy with it. The Lemon Rice Soup: Very salty! The entrees. None of us were satisfied. The quality was poor. The lamb was especially fatty, the rice dish was unpleasant. No one could finish their dishes. This was unexpected and disappointing. We were glad to have had the opportunity to visit this establishment, but we walked away disappointed with the experience. ~ ~ ~
(2)Yadira D.
A couple of weeks ago, a few gf's and I decided to go out to dinner to celebrate one of the gal's bdays and we let her choose the restaurant being that it was her bday. She chose this place, and I'd never been here but gotta say I absolutely fell in love with this place. We had reservations, and we were seated promptly. Our waiter (completely forgot his name) but he was AMAZING! From beginning to end, we had no complaints. The food was soooo delish and I couldn't get enough. The whole experience was great. I will definitely be back.
(5)Travis K.
From when you come in, you almost feel like maybe you just happen to have some Greek relatives and they finally invited you over for dinner. The hostess was luvely and warm, the server was quite helpful with the menu choices and all of the food was quite delicious. The flaming cheese was excellent as well as the beets appetizer, braised lamb and suckling pig. My date and I very much enjoyed the experience.
(5)Claire S.
Absolutely the worst lamb chop ever!! They were full of fat, with hardly any meat. They should be embarassed to serve such awful meat. Otherwise dinner good and service good as well. I don't like to give negative reviews, but this food was so bad, I felt compelled to comment.
(2)Allen D.
Crap, ordered the chicken stuffed with feta, there must be a world wide Feta cheese shortage I am not aware of. Dried chicken and absolutely no flavor. What a severe disappointment. Thank God there are many other Greek restaurants to choose from!!!
(1)Amanda G.
I cannot say enough good things about is place. My coworker (a Chicago native) says this is the only Place in Greektown and I can see why! We ordered the smallest family-style meal, which fed 12 people with enough leftovers for 3-4 more. We had the octopus, greek salad, flaming cheese and gyro appetizers. Redcina white wine is delish but very dry. Main course included roasted chicken, rice, grape leaves with veal, and pasta. Dessert was baklava and some other kind of pastry, finished off with Greek Coffee! Family-owned, authentic, and free valet parking. What else do you need??
(5)Michelangelo V.
Honest review the food sucks now i have been coming here for years like probably since i was a baby it use to be amaizing now the food is horrible the food quality has really went to shit like tje only thing good is tje flamminh cheeze thays it everything else is old n cold n gross n its very expensive trust me qhen i say u will be disappointed plus the service was bad like really bad
(1)Vina O.
I am afraid I have to demote this place to two stars. I ordered their gyros there recently and it was much dryer than I remembered. My husband and I also shared their shrimp and scallops dish and the scallops were very oily and limp. My girlfriend also got food poisoning from undercooked pork. The extra star is because service is still friendly, as always. Unfortunately, good service is not enough for me to return again. My Greek cravings will now be satisfied at Greek Islands or Pegasus.
(2)Sonya M.
I've eaten at The Parthenon a few times and it's always been a pleasant experience. Last night my family and I ate there to celebrate my 10 year-old cousin receiving a role in the Joffrey ballet version of the Nutcracker. We didn't have a reservation but because someone in our party is friends with the owner we were able to get seating for nearly 30 people. The restaurant was PACKED but we were ushered to our seats immediately. There were 2 waiters assigned our group; one was fantastic but the other one was a GRUMPY GUS! This particular waiter was slow, impatient and inattentive. He was the only sore spot in an otherwise fantastic evening. For instance, the other waiter gladly agreed to separate the checks for any guests that requested it but not Mr. Grumpy Bear... Most of the people in my party ordered the traditional family style dinner but I ordered the Athenian broiled chicken with the vegetables and an extra side of roasted potatoes. It was delicious!! Everything was cooked to perfection and everyone who'd ordered the traditional meals all said they'd regretted not getting what I had ordered!! I don't get to The Parthenon often but when I do it's a definite treat.
(4)Josh G.
We had dinner at the Parthenon this evening. We had a great time, were treated "right", and enjoyed excellent food. For appetizers, we ordered the braised octopus, bean salad, and flaming cheese. The braised octopus was the best I've ever had. We will definitely be ordering it again. For dinner, we had the lamb meatballs (very good), the Chicken Rigonati (large portion with excellent sauce), Musaka (a large very fresh tasting serving) and the Athenian Chicken (very good, crispy and tasty). We had the greek yogurt and chocolate cake (Sokolotina) for desert. Our waiter could not have been nicer and more attentive. We noted that he and teh busboys connected with the fact that we were with kids. Parthenon makes an effort to be a kid friendly place, at the same time it's a good place to go with just adults. See you again soon!
(5)Jeff B.
They served you a lot of food!! We ordered some wine, greek salad, and a whole bunch of things. The menu IS SO HUGE THAT YOU WON'T KNOW WHAT TO ORDER. The pita bread tasted like pita bread done right, the red beets were average, and the gyros were just dandy. My cousin brought them gyros home, but then she said that they smelled like poop, so only eat the food in the restaurant! Otherwise, your food will smell bad.
(3)Jeannine K.
Regular menu has items marked that are gluten-free. You can easily dine here and still enjoy all the popular Greek dishes. Yum!
(5)Dodge S.
For some reason I make it out to more Chicago restaurants for business meetings than I do for actually going out to a restaurant on my own. Well anyway, me and my closest 70-80 business friends met at the Parthenon recently and had a blast. This is a great choice for sampling Greek food and even better, Greek beer! Full bar, excellent table service, and we really enjoyed the food. Our group had a choice of chicken, lamb, vegetarian, or combo plate. I could not finish the roasted chicken because of the portion size, but the other plates did look nice and received a lot of compliments. Inside was spacious, and we were directed to the right once you enter the front door, for a large room that had its own bar and buffet line. I would definitely recommend coming here for a great meal even if you are not with a large group. Easy access with CTA bus #8 off South Halsted Street. Might have to make reservations because this place always seems packed. How do you say "bon appetit" in Greek?
(4)Svitlana P.
There's not much to say about The Parthenon. Yes it has free valet parking and yes, it serves ok Greek food. Maybe it's because I've been spoiled at Greek Islands Taverna, Ft Lauderdale, FL. Or maybe it's because I have high standards.....either way, I was not impressed. After dining at Greek Islands Taverna, I expect that homemade hummus and fresh baked bread and pita should be complimentary at a Greek place. Here all you get is bread and butter. The food is just ok. And there's not much to say about the service. The waiter took forever to take our order, left the squeezed lemon on my menu after bringing out the saganaki, and I'm pretty sure I was spit on while he was talking. I doubt I'll be coming back.
(3)Joe Y.
Groupon scam. If you come in with a groupon they treat you like garbage. The soup was from a can. The hummus was not very good and they brought out 6 small triangles of pita bread. Hot appetizer had 1 option available even though it claimed more. I ordered the gyro platter and asked for extra pitas to share with my date. He brought out 2 pitas total and said one was for me and one was for her...BS. Just so happens the gentleman to the table next to me ordered the same dish and was given 2 pitas w/o asking for extras...but don't worry I was still charged $8 for the extra pitas. Waiter was just lazy. The dessert menu had roughly 5 items within the groupon budget. However, 3 of the items had "run out" and the 2 items left were the 2 least expensive and most unappealing. Then we had the privilege to sit and wait for our check for 20 minutes while our waiter was enjoying the last drag on his cig. The joint was sleezy. I will never go back with or without a groupon.
(1)Mary E.
I think the Parthenon has some of the most authentically Greek food in the city (my best friend is Greek so I have been subjected to lots of Greek cuisine). The other day I came here with a small group and we ordered the "Traditional" family style dinner. It was incredible. They brought us so much food including bread, salad, saganaki, gyro, chicken, lamb, greek lasagna, egg plant lasagna, and desert (vanilla custard and baklava). Plus drinks were included. The service was fantastic and the restaurant was clean and attractive. We had so much fun. The Parthenon is a must of anyone venturing into Greektown. Did I mention I only paid $13 (ordinarily $19 per person but they were having a special)?
(5)Nam D.
Honestly the food is okay but the service was very good at Parthenon Restaurant. I honestly find the dive Greek places to have better food but if you want a sit down atmosphere or have a large party Parthenon isn't a bad choice. I usual go for the Family Style dining choice which you can have little bit of everything. The appetizers are mostly going to be your favorite thing during the dining experience. Later you can pick from lamb, pork, or chicken as your entree picks. The chicken I found to be dry and the best meat I thought they prepared was the roasted pork. So I'd review this joint as OK .....
(3)Hope K.
I was contemplating between 1 star or 2 stars... I only went with 2 stars because the 2 appetizers were pretty decent. It was just one bad experience after another... First, when we walked in, no one acknowledged us for a while. Once we were finally seated, we were again, being ignored. No one came to us. We didn't even get any water... nor did anyone come by us AT ALL for literally like 10 mins... we just sat there looking for someone to come to our table... I had to go back up to the front and told the lady that our server hadn't come by our table yet and that we haven't even gotten water yet... She was nice and immediately got someone to come to our table... Our appetizers came out pretty quick. We ordered the hummus and the grilled calamari. They were both really good. Now our entree. It took about 30 minutes after we've ordered our entree. It was a combination plate of different things. When it FINALLY came out... the food was cold and nothing tasted right. What I didn't understand is that by the time that we had ordered our entree the restaurant was quieting down. Our dish consisted of items that were not freshly prepared... meaning these items were made ahead in big batches... so if all they had to do was scoop small portions onto the plate ... since they were ALL pre-made... then why did it take 30mins and why was it COLD????? There was no way that we were going to eat that food. I called our server and told him that our food was cold and it just didn't taste good. He got defensive ... in the end he asked if we wanted to get another item instead... but we were just fed up and wanted to get out of there... We were pretty much full from the water and the bread... There are plenty of other delicious Greek restaurants on that street... I WILL NOT BE BACK HERE!!!!
(2)Jenny T.
I couldn't pass up Greektown in Chicago and chose this as our only taste of the neighborhood. Although I admit we were underdressed, it is not an excuse for poor service. The waiter, a kind-looking, older gentleman, completely ignored us throughout the entire meal. He didn't explain anything on the menu (leaving me to fumble through describing what little Greek food I know), didn't ask how our meal was, and didn't return to our table after serving us until we finally waved him down for our check. It was our first time having saganaki, so I can't compare. The moussaka, however, was the best I've ever had by far. It's the only reason for the two stars, though I debated three. Unfortunately, we were sorely disappointed by the service we received.
(2)Ecklar A.
This place is great Greek food, friendly unrushed service at a reasonable price. A glass of inexpensive Roditis wine and you are on you way. Free valet or park in a lot down the street for $6. Take your time. Enjoy.
(5)Michael R.
Three stars for the festive party atmosphere. Three stars for the location, in Chicago's fun Greektown neighborhood. Two stars for the food, which is about as good as you'd expect at an average Greek diner. Great for large groups who want to drink Roditys wine and make a lot of noise.The lamb with artichokes was fairly bland and short on meat. The greek salads were pedestrian. The pastitsio was also fairly bland, but filling. Go for the fun, not the food.
(3)Pat C.
My dear sister and dear bro-in-law joined my husband and I for a wonderful meal and a great time at The Parthenon late this afternoon. We both had the local Groupons for a ton of food for $46 per couple. Theodore was our waiter, and he was terrific! Our runner was fantastic too. We happily shared the two bottles of Roditis wine, saganaki and the spinach and cheese stuffed phyllo triangles and both the eggplant and the fish roe spreads. For the entrees we enjoyed the grilled octopus, fried calamari, roasted lamb and a gyros platter. We also really enjoyed the soup and the Greek salad. To top it all off - we were offered two choices for dessert - the baklava or the custard. Much of our entrees and all of the desserts wound up going home with us. I don't know how the service is in the evening - but we enjoyed every minute this afternoon and every delicious mouthful we had - and look forward to great meals tomorrow! The free valet parking was a real winner too, and appreciated.
(5)So Hui C.
I love this place! I will not eat Gyros from anywhere else unless I'm super desperate. I love the food there and love seeing the same friendly faces everytime I'm there. FREE VALET!!! Did I mention free valet?! It's a great thing not to have to think about where you are going to park. I can use the time I save enjoying a wonderful dish of Saganake. Oh-pah!! Love it!
(4)Dee C.
I was not to impressed. Maybe it's because I'm not a Greek food kinda person or it's because I am a vegetarian. But nonetheless I had ordered: Flaming saganaki- mild kaseri cheese flame in brandy. I have had it before. Tasted fine. Cheese pies- whipped feta blend wrapped in phyllo. I felt like the taste was a little overwhelming. Greek salad- lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, olives, peppers, oregano. meh.....just a plain old salad....nothing fancy. Vegetarian moussaka- layered eggplants, zucchini and potatoes, bechamel sauce and kefalotiri. blah....it was just mush bland stuff...not a fan at all.... crema caramel-custard baked with syrup: the only good thing I liked. This was sooo good...only reason I gave it 2 stars. GALAKTOBOUREKO: not a fan of this either. Not a great dessert in my eye. iced coffee: meh....just coffee Friend had the wild fresh salmon. He did not like it that much. The staff was friendly, but that was all. There was nothing else appealing to this place.
(2)August B.
I'm not totally sold. Food was good, not great. Service was fine, my tablemates were slow. lot's of pizzaz, guys flaming food around you...if you like that. I don't know, gyro is a gyro is a gyro...i tried the combo plate. nothing to write about
(3)Ann W.
We were really disappointed in the food. The lemon rice soup was terrible; there was literally no lemon flavor in the soup at all. I ordered the traditional lamb and it too was disappointing . I'm Greek and I am very familiar with traditional Greek food. I would not return to this restaurant.
(2)Sam K.
Thirty five years ago, my father, a modest immigrant, came to Chicago and stayed in a guesthouse just west of downtown. That evening, he went out for a meal near his guesthouse. The place he ended up was a dingy hole in the wall that actually fitted his tiny budget, but the people were warm and friendly and the food was delicious. He did remember one thing in particular. They had cheese (which was a novelty in itself for most Indian immigrants) and before they served it, they set it on fire. This is what he told me when he last came to visit. "Saganaki Dad. It's called saganaki." "Yes! That must be it." After a bit of research, it turned out that the Parthenon not only was considered to have the best saganaki in town, but was the birth of it. And it just so happens, it's the same restaurant (with the same owners, and whose daughter is the hostess) my dad came to thirty five years ago. The Parthenon, according to my father, has gone through a remarkable makeover. On the Saturday night we went, it was bright and bustling and quite beautiful. Our hostess, whose father owned the restaurant, was incredibly charming and friendly. My father, a vegetarian, had plenty of options, contrary to the popular stereotypes about Greek food. He settled on a traditional vegetarian combo, which includes veggie mousakka, veggie pastitsio, dolmas and some sort of leafy lasagna type dish. I got the same, but with roasted lamb (for which they didn't charge me extra). There were probably other good choices, but we were hungry and too impatient to go through the whole menu. We also got saganaki and mini spanakopita as apps. The saganaki, of course, was fun and delicious, and better than the saganaki I've had in other Chicago Greek restaurants. The spanakopita was also exceptionally good, and better than most spanikopita I've had. My father was very happy with his meal. I was almost happy - the leafy dish I ate has a floral taste that I wasn't too fond of, and I wasn't that big a fan of the roasted lamb, which seemed a little too wet and slightly spongy. Everything else on my plate was great, though. The mousakka in particular was amazing. The service: Our waiter put forth his best effort, but was clearly overworked and dealing with far too many tables. It was difficult to get his attention, and he was clearly rushed and flustered. But A+ for sincerity and effort. Our meal came out to less than $50, which is amazingly cheap for the quality and quantity of what we got, the location, and the ambiance. A hell of a lot better and cheaper than the meal we got at mana's vegetarian food bar a couple days later. Overall, excellent and delicious experience, and very Chicago.
(4)Pauline D.
Nice restaurant nestled in the heart of Greektown. The service was superb, and it was great to see the owner greeting her guests as they came in. They are very generous with the bread basket; there was literally a huge loaf of soft, chewy sesame-encrusted bread for me and each of my girlfriends. If only the food was as amazing as the service. I always have a difficult time deciding on my entree with such an extensive menu, so I went with the special combination, which included hearty portions of moussaka, pastitsio, roast lamb, dolmades, potato and braised eggplant. All components were properly seasoned and tasted fine, but my tastebuds were far from feeling wowed. The roast lamb (although it could have been served a bit more pink) and dolmades were the supporting actors in a movie that had no star. The rest were just extras. This is the birthplace of the saganaki, and although we didn't try it like everyone else in the restaurant, I'm not sure it's worth a return trip. I'll give it a go at the place down the street next time.
(3)Andrea R.
After 2 of my gals and I attempted to shake our booties at a hip hop class at the Lou Conte dance studio we were in need of some grub. And Greektown was only a few minutes away! The first restaurant we noticed was Parthenon so we took advantage of the free valet parking (gotta love that most restaurants have this in Greektown) and made ourselves at home. The waiter greets us: My friend Aubrey: Do you have any of that pink spread? Waiter: Perhaps you mean fish roe, which we do have, although ours isn't pink My friend Nicole: What's fish roe? Waiter: fish egg spread Nicole: Ew (wrinkles her nose) Waiter: Maybe I should rephrase this. It's caviar Nicole: Oh, I"d try that! Moments later Nicole was spitting out the "caviar" spread and making faces, but Aubrey and I were quite happy with it! We also each ordered a bowl of lemon egg rice soup. I wrinkled my nose at the taste of this, but Aubrey was more than happy to finish my soup. And I had more than enough food with my spread and mini spinach cheese pies (the appetizer portion was perfect!) The total came to $36 for all 3 of us (and that's including tip!) While I don't like Parthenon as much as other restaurants in the area (Venus is my favorite) the price and FREE valet parking reminded me I need to eat in Greektown more often!
(3)Jaz P.
Tried to get into Meli's for brunch with my friends from out of town @11am Saturday. Once my buzz of the wait buzzer wore off after 1 minute of our 50 minute- wait to get seated, we switched gears to have some Greek for lunch.. So we walked across the street to the spacious and inviting Parthenon. The three of us ordered the flaming cheese, a Greek salad with anchovies, the combination platter, a small gyros platter, and the meatballs platter. The $15.95 combination platter is a great way to become acquainted with Greek food for a newbie like me. It features grape leaves, moussaka, pasticizis, and roast lamb. I've never been one to understand the allure of Greek dishes aside from gyros, but this time, the moussaka, an eggplant meat lasagna dish, had me sold! The noodle had the perfect amount of crusty chewy texture, layered with an equally perfect mixture of eggplant and meat. (Pardon me for a digression. To explain the mechanics of me, Jaz MO, once I'm hooked on a dish, it becomes a regular life-long addiction. It might be too early to tell, but the warning signs are there. I may have officially developed a new love of moussaka.) Thus, optimistically, I will soon proclaim moussaka at the Parthenon is the standard bearer for moussaka. The gyros was savory, much more naturally textured, less sweet, and less oily than other gyros platters I've had in Chicago. My friend explained it's likely because it was closer to being authentic lamb rather than the lamb/pork mixtures ubiquitously served elsewhere. Whatever it was, I will definitely be coming back and ordering it again. Ahh the origins of a future conundrum. It's going to be a tough toss up between the meal size portion of moussaka and the gyros. Will likely need to plan to go family style in my next visit. I am glad we got the appetizer portion of the gyros. We were stuffed and couldn't even finish what we ordered. There's a separate room for the bar, with flat screen TVs featuring sports, and at least 2 ample sized tables. If you're craving football and Greek food on Sunday for lunch, this might be the perfect place.
(4)Kristy H.
On my first trip to Chicago, I was told that regardless of my schedule, I had to eat at The Parthenon. I managed to work out the timing and went over to UIC-Halstead. At 3 PM on an abysmally hot July afternoon, I was the only diner in attendance. I walked in, apparently a little bedraggled-looking, and was immediately brought water with lemon and my waiter (who looked remarkably like Kurt Vonnegut) suggested a glass of white wine. I enthusiastically agreed. As I was eating alone, a mostly-vegetarian, and not looking forward to returning to the heat, I ordered three appetizers. Two other people could've eaten with me, without a doubt. I had Dolmades, Bean Salad, and Melopita, which was on the "special" appetizer list. The melopita was amazing: feta baked in sheets of filo, then drizzled in warm, thyme-scented honey. I was allowed, no, encouraged, to stay and linger over my meal. The Kurt look-alike brought me more wine, and even poured something far better than the house white I started with at no extra cost. I sat, cooled off, read a book, and relaxed while enjoying one of the best meals I've ever had. Four days later, my husband got in to town. After he'd driven eight hours, the last thing he really wanted to do was get on a train and head back into the city from our suburban hotel. But we did, and he still gets a little moony-eyed when remembering that meal. Again, we ordered appetizers. He had some little meat pies, octopodi, spinach pies, and some little chicken tart-like things. I had two appetizers that night, having learned my lesson. The feta-stuffed cubanelle peppers were so delicious, I stopped at the grocery store when I got home and got two pounds of the peppers and some cheese. The evening meal was much busier, but the servers were no less attentive. They remembered my visit from earlier in the week and were bemused at my quick return, and one of the owners came by to chat. When I asked about a drink I'd had in a Greek restaurant in Vienna, she took the time to sit down and chat with me about the drink and the memories of her childhood its mention recalled. I worked in food service for long enough to know that making your customers feel like they're dining solo in a busy room is a feat few servers and cooks can manage. The staff at The Parthenon do it in spades. Their food is remarkably delicious, wine list phenomenal, and the service impeccable. If you're able to get there for dinner, you should go.
(5)Nix F.
Hosted a work xmas party here the other day. The food was fantastic (we had a buffet), but the service was quite lacking. When the waiter did come around, he had to replace everyone's drink because he had been gone so long. This occurred the entire 3 hours we were there. And it's not like it was crowded or anything. Would help if their alcohol didn't come in tiny little glasses. Maybe my coworkers and I are just alcoholics though. :)
(3)Joan O.
I had a night out with my girlfriends and we choice a Greek Restaurant. My first time trying a full meal at a Greek Restaurant, and wow! I love the ambiance, the wait staff were excellent, the food OMG! We started out with bread and flaming Saganaki, Chicken Lemon Soup. For dinner I had Macaroni Pasticsio mouth watering awesome. My friend had Lima Beans in tomato sauce, the other had Pasta with Chicken and peas in a cream sauce. We each taste test each others dish. We close out our dining pleasure with coffee and share a slice of Baklava, Yummo! I must say 2 thumbs up to the Chief and I will return again.
(4)Henry A.
I really like the Parthenon! I'm not sure how authentic Greek this restaurant really is, but I had a good time and a good meal there regardless. This is a great restaurant choice for larger groups who aren't looking for a pretentious dining experience but just a good, fun, and casual meal. The restaurant is huge and not really intimate, but the service is really friendly and attentive and the food is reasonably priced and delicious. I highly recommend the moussaka. My friends' braised lamb and spinach pie also looked really good. We went on a Saturday evening and our group of 5 got seated right away. After an appetizer, a round of Ouzo shots, and our dinners, we were beyond stuffed and the total damage was only about $100.
(4)Stuart W.
This place has one of the best Gyros in the world. They are a bit pricey, but just like in everything, you get what you pay for. It's elegant sit-down restaurant located in the heart of Greektown. They offer valet parking services.
(4)John L.
Me: DO YOU LIKE LAAAAMB? Audience: YEEaaaahhhh!!!! Me: I said......DO YOU LIKE LAAAAAAAAMB? Audience: YEEEAAHHhhhhhh!!!!!!! The first item listed in the lamb section of the menu is Braised Lamb. If you like lamb and don't want to pay a lot, oh man....*mouth watering Homer J. Simpson style*...come to Greektown and visit the Parthenon. I end up with the huge portion of braised lamb with rice every time. In its graceful succulency, it falls right off the bone. I like to shave off pieces and mix it in with rice (that's how I like most tender meats and fish; I've been told it's very Asian of me as I eat lots of rice. Rice aids in digestion and gets the heavy meat through you quicker and keeps the weight off!!! I even eat cheeseburgers with jasmine rice, which I buy by the 25lb bag). Anyhow, off my rice horse....also recommended is the lamb served with artichokes in a thick yet light lemon gravy. The menu says "market price" for this dish, so artichokes must be like lobster in the midwest! Service is always fantastic and the surly male wait staff crack me up. Happy Good Friday! Go get your lamb tonight and avoid the overpopulated but tasty fish fry! Baaa---aaa---hhhhh....!!!
(5)Jen T.
I mean I haven't been too a ton of Greek restaurants, maybe only 3, but this one's been the best! The food portions are plentiful, and the service is great. The decor inside also gives you a Gretian feel. I ordered the special combination which included Dolmades (vine leaves stuffed w/rice, meats and herbs in a lemon sauce), Moussaka (greek lasagna), Pastitsio (macaroni baked w/meat sauce, bechamel sauce and kefalotiri) and roast lamb, potatoes and vegetables. Our party started with two bottles of a cab made of 50% aghioritiko and was a local Peloponese wine. We also partook(? is this a real word??) in the Saganaki which is the mild kaseri cheese flambee. Great service, great portions and good times.
(5)Kristen F.
I guess I'm the only human being who had a horrible time at this place. I brought two friends with me from San Francisco when we went and it was terrible. Our food was cold in the middle and our waiter didn't say more than one word to us ,and when he brought our food he literally threw it on the table. I can guess that he was treating us the way that he did because we looked a little young but our average age at the table was 27, not 17. He was more than cordial to the other tables but the second he came to our table he was mute and cold. Then when we wanted to, you know, leave it took us 15 minutes to even find him so we could get our check. I spent over 100 dollars at this place and hated every second I was in there. I will never go back unless I am over 50, perhaps then some wrinkles on my face might get me some better service?
(2)Patti B.
Last night was our first time in Greek Town, and boy was it a good one! We went to Parthenon on a friend's recommendation, although of course I scoped it out on Yelp before we got there. I thought we went at prime dinner time but there was no wait, service was great, and everyone in the restaurant seemed to be having a wonderful time...lots of families and reunions to our left and right. We started off with the saganaki, which was yummy and fun to see, especially when the table next to us ordered four of them and the waiter put them in a row on his arm and set them aflame all at once. However, our favorite appetizer was the mini spinach-cheese pies, so tasty and wrapped in crisp phyllo - mmm! We ordered three entrees since we were planning on taking one home anyway, and that one happened to be the chicken shish kabob (our least favorite, sadly, even though I picked it because someone Yelped it). The other two were delicious - gyros with tzatiki sauce and pita bread, and the baked stuffed eggplant, which our waiter recommended over the moussaka. My boyfriend couldn't stop eating the eggplant, and I'm glad we tried it. The gyros were also moist and went well the tzatiki sauce (another first for both of us). Just when we were about done with our meal, a couple of waiters walked by carrying a huge slab of meat on a pole, which caused a lot of excitement and cheering all around. This was definitely a fun meal and it looks perfect for families and groups too.
(4)J. T.
Great food, friends, and fun here on a recent weekend night. A good choice for any age, from well-behaved children to grandma and grandpa who would certainly appreciate the complimentary valet parking. It's a quick walk from the UIC el stop or maybe 6 long blocks from Quincy. Service was exceptionally good; our server was on top of his game, looked impeccable, was never intrusive, and anticpated our needs with obvious experience. The place was packed but well managed. Chicken portion was huge and delicious, although the white meat was a tad dry. Pork Kabob very good as well, with peppers and onion. Rice and roasted potatoes just fine. All served hot. Don't forget the saganaki - kind of like mozzarella sticks but bigger and better - flaming in brandy! OOPA!
(4)Ann Y.
updated 4/1/08: Went back to Parthenon over the weekend and were dissapointed. For starters they sat us in the middle of a bunch of groups of 10+ people which made it hard to talk. Our waiter hardley said anything to us and had 0 personality. My pasticho was cold and my husband said the chicken wasn't as good this time around. I doubt we will be back as we want to try the other restaraunts. Original Review: I went here this weekend for a workshop so I got to experience two different lunches. On day one, I had the trigona (Ground beef and feta baked in crispy philo), pastitso- which was wonderful, the saganaki which was a bit chewey and the skordalia- which was way a bit of garlic overkill but ummy. I also had the house red wine which was really good. On day two I had the chicken kefte with roasted potatoes and vegetables and the egg lemon soup. The potatos were not that good but my husband loved them and the veggies were just bad. I did try my husbands dish which was really awesome- it was the Kotopita. Looking back I wish I would have ordered it. The inside of the building is quite nice and the prices are standard. Our waiter who we had on both days was so accomidating and friendly. I will be going back.
(2)Jason P.
Went here with a buddy and his girlfriend, who are fans of greek fair. Needless to say, this took care of their itch to get some high quality food. They had the house merlot and enjoyed it, I ordered a Rob Roy without thinking, and it was made very well. We had the flaming cheese (i think it's a rite of passage to eat at these joints), which was good, but probabaly on par with other greek restaurants. We were expecting pita bread to be served with the cheese, but it wasn't an option. The lamb, perfect, the chicken was great and I had the sampler platter before, which is also wonderful. The service was comfortable, not to pushy and didn't rush us out of the place. I would try this place family style next time for the experience.
(4)marty p.
I've been going to Greektown for 15+ years now, The Parthenon was the best place in greektown 15 years ago, and its the best today. The lamb (any of the lamb dishes, just close your eyes and pick one) is just awesome. The lamb chops are just to die for! I also love the greek salid, chicken and of course - Gyros. If you have anything remotely flamable on, watch it when the waiter fires up the saganaki - what a pyrotechnic show. The house Rodities is a very light red wine, but it will kick your butt faster then a round of jagerbombs! And finally - finish out your meal with what has to be the best baklava this side of the Mediterranean - Ohpa
(5)Gretchen V.
The Parthenon didn't live up to my expectations. Though our usual spot in Greektown is Athena, we decided this past weekend to try out the Parthenon. The interior is outdated and somewhat drab, but let's face it -- you don't go to a Greek restaurant in Greektown for the modern decor. Our server was very nice and had a great sense of humor. Our appetizers (saganaki (of course), calamari and the beet salad) were all pretty good. The calamari wasn't as fresh as I would have liked, but it was still okay. Our entrees were hit or miss, and it took a good 25-30 minutes for them to arrive at our table (despite the fact that it was only 5:00 on a Sunday). I had the orange roughy, which was just okay. My mother-in-law ordered rotisserie lamb and instead was given what looked like a roasted lamb with gravy. Not sure if they got her order wrong or if that is their interpretation of rotisserie lamb? Either way, it was tough and had sort of a gray color. My husband got the lamb chop, which he loved, and his dad got the red snapper, which was tasty. Overall, no one was wowed by their dish. The prices are what you'd expect in Greektown (about $12-$18 per entree). I didn't hate it, but I think there are better places in Greektown.
(3)laela l.
It's good, but I've had better Greek food. Service was okay; the menu options were okay. Food was okay...my cousin got a meal and it was chicken. Just chicken...no side. Kind of odd, but just my opinion. I'd say if you were just walking down Halsted and walked in, you'd be satistfied...but wait until you go to another Greek place down the street and you'll find this one won't be the best.
(3)Paul A.
Always, always, good -- sometimes just sensational! Was there the other night and it was one of those nights when everything was as good as it can be: the grilled octopus was perfectly prepared, the lamb was good, the bread was right out of the oven and the baklava was good. Sometimes the baklava is simply superb. Also, the soups at the table were just terrific. IN short, you can't go wrong with anything -- always high quality and wonderfully prepared -- and on certain days and nights they are just outstanding.
(4)Gloria E.
This and the Parthenon are my favorite places in Greek Town. A few things if you're thinking about it: 1) For the love of God, unless you're vegetarian or it's against your religion, get lamb! The lamb is great! It comes right off the bone and leaves you wanting more, even a plate of nothing but lamb would be perfect, screw anything else, but that's not on the menu. 2) Get dessert! They'll bring you a tray of different desserts, some fake, for you to look at how they come and choose one. They're all good. I went with a big group and we all ordered different things and passed them around. My favorites always include chocolate though, so since chances are you aren't traveling with a large group, get something with chocolate over fruit or get the baklava! 3) Don't spare any expense, get what sounds good and not the plate of spaghetti (unless you're vegetarian), which brings me to my next point... 4) nothing in Greektown except for Giordano's is amazing if you're a vegetrian !
(4)May C.
Oopa!!!! Oopa!!! Oopa!!! We did nothin' all night but eat and yell out these words from the top of our lungs... and the restaurant didn't care how loud were; heck, they oopa'd with us!!! HAHA! It's true. Great food, family like atmosphere, and awesome customer service. My favorite was the Saganaki. Deep fried cheese, flamed w/ brandy. Second favorite, their salad. Feta was yummy and everything else was crisp and fresh. Although, my kabob was somewhat on the dry side, the moist veggies made up for it, along w/ my rice pilaf. I wished I ordered their whole fresh fish though. My coworker had it, and I couldn't stop staring at it all night, hoping that he'd ask me to have a bite, but didn't. Haha. Oh well. I'd definitely go here again. OOPA!!! OOPA!!!
(4)jamie k.
I know there are a billion Greek Restaurants in Greek Town, but when I have the choice -- the decision is ALWAYS Parthenon! This place is exceptionally great when with a large group of people. Even being vegetarian there are so many options. Personally, I think the best way to go is order up a bunch of small dishes and a couple entrees and share. Of course leave room in the budget for bottle after bottle of their house Roditis wine! The prices are great, and I personally find the food to be much better then some of the more expensive fancy places on Halsted. The service may be a little crude...I mean old Greek men whom aren't there necessarily to chit chat..but it's part of the charm!
(5)Shelby M.
If I could have one final meal, it would be the Parthenon's saganaki, greek salad, chicken breast spanaki (chicken stuffed with spinach and feta) and roditis wine. I've been going here as long as I can remember being alive and the food has always been consistantly good and the staff relatively the same over the years. Easy free valet parking too! Prices are good too.
(5)Alina S.
OOPA!! Holy moly, I have never had Greek food like this before. Went here with a group of 6, so we ordered the "family style dinner" (traditional option), which included the following for ONLY $18.95/person: - Saganaki - mild kaseri cheese flamed in brandy. The waiter brought this on not one, not two, but THREE skillets perfectly balanced on his arm. With the other arm, he poured the brandy and then lit the match, setting off a huge flame while somehow salvaging his eyebrows and mustache, and then serving us with the perfectly flamed cheese that didn't stick to the skillet and complemented the DELICIOUS sesame bread with a perfect, warm ooze. - Whipped fish roe that you can use to top your bread. Really flavorful if you like fish, but beware b/c it will encourage you to eat more of that thick delicious sesame bread...and you will seriously need to save room for the rest of your meal. - Gyros - deliciously cooked meat and onions, served of course with yogurt sauce. - Greek salad - soo fresh, dressing was perfectly seasoned, nice squares of feta cheese and of course your tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and peppers. I could have had dessert here and been more than perfectly happy... but we haven't even gotten to the main course yet. - Moussaka - eggplant and meat, deliciously seasoned with bechamel sauce. Unlike anything I've ever had. -Pastitsio - macaroni with meat sauce, similar flavor to the moussaka, equally delicious. - Domades - stuffed grape leaves - I wish I had 7 stomachs so I could eat more of these at this point. - Your choice of chicken, lamb or pork. Among the 6 of us, we tried all 3. Chicken was ok, a little dry and a tad too charred. Lamb was moist and flavorful. I didn't eat the pork b/c I was becoming the pork by now, but it looked good. - Dessert - not one, but TWO - baklava, and then galaktobouriko (vanilla custard baked into layers of phyllo, syrup glaze) - both amazing, and perfectly portioned at this point - Coffee - nice and rich, perfect accompaniment to the desserts and perfect ending to a near-perfect meal All this for $18.95/person!! Great service, and we had enough leftovers to feed another 6 people, I kid you not. OOPA!! :)
(5)Vy T.
Worst food ever!!!! The hummus was the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted....and the gyros..fat, dry, and tasted like cardboard.
(1)Adrian P. Z.
All I gotta say is FREE VALET! Service was excellent. We enjoyed watching the flaming cheese even though I was afraid my head would catch on fire. I had the Braised Lamb which was juicy and tasty. My wife had the gyro-which was so dry Im sure it scratched her intestines on the way down. Everytime we eat here we save room for dessert at Artropolis next door.
(3)Darryl R.
This is my favorite place in Greektown - definitely one of the more classy Greek places on this stretch of Halsted. I'm especially a big fan of the Spanokopita.
(4)Jeff H.
Great downtown treat for us and our friends. We try to make it here once a year, at least. Service and food have always been first rate.
(4)Dave N.
This is our favorite place in Greektown. Looking for an inexpensive yet fun date? I would highly recommend Parthenon. We're big fans of the Roditas (greek red wine) priced reasonably at $16.95 per 1L bottle. My personal favorite item is the chicken shishkabob. It's delicious and comes with tasty rice with a red sauce and potatoes. Others I've been with have ordered the gyros and the chicken kefte and have loved them. Servicewise, this is not Joe's Stone Crab. The waiters are generally older and have unique attitudes. It's not that they're intentionally rushing you, it's just the way they are. Don't be afraid to ask them to come back if you're still making your decision about what to order.
(5)Annie W.
Setting isn't as fun as Greek Islands but still decent Greek food. I'll just make comparisons. Saganaki cheese was thinner, the Greek salad didn't have as many veggies and ingredients but still quite fresh. My friend and I each got the sampler plates and found it to be very heavy and oily. But such plates like those are good for ppl like me who want to try just a bit of everything. Prices are standard, portions are generous.
(4)Stephanie Y.
I had a few friends coming out from the 'burbs and we wanted to try something new. After searching Yelp! a few hours (a day for the last few weeks), we settled on The Parthenon. When first walking in, we were greeted by a delicious smell. I was already really hungry, that just made it worse! The three stars are STRICTLY for the food, over all. We ordered the saganaki (I hear so much about it), yum! And peppers stuffed with feta cheese, yum as well! I got chicken breast shishkebobs. The chicken was a little dry, but over all it was a tasty dish. If I could do a separate rating for service, I would give it a 1 and only because I couldn't give a 0. Our waiter was very inattentive. He came by probably only a minute or two after we were seated asking if we knew what appetizers we wanted. We told him it was our first time there and he then just walked away. Usually, when I go to a restaurant and say it's my first time, they'll give me a little explanation and recommend something to me. Nope, nothing. One of my friends ordered a "flaming" dish (like the saganaki) and both times, instead of a loud, fun OOPAH!, it was more like he was being forced to say it. He didn't even try to get our attention before lighting either of them on fire. That was disappointing as well. Not ONCE did he come by to ask how our food was, and most of the time there was someone else picking up our plates or bringing our food. He also did not give us refills even though he told us he could. The most annoying thing about our waiter was at the end of our meal, our plates were CLEARLY empty. He walked past 3 times, plus looked over at our table another 3 times, and didn't come to clear off the table or bring our check. We waited a good 10 minutes (plus those 6 times he looked at our empty plates) before our check came. Thank goodness for the amazing company!
(3)Sarah W.
Let's start off with me saying that I'm a vegetarian so my entire experience is based upon the non-meat options. For dinner we had the Family-Style Vegetarian dinner, which at $19 a person seems like a great deal - until you eat the food that is. Now, not all of it was horrible so I'll walk you through it. For starters we walked in and were seated quickly, always nice, some members of my party didn't like the main open area and asked of somewhere quieter - we were moved to a room near the back, our table one of only two filled in the room was awkwardly behind the serving post for drinks in the area. Once seated we moved ourselves to a table nearby with a more pleasant view. Speaking of thoughts on the table it may have just been in this area but the chair was too high for the table and I couldn't cross my legs because of it (ahh, the little things.) To drink, being pregnant, I had sparking water with a lime it in - can't complain at all about that. Then starts the food - they brought out a loaf of bread to accompany the initial appetizers, cheese, etc. Really wishing it had been pita because the bread just seemed wrong - it was white with sesame seeds on it and had a flavor of it's own which took away from the other foods. The saganaki was fun and always beautiful and I can't complain about cheese! The two dips served at nearly the same time however were completely lacking - the tzatiki tasted of STRONG garlic and very little cucumber, my apologies to anyone I breathed on following the meal. I've had such better tzatiki I was really disappointed in it, we also had the melitzanosalata - eggplant spread - also garlicky to no end, and very bland otherwise. Again the spreads just didn't' go with the bread either. Up next a greek salad - the dressing was boring, very oily and lacking in flavor. Finally (we were more than ready to have it over with) they brought out the main course - all on one plate family style, which works for me. All of it was overcooked, and yet not heated up enough - guessing it was made much earlier and simply reheated at the time. I can't actually say which stands out as the worst - they were all just awful. It included: spinach-cheese pie (too much spinach, not enough other flavors, and over cooked), vegetarian moussaka (flavorless, way over cooked and yet mush), vegetarian dolmades (probably the best thing on the plate but still very lemony and a let down), vegetarian pastitsio (this was just overdone and awful) with a side of roasted potatoes and okra, both of which were flavorless mush. Finally the meal was ending (YEAH!) they served coffee which I can't imagine was greek, maybe old folgers? And two desserts- baklava and galaktoboureko - both of which were mildly redeeming, but I'd lost interest in eating by that point. Then the BEST part - we were free to leave!! Opa! Now I've read other reviews - seems the meat must be fantastic but in an effort to save other vegetarians - really, don't bother!
(2)Justin S.
Just had dinner there and I am looking forward to my next trip. The flaming cheese was awesome. I want more. The rice in grape leaves were nice...not my favorite but good. Then I had the leg of lamb with feta and spinach. The flavors all worked well and filled me up nicely. The cheese was the best part and thats worth it. YUM. So reasonably priced too. More cheese please
(4)Mark E.
I first ate at The Parthenon in February of 1972, and have since logged several hundred visits with my wife, my kids, my grandchildren, my extended family--some of whom are no longer with us--and my friends, students, and colleagues. No doubt there have been, and perhaps are, other Greek restaurants that offer a better, or more authentic, Greek meal. We've tried some over the years, but are content to come back to a predictable and satisfying experience at The Parthenon. Start with the food. They make their own gyros here, and it's crisper and browner than in most places around Chicago. They started serving it before the gyros-on-pita trend had arrived, so it comes on a bed of strong white onions and stiff, garlicky tzatziki sauce. Today you can get grilled pita with it, but that was not a standard item originally. I prefer gyros at The Parthenon to other gyros in Chicago, but I can see why some find it dry. About twenty years ago, the food took a turn to the greasy side. I don't know whether the initiative came from Chef Soto or the Liakouras family, but they responded with less grease and some half-portions, just as we started not being able to pack it away like we did when we were in our twenties. I recommend the cheese pies (tiropitakia), smooth cheese with ethereal crust. Eggplant salad, melitzanosalata, is a garlicky wonder. The Parthenon does great things with octopus-- either the broiled or slow-cooked braised (octopodi yachni) are excellent. As a general rule, avoid the combination plate, not because the ingredients aren't good, but because they have a tendency to mass-produce it. My wife really enjoyed the vegetarian combination the other day, and my Indian friend loved their vegetarian items when we ate there last year. I have been eating the codfish skordalia for a long time, and it is terrific. I went through a lamb-with-artichokes phase, and it is delicious, but I can't eat like that any more. The barbecue lamb and the leg of lamb are fine, but remember that they tend to be well-done. We have fed two generations of little kids the fine Greek bread, and their rice pudding and galactoboureko are great desserts, though these days we confine ourselves to a glass of mavrodaphne, the Greek port. I close my review with a tribute to the people at The Parthenon. Many of the waiters have been there for decades, and we have watched some callow youths become gray-haired elders. Our favorite waiter is Adalberto, who works the slightly elevated room directly behind the "original" main room. His "waiter number" on the bill is #1: enough said. But the others are fine; they tend to do a variation on the gruff-but-professional Greek waiter, and do things like take the orders from large parties by memory. I remember a family dinner with my late father-in-law many years ago, when the waiter came out with plates of food and announced "Okay, listen up!" If you like this sort of experience, having Uncle Stavros bring your food, come to The Parthenon. If you want an obsequious Thad for your waiter, there are plenty of other places to go in Chicago. They also handle large groups with grace; you call and say "Can I bring in a group of fifteen?" and they say "Sure!" And they deliver on that promise. With young, vigorous Yanna Liakouras in charge these days, I look forward to many more wonderful meals at this Chicago institution. For newbies, please go at less crazy times, try some different things, enjoy the free-flowing roditys, and relax and get in the spirit of things. One last comment: Some people have found The Parthenon less than clean. I confess that the place was a little funky thirty years ago, but they have made great strides, and I'm very impressed by the new restrooms in the north annex. And by the way, their parking valets manage the traffic on Halsted street with aplomb; tip them well. Opaa!
(4)Jade C.
If you're looking for an excellent Gyro(s), Saganaki, and rice/potatoes to go along with your meal, the Parthenon is the spot to go! Do yourself a favor and order a side of their fries to go with your meal as they're outstanding as well. Iced Tea is also fresh brewed which is key as well...the service is spotty which loses a star (takes forever to get refills and the bill e.g. few weeks ago I was one of two tables late at night in the restaurant and our waiter disappeared...which was expected based on previous experiences)...But that still won't stop me from definitely going back as the food is well worth it and the atmosphere is comfortable and their free valet in front makes this a solid change of pace dinner pick!!!! When I want to really start the week out with a good Gyro smell attached to me...Parthenon is a solid spot to go to!!!!!!!!!!!
(4)T D.
I went here last night with a group of 35 people. Service was excellent, fast and on top of the drinks. The saganaki is great here and the food well, it was good until I got to the meat dishes. To me the meats were very greasy and not a lot of good cuts. The gyros meat was good as an appetizer and the greek salad was delish. This is not my favorite Greek restaurant, but a fun place to go with a large group of people, it isn't as intimate a setting for a date, especially with the volume of noise.
(4)Bess R.
Yum. This is my go-to restaurant in Greek town. It started because I could never get a reservation at Greek Islands...but now I definitely choose Parthenon. Great food, quick service, free valet.
(5)Karl H.
Review would be a 4.5 if I could give it that rating. I go here about 3-4 times a year and is usually a solid choice for dinner. But, last Tuesday, I had the grecian pasta (with shrimp) and it was amazing. One of the best dishes I have had in my life. And, I think it was only $13 or so. The saganaki is always great here as well and the house win is dirt cheap (not great, but for $20 a bottle, more than acceptable). The only negative was that the service is never that great here. It's OK and they are relatively friendly, but iot always seems it takes forever to get the check and/or order dessert. Also, the place has a slightly older crowd, which doesn't bother me, but just want others to know. It's not the new and trendy place, but gives you solid food at an affordable price.
(4)Meghan K.
I was very disappointed in this restaurant. The decor was dated and the menu wasn't any better than a Greek diner in suburban Iowa. In fact, one of my dinner mates had chicken alfredo, which he didn't touch because it looked and tasted like it had sat beneath the warmer for about an hour too long. My vegetarian meal was brownish and gloppy and heavy. The wine list... yucky. Our server was great though and the food wasn't too expensive. Unfortunately, we won't be back.
(2)lana v.
I love this restaurant! The food is amazing and the staff could not be nicer. I had my rehearsal dinner here and everything was perfect, I could not be happier. We live in the area and come here for dinner all the time, I have never had a bad experience.
(5)PJ K.
I'm reasonably fond of this place -- it's highly old-school in the decor and the menu, although there's a pretty decent set of vegetarian options if you swing that way. It's boisterous and popular with families and large groups. Special shoutouts to the tzatziki, which is ludicrously garlicky and loaded with chunks of cucumber. Bottom line: it's a Chicago landmark, the food is pretty good, and it's open and friendly and the portions are friggin' huge, so if you're planning a group outing or whatnot, this is the joint. If you want to experience top-of-the-line Greek food or have your meal in a quieter and/or more romantic atmosphere, drop an extra couple of bucks to go to Santorini or Costa's.
(4)K G.
I went here for a business dinner and my clients LOVED it. I guess there are not a lot of Greek restaurants in Boulder and San Paulo. The service was just so attentive and friendly, and the grandfatherly waiter actually recommended a cheaper wine than what we asked him about (very nice wine, I don't remember the name but it was 22$ Cabernet - maybe I shouldn't have had that last glass) he offered for us to taste it before making a commitment to it. He very graciously took substitutions in the specials because I hate eggplant and my coworker hates lamb. The food was really pleasant and the portions were pretty large for a very reasonable price. For three of us, it was 95$ including the bottle of wine and 3 desserts. I really enjoyed the chocolate mousse dessert, and my entree was a hot special mixture of like 5 of their special Greek entrees. I liked the stuffed leaves the best.
(4)Yvonne M.
I have been to almost all of the Greek restaurants in Greek town and this one had to be my least favorite. The saganaki was delicious but I've never had bad saganaki. The tzatiki was rather bitter which was really off putting to me. I also ordered the Scallops saganaki a la soto which said "scallops served in an elegant tomato and vegetable sauce". The sauce was just too much and not at all what I would consider "elegant". Finally, the service was adequate... Our waiter wasn't the most friendly person and often seemed bothered when we asked for anything. I can't imagine visiting this restaurant again when there are so many other choices in the area...
(2)Joshua M.
The atmosphere of this place is bright and loud... the tables are packed too close together. I had a chicken dish that was very good, but my wife ordered a swordfish special that was awful. She had them take it away and ordered a salad instead that she enjoyed. The waiter was awesome and didn't charge us for either the salad or the dish she didn't like. His good service really saved a so-so experience to being a pretty decent one. With all the other restaurants in the area to try I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to go back there anytime soon, but I'd give it another shot.
(4)Saadi N.
Go there! Why? One word: Saganaki!
(5)Hanny P.
delicious food, friendly service. We had a group of 9 - 5 of us got the traditional family style meal -- for $19.99/person, it was a steal. We got several appetizers (including lamb & beef gyros, salads, tzatziki, roe, and my favorite souganaki, i.e. flaming cheese - you can't really go wrong with that now can you), chicken, pork, eggplant, greek lasagna, custard, baklava, and coffee. The waiters were attentive, friendly and made sure we were attended to and happy. We had a great time and left with full bellies and plenty of left overs. Great atmosphere/setting, too -- casual enough for just grabbing something to eat w/ your friends, but nice enough to take your family out to a nice dinner when they are in town. Definitely an A in my book.
(5)Amanda P.
Good food, horrible service, forgot about our table and we were starving. I will not be back here again.
(2)Albert C.
Another gem in Greektown - it *is* like going over to a friend's house for dinner. The saganaki and pan-fried zucchini are good appetizers and the lamb and chicken choices are all excellent. And just looking at the dessert tray is enough to give you diabetes. =p
(4)Stan S.
The Parthenon is the Greek restaurant that pioneered Greek town. They also claim to have introduced gyros and flaming saganaki to America. Be that as it may, they are still a great place to eat. They have a menu that goes on forever. They do sea food right, and of course my favorite, lamb. The entrees are in the $8-15 range. If you don't order the flaming saganaki yourself, somone close by will, so you will have plenty of chances to say "Oopa!" The last time I was there the college boys in the next table ordered the lambs head. No doubt their intention was to gross folks out. It worked. Never a dull moment at the Parthenon.
(4)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 or Costa's.
(4)Ren H.
This is one of the better restaurants in Greektown... the service is fast and efficient and the food is excellent! Its also extremely reasonably priced for the quality and quantity of food you get!
(5)Jackie o P.
OMG I cannot even believe how terrible this place is on several levels. Let's begin with the service. If there was something to wait for, me and my fam were waiting for it forever. Second, the food. I'm Greek and this place is the worst Greek food I've had in Chicago. On the table we had: Saginaki -- This was watery. How is that right? Kalamata Olive Plate -- No olive oil, just olives and like a thousand of them. It was as if they opened a jar and dumped them on a plate. Pastitso Vegetarian -- sounds magnificent on the menu but in reality, totally disappointing!! There was a sketchy white cornstrach-y layer that tasted like paste near the top that ruined it completely. Pastitso - Regular style but with the sauce served on the side. My Gigia just rolled over in her grave. Macaronatha - So simple but somehow they eff-ed it up. There was a strange brown watery sauce pooled beneath the pasta. No, it was not browned butter. Roasted chicken dinner - The chicken was tasty but the dish consisted of a half of a chicken with plain white rice (no gravy) and one potato. My mom got the combo plate and she seemed happy with it. In fact she ate it all so that combo plate gets a good grade. The rest = CRAP CRAP CRAP!! Everything was also cold. Mmm. Cold, comforting Greek food. And lastly, the decor in the seating area is drab with poor lighting. They are doing some sort of renovation in the front area and things are in disarray up there. I am talking ceiling tiles up, dust, drywall et al everywhere. I will never go here again and obviously I recommend that you stay away as well! Sadly I say if you want good Greek, cart your ass out to Yanni's in Arlington Heights. Lots of jams there.
(1)mariah t.
I love this place!! The spinach pie is the best in Greektown and so is the Gyros! The service is very good, the food is reasonably priced and they offer free valet.
(4)rachel c.
The food here is good (not great,) the service is good (not great either,) the atmosphere is lacking. It's really brightly lit, full on middle school cafeteria style fluorescent lights. The tables are long and narrow, like a dining hall. I'd probably stick to Pegasus in the future.
(3)Amanda P.
Quality is consistent here, but there is nothing, not a single menu item, that you wouldn't see at another Greek restaurant, so if you're looking for something creative and different, don't bother going here. There are also very few vegetarian options available.
(4)Steve R.
Very nice casual Greek cuisine. Good food, very consistent, and the service is fast if surly. My foot's gonna go up a greek waiter ass if my wife gets flirted with here again in front of me (I mean literally almost every time), but that's par for the course around here from what I've seen. It's not on the higher end of this restaurant row but worth a stop. The lemon soup alone is worth the trip.
(4)Melanie M.
I went here with my family on New Year's Day and enjoyed it. We had an older Greek man as our server who was like the grampa I never had. It was a great place and I would certainly go back.
(4)Diablo L.
This place is always a fun time, can't go wrong with their roditis house wine and saganaki . Their braised lamp is tasty as well as their kabobs,all the usual gyro plates and seafood here are tasty also.
(4)Rosa de C.
The only restaurant I go to in Greektown after having tried them all. The Athenian salad is always fresh, crisp, and studded with kalamata olives. The Kotopita has chopped chicken, vegetables, and dill in a bechamel sauce wrapped in phyllo and baked. Always delicious, but my favorite is the grilled octopus. Just enough char to impart flavor without compromising tenderness, so fresh it's sweet, and shiny with olive oil. Hands down the best octopus I've had anywhere (better than Cafe Iberico's and much better than Tuscany's). Perfectly accompanied by their preparation of the vegetable side of the day, such as the peas with olive oil and tomatoes, always fresh and flavorful. They're very accommodating of ordering off the menu. A friend asked if she could have just a chicken breast and some sauteed spinach. She was brought a platter with two huge, perfectly seasoned, grilled chicken breasts resting on a mountain of spinach fragrant with olive oil and garlic. Not to mention, Parthenon offers their extensive menu and generous portions for better prices than any other place on Halsted. They have free valet as well.
(5)Gina K.
I am Greek and this place is DISGUSTING!
(1)Ria A.
I was pretty excited to try this place since they offered a $12.95 family style special for the month of January. I went here with a group of friends and my best friend from out-of-town. The family-style dinner included a plethora of Greek food- that sounded delicious. The dinner included an appetizer of a flaming saganaki- which was decent but I prefer the one from Greek Islands. The next course was a Greek salad- which again was just ok. Then we had an option of different meat: pork, chicken, beef. We opted for the roasted pork, chicken, and mousaka. All of which again were just ok. They were a bit a stingy on the chicken, only giving 1 piece per person. The last course included baklava, a custard type dessert, and American coffee. The baklava was good but everything was extremely sweet and I was really lookng forward to a good cup of Greek coffee. Although the dinner was a steal at $12.95/person and the service was good, the food was just ok and I've definitely had better over at the Greek Islands.
(2)Kathryn D.
The atmosphere at the Parthenon was great, with people shouting "opa" and even a firecracker-stuffed pig going through the room. The restaurant has huge portions - I ordered chicken and got literally a whole chicken, but I'm not the biggest fan of Greek food. Four stars because the waiter was rather short with us (a group of 12) and gave us a hard time when we tried to find a way to split up the check into groups.
(4)Vanessa P.
I went here last night with a group of friends. It was fantastic! The portions were large enough that some of us shared and the prices pretty reasonable. If you are a vegetarian, I highly recommend the vegetarian special combo. It has moussaka, pastitsio, and dolmas and it was so good and plenty to share with another person. I will definitely be back!
(4)Kyle Y.
We took our first trip to Greek town yesterday and decided on the Parthenon. We have nothing to compare it to, of course, but it was an incredible lunch experience. The wait staff was very friendly and efficient. We had the saganaki (flaming cheese), which they cover in brandy and ignite at the table. It's a lot of fun and very tasty. Not bad for $4.75. After that we shared the large gyro, and it was the best we've ever had. Perfect pita flatbread, tender lamb and beef, and tangy yogurt sauce. $9.75 for the dish, and it was plenty for the two of us. Baklava was good ($3.75) but not as great as the rest of the meal. We will definitely return on future trips to Chicago.
(5)jamie k.
had lunch here, couple weeks back, this place was kickin during lunch. the food was really fresh, the salad was great. real authentic experience and great service.
(4)Brenda R.
Forgive me for despising the management of this place. We had a small party of 30 for the banquet room. It took them 21/2 hours to serve us, and with small platters and puny servings (A large bed of rice, for example, with 4 small potato slices), and unevenly distributed among the diners. We had to reach over to people down the row in order to share in their already minuscule plate. Then, we had to request coffee, because this wasn't set out on the table. Only the water, the half/half, and the margarine were available. After we had finally all eaten, we were prepared to hear our speakers. Midway through the show, on both sides of the room, waiters appeared, waving their hands for us to leave. The creep maitre d actually came in, interrupted the speaker, and told us to wrap it up because he had another party coming in at 10 p.m. We tried to whisper to him that he hadn't told us that before, and he said: "that's just business!" NEVER will we return to this backward, stingy, unprofessional JOINT. You can get saganaki at any Greek restaurant.
(1)a w.
This place has a huge menu...there's lot of options, and many vegeterian ones too! The food is great and the protions are HUGE. Try the gyros..its great!
(4)Chewbacka R.
This place is awful. I've eaten their food twice and both times it was terrible. Do yourself a favor, visit Santorini just down the street and you'll be happy. Santorini's food is fantastic!!
(1)Nadine G.
This is easily my favorite restaurant in Greektown! I highly recommend the Family-Style Dinner for $18.95 a person. My husband and I always get the Vegetarian Option, which includes: saganaki, 2 spreads (skordalia and melitzanosalata for me!), greek salad, vegetarian dolmades, spanokopita, vegetarian moussaka(OUTSTANDING), vegetarian pastitsio, two veggie sides(roasted potatoes and string beans are my favs), baklava, galaktoboureko, and coffee. WHEW! Considering the variety, quality and amount of food you get, I think this is a tremendous bargain. We bring friends here all the time, and they always rave about the experience. For greek food with a contemporary twist, I also like Artopolis, but for really traditional greek fare, it's Parthenon, hands down. The service has always been fast and efficient, and while I have had a few brusque servers in years past, my recent servers have been friendly and charming.
(5)Takelya W.
lots of food is given out. i usually end up taking it all home. lots to choose from 2
(3)Eric B.
I went here last night after the Yelp event to get some food since it was on the way back to downtown. The place is undergoing renovations but aside from that everything else was great. The servers were attentive although perhaps not that "polished". The food was excellent and the recommended carafe of house wine was really good. They were also very quick which was great since I was so hungry. I got a gyro platter which was more than enough food and very tasty. I'll have to go back here for lunch on a lazy summer afternoon in July when the clients are less demanding.
(4)Shelly M.
The people are so friendly and warm here, you feel like family. Had the braised lamb and it was very good. Husband had Gyro and that was good as well. The place is nice and clean. Service was good. The prices are great. I would totally recommend this place to others.
(4)Justin G.
Been here a number of times. This place has pretty tasty greek food that is on par with everyone else in the area. Cool thing, this place also supports a hostel, if you have younger folks in town.
(4)Tiff W.
Such highs and lows in one trip. The OK: broiled octopus as appetizer. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but the flavors were all there...lemony garlic herbs. The texture of the octopus was a little off, but we were starving, so all of it was devoured in minutes. The great: braised lamb. YUM. The meat fell off the bones and the sauce was so flavorful. I would definitely get this again The badddd: gyro platter. Is the meat supposed to be burnt & crunchy? I think not. It was pretty disappointing. Greek islands does it better.
(3)Adam S.
This is my favorite Greek place in the country. The lamb and artichoke dish is amazing. The ambiance is as good as it gets.
(5)Khadijah L.
I come here almost every month for a dinner/presentation meeting and we always have the family style dinner, and sampled various dishes over and over again. I am a big fan of Greek food and this place is OK. I've been here for regular dinner, the price is right. IMO you can find better greek food around Greektown. Family Style Dinner (aka the greek god-sized meal) Greek Salad: The usual lettuce, cucumber, tomato, olive, onions and feta. I love it. Melitzanosalata: roasted eggplant and olive oil dip. great. nom. I wish they'd serve us pita instead of sesame loaf bread. Gyro with Tzatziki: The gyro meat is always dry. Tzatziki is a tangy cucumber yogurt dip. Again, I wish I had some pita. Avgolemono soup: Lemon, rice and chicken soup is delish. Saganaki: Fried "flamed" cheese is some serious stuff Entrees (all good to mediocre) Spanakopita: spinach and cheese in phyllo dough Moussaka: eggplant, ground beef in tomatoes, covered with bechamel and cheese casserole Rice and potatoes Baked chicken Roast lamb (sometimes dry and greasy at the same time) Dessert (all superb) Baklava: sweet honey and almonds in phyllo pastry Galaktobouriko: lemon custard in phyllo pastry *food comatose*
(4)Joseph D.
I know nothing...absolutely nothing about Greek food. Having said that... Service was okay. The waiter wasn't so excited when presenting the Saganaki. Oh well, no biggie. I had the roast lamb. I have two words: TOO MUCH. I did not expect this much lamb, but I was quite happy with the taste and texture. I didn't eat the roasted potatoes or the rice pilaf. I was too busy trying to finish the lamb. The prices were reasonable. Definitely worthy of a recommendation.
(4)Nick S.
If you want to know what Greektown was like in the '70's; go to the Parthenon. I think, of all the Greek restaurants, the Parthenon comes the closest to the Greek home cooked meal. Traditionally, that's not fine dining, so be ready. If you like lamb, try this place out. I'm not a big lamb person, but I'll eat it here b/c it's so tender. One piece of advice when dining in Greektown is to ask the waiter what foods are made fresh daily. Sometimes, they'll let a tray of pastitio or mousaka sit around for a few days.
(4)Grant N.
The best ROASTED POTATOES ever.
(5)Sara F.
I really have nothing but love for this place...and how could you not since it claims to be what the U of Chicago was for the atom bomb for FLAMING CHEESE. Brilliant. The unpretentious interior, the cheap prices, and traditional Greek food really make this one of the best options in Greektown. Throw in that it was the first of the restaurants in the area, and my love of all things that give Chicago character, and I'm a happy girl. To try: spanakopita, gyros, pita, feta, olives, tiramousalada, etc. All fantastic. Never heard anyone complain about the food here. I haven't tried more of the entree-type dishes, but those I've gone with have been pleased and leave with heavy bags of leftovers. And might I add, this place is GREAT for groups. Cheap alcohol + free valet + big tables = happy diners. Just keep your head away from the flaming cheese, and you're all set.
(4)Pat E.
Good, but not great. I would actually prefer Greek Islands to this place. Tzatziki was good, but better at GI. I ordered white fish, which was ok, nothing to write home about! Greek food kicks ass!
(4)Elizabeth C.
I went to the Parthenon with my bf and our couple friends on a whim one Friday night. We had made what we thought were last minute reservations the day before, but we showed up to a half-empty dining room. We were greeted by a woman who I assume was an owner, and was one of the warmest, most welcoming people I've met, well...anywhere! We ordered the flaming cheese right away, on a friend's recommendation, and it was a delicious experience. We also ordered a bottle of the "house" wine - I'm no wine snob, but trust me when I advise you to steer clear. Even though it was a red, it came fridge-chilled, and it was borderline undrinkable (this is coming from an enthusiastic fan of 2 Buck Chuck, ok?). I ordered the lamb with artichokes in an "egg lemon sauce." They had me at lamb and artichokes. The lamb was huge, tender, and really delicious. The artichokes were good too, although I would've liked a few more (the meat-to-veg volume ratio was about 10:1). But the egg lemon sauce...this is the reason why there are 3 stars here and not 4. It was thick, a bit lumpy, and just...all over the place. It didn't taste bad, but I thought it could have been hotter (temperature wise, the whole plate was sort of lukewarm). It makes me feel bad to not be able to give more stars, because the people who work there are just darling. I would definitely give it another chance and order a lighter menu item next time.
(3)Jessica C.
If I was writing this review 3 -4 years ago in my pre-dairy-allergy days, I may tell you how great the spinakopita, moussaka, pastitsio and saganaki are. How flakey the filo is, how fluffy the moussaka is, how creamy and chewy the saganaki is. You know, The Parthenon invented that fabulous flaming cheese. Unfortunately, the whole non-dairy thing has drastically inhibited my ability to eat good shit. Though, my diet is restricted, I do OK and have learned to really enjoy other foods and preparations. This fine evening, I ordered the broiled octopus. This was no baby octopus, it was big fat tenticles sliced into bite size pieces, so some were quite tender and others a bit chewy. It was broiled with lots of tasty charred bits and drenched in olive oil, oregano and other spices, and lemon. AMAZING!!!! Actually, I can not wait until the time comes when I can eat some more of that octopus. Seriously, everyone at the table tasted it and voted it the #1 dish of the evening. And... I'm totally obsessed with the little suction cups that fell off the pieces and were just chilling on my plate...they were so cute. My family and I have been going to the Parthenon since I was a wee little one and it is always consistant and always delicious. The servers are also really good with substitutions...they don't mind swapping some rice pilaf for some braised okra if you ask, or trade your broiled eggplant for some green beans. They don't fuss or fight and never charge extra. If you love Greek food and love Greek seafood, please find some time to head over to the Parthenon for some authentic Greek eats with great service in an old school place. OPA!
(5)Lois A.
Yum! So much to like except for the lighting. Man, it was bright compared to places I usually frequent while pigging out. The Greek salad was so good and the gyros were extremely good. I really didn't care about the saganaki but I've had so much wonderful cheese in my life that this was just so-so. I totally recommend going family style and trying everything they bring out. It feels like an endless parade of good things and worth trying at least once.
(3)Sarah S.
Pretty good, as Greektown restaurants go. Usually, I'm not a huge fan of the Greektown restaurant concept. Big, noisy, campy, and often the food isn't great or memorable. The Parthenon is definitely my favorite, simply because the food is much better than at Athena or Greek Islands. We ordered the moussaka and the spanakopita for main courses - they were both HUGE and gave us a full meal worth of leftovers. The Moussaka was pretty good, but then, moussaka is always pretty good. The really good food was the appetizers. Their flaming saganaki was great - gooey and soaked in brandy and delicious. The best thing we had all night though, were these phyllo-wrapped whipped feta things covered in honey - heavenly. I'd probably give them another star if they'd figure out how to keep the noise level down - it's really hard to find a good date place in Greektown because all of the big restaurants are these boisterous crazy loud family places. My boyfriend and I had a really nice time, it was just a little hard to hear. Service was eh - they didn't seem to coordinate well so they came by a couple times and asked if we needed to order, when we already had, things like that. But it was a really busy Friday night, so it's understandable. Pricing is also just fine - especially if you like doggybagging leftovers. It came to about $60 for the two of us, with appetizers and house wine, but we didn't order "full" dinners - just moussaka and spanakopita with no sides, which was more than enough food. I would give negative a gillion stars not to the restaurant, but for the incredibly annoying, offensive drunk Cubs fans at the next table. They were probably the rudest patrons of a restaurant I've ever seen - shouting homophobic and racist phrases, horsing around like little kids in the aisle and being very rude to their waiters. I felt bad for the restaurant. Shame on them, and they made their team look bad to boot.
(3)Kayee I.
I've been here for a few occasions and the service has never disappointed me. Waitstaff are always friendly and willing to help you with your selection. Of course you will have to try the flaming sagaki... you cannot avoid it even if you wanted to since one fires up every 5-10 minutes in the dining room. My favorite dish of all my trips so far has been the rostisserie-roasted lamb with rice pilaf and roast potatoes (not so friendly to the carb-conscious) but quite tasty. The vegetarian moussaka is a bit heavy, and the server-recommended baked codfish with a side of scallopped potatoes is too greasy and bland for my taste. Definitely compliment your entrees with Greek beer.
(4)Evan A.
Best gyro in Chicago for sure. Go for lunch. For under $10 you can get a gyro, fries, salad and a soup.
(4)Janeen A.
The service was good. However, the food was just ok. The lentil soup was fine, but nothing special and it did not entice me to try to finish it. Same with the Greek salads. Spanakopita were ok, but kind of on the oily side. The chicken kabobs were delicious, however, the potatoes with them did not appeal to me. The white rice with a tomato- spice sauce was not very good either. Lastly, the chocolate mousse cake was quite dry. Nothing was terrible, but it also was not very good, rather mediocre.
(2)Michael B.
Amazing experience tonight with my wife! Owner is great and our waiter Salvadore is the best! Can't wait to go back for the broiled octopus entree :)
(5)Linda Z.
The setting and decor was beatuful, but the food and service left much to be desired and was not up to par with other Greek Town restaurants. I was there on the early side of Friday dinner. The gyros, which they make themselves was nothing special. I had a stuffed eggplant special which was ok. All a bit disappointing for the price.
(3)Jessica L.
First time in Chicago; first time in a Greek restaurant (highly recommended by friends). What happened? One happy me. This place is loud and friendly. With the bunches of waiters walking around and putting dishes in flames and people saying, "Opa!" it was a great experience. While my friends highly recommended the lamb shoulder, I actually went with the Gyro and MAN, I made a good choice! I looved the pita bread and it was an extremely big portion. The rest of the table also got the appetizer of zucchini fries (DELISH) and the cheese (don't remember what it was called), but it was flaming and when you put it on your bread- OH, HEAVEN. Bottom line: If you like loud bright restaurant and are in for some goooood food, GO!
(4)Rebekka T.
I've only been to Parthenon once and I won't likely go back. The decor is extremely cheesey. I certainly didn't feel like I was in Greece, more like New Jersey. We got some Greek staples, Moussaka, Saganaki, Egg-Lemon soup. The were all pretty blah. The Moussaka was a cold mush, the soup a bland gravy. I also got a Village salad which was describe as tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, peppers with feta and olives. I pictured a nice diced salad with cubes of feta. I got a pile of grainy, pale, limp, sad vegetables drench in half an inch of oil with a tiny square of feta on top and 2 olives. And a good handful of raw onions thrown on top. Skip this weird tourist trap, there's nothing authentic or delicious to be found here.
(2)Beth M.
I was a little nervous about eating here with my family, since the vegetarian entrees listed on the menu all involved cheese. Our server's eyes widened a bit when I explained that I didn't eat dairy, but he quickly went to the kitchen to find out which dishes would be suitable. I made a filling meal out of appetizers and sides; each is really intended to be shared, so it's a sizable portion. The hummus here actually has chicken broth in it, but several other dishes were available for a vegan. The eggplant spread was different from baba ghannouj, but mighty tasty - it was more "green" tasting, with parsley and no tahini. I also had grilled mixed vegetables (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini); ask for olive oil instead of butter. Pan-fried zucchini/eggplant and cold bean salad were other vegan options. My favourite item was the skordalia (cold potato puree with TONS of garlic). You could get it as a separate item, but I ordered mine as part of the cold beet salad. I really like garlic that "bites", so this was perfect. The Parthenon was bustling with dinerslast night, but service was very attentive. Our water glasses were filled frequently and the servers were very helpful in wrapping up the extra food from the rest of my family's "family-style dinner". It was a LOT of food. Try not to fill up too much on the fresh sesame-topped bread. We didn't try it, but you can get a complimentary rune, coffee cup or palm/astrology reading on Thursday evenings. The saganaki (flaming cheese) is very entertaining, even for those such as myself who do not partake in it. Overall, good food and a good atmosphere for family dinners, all at a good price.
(4)Megan B.
This is my favorite Greek restaurant. The first time I visited Chicago, my husband and I came here for dinner because it was walk distance from Union Station. I'm so glad we did, and now I've been back more times than I have fingers. It is often the first restaurant I will take out-of-town visitors to. There is always a large crowd on weekend evenings, but because the restaurant is huge, there is never much of a wait. The Parthenon is also great for lunch. I like going here for work lunches, as they can easily accommodate large groups, and their quick service allows us to get back by the end of the lunch hour. I will also sometimes stop in by myself for carryout - they never seem to mind that I just order soup. A huge bowl of lemon rice soup and half a loaf of bread costs just around $4!) I highly recommend their flaming cheese, lemon rice soup, and pastitisio. The flavors and textures of each are just perfect. This is my standard meal every time I go. So whether you live in Chicago or are just visiting, go to The Parthenon!
(5)rebecca f.
The Parthenon Restaurant has the BEST homemade gyro in Chicago and everything else is great too.
(5)Michelle K.
My favorite Greek restaurant, by far. I've been going here with my family for years, and I've yet to have a bad meal. The lamb is tender, the spanakopita is flaky, and the moussaka is creamy and savory. And, most importantly: the saganaki is cheesy and salty and delicious. The atmosphere and servers are definitely Greek-tastic, which is part of the charm. Next time you're in Greektown, this place is a must-go!
(5)Julie M.
Coming in for a weekend visit to Chicago, I was excited to try some amazing cuisine. The Chicago native sitting next to me on the plane recommended Greektown as a great destination for cuisine in the Chicago area. I was very excited to try this place. Our group was greeted with a very nice attentive host at the front door and we were seated immediately. Our group ordered that flaming cheese appetizer first, the name escapes me. It was very tasty. I ordered the Chicken Kabob with rice and potato. The chicken was very dry an lacked any distinct flavor. The vegetables were few and far between and they also lacked any flavor, and were soggy. However the rice and potato were very good! Perhaps I ordered the wrong dish but I figured I couldn't go wrong with such a basic meal. A dining partner who ordered the same thing also didn't like the kabob, thought it was dry. Another friend ordered one of the appetizer family samplers and hated all of it. He stopped eating it halfway into it. The only saving grace seemed to be one of the pork dishes. The wait staff was attentive with filling our water glasses but our actual server was nowhere to be seen for a good portion of the evening. Although he was nice, nice doesn't go far when you can't find your server. It took an hour for our food to get to the table, most people in the restaurant were waiting just as long if not longer. After we got our food he must have gone on a smoke break cuz we never saw him again. After flagging him down for our check and waiting another 5 minutes he never picked it up so we paid at the front. It was pretty annoying.
(2)t.n. t.
I love Greek food and was spoiled by my college roommate's ya ya. Parthenon definitely makes me feel like I am still receiving her care packages. The service is excellent here!! I love the ambiance and enjoy the view of halsted while eating. It is a great date spot. The moussaka and kotopita are my faves!!! There are countless other dishes that make my stomach smile, but the list is song. Definitely enjoy some greek yogurt after you have completed your meal. Dress appropriately as well.
(5)Karen A.
A for Average. There are so many better Greek restaurants in Greektown, like Greek Islands, for example. There are only so many ways to serve fried cheee and light it on fire, and make a big deal out it by saying "OPA!". And why does their red table wine remind me of Boones Farm Strawberry ? (yes, I have actually had it............). Bleeccch.
(3)Jeremy T.
We were disappointed in nearly every aspect of this place. First, the bright side: the shrimp is decent and the atmosphere is energetic. However, the scallops are TERRIBLE (worst I've ever had), the gyro meat is mediocre, even the salad was bad (the tomatoes were clearly over-refrigerated and became flavorless), and the service is slow... and there are gnats. Let me re-iterate something here, the scallops were soggy and not even eatable. If you feel the need to go here (and I wouldn't), DO NOT GET THE SCALLOPS. To top it off, when the server asked why I hadn't eaten my scallops, and I told him politely that it was because they were not good, he simply apologized and still charged us for the entree that I didn't eat!
(1)Brad M.
Had another fantastic dinner at the Parthenon as usual! Always great servive and fun times!
(5)Terri M.
We hadn't really been to Greektown during the three years that we'd been back in Chicago. It always seemed too touristy, too difficult to park, not as authentic as we like our ethnic food to be. But tonight, we were originally craving middle eastern, and because there just aren't very many good middle eastern options on the near-southwest side, we went for the next closest cuisine. Turned out to be the best decision we made. We've rediscovered Greektown! And to add icing to the cake, we discovered that there is FREE valet parking at the Parthenon!! We were sold! Once we were seated (and it was fast because only half the tables were filled on a Thursday night) and we looked at the menu, we decided that we had definitely made the right decision. Mr. Picky was craving a Greek salad, so we got that. I love nibbling on a variety of appetizers, so we made a meal of appetizers, kind of like a mezze platter at a middle eastern restaurant. We got the tzadziki, a plate of barrel olives (a little bigger than the kalamatas, an order of beets with a dip of potatoes mashed with garlic and olive oil, grilled pita, and a cold appetizer plate for one which included the eggplant dip, the fish roe dip, marinated octopus, navy bean salad, one stuffed grape leaf, and one small cheese pie. The meal was exactly what we wanted and worked well for us as pescetarians, but we felt like oddballs because everyone was getting the flaming cheese (ooopa!). The only disappointment was that the Greek salad was made with Iceberg, but that can be forgivable sometimes, At least the feta was real and it was garnished with four anchovy fillets. Other than that, we liked everything, especially the tzadziki. Our enire meal came to $44, including a glass of wine and a Greek mineral water. We had so much food that we brought home a big bag with four take out containers of stuff we didn't finish. All in all, it was a good experience. Now that we know about the free valet parking, it's kind of a no-brainer: we'll definitely be back. Oopa!
(4)Beth F.
I'm from Minnesota, which is officially the land of the blandest food in the world. Not kidding, look it up on a map. If you want tasteless hot dish or peculiar deli meat on a white flour snack bun, look no further. If you want exotic dishes that represent the world's palate you're out of luck because the only season we use is salt. The reason I mention any of this is because it has seriously handicapped my ability to try and enjoy different kinds of food. I'm close to 30 and am still recovering. And so spending time in Chicago is the perfect excuse to step outside my comfort level and try new-to-me things...things like Greek food! I was nervous to come here (for previously mentioned reasons) but went through with it and was extremely pleased. Our server was a hilarious older man who wasn't trying to be funny. We were also here with a pair of out-of-town grandparents which added immensely to the enjoyment factor of the evening. And the food? Ohhhhhhhhhhh, it was SO so good! Between the two of us, my fiance and I tried a chicken dish (very tender and perfectly seasoned) and lamb (which was moist and awesome--you have to order the lamb). We've always meant to come back here but haven't made it yet. Someday!
(4)Allison E.
I love Greek food anyway and the Parthenon is one of my favorites. It's huge, loud, and often crowded, but the food is perfect. Prices are reasonable especially since the servings can feed an army. They are huge. Everything on the menu is great. I recommend going with a large group and doing it family style, that way you don't have to make a solid decision on what to eat. AND, free valet parking! woot woot
(5)Clarissa J.
Ggaaarrrgggghhhh....Laaaaaammmmbbbbb! The lamb is so melty and tender and delicious.... ANY lamb. Go on, try any preparation. They do lamb so well that it sings with any prep: braised with veggies and rice; smothered in lemon-cream sauce with artichokes; rack-of; whatever! But the menu is chock full of awesome Greek delights from dolmades, to moussaka, to lemon soup, to baklava. And yes, the flames roar to the ceiling from their saganaki while everyone yells, "Opa!" Were you expecting anything less? It's a family atmosphere: comfortable, warm (especially next to the flaming cheese!), inviting. They are excellent with re-filling the little water glasses, so the warm part's not so bad. Service is professional, funny and on top of things. I'm so glad John wants to go back there for his birthday. :) Opa!!!
(4)Lesley A.
I was hesitant to go to Parthenon because I always viewed it as an expensive restaurant. After all, they have valet. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Parthenon's menu is extensive and can range from a completely reasonable under $10 gyros "appetizer" plate to higher priced entrees that I presume are larger. I wasn't really hungry when I came here and just ordered from the dessert menu: Greek yogurt with walnuts and honey. It was my first experience with Greek yogurt and wow! It was nice, thick and didn't upset my stomach like some regular yogurts can. The honey and walnuts were also a great addition. I was proud of myself for choosing a "healthier" dessert option for my late night meal. I did have a chance to eye my friends' food. One friend purchased an appetizer that looked like lightly philo dough covered goat cheese, fried, and simmering in honey. Okay, talk about the not so healthy option, but it was good... As for the aforementioned gyro plate appetizer, it looked like the standard size gyro that you could get anywhere else for the same price, but dressed up. My friends liked it. Overall great experience, although I wish that they could split checks. I was with a group of ~20 people and luckily we're all used to assigning someone in our group to do the math for our large restaurant bill. Otherwise, this place can accommodate large groups and looks like it would be nice for families and dates. Hopefully I'll write an update after trying their entrees!
(3)Jessica C.
Was here recently for a baptism luncheon and found it delightful. Have been here previously for larger gatherings and always enjoyed myself. Service was friendly, prompt and attentive. Food was delectable. Have to say I still prefer Athena's taramasalata and gyros, but Parthenon tzatziki is divinely garlicky and rich. The roasted chicken was delicious--tender and moist. Pastitsio was flavorful, buttery, spicy. House salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, feta, onion) was fresh and light, perfectly dressed. And the saganaki--a mouth-watering explosion of flamed, cheesy, "opa!" goodness. They know how to do it here at The Parthenon.
(4)Garett N.
Went with my friend who was in town visiting. Tried the lamb and it was amazing. The portion was huge and like another reviewer said, it was so tender and delicious. Also, the portion was huge! I'm a pretty big eater, but I couldn't even finish half of the dish. My friend tried the pork tenderloin dish and while she did do some damage to the dish, she also couldn't finish it. Good service, great selection. Recommended!
(4)Matthew E.
We got it delivery and were about 15 minutes away so we had to reheat the food but amazing food is good no matter what temperature. We started off with their sagnacki and tzatiki. The tzatiki comes in a huge container and is well worth every dollar, it has a nice garlic kick to it which i thoroughly enjoyed. Next on to the main meal. My roommate had the trio sampler which she absolutely loved and I had the chicken spanaki basically chicken stuffed with the ingredients of a spinach pie. A juicy chicken filled with spinach pie, my tastebuds could barely handle the joy. I love greek food and need to go visit greektown here one day but when im lazy and the weather is cold ill be sticking around these parts and ordering from Parthenon.
(4)Nancy S.
We took a group of 12 to The Parthenon to celebrate a special occasion. After we had been seated awhile, a large party of very drunk & loud people was seated directly behind us. We complained to management who offered to move us, not them, but only if we picked up all our own plates. We declined and requested to go boxes. In the meantime, the group behind us got increasingly offensive and were making derogatory comments about people in our group. Management did little to stop the situation and clearly felt the other group had the right to harass and taunt the other patrons. Many of us flew great distances to be at this event and it was ruined by people who management should have kicked out of the restaurant. By far, the worst restaurant situation I've ever experienced.
(1)Dee M.
I came because I heard about the flaming cheese spectacle and was glad I did. The flaming cheese was fun to watch and delicious as well. I had the traditional plate which has portion of moussaka, pastito, slices of roast lamb, and a dolmata along with side of potatoes and sauteed zucchini....so much food! I liked the moussaka the best but the rest of the food was delicious as well. Finished off by sharing baklava, which was yummy but I'd recommend going over to one of the greek bakeries nearby to get some freshly made baklava. A fun experience worth repeating.
(4)John D.
Greek food doesn't get any better than this. Get a bottle of the house Rose. Start with the flaming saganaki (Opa!) and the tzatziki. Then move onto the greek salad and finally the spanakopita. This will be the very best spanakopita you ever have. My friend just bought me the Parthenon cookbook. I can't wait to see if I can reproduce the experience of the Parthenon in my own home. I just hope I don't burn my house down when I light the saganaki.
(5)Esther S.
I've realized how deprived I had been of good Greek food since visiting this place. I didn't know what to expect, maybe a gyro wrap with a side of fries? NOT! Try a 10 course meal that will make you wish you had 5 stomachs. We went for the new version family style menu- refer to the website because it's a crazy load of food. I'll just highlight some of my favorites- the saganaki, who doesn't love fried cheese, the spinach cheese pie, the moussaka, and soup. Everything tastes very different from the next and nothing was overly greasy. It's a great place and definitely feels like you're somewhere special, it's casual and good for large parties.
(4)Wendy K.
I was here several years ago, and some things might have changed, but I remember my experience as absolutely fantastic. We (two friends and I) got a LARGE amount of food (we did thefor very little money, and it was great quality. I come from a part-Greek family and have a special place in my stomach for good Moussaka and Dolmades. Yum. Try it out!
(4)Kim G.
If you like Greek food, this is the place for you! For first timers I highly recommend getting family style. It will fill you up before the main course and give you a taste of the best that this resturant has to offer. For seasoned greek tasters, try the milopita it feta in friend filo dough with honey drizzle, it causes this mouth explosion for at least an hour after you eat. It's not the cheapest but price is fair considering the quality, and you do have free valet. After we are done eating we let the valet know that we will be right back and head into the bakery next door, we get some great dishes for home and off we go. 5 stars for sure, always.
(5)Angie C.
Great food, family like atmosphere (especially with tons of Christmas decorations, it was like being at Grandma's house) and wonderful attentive service. The dolmades are classic yet delicious, and you can't go wrong with the combo plate to try a little bit of everything. The squid stuffed with spinach and cheese was heavenly. Beware those with nut allergies - I asked to make sure nothing I ordered had nuts but I managed to eat something with it, one probably snuck in from another dish. Not my go-to place, but it was a nice relaxing dinner.
(4)Lan N.
$15/person for the mezes sampler: 4 delicious dips, and 5 heaping plates of food. Babaganoush and taromasalata were soooo good. I ate waaaaay too much and had to sleep off my food coma for the rest of the afternoon. We were there for lunch but I can't wait to go back and try the roast pig.
(4)Kimme O.
Only one way to describe my experience here: Disheartening. My first time eating "real" Greek food and I came to the conclusion that these guys must be posers. After all the ranting and raving I heard about Greek Town I expected much better. Food portions are way off for the price and quality. One star because I have to and another for their soda: Not Flat, very bubbly.
(2)Janette L.
I met some friends here for dinner. I had the spinach and feta stuffed chicken breast. It was very good - a bit more rich than I traditionally eat but still tasty (hey, a girl's got to treat herself sometimes). Saganaki and house wine were good. I thought this was a great place for a relaxing dinner with good friends - I never felt rushed and we all had a chance to talk and catch up. Service, food, and atmosphere were all good. Would defintely come back again soon.
(4)Marie B.
We have been here several times and always enjoy it. The food comes in BIG portions so be careful or you will order too much. Even their bottles of wine are bigger! One litre vs 750mls! Oopa! Waiters can sometimes be overworked so get your order ready.
(4)Nick C.
I like this place. My family and I have been going there since we were little and had to dress in suits (1970's) back when people liked to dress up when they went out to dinner. Menu items that I like: Gyros - the best hands down. They make it and don't listen to anyone who said it's not good. They are probably used to the soy filled fast food kind where people think that is authentic. Saganaki - I never had a bad saganaki. They popularized it in Chicago, and they know what they are doing. I used to eat there five times a month, and it's always great. Greek Salad - The best. I can drink the dressing it's so good! I would recommend going a little earlier instead of after 9:30 / 10:00 PM. Despite my raves, the service is better before that. However, as a Greek American, I encourage you to try it out.
(5)Ashley A.
It's not fancy but it doesn't even try. This place is about good, old-fashioned family gatherings with all the classics at the table. The Traditional Family Style dinner they offer makes big gatherings simple and has a little bit of something for everyone. You can't go wrong! Wait staff is very attentive and seems to have the timing down on delivery of a fresh course in the 5 course dinner. You get all the traditional elements of a Greek dinner without having to try to pronounce all the crazy dishes! Oh did I mention free valet??
(4)Kim B.
What a fun night out! We came here on a Saturday night and everyone had a great time. The food was amazing and the staff was attentive and accommodating. We all opted to eat "family style" and ordered the New Traditional Menu. The Gyro meat was outstanding as was the lamb. Of course, the saganaki was delicious (who can go wrong with flaming cheese?) and the moussaka was exceptional as was the Greek salad! If you want something to drink of the alcoholic sort, the house wine is excellent. We went through 5 bottles and a carafe of Ouzo. The Ouzo is really strong, so be prepared! Overall, an excellent time. The only reason they don't have 5 stars is because I had a reservation for 7pm. They did not seat us until 7:45, which did throw a wrench in our plans for the evening.
(4)Sam T.
Went here with a friend. This is a relatively big place with plenty of seating. There was a family of Blackhawk fans next to us so I figure a lot of tourists visit this place. The service was decent although it did seem like the waiter forgot our table when we were ready for the check. They were attentive at filling up our water and clearing our dirty plates between courses. The food was decent but not out of this world. The food could have been served a little bit warmer as well. We ordered the gyros and a traditional sampler with a little bit of traditional fare. Like I said: good, but it could have come a little bit warmer. If you're looking for a decent place to go in Greek town, this would be a legit option to consider. I would definitely be willing to return to try the Saganaki that seemed extremely popular when I was there. Somewhat expensive for what they offer, but not overly so for an occasional visit for me.
(3)Lauren H.
A fellow yelper invited me to join her and some friends at Parthenon, and while the company was very good, I was not as wowed by the food. I LOVE Greek food, and eat it fairly often, but the only thing that overwhelmed me was the amount of food we ate. I had a drink, I can't remember the name of the liquor, Mextaca? Alexander, with creme de cacao and creme, and the cocoa dust on top was so heavy I thought I would get black lung disease. I shared the vegetarian family style dinner. We started off with saganaki--this was good, but hey, cheese is one of the foods of the gods in my book, so you better get this right. Then we shared some mashed potatoes with garlic dish, it was tasty, and tsatsiki, which was different than the tsatsiki I am used to (it was thicker, more tart, and did not have any discernible cucumber) and disappointed me (I usually put tsatsiki on everything--I even keep some in my fridge). This was followed by a greek salad, which was fine. The main course consisted of dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) (which were bland and in a funky sauce I think was lemony, I didn't care for these--and I LOVE dolmas), spanikopita (which was salty), moussaka and pastitsos (sp?) which were average. The zucchini side, however, was awesome. The two desserts we had (baklava and some other custard like dessert) were also bland and underwhelming. The pluses are the free valet and the prices.
(3)Jackie N.
I have been here a few times and the food is authentic and delicious. Usually I would give a place like this 3 stars, but I enjoyed a great dinner with the LOML when he held his graduation party at the establishment. Since I have such wonderful memories of meeting my gorgeous guy and his family for the first time, how could I be negative?!!
(4)Jennifer K.
This restaurant: the best in greentown. Saganaki: perfect. Melted in my mouth. Beef kabob's: perfect. Pilaf was great, too. Our server was so helpful n friendly. The owner is vey nice, too. They deserve 10 stars.
(5)Christine V.
I visited The Parthenon on Valentine's Day and had the worst dining experience I've had. I started off being vomited on by a patron. That's right, vomited on. I know that wasn't the restaurant's fault, but it was horrifying, and all they did was give me a couple of wet napkins and replaced my glass of wine that was unfortunately vomited in. After that drama, we decided to stay for our 8:00pm reservations (we arrived early as they requested) and were finally served dinner at 10:00pm. My husband had the worst lamb chops he's ever had (although he has had good ones there before) and I was less than impressed with my meal. I will NOT be going back.
(1)kara c.
I came here and I fell in love with the food. The service was very good too! I highly recommend coming here!
(4)Michael B.
The food and service are amazing. Highly recommend it.
(4)Sarah H.
Went to a large group dinner here this weekend with some fellow yelpers and other friends. It was great.. entered into a food coma for the second time in one weekend. Ugh. Shared the vegetarian family style meal with some friends. I love it.. well most of it. Started out with saganaki.. yum.. garlic mashed potatoes (very garlicky..but great).. and Tzatziki.. which I enjoyed in small doses. We then had the Greek salad.. which was soo good. It had some amazing feta on it! Ok so I was already full at this point.. but then the vegetarian Mousaka, Dolmades, and Pastitsio came out.. as well as some amazing zucchini that melted in your mouth! I think I actually enjoyed the main course better as leftovers today for lunch... because I wasn't so full from the first courses. But it was still great in the restaurant. Dessert didn't wow me. The baklava was ok.. but I've had better.. and the custard dish was way bland. Oh and we had a large group of 12.. and they did an excellent job of seating and serving us! All and all I can't wait to go back!
(4)Jake P.
Moved down near Greek Town so I had to try the place, and there's nothing to complain about. Great greek food, but the atmosphere is really what makes the place. The owner is always upbeat and friendly, and greets all guests when you're seated. What's even better is that they always come check to make sure you're enjoying your food.
(4)Gina K.
Went here after seeing they list the items that are gluten free right on their menus. Told our waiter that I was gluten free. Ordered gluten free items, When he brought out entrees he told me to wait and not eat the rice while he made sure the sauce was gf. It possibly wasn't, and he replaced it with plain rice which was still yummy! Overall a great experience, and extra points for attention to detail with the gluten free stuff. Lots of gf items to choose from.The saganaki displays are something to see, 6 at a time, whoa! Now they just need to serve gf saganaki and pita bread! Also free valet. Only downfall, noise level is high, very busy place.
(4)Sarah M.
Another Chicago and cultural institution that has "gotten it right". The Parthenon offers authentic Greek eats in a warm, family-run-feeling restaurant that eminates hospitality. Their good stuff includes lamb and flaming saganaki cheese, which is like none other. Get the cheese. Trust me.
(4)Ingrid G.
If you go anywhere else in Greektown you are a suckah. Trust me--I know. Except maybe Santoirini is better for seafood. Nuf said.
(5)monica r.
i am a regular diner - have been going to the parthenon for years. my last visit had confrmed that i will be dinind elsewhe shere in greektown. i made reservations for a party of 8 on mother's day. the whole time the waiter never took a drink order - just refilled water glasses. a couple members of our party had to ask for a beverage. secondly, 5 in the party were going to order the same sunday special. we were informed by the waiter that these were "old menus and were going to be changed tomorrow". we all went back toteh drawing board and selected another selection from the sunday specials. again my party was informed that the selection is not available. this was quite embarassing being that i recommended the parthenon for my guests. after a chorus of asking the waiter what is available we made our selections. the food we were served was goood just not our first or second choice.
(2)Kara B.
This restaurant is probably the worst in the nation. The food is not just bad Greek food, it is bad food. As an honest to goodness Greek girl who has lived in Greece I am embarrassed for the people who claim that this is the kind of food you will eat when you visit my beautiful country. None of the waitstaff speak Greek (i know because I do!) and almost none are of Greek descent. The food is very inauthentic and very Americanized in the worst way possible. I tried the Saganaki (which is what Americans call flaming cheese, which is not the real meaning of Saganaki, but that is beside the point) and it was cold and poorly prepared. They clearly didn't know to use the only acceptable Greek Brandy Metaxa, leaving it tasteless and gross. Their Gyros were very sub par and everything else at the table was pretty abysmal. My American friends however, were thrilled with the food. So if you know nothing about Greek food you might find this place acceptable, but please please don't confuse this with the real thing! The service was adequate though for a large group. It seems well prepared to handle large numbers of people in a n efficient manner.
(1)Erin M.
My husband and I tried the Parthenon Restaurant last week during a week night. There was no wait and we were seated right away. At first I thought we might get back service since they put us in a corner but I guess someone has to sit there, right? It wasn't bad sitting in the corner except the fact that we were close enough to the wall that when we first sat down I smelled an odd smell which I believe was from the wood finish on the wall. Oh well...I didn't notice it after a couple of minutes. Don't be surprised if you order wine and it comes in a little glass that is similar to a juice glass. I think the flaming cheese is over rated. And you should probably have a large appetite or more than two people if you order it for an appetizer. It's very rich (you will begin to see a trend soon) and filling when paired with the rolls they give you. I was very impressed by how attentive the wait staff was though since I only ordered water to drink with my meal (after the wine). They paid a lot of attention and kept it full....I drink A LOT of water... Finally the dish I ordered (the vegetarian combo since I couldn't decide) was VERY filling and RICH. I really enjoyed the stuffed olive leaves and the potatoes that came on my plate had a sort of bitter, almost pickeled, flavor..I like it. My husband ordered the leg of lamb.....It LOOKED really tender and probably tasted great to him but looking at it as a vegetarian was really disgusting. I normally don't have problems watching him eat meat but something about how shiny, fatty, and tender the lamb seemed was really disgusting! Oh, on a final note we attempted to ask our server if when they pan fry things (like scallops) they would be cooked all the way through....there was not really a great understanding between us. He couldn't understand our question so my husband ordered the lamb. For dessert we tried the yogurt honey and walnuts...WOW! I understand that greek yogurt is NOT supposed to be sweet...but I am not sure if it's supposed to taste zingy...Like it was fermented. ??? We didn't have any stomach issues that night but it just tasted REALLY odd. We asked the server if it was supposed to be so bitter and he said, I swear.."ummm...sometimes it get that way." I sort of laughed thinking I wonder if it gets that way when it is old. But he told us that if the milk curdles while cooking the yogurt it can get bitter...But I still am REALLY not sure if it was supposed to taste fermented. Overall I would go again just to try more foods that I am not familiar with and for the great service.
(5)Bill M.
This mainstay of Greektown on Halsted is a good pick for a lively Greek meal. The interiors feature attractive murals of Greek scenery, and the rotating meat in the window will attract hungry diners who are not vegetarians. It would be a shame not to order a saganaki, the flamboyant flaming cheese appetizer that is skillfully lit and served by the waiters along with a well-timed "opaa". I ordered the special combo, with faves like moussaka, lamb, pastitcio, and dolmades all on the same plate. Desserts include the baklava and a galaktobouriko, which comes off as a weak Greek variation of a Napoleon.
(4)Grant N.
The best ROASTED POTATOES ever.
(5)Sam B.
After having been to Greek Islands several times, I wanted to try a new restaurant in Greek town. I picked another four star rated restaurant on yelp, and had high hopes. We made a reservation for 7pm, arriving promptly. We were told that there would be a 20-25 minute wait. After a half hour of waiting, we were finally seated. Our table was crammed in the back corner of the restaurant, and there seemed to be a serious cold air leak in the wall. I'd say the temp was about 60 degrees where we were sitting. We waited about 20 minutes after sitting down before we pulled someone over to say that we had not been visited by a waiter. After another ten minutes, a waiter finally came over who seemed to be inconvenienced by our presence. He also had difficultly seeing and hearing. I'm sure the poor guy just doesn't have enough saved for retirement and has to keep working. The overall ambiance was seriously lacking. The lighting was like an operating room and there are no windows in the entire place -- it was a bit claustrophobic. Also there were many large parties of families and the restaurant was very loud. The food took forever to come out, and was only mediocre. We had to basically beg our waiter to bring the check over. He said, "okay but it will be a few minutes." I'm glad we didn't have anywhere to be after dinner or I would have been more upset. My recommendation would be to go to Greek Islands and avoid this place altogether. If you do choose to go here, order two drinks at a time, and make sure you have your appetizer and dinner order ready when the waiter finally comes over. Otherwise it could be awhile.
(1)Nikki C.
Hi is Nick there?lol ;-) greek food is family food. Loud, big portions, wine, olives, cheese, bread, lamb, fish, tzatziki, cucumbers, gyros, souvlaki, feta cheese, salads and more! Parthenon reminds me of the big family dinners I would find my way into growing up with greek bestfriends, houses with big tables filled with hungry and lively mouths, dinners were always a great party and it happens here everynight. I'm not eating again for a week. me so fulls ... ugh;-)
(4)Lisa C.
We stumbled to Greek Town after endlessly asking for directions. With no place in mind, we found the Parthenon and quickly went in for shelter from the cold. Since we came during the non-busy hours we were seated immediately. I was amazed with how much choices we had from the menu. Since it was just me and my sister we shared the Gyros with slices of mixed lamb and beef. This didn't really wow me because the meat was a little dry. But they do give a generous amount. Get the Tzatziki sauce to dip and ask for pita bread. I did enjoy the Special Platter with mini pork and chicken breast shishkabob, cheese pie, spinach-cheese pie, and trigono. The Alfa beer was lite and washed down all that food.
(4)Colleen C.
Plusses! 1. Free valet parking (like most other Greektown restaurants). 2. Greek owner/host/overseer...very charming. Greek waiters. 3. Flaming cheese staple. 4. LARGE and in charge portions. 5. Lots of seating. 6. Tastey food, lots of options... Negatives... Hmmmmm? I guess, they don't have fountain diet coke, so you pay up the rear for refills. Boo to that, Cheers to everything else! I still like Greek Islands better though, but Parthenon is cheap and a very close second....
(4)Emily K.
The Parthenon is fine. I'll come back again but if someone asked for Greektown suggestions I'd probably tell them to check out other places. It seems less like an actual restaurant and more like an experience or theme restaurant. I'd probably bring my family here from the suburbs since it's so unique and they'd get a kick out of it. I wouldn't come here for a dinner with my girlfriend if we happened to be craving Greek food. It's like going to Cafe BaBa Reeba because you're hungry- you only go there for an event or for the experience. Both times I've been here I've left full and underwhelmed. Both times I had the Combination Plates (both vegetarian and regular) which had a little bit of a lot of their offerings in it. The food was good. But not amazing. I'm open to other Greek restaurant suggestions.
(3)Kristin S.
Perfect place to take out of town guests or family. Such a lively, fun atmosphere and really great food! I came here with my boyfriend's family while they were in town and everyone gushed about it. The only bad thing we could think of was the wait for the valet at the beginning of the night. If you get there and there's a long line, don't despair! It's totally worth the wait. We ordered the family style dinner which is totally the way to go if you're into sharing. For around $20 per person, you get to try so many different items! You start with the flaming cheese for everyone. (Oopa!) and also get an eggplant spread, tzatziki, and gyro meat with onions as appetizers to share. Then egg lemon soup and greek salad for everyone followed by four main course items: Moussaka: SO GOOD! The spices were so perfect with a mix of sweet and savory. I loved this layered eggplant dish. Spinach Pie: This was the table favorite with so much flavor and the flaky, phyllo crust, we were all fighting for the leftovers. Chicken: This was so tender and juicy that it was falling off the bone, but still had a great chicken flavor. Very nice. Rotisserie Lamb: This was good, but my least favorite. It tasted a bit too gamey for me, but everyone else seemed to really enjoy it. Then we were treated to coffee and two kinds of dessert. Baklava (very yummy, though a bit soggy) and Galaktoboureko which was a custard dessert that I liked, but didn't finish since I was so full. There were five of us and we all ate until we were STUFFED and still had leftovers. We also drank very well splitting a carafe of ouzo, wine and some beer, all very good and reasonably priced. Service was attentive and fun, with flambes happening all around us. The food was delicious and we all left feeling like we'd gotten more than our money's worth. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Alefiyah M.
My husband and I came here because we bought a travelzoo deal. The deal included one shared appetizer, two egglemon soups, two greek salads, two entrees, and two desserts. We thought this was a great deal for $35 and the reviews looked pretty good. We came on a Friday night at 8:30pm, the place was very crowded. Luckily, the 7pm dinner crowd was getting ready to leave so it got quieter and less crowded soon after we arrived. I also think that's a reason that our service was superb. As for the food...We got the panfried zucchini appetizer which was okay. They were too greasy and there was oil at the bottom of the plate. They were not evenly salted so some pieces were perfect while the others were unbearably salty. The egg lemon soup was nothing special. The greek salads were well dressed and a nice refreshing break in the heavy meal. For the main course, I got the vegetarian special combination which came with vegetarian moussaka, pastitsio, spanakopita and vegetables. My husband got the vegetarian pastitsio. Both were terrible. I thought my dish would've been great since I would've gotten to try a little bit of everything, and surely, one of those things had to be good. I was wrong. The only thing on my plate that was worth eating were the vegetables. My husband took a few bites of his pastitsio and didn't want any more. For dessert we had ice cream and baklava. The baklava was good. Not the best I've ever had, but definitely not the worst. The only reason I'm giving two stars instead of one is because the service was very good. Our courses came out every ten minutes so there was no waiting around and our waters were always full. Unfortunately, the service isn't enough to bring us back again.
(2)Rita B.
First off, I love Greektown. I've been to many of the restaurants on Halsted but for some reason, never stopped at The Parthenon. I purchased a travelzoo voucher last year and finally made time to head to Greektown. I'm giving a lot of background so you readers can understand the type of quality, quantity and service we received. I informed our server that we had a voucher (in case we needed to order off of a different menu)...which is what we expected to do. We were able to order (get this...you sitting down?) 2 apps, 2 salads, 2 entrees, 2 desserts and 2 coffees for $49. Wow! The apps were delicious! Saganaki was good but needed a bit more lemon. The second app was some kind of ground beef in phyllo dough. Couldn't finish the second app. Greeks salad was to die for! We would have loved the extra feta cheese and kalamata olives but it didn't make the salad any less delicious. For the entrees we had the spinach and feta stuffed chicken breast (which was the size of a man's palm). It came with rice and potatoes AND a size of ... Rice. HUH? More rice? Ok! My husband had the lamb chops which also came with rice, potatoes and more rice! We couldn't take more than one bite out of our entrees so we packed them up to take home. Dessert was this genius concoction of custard and phyllo dough (yes, I love phyllo dough as much as the Greeks do). The second dessert was a flan-type called crema caramel. Literally, only one bite of each and those too were packed to go. Complimentary parking is always a plus. Service was slow but good. Never got our order wrong, always made sure our cups were filled with our beverage of choice. I have to say....I'll be back to visit this awesome restaurant again.
(4)Sarah Z.
I went here a few weeks ago on a Saturday afternoon with a 3 year old, a 7 year old and their exasperated Mother. We had a great lunch and everyone was happy. What more can you ask for? Opa!
(4)Hope K.
I was contemplating between 1 star or 2 stars... I only went with 2 stars because the 2 appetizers were pretty decent. It was just one bad experience after another... First, when we walked in, no one acknowledged us for a while. Once we were finally seated, we were again, being ignored. No one came to us. We didn't even get any water... nor did anyone come by us AT ALL for literally like 10 mins... we just sat there looking for someone to come to our table... I had to go back up to the front and told the lady that our server hadn't come by our table yet and that we haven't even gotten water yet... She was nice and immediately got someone to come to our table... Our appetizers came out pretty quick. We ordered the hummus and the grilled calamari. They were both really good. Now our entree. It took about 30 minutes after we've ordered our entree. It was a combination plate of different things. When it FINALLY came out... the food was cold and nothing tasted right. What I didn't understand is that by the time that we had ordered our entree the restaurant was quieting down. Our dish consisted of items that were not freshly prepared... meaning these items were made ahead in big batches... so if all they had to do was scoop small portions onto the plate ... since they were ALL pre-made... then why did it take 30mins and why was it COLD????? There was no way that we were going to eat that food. I called our server and told him that our food was cold and it just didn't taste good. He got defensive ... in the end he asked if we wanted to get another item instead... but we were just fed up and wanted to get out of there... We were pretty much full from the water and the bread... There are plenty of other delicious Greek restaurants on that street... I WILL NOT BE BACK HERE!!!!
(2)Jenny T.
I couldn't pass up Greektown in Chicago and chose this as our only taste of the neighborhood. Although I admit we were underdressed, it is not an excuse for poor service. The waiter, a kind-looking, older gentleman, completely ignored us throughout the entire meal. He didn't explain anything on the menu (leaving me to fumble through describing what little Greek food I know), didn't ask how our meal was, and didn't return to our table after serving us until we finally waved him down for our check. It was our first time having saganaki, so I can't compare. The moussaka, however, was the best I've ever had by far. It's the only reason for the two stars, though I debated three. Unfortunately, we were sorely disappointed by the service we received.
(2)Ecklar A.
This place is great Greek food, friendly unrushed service at a reasonable price. A glass of inexpensive Roditis wine and you are on you way. Free valet or park in a lot down the street for $6. Take your time. Enjoy.
(5)Pat C.
My dear sister and dear bro-in-law joined my husband and I for a wonderful meal and a great time at The Parthenon late this afternoon. We both had the local Groupons for a ton of food for $46 per couple. Theodore was our waiter, and he was terrific! Our runner was fantastic too. We happily shared the two bottles of Roditis wine, saganaki and the spinach and cheese stuffed phyllo triangles and both the eggplant and the fish roe spreads. For the entrees we enjoyed the grilled octopus, fried calamari, roasted lamb and a gyros platter. We also really enjoyed the soup and the Greek salad. To top it all off - we were offered two choices for dessert - the baklava or the custard. Much of our entrees and all of the desserts wound up going home with us. I don't know how the service is in the evening - but we enjoyed every minute this afternoon and every delicious mouthful we had - and look forward to great meals tomorrow! The free valet parking was a real winner too, and appreciated.
(5)So Hui C.
I love this place! I will not eat Gyros from anywhere else unless I'm super desperate. I love the food there and love seeing the same friendly faces everytime I'm there. FREE VALET!!! Did I mention free valet?! It's a great thing not to have to think about where you are going to park. I can use the time I save enjoying a wonderful dish of Saganake. Oh-pah!! Love it!
(4)Dee C.
I was not to impressed. Maybe it's because I'm not a Greek food kinda person or it's because I am a vegetarian. But nonetheless I had ordered: Flaming saganaki- mild kaseri cheese flame in brandy. I have had it before. Tasted fine. Cheese pies- whipped feta blend wrapped in phyllo. I felt like the taste was a little overwhelming. Greek salad- lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, olives, peppers, oregano. meh.....just a plain old salad....nothing fancy. Vegetarian moussaka- layered eggplants, zucchini and potatoes, bechamel sauce and kefalotiri. blah....it was just mush bland stuff...not a fan at all.... crema caramel-custard baked with syrup: the only good thing I liked. This was sooo good...only reason I gave it 2 stars. GALAKTOBOUREKO: not a fan of this either. Not a great dessert in my eye. iced coffee: meh....just coffee Friend had the wild fresh salmon. He did not like it that much. The staff was friendly, but that was all. There was nothing else appealing to this place.
(2)August B.
I'm not totally sold. Food was good, not great. Service was fine, my tablemates were slow. lot's of pizzaz, guys flaming food around you...if you like that. I don't know, gyro is a gyro is a gyro...i tried the combo plate. nothing to write about
(3)Ann W.
We were really disappointed in the food. The lemon rice soup was terrible; there was literally no lemon flavor in the soup at all. I ordered the traditional lamb and it too was disappointing . I'm Greek and I am very familiar with traditional Greek food. I would not return to this restaurant.
(2)Sam K.
Thirty five years ago, my father, a modest immigrant, came to Chicago and stayed in a guesthouse just west of downtown. That evening, he went out for a meal near his guesthouse. The place he ended up was a dingy hole in the wall that actually fitted his tiny budget, but the people were warm and friendly and the food was delicious. He did remember one thing in particular. They had cheese (which was a novelty in itself for most Indian immigrants) and before they served it, they set it on fire. This is what he told me when he last came to visit. "Saganaki Dad. It's called saganaki." "Yes! That must be it." After a bit of research, it turned out that the Parthenon not only was considered to have the best saganaki in town, but was the birth of it. And it just so happens, it's the same restaurant (with the same owners, and whose daughter is the hostess) my dad came to thirty five years ago. The Parthenon, according to my father, has gone through a remarkable makeover. On the Saturday night we went, it was bright and bustling and quite beautiful. Our hostess, whose father owned the restaurant, was incredibly charming and friendly. My father, a vegetarian, had plenty of options, contrary to the popular stereotypes about Greek food. He settled on a traditional vegetarian combo, which includes veggie mousakka, veggie pastitsio, dolmas and some sort of leafy lasagna type dish. I got the same, but with roasted lamb (for which they didn't charge me extra). There were probably other good choices, but we were hungry and too impatient to go through the whole menu. We also got saganaki and mini spanakopita as apps. The saganaki, of course, was fun and delicious, and better than the saganaki I've had in other Chicago Greek restaurants. The spanakopita was also exceptionally good, and better than most spanikopita I've had. My father was very happy with his meal. I was almost happy - the leafy dish I ate has a floral taste that I wasn't too fond of, and I wasn't that big a fan of the roasted lamb, which seemed a little too wet and slightly spongy. Everything else on my plate was great, though. The mousakka in particular was amazing. The service: Our waiter put forth his best effort, but was clearly overworked and dealing with far too many tables. It was difficult to get his attention, and he was clearly rushed and flustered. But A+ for sincerity and effort. Our meal came out to less than $50, which is amazingly cheap for the quality and quantity of what we got, the location, and the ambiance. A hell of a lot better and cheaper than the meal we got at mana's vegetarian food bar a couple days later. Overall, excellent and delicious experience, and very Chicago.
(4)Pauline D.
Nice restaurant nestled in the heart of Greektown. The service was superb, and it was great to see the owner greeting her guests as they came in. They are very generous with the bread basket; there was literally a huge loaf of soft, chewy sesame-encrusted bread for me and each of my girlfriends. If only the food was as amazing as the service. I always have a difficult time deciding on my entree with such an extensive menu, so I went with the special combination, which included hearty portions of moussaka, pastitsio, roast lamb, dolmades, potato and braised eggplant. All components were properly seasoned and tasted fine, but my tastebuds were far from feeling wowed. The roast lamb (although it could have been served a bit more pink) and dolmades were the supporting actors in a movie that had no star. The rest were just extras. This is the birthplace of the saganaki, and although we didn't try it like everyone else in the restaurant, I'm not sure it's worth a return trip. I'll give it a go at the place down the street next time.
(3)Joseph D.
I know nothing...absolutely nothing about Greek food. Having said that... Service was okay. The waiter wasn't so excited when presenting the Saganaki. Oh well, no biggie. I had the roast lamb. I have two words: TOO MUCH. I did not expect this much lamb, but I was quite happy with the taste and texture. I didn't eat the roasted potatoes or the rice pilaf. I was too busy trying to finish the lamb. The prices were reasonable. Definitely worthy of a recommendation.
(4)Shelly M.
The people are so friendly and warm here, you feel like family. Had the braised lamb and it was very good. Husband had Gyro and that was good as well. The place is nice and clean. Service was good. The prices are great. I would totally recommend this place to others.
(4)Justin G.
Been here a number of times. This place has pretty tasty greek food that is on par with everyone else in the area. Cool thing, this place also supports a hostel, if you have younger folks in town.
(4)Tiff W.
Such highs and lows in one trip. The OK: broiled octopus as appetizer. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but the flavors were all there...lemony garlic herbs. The texture of the octopus was a little off, but we were starving, so all of it was devoured in minutes. The great: braised lamb. YUM. The meat fell off the bones and the sauce was so flavorful. I would definitely get this again The badddd: gyro platter. Is the meat supposed to be burnt & crunchy? I think not. It was pretty disappointing. Greek islands does it better.
(3)Adam S.
This is my favorite Greek place in the country. The lamb and artichoke dish is amazing. The ambiance is as good as it gets.
(5)Khadijah L.
I come here almost every month for a dinner/presentation meeting and we always have the family style dinner, and sampled various dishes over and over again. I am a big fan of Greek food and this place is OK. I've been here for regular dinner, the price is right. IMO you can find better greek food around Greektown. Family Style Dinner (aka the greek god-sized meal) Greek Salad: The usual lettuce, cucumber, tomato, olive, onions and feta. I love it. Melitzanosalata: roasted eggplant and olive oil dip. great. nom. I wish they'd serve us pita instead of sesame loaf bread. Gyro with Tzatziki: The gyro meat is always dry. Tzatziki is a tangy cucumber yogurt dip. Again, I wish I had some pita. Avgolemono soup: Lemon, rice and chicken soup is delish. Saganaki: Fried "flamed" cheese is some serious stuff Entrees (all good to mediocre) Spanakopita: spinach and cheese in phyllo dough Moussaka: eggplant, ground beef in tomatoes, covered with bechamel and cheese casserole Rice and potatoes Baked chicken Roast lamb (sometimes dry and greasy at the same time) Dessert (all superb) Baklava: sweet honey and almonds in phyllo pastry Galaktobouriko: lemon custard in phyllo pastry *food comatose*
(4)Sara F.
I really have nothing but love for this place...and how could you not since it claims to be what the U of Chicago was for the atom bomb for FLAMING CHEESE. Brilliant. The unpretentious interior, the cheap prices, and traditional Greek food really make this one of the best options in Greektown. Throw in that it was the first of the restaurants in the area, and my love of all things that give Chicago character, and I'm a happy girl. To try: spanakopita, gyros, pita, feta, olives, tiramousalada, etc. All fantastic. Never heard anyone complain about the food here. I haven't tried more of the entree-type dishes, but those I've gone with have been pleased and leave with heavy bags of leftovers. And might I add, this place is GREAT for groups. Cheap alcohol + free valet + big tables = happy diners. Just keep your head away from the flaming cheese, and you're all set.
(4)Eric B.
I went here last night after the Yelp event to get some food since it was on the way back to downtown. The place is undergoing renovations but aside from that everything else was great. The servers were attentive although perhaps not that "polished". The food was excellent and the recommended carafe of house wine was really good. They were also very quick which was great since I was so hungry. I got a gyro platter which was more than enough food and very tasty. I'll have to go back here for lunch on a lazy summer afternoon in July when the clients are less demanding.
(4)Pat E.
Good, but not great. I would actually prefer Greek Islands to this place. Tzatziki was good, but better at GI. I ordered white fish, which was ok, nothing to write home about! Greek food kicks ass!
(4)Elizabeth C.
I went to the Parthenon with my bf and our couple friends on a whim one Friday night. We had made what we thought were last minute reservations the day before, but we showed up to a half-empty dining room. We were greeted by a woman who I assume was an owner, and was one of the warmest, most welcoming people I've met, well...anywhere! We ordered the flaming cheese right away, on a friend's recommendation, and it was a delicious experience. We also ordered a bottle of the "house" wine - I'm no wine snob, but trust me when I advise you to steer clear. Even though it was a red, it came fridge-chilled, and it was borderline undrinkable (this is coming from an enthusiastic fan of 2 Buck Chuck, ok?). I ordered the lamb with artichokes in an "egg lemon sauce." They had me at lamb and artichokes. The lamb was huge, tender, and really delicious. The artichokes were good too, although I would've liked a few more (the meat-to-veg volume ratio was about 10:1). But the egg lemon sauce...this is the reason why there are 3 stars here and not 4. It was thick, a bit lumpy, and just...all over the place. It didn't taste bad, but I thought it could have been hotter (temperature wise, the whole plate was sort of lukewarm). It makes me feel bad to not be able to give more stars, because the people who work there are just darling. I would definitely give it another chance and order a lighter menu item next time.
(3)Jessica C.
If I was writing this review 3 -4 years ago in my pre-dairy-allergy days, I may tell you how great the spinakopita, moussaka, pastitsio and saganaki are. How flakey the filo is, how fluffy the moussaka is, how creamy and chewy the saganaki is. You know, The Parthenon invented that fabulous flaming cheese. Unfortunately, the whole non-dairy thing has drastically inhibited my ability to eat good shit. Though, my diet is restricted, I do OK and have learned to really enjoy other foods and preparations. This fine evening, I ordered the broiled octopus. This was no baby octopus, it was big fat tenticles sliced into bite size pieces, so some were quite tender and others a bit chewy. It was broiled with lots of tasty charred bits and drenched in olive oil, oregano and other spices, and lemon. AMAZING!!!! Actually, I can not wait until the time comes when I can eat some more of that octopus. Seriously, everyone at the table tasted it and voted it the #1 dish of the evening. And... I'm totally obsessed with the little suction cups that fell off the pieces and were just chilling on my plate...they were so cute. My family and I have been going to the Parthenon since I was a wee little one and it is always consistant and always delicious. The servers are also really good with substitutions...they don't mind swapping some rice pilaf for some braised okra if you ask, or trade your broiled eggplant for some green beans. They don't fuss or fight and never charge extra. If you love Greek food and love Greek seafood, please find some time to head over to the Parthenon for some authentic Greek eats with great service in an old school place. OPA!
(5)Lois A.
Yum! So much to like except for the lighting. Man, it was bright compared to places I usually frequent while pigging out. The Greek salad was so good and the gyros were extremely good. I really didn't care about the saganaki but I've had so much wonderful cheese in my life that this was just so-so. I totally recommend going family style and trying everything they bring out. It feels like an endless parade of good things and worth trying at least once.
(3)Linda Z.
The setting and decor was beatuful, but the food and service left much to be desired and was not up to par with other Greek Town restaurants. I was there on the early side of Friday dinner. The gyros, which they make themselves was nothing special. I had a stuffed eggplant special which was ok. All a bit disappointing for the price.
(3)Jessica L.
First time in Chicago; first time in a Greek restaurant (highly recommended by friends). What happened? One happy me. This place is loud and friendly. With the bunches of waiters walking around and putting dishes in flames and people saying, "Opa!" it was a great experience. While my friends highly recommended the lamb shoulder, I actually went with the Gyro and MAN, I made a good choice! I looved the pita bread and it was an extremely big portion. The rest of the table also got the appetizer of zucchini fries (DELISH) and the cheese (don't remember what it was called), but it was flaming and when you put it on your bread- OH, HEAVEN. Bottom line: If you like loud bright restaurant and are in for some goooood food, GO!
(4)Sarah S.
Pretty good, as Greektown restaurants go. Usually, I'm not a huge fan of the Greektown restaurant concept. Big, noisy, campy, and often the food isn't great or memorable. The Parthenon is definitely my favorite, simply because the food is much better than at Athena or Greek Islands. We ordered the moussaka and the spanakopita for main courses - they were both HUGE and gave us a full meal worth of leftovers. The Moussaka was pretty good, but then, moussaka is always pretty good. The really good food was the appetizers. Their flaming saganaki was great - gooey and soaked in brandy and delicious. The best thing we had all night though, were these phyllo-wrapped whipped feta things covered in honey - heavenly. I'd probably give them another star if they'd figure out how to keep the noise level down - it's really hard to find a good date place in Greektown because all of the big restaurants are these boisterous crazy loud family places. My boyfriend and I had a really nice time, it was just a little hard to hear. Service was eh - they didn't seem to coordinate well so they came by a couple times and asked if we needed to order, when we already had, things like that. But it was a really busy Friday night, so it's understandable. Pricing is also just fine - especially if you like doggybagging leftovers. It came to about $60 for the two of us, with appetizers and house wine, but we didn't order "full" dinners - just moussaka and spanakopita with no sides, which was more than enough food. I would give negative a gillion stars not to the restaurant, but for the incredibly annoying, offensive drunk Cubs fans at the next table. They were probably the rudest patrons of a restaurant I've ever seen - shouting homophobic and racist phrases, horsing around like little kids in the aisle and being very rude to their waiters. I felt bad for the restaurant. Shame on them, and they made their team look bad to boot.
(3)Kayee I.
I've been here for a few occasions and the service has never disappointed me. Waitstaff are always friendly and willing to help you with your selection. Of course you will have to try the flaming sagaki... you cannot avoid it even if you wanted to since one fires up every 5-10 minutes in the dining room. My favorite dish of all my trips so far has been the rostisserie-roasted lamb with rice pilaf and roast potatoes (not so friendly to the carb-conscious) but quite tasty. The vegetarian moussaka is a bit heavy, and the server-recommended baked codfish with a side of scallopped potatoes is too greasy and bland for my taste. Definitely compliment your entrees with Greek beer.
(4)Evan A.
Best gyro in Chicago for sure. Go for lunch. For under $10 you can get a gyro, fries, salad and a soup.
(4)Janeen A.
The service was good. However, the food was just ok. The lentil soup was fine, but nothing special and it did not entice me to try to finish it. Same with the Greek salads. Spanakopita were ok, but kind of on the oily side. The chicken kabobs were delicious, however, the potatoes with them did not appeal to me. The white rice with a tomato- spice sauce was not very good either. Lastly, the chocolate mousse cake was quite dry. Nothing was terrible, but it also was not very good, rather mediocre.
(2)Michael B.
Amazing experience tonight with my wife! Owner is great and our waiter Salvadore is the best! Can't wait to go back for the broiled octopus entree :)
(5)Rebekka T.
I've only been to Parthenon once and I won't likely go back. The decor is extremely cheesey. I certainly didn't feel like I was in Greece, more like New Jersey. We got some Greek staples, Moussaka, Saganaki, Egg-Lemon soup. The were all pretty blah. The Moussaka was a cold mush, the soup a bland gravy. I also got a Village salad which was describe as tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, peppers with feta and olives. I pictured a nice diced salad with cubes of feta. I got a pile of grainy, pale, limp, sad vegetables drench in half an inch of oil with a tiny square of feta on top and 2 olives. And a good handful of raw onions thrown on top. Skip this weird tourist trap, there's nothing authentic or delicious to be found here.
(2)Beth M.
I was a little nervous about eating here with my family, since the vegetarian entrees listed on the menu all involved cheese. Our server's eyes widened a bit when I explained that I didn't eat dairy, but he quickly went to the kitchen to find out which dishes would be suitable. I made a filling meal out of appetizers and sides; each is really intended to be shared, so it's a sizable portion. The hummus here actually has chicken broth in it, but several other dishes were available for a vegan. The eggplant spread was different from baba ghannouj, but mighty tasty - it was more "green" tasting, with parsley and no tahini. I also had grilled mixed vegetables (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini); ask for olive oil instead of butter. Pan-fried zucchini/eggplant and cold bean salad were other vegan options. My favourite item was the skordalia (cold potato puree with TONS of garlic). You could get it as a separate item, but I ordered mine as part of the cold beet salad. I really like garlic that "bites", so this was perfect. The Parthenon was bustling with dinerslast night, but service was very attentive. Our water glasses were filled frequently and the servers were very helpful in wrapping up the extra food from the rest of my family's "family-style dinner". It was a LOT of food. Try not to fill up too much on the fresh sesame-topped bread. We didn't try it, but you can get a complimentary rune, coffee cup or palm/astrology reading on Thursday evenings. The saganaki (flaming cheese) is very entertaining, even for those such as myself who do not partake in it. Overall, good food and a good atmosphere for family dinners, all at a good price.
(4)Megan B.
This is my favorite Greek restaurant. The first time I visited Chicago, my husband and I came here for dinner because it was walk distance from Union Station. I'm so glad we did, and now I've been back more times than I have fingers. It is often the first restaurant I will take out-of-town visitors to. There is always a large crowd on weekend evenings, but because the restaurant is huge, there is never much of a wait. The Parthenon is also great for lunch. I like going here for work lunches, as they can easily accommodate large groups, and their quick service allows us to get back by the end of the lunch hour. I will also sometimes stop in by myself for carryout - they never seem to mind that I just order soup. A huge bowl of lemon rice soup and half a loaf of bread costs just around $4!) I highly recommend their flaming cheese, lemon rice soup, and pastitisio. The flavors and textures of each are just perfect. This is my standard meal every time I go. So whether you live in Chicago or are just visiting, go to The Parthenon!
(5)Julie M.
Coming in for a weekend visit to Chicago, I was excited to try some amazing cuisine. The Chicago native sitting next to me on the plane recommended Greektown as a great destination for cuisine in the Chicago area. I was very excited to try this place. Our group was greeted with a very nice attentive host at the front door and we were seated immediately. Our group ordered that flaming cheese appetizer first, the name escapes me. It was very tasty. I ordered the Chicken Kabob with rice and potato. The chicken was very dry an lacked any distinct flavor. The vegetables were few and far between and they also lacked any flavor, and were soggy. However the rice and potato were very good! Perhaps I ordered the wrong dish but I figured I couldn't go wrong with such a basic meal. A dining partner who ordered the same thing also didn't like the kabob, thought it was dry. Another friend ordered one of the appetizer family samplers and hated all of it. He stopped eating it halfway into it. The only saving grace seemed to be one of the pork dishes. The wait staff was attentive with filling our water glasses but our actual server was nowhere to be seen for a good portion of the evening. Although he was nice, nice doesn't go far when you can't find your server. It took an hour for our food to get to the table, most people in the restaurant were waiting just as long if not longer. After we got our food he must have gone on a smoke break cuz we never saw him again. After flagging him down for our check and waiting another 5 minutes he never picked it up so we paid at the front. It was pretty annoying.
(2)t.n. t.
I love Greek food and was spoiled by my college roommate's ya ya. Parthenon definitely makes me feel like I am still receiving her care packages. The service is excellent here!! I love the ambiance and enjoy the view of halsted while eating. It is a great date spot. The moussaka and kotopita are my faves!!! There are countless other dishes that make my stomach smile, but the list is song. Definitely enjoy some greek yogurt after you have completed your meal. Dress appropriately as well.
(5)Karen A.
A for Average. There are so many better Greek restaurants in Greektown, like Greek Islands, for example. There are only so many ways to serve fried cheee and light it on fire, and make a big deal out it by saying "OPA!". And why does their red table wine remind me of Boones Farm Strawberry ? (yes, I have actually had it............). Bleeccch.
(3)Jeremy T.
We were disappointed in nearly every aspect of this place. First, the bright side: the shrimp is decent and the atmosphere is energetic. However, the scallops are TERRIBLE (worst I've ever had), the gyro meat is mediocre, even the salad was bad (the tomatoes were clearly over-refrigerated and became flavorless), and the service is slow... and there are gnats. Let me re-iterate something here, the scallops were soggy and not even eatable. If you feel the need to go here (and I wouldn't), DO NOT GET THE SCALLOPS. To top it off, when the server asked why I hadn't eaten my scallops, and I told him politely that it was because they were not good, he simply apologized and still charged us for the entree that I didn't eat!
(1)Brad M.
Had another fantastic dinner at the Parthenon as usual! Always great servive and fun times!
(5)Terri M.
We hadn't really been to Greektown during the three years that we'd been back in Chicago. It always seemed too touristy, too difficult to park, not as authentic as we like our ethnic food to be. But tonight, we were originally craving middle eastern, and because there just aren't very many good middle eastern options on the near-southwest side, we went for the next closest cuisine. Turned out to be the best decision we made. We've rediscovered Greektown! And to add icing to the cake, we discovered that there is FREE valet parking at the Parthenon!! We were sold! Once we were seated (and it was fast because only half the tables were filled on a Thursday night) and we looked at the menu, we decided that we had definitely made the right decision. Mr. Picky was craving a Greek salad, so we got that. I love nibbling on a variety of appetizers, so we made a meal of appetizers, kind of like a mezze platter at a middle eastern restaurant. We got the tzadziki, a plate of barrel olives (a little bigger than the kalamatas, an order of beets with a dip of potatoes mashed with garlic and olive oil, grilled pita, and a cold appetizer plate for one which included the eggplant dip, the fish roe dip, marinated octopus, navy bean salad, one stuffed grape leaf, and one small cheese pie. The meal was exactly what we wanted and worked well for us as pescetarians, but we felt like oddballs because everyone was getting the flaming cheese (ooopa!). The only disappointment was that the Greek salad was made with Iceberg, but that can be forgivable sometimes, At least the feta was real and it was garnished with four anchovy fillets. Other than that, we liked everything, especially the tzadziki. Our enire meal came to $44, including a glass of wine and a Greek mineral water. We had so much food that we brought home a big bag with four take out containers of stuff we didn't finish. All in all, it was a good experience. Now that we know about the free valet parking, it's kind of a no-brainer: we'll definitely be back. Oopa!
(4)Beth F.
I'm from Minnesota, which is officially the land of the blandest food in the world. Not kidding, look it up on a map. If you want tasteless hot dish or peculiar deli meat on a white flour snack bun, look no further. If you want exotic dishes that represent the world's palate you're out of luck because the only season we use is salt. The reason I mention any of this is because it has seriously handicapped my ability to try and enjoy different kinds of food. I'm close to 30 and am still recovering. And so spending time in Chicago is the perfect excuse to step outside my comfort level and try new-to-me things...things like Greek food! I was nervous to come here (for previously mentioned reasons) but went through with it and was extremely pleased. Our server was a hilarious older man who wasn't trying to be funny. We were also here with a pair of out-of-town grandparents which added immensely to the enjoyment factor of the evening. And the food? Ohhhhhhhhhhh, it was SO so good! Between the two of us, my fiance and I tried a chicken dish (very tender and perfectly seasoned) and lamb (which was moist and awesome--you have to order the lamb). We've always meant to come back here but haven't made it yet. Someday!
(4)Allison E.
I love Greek food anyway and the Parthenon is one of my favorites. It's huge, loud, and often crowded, but the food is perfect. Prices are reasonable especially since the servings can feed an army. They are huge. Everything on the menu is great. I recommend going with a large group and doing it family style, that way you don't have to make a solid decision on what to eat. AND, free valet parking! woot woot
(5)Clarissa J.
Ggaaarrrgggghhhh....Laaaaaammmmbbbbb! The lamb is so melty and tender and delicious.... ANY lamb. Go on, try any preparation. They do lamb so well that it sings with any prep: braised with veggies and rice; smothered in lemon-cream sauce with artichokes; rack-of; whatever! But the menu is chock full of awesome Greek delights from dolmades, to moussaka, to lemon soup, to baklava. And yes, the flames roar to the ceiling from their saganaki while everyone yells, "Opa!" Were you expecting anything less? It's a family atmosphere: comfortable, warm (especially next to the flaming cheese!), inviting. They are excellent with re-filling the little water glasses, so the warm part's not so bad. Service is professional, funny and on top of things. I'm so glad John wants to go back there for his birthday. :) Opa!!!
(4)Lesley A.
I was hesitant to go to Parthenon because I always viewed it as an expensive restaurant. After all, they have valet. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Parthenon's menu is extensive and can range from a completely reasonable under $10 gyros "appetizer" plate to higher priced entrees that I presume are larger. I wasn't really hungry when I came here and just ordered from the dessert menu: Greek yogurt with walnuts and honey. It was my first experience with Greek yogurt and wow! It was nice, thick and didn't upset my stomach like some regular yogurts can. The honey and walnuts were also a great addition. I was proud of myself for choosing a "healthier" dessert option for my late night meal. I did have a chance to eye my friends' food. One friend purchased an appetizer that looked like lightly philo dough covered goat cheese, fried, and simmering in honey. Okay, talk about the not so healthy option, but it was good... As for the aforementioned gyro plate appetizer, it looked like the standard size gyro that you could get anywhere else for the same price, but dressed up. My friends liked it. Overall great experience, although I wish that they could split checks. I was with a group of ~20 people and luckily we're all used to assigning someone in our group to do the math for our large restaurant bill. Otherwise, this place can accommodate large groups and looks like it would be nice for families and dates. Hopefully I'll write an update after trying their entrees!
(3)Jessica C.
Was here recently for a baptism luncheon and found it delightful. Have been here previously for larger gatherings and always enjoyed myself. Service was friendly, prompt and attentive. Food was delectable. Have to say I still prefer Athena's taramasalata and gyros, but Parthenon tzatziki is divinely garlicky and rich. The roasted chicken was delicious--tender and moist. Pastitsio was flavorful, buttery, spicy. House salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, feta, onion) was fresh and light, perfectly dressed. And the saganaki--a mouth-watering explosion of flamed, cheesy, "opa!" goodness. They know how to do it here at The Parthenon.
(4)Garett N.
Went with my friend who was in town visiting. Tried the lamb and it was amazing. The portion was huge and like another reviewer said, it was so tender and delicious. Also, the portion was huge! I'm a pretty big eater, but I couldn't even finish half of the dish. My friend tried the pork tenderloin dish and while she did do some damage to the dish, she also couldn't finish it. Good service, great selection. Recommended!
(4)Matthew E.
We got it delivery and were about 15 minutes away so we had to reheat the food but amazing food is good no matter what temperature. We started off with their sagnacki and tzatiki. The tzatiki comes in a huge container and is well worth every dollar, it has a nice garlic kick to it which i thoroughly enjoyed. Next on to the main meal. My roommate had the trio sampler which she absolutely loved and I had the chicken spanaki basically chicken stuffed with the ingredients of a spinach pie. A juicy chicken filled with spinach pie, my tastebuds could barely handle the joy. I love greek food and need to go visit greektown here one day but when im lazy and the weather is cold ill be sticking around these parts and ordering from Parthenon.
(4)Nancy S.
We took a group of 12 to The Parthenon to celebrate a special occasion. After we had been seated awhile, a large party of very drunk & loud people was seated directly behind us. We complained to management who offered to move us, not them, but only if we picked up all our own plates. We declined and requested to go boxes. In the meantime, the group behind us got increasingly offensive and were making derogatory comments about people in our group. Management did little to stop the situation and clearly felt the other group had the right to harass and taunt the other patrons. Many of us flew great distances to be at this event and it was ruined by people who management should have kicked out of the restaurant. By far, the worst restaurant situation I've ever experienced.
(1)Esther S.
I've realized how deprived I had been of good Greek food since visiting this place. I didn't know what to expect, maybe a gyro wrap with a side of fries? NOT! Try a 10 course meal that will make you wish you had 5 stomachs. We went for the new version family style menu- refer to the website because it's a crazy load of food. I'll just highlight some of my favorites- the saganaki, who doesn't love fried cheese, the spinach cheese pie, the moussaka, and soup. Everything tastes very different from the next and nothing was overly greasy. It's a great place and definitely feels like you're somewhere special, it's casual and good for large parties.
(4)Lan N.
$15/person for the mezes sampler: 4 delicious dips, and 5 heaping plates of food. Babaganoush and taromasalata were soooo good. I ate waaaaay too much and had to sleep off my food coma for the rest of the afternoon. We were there for lunch but I can't wait to go back and try the roast pig.
(4)Kimme O.
Only one way to describe my experience here: Disheartening. My first time eating "real" Greek food and I came to the conclusion that these guys must be posers. After all the ranting and raving I heard about Greek Town I expected much better. Food portions are way off for the price and quality. One star because I have to and another for their soda: Not Flat, very bubbly.
(2)Janette L.
I met some friends here for dinner. I had the spinach and feta stuffed chicken breast. It was very good - a bit more rich than I traditionally eat but still tasty (hey, a girl's got to treat herself sometimes). Saganaki and house wine were good. I thought this was a great place for a relaxing dinner with good friends - I never felt rushed and we all had a chance to talk and catch up. Service, food, and atmosphere were all good. Would defintely come back again soon.
(4)Marie B.
We have been here several times and always enjoy it. The food comes in BIG portions so be careful or you will order too much. Even their bottles of wine are bigger! One litre vs 750mls! Oopa! Waiters can sometimes be overworked so get your order ready.
(4)Dee M.
I came because I heard about the flaming cheese spectacle and was glad I did. The flaming cheese was fun to watch and delicious as well. I had the traditional plate which has portion of moussaka, pastito, slices of roast lamb, and a dolmata along with side of potatoes and sauteed zucchini....so much food! I liked the moussaka the best but the rest of the food was delicious as well. Finished off by sharing baklava, which was yummy but I'd recommend going over to one of the greek bakeries nearby to get some freshly made baklava. A fun experience worth repeating.
(4)John D.
Greek food doesn't get any better than this. Get a bottle of the house Rose. Start with the flaming saganaki (Opa!) and the tzatziki. Then move onto the greek salad and finally the spanakopita. This will be the very best spanakopita you ever have. My friend just bought me the Parthenon cookbook. I can't wait to see if I can reproduce the experience of the Parthenon in my own home. I just hope I don't burn my house down when I light the saganaki.
(5)Wendy K.
I was here several years ago, and some things might have changed, but I remember my experience as absolutely fantastic. We (two friends and I) got a LARGE amount of food (we did thefor very little money, and it was great quality. I come from a part-Greek family and have a special place in my stomach for good Moussaka and Dolmades. Yum. Try it out!
(4)Kim G.
If you like Greek food, this is the place for you! For first timers I highly recommend getting family style. It will fill you up before the main course and give you a taste of the best that this resturant has to offer. For seasoned greek tasters, try the milopita it feta in friend filo dough with honey drizzle, it causes this mouth explosion for at least an hour after you eat. It's not the cheapest but price is fair considering the quality, and you do have free valet. After we are done eating we let the valet know that we will be right back and head into the bakery next door, we get some great dishes for home and off we go. 5 stars for sure, always.
(5)Nick C.
I like this place. My family and I have been going there since we were little and had to dress in suits (1970's) back when people liked to dress up when they went out to dinner. Menu items that I like: Gyros - the best hands down. They make it and don't listen to anyone who said it's not good. They are probably used to the soy filled fast food kind where people think that is authentic. Saganaki - I never had a bad saganaki. They popularized it in Chicago, and they know what they are doing. I used to eat there five times a month, and it's always great. Greek Salad - The best. I can drink the dressing it's so good! I would recommend going a little earlier instead of after 9:30 / 10:00 PM. Despite my raves, the service is better before that. However, as a Greek American, I encourage you to try it out.
(5)Ashley A.
It's not fancy but it doesn't even try. This place is about good, old-fashioned family gatherings with all the classics at the table. The Traditional Family Style dinner they offer makes big gatherings simple and has a little bit of something for everyone. You can't go wrong! Wait staff is very attentive and seems to have the timing down on delivery of a fresh course in the 5 course dinner. You get all the traditional elements of a Greek dinner without having to try to pronounce all the crazy dishes! Oh did I mention free valet??
(4)Kim B.
What a fun night out! We came here on a Saturday night and everyone had a great time. The food was amazing and the staff was attentive and accommodating. We all opted to eat "family style" and ordered the New Traditional Menu. The Gyro meat was outstanding as was the lamb. Of course, the saganaki was delicious (who can go wrong with flaming cheese?) and the moussaka was exceptional as was the Greek salad! If you want something to drink of the alcoholic sort, the house wine is excellent. We went through 5 bottles and a carafe of Ouzo. The Ouzo is really strong, so be prepared! Overall, an excellent time. The only reason they don't have 5 stars is because I had a reservation for 7pm. They did not seat us until 7:45, which did throw a wrench in our plans for the evening.
(4)Sam T.
Went here with a friend. This is a relatively big place with plenty of seating. There was a family of Blackhawk fans next to us so I figure a lot of tourists visit this place. The service was decent although it did seem like the waiter forgot our table when we were ready for the check. They were attentive at filling up our water and clearing our dirty plates between courses. The food was decent but not out of this world. The food could have been served a little bit warmer as well. We ordered the gyros and a traditional sampler with a little bit of traditional fare. Like I said: good, but it could have come a little bit warmer. If you're looking for a decent place to go in Greek town, this would be a legit option to consider. I would definitely be willing to return to try the Saganaki that seemed extremely popular when I was there. Somewhat expensive for what they offer, but not overly so for an occasional visit for me.
(3)Lauren H.
A fellow yelper invited me to join her and some friends at Parthenon, and while the company was very good, I was not as wowed by the food. I LOVE Greek food, and eat it fairly often, but the only thing that overwhelmed me was the amount of food we ate. I had a drink, I can't remember the name of the liquor, Mextaca? Alexander, with creme de cacao and creme, and the cocoa dust on top was so heavy I thought I would get black lung disease. I shared the vegetarian family style dinner. We started off with saganaki--this was good, but hey, cheese is one of the foods of the gods in my book, so you better get this right. Then we shared some mashed potatoes with garlic dish, it was tasty, and tsatsiki, which was different than the tsatsiki I am used to (it was thicker, more tart, and did not have any discernible cucumber) and disappointed me (I usually put tsatsiki on everything--I even keep some in my fridge). This was followed by a greek salad, which was fine. The main course consisted of dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) (which were bland and in a funky sauce I think was lemony, I didn't care for these--and I LOVE dolmas), spanikopita (which was salty), moussaka and pastitsos (sp?) which were average. The zucchini side, however, was awesome. The two desserts we had (baklava and some other custard like dessert) were also bland and underwhelming. The pluses are the free valet and the prices.
(3)Jackie N.
I have been here a few times and the food is authentic and delicious. Usually I would give a place like this 3 stars, but I enjoyed a great dinner with the LOML when he held his graduation party at the establishment. Since I have such wonderful memories of meeting my gorgeous guy and his family for the first time, how could I be negative?!!
(4)Jennifer K.
This restaurant: the best in greentown. Saganaki: perfect. Melted in my mouth. Beef kabob's: perfect. Pilaf was great, too. Our server was so helpful n friendly. The owner is vey nice, too. They deserve 10 stars.
(5)Christine V.
I visited The Parthenon on Valentine's Day and had the worst dining experience I've had. I started off being vomited on by a patron. That's right, vomited on. I know that wasn't the restaurant's fault, but it was horrifying, and all they did was give me a couple of wet napkins and replaced my glass of wine that was unfortunately vomited in. After that drama, we decided to stay for our 8:00pm reservations (we arrived early as they requested) and were finally served dinner at 10:00pm. My husband had the worst lamb chops he's ever had (although he has had good ones there before) and I was less than impressed with my meal. I will NOT be going back.
(1)kara c.
I came here and I fell in love with the food. The service was very good too! I highly recommend coming here!
(4)Michael B.
The food and service are amazing. Highly recommend it.
(4)Sarah H.
Went to a large group dinner here this weekend with some fellow yelpers and other friends. It was great.. entered into a food coma for the second time in one weekend. Ugh. Shared the vegetarian family style meal with some friends. I love it.. well most of it. Started out with saganaki.. yum.. garlic mashed potatoes (very garlicky..but great).. and Tzatziki.. which I enjoyed in small doses. We then had the Greek salad.. which was soo good. It had some amazing feta on it! Ok so I was already full at this point.. but then the vegetarian Mousaka, Dolmades, and Pastitsio came out.. as well as some amazing zucchini that melted in your mouth! I think I actually enjoyed the main course better as leftovers today for lunch... because I wasn't so full from the first courses. But it was still great in the restaurant. Dessert didn't wow me. The baklava was ok.. but I've had better.. and the custard dish was way bland. Oh and we had a large group of 12.. and they did an excellent job of seating and serving us! All and all I can't wait to go back!
(4)Jake P.
Moved down near Greek Town so I had to try the place, and there's nothing to complain about. Great greek food, but the atmosphere is really what makes the place. The owner is always upbeat and friendly, and greets all guests when you're seated. What's even better is that they always come check to make sure you're enjoying your food.
(4)Gina K.
Went here after seeing they list the items that are gluten free right on their menus. Told our waiter that I was gluten free. Ordered gluten free items, When he brought out entrees he told me to wait and not eat the rice while he made sure the sauce was gf. It possibly wasn't, and he replaced it with plain rice which was still yummy! Overall a great experience, and extra points for attention to detail with the gluten free stuff. Lots of gf items to choose from.The saganaki displays are something to see, 6 at a time, whoa! Now they just need to serve gf saganaki and pita bread! Also free valet. Only downfall, noise level is high, very busy place.
(4)Sarah M.
Another Chicago and cultural institution that has "gotten it right". The Parthenon offers authentic Greek eats in a warm, family-run-feeling restaurant that eminates hospitality. Their good stuff includes lamb and flaming saganaki cheese, which is like none other. Get the cheese. Trust me.
(4)Ingrid G.
If you go anywhere else in Greektown you are a suckah. Trust me--I know. Except maybe Santoirini is better for seafood. Nuf said.
(5)monica r.
i am a regular diner - have been going to the parthenon for years. my last visit had confrmed that i will be dinind elsewhe shere in greektown. i made reservations for a party of 8 on mother's day. the whole time the waiter never took a drink order - just refilled water glasses. a couple members of our party had to ask for a beverage. secondly, 5 in the party were going to order the same sunday special. we were informed by the waiter that these were "old menus and were going to be changed tomorrow". we all went back toteh drawing board and selected another selection from the sunday specials. again my party was informed that the selection is not available. this was quite embarassing being that i recommended the parthenon for my guests. after a chorus of asking the waiter what is available we made our selections. the food we were served was goood just not our first or second choice.
(2)Kara B.
This restaurant is probably the worst in the nation. The food is not just bad Greek food, it is bad food. As an honest to goodness Greek girl who has lived in Greece I am embarrassed for the people who claim that this is the kind of food you will eat when you visit my beautiful country. None of the waitstaff speak Greek (i know because I do!) and almost none are of Greek descent. The food is very inauthentic and very Americanized in the worst way possible. I tried the Saganaki (which is what Americans call flaming cheese, which is not the real meaning of Saganaki, but that is beside the point) and it was cold and poorly prepared. They clearly didn't know to use the only acceptable Greek Brandy Metaxa, leaving it tasteless and gross. Their Gyros were very sub par and everything else at the table was pretty abysmal. My American friends however, were thrilled with the food. So if you know nothing about Greek food you might find this place acceptable, but please please don't confuse this with the real thing! The service was adequate though for a large group. It seems well prepared to handle large numbers of people in a n efficient manner.
(1)Erin M.
My husband and I tried the Parthenon Restaurant last week during a week night. There was no wait and we were seated right away. At first I thought we might get back service since they put us in a corner but I guess someone has to sit there, right? It wasn't bad sitting in the corner except the fact that we were close enough to the wall that when we first sat down I smelled an odd smell which I believe was from the wood finish on the wall. Oh well...I didn't notice it after a couple of minutes. Don't be surprised if you order wine and it comes in a little glass that is similar to a juice glass. I think the flaming cheese is over rated. And you should probably have a large appetite or more than two people if you order it for an appetizer. It's very rich (you will begin to see a trend soon) and filling when paired with the rolls they give you. I was very impressed by how attentive the wait staff was though since I only ordered water to drink with my meal (after the wine). They paid a lot of attention and kept it full....I drink A LOT of water... Finally the dish I ordered (the vegetarian combo since I couldn't decide) was VERY filling and RICH. I really enjoyed the stuffed olive leaves and the potatoes that came on my plate had a sort of bitter, almost pickeled, flavor..I like it. My husband ordered the leg of lamb.....It LOOKED really tender and probably tasted great to him but looking at it as a vegetarian was really disgusting. I normally don't have problems watching him eat meat but something about how shiny, fatty, and tender the lamb seemed was really disgusting! Oh, on a final note we attempted to ask our server if when they pan fry things (like scallops) they would be cooked all the way through....there was not really a great understanding between us. He couldn't understand our question so my husband ordered the lamb. For dessert we tried the yogurt honey and walnuts...WOW! I understand that greek yogurt is NOT supposed to be sweet...but I am not sure if it's supposed to taste zingy...Like it was fermented. ??? We didn't have any stomach issues that night but it just tasted REALLY odd. We asked the server if it was supposed to be so bitter and he said, I swear.."ummm...sometimes it get that way." I sort of laughed thinking I wonder if it gets that way when it is old. But he told us that if the milk curdles while cooking the yogurt it can get bitter...But I still am REALLY not sure if it was supposed to taste fermented. Overall I would go again just to try more foods that I am not familiar with and for the great service.
(5)Bill M.
This mainstay of Greektown on Halsted is a good pick for a lively Greek meal. The interiors feature attractive murals of Greek scenery, and the rotating meat in the window will attract hungry diners who are not vegetarians. It would be a shame not to order a saganaki, the flamboyant flaming cheese appetizer that is skillfully lit and served by the waiters along with a well-timed "opaa". I ordered the special combo, with faves like moussaka, lamb, pastitcio, and dolmades all on the same plate. Desserts include the baklava and a galaktobouriko, which comes off as a weak Greek variation of a Napoleon.
(4)Henry A.
I really like the Parthenon! I'm not sure how authentic Greek this restaurant really is, but I had a good time and a good meal there regardless. This is a great restaurant choice for larger groups who aren't looking for a pretentious dining experience but just a good, fun, and casual meal. The restaurant is huge and not really intimate, but the service is really friendly and attentive and the food is reasonably priced and delicious. I highly recommend the moussaka. My friends' braised lamb and spinach pie also looked really good. We went on a Saturday evening and our group of 5 got seated right away. After an appetizer, a round of Ouzo shots, and our dinners, we were beyond stuffed and the total damage was only about $100.
(4)Stuart W.
This place has one of the best Gyros in the world. They are a bit pricey, but just like in everything, you get what you pay for. It's elegant sit-down restaurant located in the heart of Greektown. They offer valet parking services.
(4)John L.
Me: DO YOU LIKE LAAAAMB? Audience: YEEaaaahhhh!!!! Me: I said......DO YOU LIKE LAAAAAAAAMB? Audience: YEEEAAHHhhhhhh!!!!!!! The first item listed in the lamb section of the menu is Braised Lamb. If you like lamb and don't want to pay a lot, oh man....*mouth watering Homer J. Simpson style*...come to Greektown and visit the Parthenon. I end up with the huge portion of braised lamb with rice every time. In its graceful succulency, it falls right off the bone. I like to shave off pieces and mix it in with rice (that's how I like most tender meats and fish; I've been told it's very Asian of me as I eat lots of rice. Rice aids in digestion and gets the heavy meat through you quicker and keeps the weight off!!! I even eat cheeseburgers with jasmine rice, which I buy by the 25lb bag). Anyhow, off my rice horse....also recommended is the lamb served with artichokes in a thick yet light lemon gravy. The menu says "market price" for this dish, so artichokes must be like lobster in the midwest! Service is always fantastic and the surly male wait staff crack me up. Happy Good Friday! Go get your lamb tonight and avoid the overpopulated but tasty fish fry! Baaa---aaa---hhhhh....!!!
(5)Jen T.
I mean I haven't been too a ton of Greek restaurants, maybe only 3, but this one's been the best! The food portions are plentiful, and the service is great. The decor inside also gives you a Gretian feel. I ordered the special combination which included Dolmades (vine leaves stuffed w/rice, meats and herbs in a lemon sauce), Moussaka (greek lasagna), Pastitsio (macaroni baked w/meat sauce, bechamel sauce and kefalotiri) and roast lamb, potatoes and vegetables. Our party started with two bottles of a cab made of 50% aghioritiko and was a local Peloponese wine. We also partook(? is this a real word??) in the Saganaki which is the mild kaseri cheese flambee. Great service, great portions and good times.
(5)Kristen F.
I guess I'm the only human being who had a horrible time at this place. I brought two friends with me from San Francisco when we went and it was terrible. Our food was cold in the middle and our waiter didn't say more than one word to us ,and when he brought our food he literally threw it on the table. I can guess that he was treating us the way that he did because we looked a little young but our average age at the table was 27, not 17. He was more than cordial to the other tables but the second he came to our table he was mute and cold. Then when we wanted to, you know, leave it took us 15 minutes to even find him so we could get our check. I spent over 100 dollars at this place and hated every second I was in there. I will never go back unless I am over 50, perhaps then some wrinkles on my face might get me some better service?
(2)Patti B.
Last night was our first time in Greek Town, and boy was it a good one! We went to Parthenon on a friend's recommendation, although of course I scoped it out on Yelp before we got there. I thought we went at prime dinner time but there was no wait, service was great, and everyone in the restaurant seemed to be having a wonderful time...lots of families and reunions to our left and right. We started off with the saganaki, which was yummy and fun to see, especially when the table next to us ordered four of them and the waiter put them in a row on his arm and set them aflame all at once. However, our favorite appetizer was the mini spinach-cheese pies, so tasty and wrapped in crisp phyllo - mmm! We ordered three entrees since we were planning on taking one home anyway, and that one happened to be the chicken shish kabob (our least favorite, sadly, even though I picked it because someone Yelped it). The other two were delicious - gyros with tzatiki sauce and pita bread, and the baked stuffed eggplant, which our waiter recommended over the moussaka. My boyfriend couldn't stop eating the eggplant, and I'm glad we tried it. The gyros were also moist and went well the tzatiki sauce (another first for both of us). Just when we were about done with our meal, a couple of waiters walked by carrying a huge slab of meat on a pole, which caused a lot of excitement and cheering all around. This was definitely a fun meal and it looks perfect for families and groups too.
(4)J. T.
Great food, friends, and fun here on a recent weekend night. A good choice for any age, from well-behaved children to grandma and grandpa who would certainly appreciate the complimentary valet parking. It's a quick walk from the UIC el stop or maybe 6 long blocks from Quincy. Service was exceptionally good; our server was on top of his game, looked impeccable, was never intrusive, and anticpated our needs with obvious experience. The place was packed but well managed. Chicken portion was huge and delicious, although the white meat was a tad dry. Pork Kabob very good as well, with peppers and onion. Rice and roasted potatoes just fine. All served hot. Don't forget the saganaki - kind of like mozzarella sticks but bigger and better - flaming in brandy! OOPA!
(4)Ann Y.
updated 4/1/08: Went back to Parthenon over the weekend and were dissapointed. For starters they sat us in the middle of a bunch of groups of 10+ people which made it hard to talk. Our waiter hardley said anything to us and had 0 personality. My pasticho was cold and my husband said the chicken wasn't as good this time around. I doubt we will be back as we want to try the other restaraunts. Original Review: I went here this weekend for a workshop so I got to experience two different lunches. On day one, I had the trigona (Ground beef and feta baked in crispy philo), pastitso- which was wonderful, the saganaki which was a bit chewey and the skordalia- which was way a bit of garlic overkill but ummy. I also had the house red wine which was really good. On day two I had the chicken kefte with roasted potatoes and vegetables and the egg lemon soup. The potatos were not that good but my husband loved them and the veggies were just bad. I did try my husbands dish which was really awesome- it was the Kotopita. Looking back I wish I would have ordered it. The inside of the building is quite nice and the prices are standard. Our waiter who we had on both days was so accomidating and friendly. I will be going back.
(2)Jason P.
Went here with a buddy and his girlfriend, who are fans of greek fair. Needless to say, this took care of their itch to get some high quality food. They had the house merlot and enjoyed it, I ordered a Rob Roy without thinking, and it was made very well. We had the flaming cheese (i think it's a rite of passage to eat at these joints), which was good, but probabaly on par with other greek restaurants. We were expecting pita bread to be served with the cheese, but it wasn't an option. The lamb, perfect, the chicken was great and I had the sampler platter before, which is also wonderful. The service was comfortable, not to pushy and didn't rush us out of the place. I would try this place family style next time for the experience.
(4)marty p.
I've been going to Greektown for 15+ years now, The Parthenon was the best place in greektown 15 years ago, and its the best today. The lamb (any of the lamb dishes, just close your eyes and pick one) is just awesome. The lamb chops are just to die for! I also love the greek salid, chicken and of course - Gyros. If you have anything remotely flamable on, watch it when the waiter fires up the saganaki - what a pyrotechnic show. The house Rodities is a very light red wine, but it will kick your butt faster then a round of jagerbombs! And finally - finish out your meal with what has to be the best baklava this side of the Mediterranean - Ohpa
(5)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 or Costa's.
(4)Ren H.
This is one of the better restaurants in Greektown... the service is fast and efficient and the food is excellent! Its also extremely reasonably priced for the quality and quantity of food you get!
(5)Gretchen V.
The Parthenon didn't live up to my expectations. Though our usual spot in Greektown is Athena, we decided this past weekend to try out the Parthenon. The interior is outdated and somewhat drab, but let's face it -- you don't go to a Greek restaurant in Greektown for the modern decor. Our server was very nice and had a great sense of humor. Our appetizers (saganaki (of course), calamari and the beet salad) were all pretty good. The calamari wasn't as fresh as I would have liked, but it was still okay. Our entrees were hit or miss, and it took a good 25-30 minutes for them to arrive at our table (despite the fact that it was only 5:00 on a Sunday). I had the orange roughy, which was just okay. My mother-in-law ordered rotisserie lamb and instead was given what looked like a roasted lamb with gravy. Not sure if they got her order wrong or if that is their interpretation of rotisserie lamb? Either way, it was tough and had sort of a gray color. My husband got the lamb chop, which he loved, and his dad got the red snapper, which was tasty. Overall, no one was wowed by their dish. The prices are what you'd expect in Greektown (about $12-$18 per entree). I didn't hate it, but I think there are better places in Greektown.
(3)laela l.
It's good, but I've had better Greek food. Service was okay; the menu options were okay. Food was okay...my cousin got a meal and it was chicken. Just chicken...no side. Kind of odd, but just my opinion. I'd say if you were just walking down Halsted and walked in, you'd be satistfied...but wait until you go to another Greek place down the street and you'll find this one won't be the best.
(3)Gloria E.
This and the Parthenon are my favorite places in Greek Town. A few things if you're thinking about it: 1) For the love of God, unless you're vegetarian or it's against your religion, get lamb! The lamb is great! It comes right off the bone and leaves you wanting more, even a plate of nothing but lamb would be perfect, screw anything else, but that's not on the menu. 2) Get dessert! They'll bring you a tray of different desserts, some fake, for you to look at how they come and choose one. They're all good. I went with a big group and we all ordered different things and passed them around. My favorites always include chocolate though, so since chances are you aren't traveling with a large group, get something with chocolate over fruit or get the baklava! 3) Don't spare any expense, get what sounds good and not the plate of spaghetti (unless you're vegetarian), which brings me to my next point... 4) nothing in Greektown except for Giordano's is amazing if you're a vegetrian !
(4)Albert C.
Another gem in Greektown - it *is* like going over to a friend's house for dinner. The saganaki and pan-fried zucchini are good appetizers and the lamb and chicken choices are all excellent. And just looking at the dessert tray is enough to give you diabetes. =p
(4)Stan S.
The Parthenon is the Greek restaurant that pioneered Greek town. They also claim to have introduced gyros and flaming saganaki to America. Be that as it may, they are still a great place to eat. They have a menu that goes on forever. They do sea food right, and of course my favorite, lamb. The entrees are in the $8-15 range. If you don't order the flaming saganaki yourself, somone close by will, so you will have plenty of chances to say "Oopa!" The last time I was there the college boys in the next table ordered the lambs head. No doubt their intention was to gross folks out. It worked. Never a dull moment at the Parthenon.
(4)Sarah W.
Let's start off with me saying that I'm a vegetarian so my entire experience is based upon the non-meat options. For dinner we had the Family-Style Vegetarian dinner, which at $19 a person seems like a great deal - until you eat the food that is. Now, not all of it was horrible so I'll walk you through it. For starters we walked in and were seated quickly, always nice, some members of my party didn't like the main open area and asked of somewhere quieter - we were moved to a room near the back, our table one of only two filled in the room was awkwardly behind the serving post for drinks in the area. Once seated we moved ourselves to a table nearby with a more pleasant view. Speaking of thoughts on the table it may have just been in this area but the chair was too high for the table and I couldn't cross my legs because of it (ahh, the little things.) To drink, being pregnant, I had sparking water with a lime it in - can't complain at all about that. Then starts the food - they brought out a loaf of bread to accompany the initial appetizers, cheese, etc. Really wishing it had been pita because the bread just seemed wrong - it was white with sesame seeds on it and had a flavor of it's own which took away from the other foods. The saganaki was fun and always beautiful and I can't complain about cheese! The two dips served at nearly the same time however were completely lacking - the tzatiki tasted of STRONG garlic and very little cucumber, my apologies to anyone I breathed on following the meal. I've had such better tzatiki I was really disappointed in it, we also had the melitzanosalata - eggplant spread - also garlicky to no end, and very bland otherwise. Again the spreads just didn't' go with the bread either. Up next a greek salad - the dressing was boring, very oily and lacking in flavor. Finally (we were more than ready to have it over with) they brought out the main course - all on one plate family style, which works for me. All of it was overcooked, and yet not heated up enough - guessing it was made much earlier and simply reheated at the time. I can't actually say which stands out as the worst - they were all just awful. It included: spinach-cheese pie (too much spinach, not enough other flavors, and over cooked), vegetarian moussaka (flavorless, way over cooked and yet mush), vegetarian dolmades (probably the best thing on the plate but still very lemony and a let down), vegetarian pastitsio (this was just overdone and awful) with a side of roasted potatoes and okra, both of which were flavorless mush. Finally the meal was ending (YEAH!) they served coffee which I can't imagine was greek, maybe old folgers? And two desserts- baklava and galaktoboureko - both of which were mildly redeeming, but I'd lost interest in eating by that point. Then the BEST part - we were free to leave!! Opa! Now I've read other reviews - seems the meat must be fantastic but in an effort to save other vegetarians - really, don't bother!
(2)Justin S.
Just had dinner there and I am looking forward to my next trip. The flaming cheese was awesome. I want more. The rice in grape leaves were nice...not my favorite but good. Then I had the leg of lamb with feta and spinach. The flavors all worked well and filled me up nicely. The cheese was the best part and thats worth it. YUM. So reasonably priced too. More cheese please
(4)Stephanie Y.
I had a few friends coming out from the 'burbs and we wanted to try something new. After searching Yelp! a few hours (a day for the last few weeks), we settled on The Parthenon. When first walking in, we were greeted by a delicious smell. I was already really hungry, that just made it worse! The three stars are STRICTLY for the food, over all. We ordered the saganaki (I hear so much about it), yum! And peppers stuffed with feta cheese, yum as well! I got chicken breast shishkebobs. The chicken was a little dry, but over all it was a tasty dish. If I could do a separate rating for service, I would give it a 1 and only because I couldn't give a 0. Our waiter was very inattentive. He came by probably only a minute or two after we were seated asking if we knew what appetizers we wanted. We told him it was our first time there and he then just walked away. Usually, when I go to a restaurant and say it's my first time, they'll give me a little explanation and recommend something to me. Nope, nothing. One of my friends ordered a "flaming" dish (like the saganaki) and both times, instead of a loud, fun OOPAH!, it was more like he was being forced to say it. He didn't even try to get our attention before lighting either of them on fire. That was disappointing as well. Not ONCE did he come by to ask how our food was, and most of the time there was someone else picking up our plates or bringing our food. He also did not give us refills even though he told us he could. The most annoying thing about our waiter was at the end of our meal, our plates were CLEARLY empty. He walked past 3 times, plus looked over at our table another 3 times, and didn't come to clear off the table or bring our check. We waited a good 10 minutes (plus those 6 times he looked at our empty plates) before our check came. Thank goodness for the amazing company!
(3)Jade C.
If you're looking for an excellent Gyro(s), Saganaki, and rice/potatoes to go along with your meal, the Parthenon is the spot to go! Do yourself a favor and order a side of their fries to go with your meal as they're outstanding as well. Iced Tea is also fresh brewed which is key as well...the service is spotty which loses a star (takes forever to get refills and the bill e.g. few weeks ago I was one of two tables late at night in the restaurant and our waiter disappeared...which was expected based on previous experiences)...But that still won't stop me from definitely going back as the food is well worth it and the atmosphere is comfortable and their free valet in front makes this a solid change of pace dinner pick!!!! When I want to really start the week out with a good Gyro smell attached to me...Parthenon is a solid spot to go to!!!!!!!!!!!
(4)T D.
I went here last night with a group of 35 people. Service was excellent, fast and on top of the drinks. The saganaki is great here and the food well, it was good until I got to the meat dishes. To me the meats were very greasy and not a lot of good cuts. The gyros meat was good as an appetizer and the greek salad was delish. This is not my favorite Greek restaurant, but a fun place to go with a large group of people, it isn't as intimate a setting for a date, especially with the volume of noise.
(4)Bess R.
Yum. This is my go-to restaurant in Greek town. It started because I could never get a reservation at Greek Islands...but now I definitely choose Parthenon. Great food, quick service, free valet.
(5)Mark E.
I first ate at The Parthenon in February of 1972, and have since logged several hundred visits with my wife, my kids, my grandchildren, my extended family--some of whom are no longer with us--and my friends, students, and colleagues. No doubt there have been, and perhaps are, other Greek restaurants that offer a better, or more authentic, Greek meal. We've tried some over the years, but are content to come back to a predictable and satisfying experience at The Parthenon. Start with the food. They make their own gyros here, and it's crisper and browner than in most places around Chicago. They started serving it before the gyros-on-pita trend had arrived, so it comes on a bed of strong white onions and stiff, garlicky tzatziki sauce. Today you can get grilled pita with it, but that was not a standard item originally. I prefer gyros at The Parthenon to other gyros in Chicago, but I can see why some find it dry. About twenty years ago, the food took a turn to the greasy side. I don't know whether the initiative came from Chef Soto or the Liakouras family, but they responded with less grease and some half-portions, just as we started not being able to pack it away like we did when we were in our twenties. I recommend the cheese pies (tiropitakia), smooth cheese with ethereal crust. Eggplant salad, melitzanosalata, is a garlicky wonder. The Parthenon does great things with octopus-- either the broiled or slow-cooked braised (octopodi yachni) are excellent. As a general rule, avoid the combination plate, not because the ingredients aren't good, but because they have a tendency to mass-produce it. My wife really enjoyed the vegetarian combination the other day, and my Indian friend loved their vegetarian items when we ate there last year. I have been eating the codfish skordalia for a long time, and it is terrific. I went through a lamb-with-artichokes phase, and it is delicious, but I can't eat like that any more. The barbecue lamb and the leg of lamb are fine, but remember that they tend to be well-done. We have fed two generations of little kids the fine Greek bread, and their rice pudding and galactoboureko are great desserts, though these days we confine ourselves to a glass of mavrodaphne, the Greek port. I close my review with a tribute to the people at The Parthenon. Many of the waiters have been there for decades, and we have watched some callow youths become gray-haired elders. Our favorite waiter is Adalberto, who works the slightly elevated room directly behind the "original" main room. His "waiter number" on the bill is #1: enough said. But the others are fine; they tend to do a variation on the gruff-but-professional Greek waiter, and do things like take the orders from large parties by memory. I remember a family dinner with my late father-in-law many years ago, when the waiter came out with plates of food and announced "Okay, listen up!" If you like this sort of experience, having Uncle Stavros bring your food, come to The Parthenon. If you want an obsequious Thad for your waiter, there are plenty of other places to go in Chicago. They also handle large groups with grace; you call and say "Can I bring in a group of fifteen?" and they say "Sure!" And they deliver on that promise. With young, vigorous Yanna Liakouras in charge these days, I look forward to many more wonderful meals at this Chicago institution. For newbies, please go at less crazy times, try some different things, enjoy the free-flowing roditys, and relax and get in the spirit of things. One last comment: Some people have found The Parthenon less than clean. I confess that the place was a little funky thirty years ago, but they have made great strides, and I'm very impressed by the new restrooms in the north annex. And by the way, their parking valets manage the traffic on Halsted street with aplomb; tip them well. Opaa!
(4)Karl H.
Review would be a 4.5 if I could give it that rating. I go here about 3-4 times a year and is usually a solid choice for dinner. But, last Tuesday, I had the grecian pasta (with shrimp) and it was amazing. One of the best dishes I have had in my life. And, I think it was only $13 or so. The saganaki is always great here as well and the house win is dirt cheap (not great, but for $20 a bottle, more than acceptable). The only negative was that the service is never that great here. It's OK and they are relatively friendly, but iot always seems it takes forever to get the check and/or order dessert. Also, the place has a slightly older crowd, which doesn't bother me, but just want others to know. It's not the new and trendy place, but gives you solid food at an affordable price.
(4)Meghan K.
I was very disappointed in this restaurant. The decor was dated and the menu wasn't any better than a Greek diner in suburban Iowa. In fact, one of my dinner mates had chicken alfredo, which he didn't touch because it looked and tasted like it had sat beneath the warmer for about an hour too long. My vegetarian meal was brownish and gloppy and heavy. The wine list... yucky. Our server was great though and the food wasn't too expensive. Unfortunately, we won't be back.
(2)lana v.
I love this restaurant! The food is amazing and the staff could not be nicer. I had my rehearsal dinner here and everything was perfect, I could not be happier. We live in the area and come here for dinner all the time, I have never had a bad experience.
(5)Paul A.
Always, always, good -- sometimes just sensational! Was there the other night and it was one of those nights when everything was as good as it can be: the grilled octopus was perfectly prepared, the lamb was good, the bread was right out of the oven and the baklava was good. Sometimes the baklava is simply superb. Also, the soups at the table were just terrific. IN short, you can't go wrong with anything -- always high quality and wonderfully prepared -- and on certain days and nights they are just outstanding.
(4)Angie C.
Great food, family like atmosphere (especially with tons of Christmas decorations, it was like being at Grandma's house) and wonderful attentive service. The dolmades are classic yet delicious, and you can't go wrong with the combo plate to try a little bit of everything. The squid stuffed with spinach and cheese was heavenly. Beware those with nut allergies - I asked to make sure nothing I ordered had nuts but I managed to eat something with it, one probably snuck in from another dish. Not my go-to place, but it was a nice relaxing dinner.
(4)PJ K.
I'm reasonably fond of this place -- it's highly old-school in the decor and the menu, although there's a pretty decent set of vegetarian options if you swing that way. It's boisterous and popular with families and large groups. Special shoutouts to the tzatziki, which is ludicrously garlicky and loaded with chunks of cucumber. Bottom line: it's a Chicago landmark, the food is pretty good, and it's open and friendly and the portions are friggin' huge, so if you're planning a group outing or whatnot, this is the joint. If you want to experience top-of-the-line Greek food or have your meal in a quieter and/or more romantic atmosphere, drop an extra couple of bucks to go to Santorini or Costa's.
(4)K G.
I went here for a business dinner and my clients LOVED it. I guess there are not a lot of Greek restaurants in Boulder and San Paulo. The service was just so attentive and friendly, and the grandfatherly waiter actually recommended a cheaper wine than what we asked him about (very nice wine, I don't remember the name but it was 22$ Cabernet - maybe I shouldn't have had that last glass) he offered for us to taste it before making a commitment to it. He very graciously took substitutions in the specials because I hate eggplant and my coworker hates lamb. The food was really pleasant and the portions were pretty large for a very reasonable price. For three of us, it was 95$ including the bottle of wine and 3 desserts. I really enjoyed the chocolate mousse dessert, and my entree was a hot special mixture of like 5 of their special Greek entrees. I liked the stuffed leaves the best.
(4)Yvonne M.
I have been to almost all of the Greek restaurants in Greek town and this one had to be my least favorite. The saganaki was delicious but I've never had bad saganaki. The tzatiki was rather bitter which was really off putting to me. I also ordered the Scallops saganaki a la soto which said "scallops served in an elegant tomato and vegetable sauce". The sauce was just too much and not at all what I would consider "elegant". Finally, the service was adequate... Our waiter wasn't the most friendly person and often seemed bothered when we asked for anything. I can't imagine visiting this restaurant again when there are so many other choices in the area...
(2)Joshua M.
The atmosphere of this place is bright and loud... the tables are packed too close together. I had a chicken dish that was very good, but my wife ordered a swordfish special that was awful. She had them take it away and ordered a salad instead that she enjoyed. The waiter was awesome and didn't charge us for either the salad or the dish she didn't like. His good service really saved a so-so experience to being a pretty decent one. With all the other restaurants in the area to try I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to go back there anytime soon, but I'd give it another shot.
(4)Saadi N.
Go there! Why? One word: Saganaki!
(5)Hanny P.
delicious food, friendly service. We had a group of 9 - 5 of us got the traditional family style meal -- for $19.99/person, it was a steal. We got several appetizers (including lamb & beef gyros, salads, tzatziki, roe, and my favorite souganaki, i.e. flaming cheese - you can't really go wrong with that now can you), chicken, pork, eggplant, greek lasagna, custard, baklava, and coffee. The waiters were attentive, friendly and made sure we were attended to and happy. We had a great time and left with full bellies and plenty of left overs. Great atmosphere/setting, too -- casual enough for just grabbing something to eat w/ your friends, but nice enough to take your family out to a nice dinner when they are in town. Definitely an A in my book.
(5)Amanda P.
Good food, horrible service, forgot about our table and we were starving. I will not be back here again.
(2)Jackie o P.
OMG I cannot even believe how terrible this place is on several levels. Let's begin with the service. If there was something to wait for, me and my fam were waiting for it forever. Second, the food. I'm Greek and this place is the worst Greek food I've had in Chicago. On the table we had: Saginaki -- This was watery. How is that right? Kalamata Olive Plate -- No olive oil, just olives and like a thousand of them. It was as if they opened a jar and dumped them on a plate. Pastitso Vegetarian -- sounds magnificent on the menu but in reality, totally disappointing!! There was a sketchy white cornstrach-y layer that tasted like paste near the top that ruined it completely. Pastitso - Regular style but with the sauce served on the side. My Gigia just rolled over in her grave. Macaronatha - So simple but somehow they eff-ed it up. There was a strange brown watery sauce pooled beneath the pasta. No, it was not browned butter. Roasted chicken dinner - The chicken was tasty but the dish consisted of a half of a chicken with plain white rice (no gravy) and one potato. My mom got the combo plate and she seemed happy with it. In fact she ate it all so that combo plate gets a good grade. The rest = CRAP CRAP CRAP!! Everything was also cold. Mmm. Cold, comforting Greek food. And lastly, the decor in the seating area is drab with poor lighting. They are doing some sort of renovation in the front area and things are in disarray up there. I am talking ceiling tiles up, dust, drywall et al everywhere. I will never go here again and obviously I recommend that you stay away as well! Sadly I say if you want good Greek, cart your ass out to Yanni's in Arlington Heights. Lots of jams there.
(1)mariah t.
I love this place!! The spinach pie is the best in Greektown and so is the Gyros! The service is very good, the food is reasonably priced and they offer free valet.
(4)rachel c.
The food here is good (not great,) the service is good (not great either,) the atmosphere is lacking. It's really brightly lit, full on middle school cafeteria style fluorescent lights. The tables are long and narrow, like a dining hall. I'd probably stick to Pegasus in the future.
(3)Amanda P.
Quality is consistent here, but there is nothing, not a single menu item, that you wouldn't see at another Greek restaurant, so if you're looking for something creative and different, don't bother going here. There are also very few vegetarian options available.
(4)Steve R.
Very nice casual Greek cuisine. Good food, very consistent, and the service is fast if surly. My foot's gonna go up a greek waiter ass if my wife gets flirted with here again in front of me (I mean literally almost every time), but that's par for the course around here from what I've seen. It's not on the higher end of this restaurant row but worth a stop. The lemon soup alone is worth the trip.
(4)Melanie M.
I went here with my family on New Year's Day and enjoyed it. We had an older Greek man as our server who was like the grampa I never had. It was a great place and I would certainly go back.
(4)Diablo L.
This place is always a fun time, can't go wrong with their roditis house wine and saganaki . Their braised lamp is tasty as well as their kabobs,all the usual gyro plates and seafood here are tasty also.
(4)Rosa de C.
The only restaurant I go to in Greektown after having tried them all. The Athenian salad is always fresh, crisp, and studded with kalamata olives. The Kotopita has chopped chicken, vegetables, and dill in a bechamel sauce wrapped in phyllo and baked. Always delicious, but my favorite is the grilled octopus. Just enough char to impart flavor without compromising tenderness, so fresh it's sweet, and shiny with olive oil. Hands down the best octopus I've had anywhere (better than Cafe Iberico's and much better than Tuscany's). Perfectly accompanied by their preparation of the vegetable side of the day, such as the peas with olive oil and tomatoes, always fresh and flavorful. They're very accommodating of ordering off the menu. A friend asked if she could have just a chicken breast and some sauteed spinach. She was brought a platter with two huge, perfectly seasoned, grilled chicken breasts resting on a mountain of spinach fragrant with olive oil and garlic. Not to mention, Parthenon offers their extensive menu and generous portions for better prices than any other place on Halsted. They have free valet as well.
(5)Gina K.
I am Greek and this place is DISGUSTING!
(1)Ria A.
I was pretty excited to try this place since they offered a $12.95 family style special for the month of January. I went here with a group of friends and my best friend from out-of-town. The family-style dinner included a plethora of Greek food- that sounded delicious. The dinner included an appetizer of a flaming saganaki- which was decent but I prefer the one from Greek Islands. The next course was a Greek salad- which again was just ok. Then we had an option of different meat: pork, chicken, beef. We opted for the roasted pork, chicken, and mousaka. All of which again were just ok. They were a bit a stingy on the chicken, only giving 1 piece per person. The last course included baklava, a custard type dessert, and American coffee. The baklava was good but everything was extremely sweet and I was really lookng forward to a good cup of Greek coffee. Although the dinner was a steal at $12.95/person and the service was good, the food was just ok and I've definitely had better over at the Greek Islands.
(2)Kathryn D.
The atmosphere at the Parthenon was great, with people shouting "opa" and even a firecracker-stuffed pig going through the room. The restaurant has huge portions - I ordered chicken and got literally a whole chicken, but I'm not the biggest fan of Greek food. Four stars because the waiter was rather short with us (a group of 12) and gave us a hard time when we tried to find a way to split up the check into groups.
(4)Vanessa P.
I went here last night with a group of friends. It was fantastic! The portions were large enough that some of us shared and the prices pretty reasonable. If you are a vegetarian, I highly recommend the vegetarian special combo. It has moussaka, pastitsio, and dolmas and it was so good and plenty to share with another person. I will definitely be back!
(4)Kyle Y.
We took our first trip to Greek town yesterday and decided on the Parthenon. We have nothing to compare it to, of course, but it was an incredible lunch experience. The wait staff was very friendly and efficient. We had the saganaki (flaming cheese), which they cover in brandy and ignite at the table. It's a lot of fun and very tasty. Not bad for $4.75. After that we shared the large gyro, and it was the best we've ever had. Perfect pita flatbread, tender lamb and beef, and tangy yogurt sauce. $9.75 for the dish, and it was plenty for the two of us. Baklava was good ($3.75) but not as great as the rest of the meal. We will definitely return on future trips to Chicago.
(5)jamie k.
had lunch here, couple weeks back, this place was kickin during lunch. the food was really fresh, the salad was great. real authentic experience and great service.
(4)Brenda R.
Forgive me for despising the management of this place. We had a small party of 30 for the banquet room. It took them 21/2 hours to serve us, and with small platters and puny servings (A large bed of rice, for example, with 4 small potato slices), and unevenly distributed among the diners. We had to reach over to people down the row in order to share in their already minuscule plate. Then, we had to request coffee, because this wasn't set out on the table. Only the water, the half/half, and the margarine were available. After we had finally all eaten, we were prepared to hear our speakers. Midway through the show, on both sides of the room, waiters appeared, waving their hands for us to leave. The creep maitre d actually came in, interrupted the speaker, and told us to wrap it up because he had another party coming in at 10 p.m. We tried to whisper to him that he hadn't told us that before, and he said: "that's just business!" NEVER will we return to this backward, stingy, unprofessional JOINT. You can get saganaki at any Greek restaurant.
(1)a w.
This place has a huge menu...there's lot of options, and many vegeterian ones too! The food is great and the protions are HUGE. Try the gyros..its great!
(4)Chewbacka R.
This place is awful. I've eaten their food twice and both times it was terrible. Do yourself a favor, visit Santorini just down the street and you'll be happy. Santorini's food is fantastic!!
(1)Nadine G.
This is easily my favorite restaurant in Greektown! I highly recommend the Family-Style Dinner for $18.95 a person. My husband and I always get the Vegetarian Option, which includes: saganaki, 2 spreads (skordalia and melitzanosalata for me!), greek salad, vegetarian dolmades, spanokopita, vegetarian moussaka(OUTSTANDING), vegetarian pastitsio, two veggie sides(roasted potatoes and string beans are my favs), baklava, galaktoboureko, and coffee. WHEW! Considering the variety, quality and amount of food you get, I think this is a tremendous bargain. We bring friends here all the time, and they always rave about the experience. For greek food with a contemporary twist, I also like Artopolis, but for really traditional greek fare, it's Parthenon, hands down. The service has always been fast and efficient, and while I have had a few brusque servers in years past, my recent servers have been friendly and charming.
(5)Takelya W.
lots of food is given out. i usually end up taking it all home. lots to choose from 2
(3)May C.
Oopa!!!! Oopa!!! Oopa!!! We did nothin' all night but eat and yell out these words from the top of our lungs... and the restaurant didn't care how loud were; heck, they oopa'd with us!!! HAHA! It's true. Great food, family like atmosphere, and awesome customer service. My favorite was the Saganaki. Deep fried cheese, flamed w/ brandy. Second favorite, their salad. Feta was yummy and everything else was crisp and fresh. Although, my kabob was somewhat on the dry side, the moist veggies made up for it, along w/ my rice pilaf. I wished I ordered their whole fresh fish though. My coworker had it, and I couldn't stop staring at it all night, hoping that he'd ask me to have a bite, but didn't. Haha. Oh well. I'd definitely go here again. OOPA!!! OOPA!!!
(4)jamie k.
I know there are a billion Greek Restaurants in Greek Town, but when I have the choice -- the decision is ALWAYS Parthenon! This place is exceptionally great when with a large group of people. Even being vegetarian there are so many options. Personally, I think the best way to go is order up a bunch of small dishes and a couple entrees and share. Of course leave room in the budget for bottle after bottle of their house Roditis wine! The prices are great, and I personally find the food to be much better then some of the more expensive fancy places on Halsted. The service may be a little crude...I mean old Greek men whom aren't there necessarily to chit chat..but it's part of the charm!
(5)Shelby M.
If I could have one final meal, it would be the Parthenon's saganaki, greek salad, chicken breast spanaki (chicken stuffed with spinach and feta) and roditis wine. I've been going here as long as I can remember being alive and the food has always been consistantly good and the staff relatively the same over the years. Easy free valet parking too! Prices are good too.
(5)Alina S.
OOPA!! Holy moly, I have never had Greek food like this before. Went here with a group of 6, so we ordered the "family style dinner" (traditional option), which included the following for ONLY $18.95/person: - Saganaki - mild kaseri cheese flamed in brandy. The waiter brought this on not one, not two, but THREE skillets perfectly balanced on his arm. With the other arm, he poured the brandy and then lit the match, setting off a huge flame while somehow salvaging his eyebrows and mustache, and then serving us with the perfectly flamed cheese that didn't stick to the skillet and complemented the DELICIOUS sesame bread with a perfect, warm ooze. - Whipped fish roe that you can use to top your bread. Really flavorful if you like fish, but beware b/c it will encourage you to eat more of that thick delicious sesame bread...and you will seriously need to save room for the rest of your meal. - Gyros - deliciously cooked meat and onions, served of course with yogurt sauce. - Greek salad - soo fresh, dressing was perfectly seasoned, nice squares of feta cheese and of course your tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and peppers. I could have had dessert here and been more than perfectly happy... but we haven't even gotten to the main course yet. - Moussaka - eggplant and meat, deliciously seasoned with bechamel sauce. Unlike anything I've ever had. -Pastitsio - macaroni with meat sauce, similar flavor to the moussaka, equally delicious. - Domades - stuffed grape leaves - I wish I had 7 stomachs so I could eat more of these at this point. - Your choice of chicken, lamb or pork. Among the 6 of us, we tried all 3. Chicken was ok, a little dry and a tad too charred. Lamb was moist and flavorful. I didn't eat the pork b/c I was becoming the pork by now, but it looked good. - Dessert - not one, but TWO - baklava, and then galaktobouriko (vanilla custard baked into layers of phyllo, syrup glaze) - both amazing, and perfectly portioned at this point - Coffee - nice and rich, perfect accompaniment to the desserts and perfect ending to a near-perfect meal All this for $18.95/person!! Great service, and we had enough leftovers to feed another 6 people, I kid you not. OOPA!! :)
(5)Vy T.
Worst food ever!!!! The hummus was the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted....and the gyros..fat, dry, and tasted like cardboard.
(1)Adrian P. Z.
All I gotta say is FREE VALET! Service was excellent. We enjoyed watching the flaming cheese even though I was afraid my head would catch on fire. I had the Braised Lamb which was juicy and tasty. My wife had the gyro-which was so dry Im sure it scratched her intestines on the way down. Everytime we eat here we save room for dessert at Artropolis next door.
(3)Darryl R.
This is my favorite place in Greektown - definitely one of the more classy Greek places on this stretch of Halsted. I'm especially a big fan of the Spanokopita.
(4)Jeff H.
Great downtown treat for us and our friends. We try to make it here once a year, at least. Service and food have always been first rate.
(4)Dave N.
This is our favorite place in Greektown. Looking for an inexpensive yet fun date? I would highly recommend Parthenon. We're big fans of the Roditas (greek red wine) priced reasonably at $16.95 per 1L bottle. My personal favorite item is the chicken shishkabob. It's delicious and comes with tasty rice with a red sauce and potatoes. Others I've been with have ordered the gyros and the chicken kefte and have loved them. Servicewise, this is not Joe's Stone Crab. The waiters are generally older and have unique attitudes. It's not that they're intentionally rushing you, it's just the way they are. Don't be afraid to ask them to come back if you're still making your decision about what to order.
(5)Annie W.
Setting isn't as fun as Greek Islands but still decent Greek food. I'll just make comparisons. Saganaki cheese was thinner, the Greek salad didn't have as many veggies and ingredients but still quite fresh. My friend and I each got the sampler plates and found it to be very heavy and oily. But such plates like those are good for ppl like me who want to try just a bit of everything. Prices are standard, portions are generous.
(4)Peter G.
I haven't been to the Parthenon for a long time and I'm unhappy to report I won't be going back. I took my wife here to celebrate her birthday and if I had to use one word to describe the food it would be "dry." We ordered saganaki and it was dry, looked as if it had been sitting in the kitchen a long time and we had to ask for lemons to go with it. We also had the pink fish roe and while it was good, there wasn't enough pita to go with it, but there was bread on the table so we just used that. We also ordered Greek sausage, grilled, and it to was dry and I again, had to ASK for lemons. For dinner my wife had shrimp and scallops that was flambéed tableside and it, too, was dry and didn't have much flavor. I had three thick lamb chips and while good, and well seasoned, they weren't high quality and tasted rather gamey. And once again, I had to ASK for lemons. Is there a lemon shortage that I'm unaware of??? Dessert was nothing to write home about; Greek custard and it too, tasted as if it had been laying around for a long time. Our entire meal, from start to finish, was $104.00 and considering the portion sizes of the dishes I consider that a fair deal. However, taking into account the QUALITY of the food, I believe I overpaid.
(2)Connor C.
3.5 stars. I came here for a birthday party and had a great time! The food was pretty good: big portions for a good price. The staff was exceptionally nice and accommodating. The flaming cheese was pretty cool. Opa!
(3)Karissa K.
This is the BEST Greek restaurant in Greek town (in my opinion). My family has been coming here for almost 50 years and have never been disappointed. We always get the saganaki, gyros, and pistichio. The staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed and amiable. There are lovely wall murals and soft Greek music in the background. Perfect for dinner, business lunches, dates, etc. Everytime I come to Chicago, my family eats here. Perfection !
(5)Ananda R.
Where do I begin! This place is the best Greek restaurant I've ever had. This place introduced me to Greek cuisine since I was a little girl. My father began dining here many years ago when he first moved to Chicago. From as young as I can remember, I remember coming here for my kindergarten graduation. I'm 22 now. I've celebrated family reunions here, 3 graduations, my parents wedding, my brother and sister's graduations, engagements, and now, tomorrow my brother's wedding. The owners are super kind and polite and always accommodating. I wish them truly the best in years to come, because through their food and business they have watched my family grow. Thanks Parthenon!! Food is delicious! Music is spot on! Atmosphere is on the money! And service is excellent!
(5)Amit I.
Big portions - all ( salad / shawarma etc) but.... Sorry - it's not better than 2 stars. And also the restaurant was almost empty - the service were slow and for sure not "friendly" as Greeks should be
(2)Chris S.
I was excited to try this place because I heard they have great authentic Greek food. However, our experience was awful. I will never go back to this establishment. When we arrived, our waiter took forever to take our order and we couldn't understand what he was saying. The worst part was the food. Someone ordered the chicken skewers and every piece of meat was raw. So naturally we sent it back. The food returned with half of the pieces cooked and the other half still pinker than a breast cancer parade. We insisted on talking to a manager. A large, elderly man came over and asked what the problem is. We responded with showing him the cooked pieces and the raw pieces. He was shocked and said "this is the first complaint in 47 years". Based on the yelp reviews, that's shocking to me. In addition, he said "do you know what a marinade is" and "I don't understand why some pieces are cooked and why some aren't. They were put in the microwave for the same amount of time". For the record, yes I know what a marinade is but it's very insulting when an owner is talking down to a customer about their mistake! I think the bigger problems are that he didn't understand that some pieces are larger and take longer to cook and that a restaurant uses microwaves to cook their food. I guarantee that this restaurant won't be around for another 47 years if they continue to serve raw meat, disrespect their customers, and cook everything out of a microwave.
(1)Aimee H.
I have been here before years ago and remember enjoying it. So I met my husband for lunch today and I have to say it has gone WAY downhill. First of all there were only like 5 tables taken at noon- red flag. In looking around the room i noticed a significant amount of dust and dirt on the ceiling tiles near the vents- enough to be totally grossed out by. Now let's talk about the food. we had the Saganaki and Hummis to start. Both were ok, nothing special but not horrible. then we had the calamari which was either old or over cooked or both. I would give it a 4 out of 10. totally rubbery and the sauce had barely any flavor to it. and we shared the gyro plate. this was HORRIBLE. I was so craving a good gyro too. it tasted very strong of lamb, which I LOVE lamb but this was more like mutton and super chewy and dry. so gross. we had over half of it left on our plate at the end of the meal. I will not be going back there again. huge let down.
(1)Jake L.
I will confess that I have been coming here since I was five years old, so I may have a slight bias. I can honestly come here and just feast on the delicious appetizers. I also start with the saganaki, which is always solid. (even though it was better when they used stinkier cheeses ten years ago) From there, I always go with the egg lemon soup, which is the best soup I've had anywhere in Greektown. The Parthenon also has some of the best gyros you will ever have in your life. They are warm and crispy, just like they should be. Also, do not skip out on the char-broiled octopus. If you love calamari, you'll like this even better. If you have any room left, get the loin of lamb with boiled potatoes. The key to this dish is the lamb gravy, which can turn any meal into pure gold. Get the lamb gravy and just dump it all over whatever lamb or potatoes you get. (You'll thank me, I promise!)
(5)Yao X.
The service is so slow and horrible. Takes forever for your orders. So you'd better have some snacks with you before you come in. The entree didn't come in 2 hours.
(1)Raj D.
Recently dined for restaurant week. Food portions were significantly large and plenty of food to take home... for restaurant week diners you will definitely get your moneys worth. To start we were brought a plate of gyro meat and cucumbuer sauce as I like to call it... OUTSTANDING and perfectly cooked gyro.. slightly crispy is how I like it. The cucumber sauce was well whipped and thick which gave you the feeling that you were fine dinging. The next plate we obtained was the famous greek cheese and an ample OPA followed - cheese was perfect on the hot plate but slightly chewy for my liking. 2 soup options... the lemon rice soup and the beef stew... i recommend the beef stew due to the lustrous flavor of the tomato broth but for a lighter option the lemon soup will due. A greek salad followed which was nothing out of the ordinary however the olives were on point!. For my main entree I tried the braised lamb... BEST COOKED LAMB i've had in a long time... meat fell off the bone and was perfectly tender and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Deserts - Try the chocolate mouse cake and THE BAKLAVA -- the waiter was generous and offered us to do a split half and half so you could try 2 deserts for the price of 1... Restaurant was very clean, our waiter was very nice and generous who offered a fair share of honest opinions which is very important to me and he was not pushy at all. He made our dining experience very relaxing and even brought me a few cucumbers for my water! Will definitely come back and in my opinion top spot in GREEKTOWN!
(4)AV G.
I moved to Chicago in the mid 70's. I worked at a Stereo store where we sold an 8track with speakers installed for $49.99.. My illegal alien Irish boss and the other co-worker who looked like a female Ziggy Stardust ate here all the time. Over the decades I remained a big Greektown fan. I have been here numerous times and was here for the last time on Saturday. This is not a bad place, but i think one of the weaker choices, however, the bar is one of the cooler looking spots,
(2)Fedai F.
Came for a business dinner, was looking forward to dinner. Such a disappointment! Highlight was free valet.
(1)La Tonya G.
We had a Groupon for this restaurant and almosst didn't go because of the bad reviews we saw about how the Groupon customers were being treated. I'm glad that we decided to go and see for ourselves. This was an amazing deal from Groupon at the end of the day we got a bottle of House Wine, 1 cold appetizer(6.50 and under) 1 hot appetizer (7.50 and under), 2 Main Dishes(17.45 and under) and 2 Desserts anyone on the menu except the Brandy Ice. We ended up getting the flaming cheese after we saw so many people ordering it around the restaurant which not included in our Groupon deal since we had already ordered our Hot appetizer. Being this was our first time here we didn't know what to expect but our waiter was great and we even got one waiter in training which was okay with us but we weren't able to truly experience the flaming cheese dish (Flaming Saganaki) because he didn't pour all of the Brandy on the cheese so we got a puff of flames and not a burst of flames. The flaming cheese was the highlight of the meal for me though...I love love loved it!! We also had Hummus which was okay but my girlfriend liked it a lot and I also appreciated the fact that they gave us extra pita for the mound of Hummus we had left. Meat Pies were okay and they were very fresh it just wasn't my cup of tea but again my girlfriend enjoyed it. There was a lot that came with this Groupon deal including a bottle house of wine which was not top shelf but it was good and did what it was suppose to do. The soup was a creamy chicken and white rice soup with a lemon essence to it which was good but not the best soup I have ever had. The house salad was made with fresh lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, olives and peppers. It had a piece of Feta Cheese and drenched in a house dressing. Unfortunately, I didn't like the Feta Cheese, peppers and Olive but my girlfriend did so I just transferred it to her plate. I ordered the Rotisserie-Roasted Lamb topped with a lamb sauce it was good but I think it was slightly over-cooked but I could be wrong I'm not sure what the coloring is suppose to be on a Lamb. I only had a bite of it while at the restaurant but I took it home and ate it for lunch and it still had a good flavor if not better. The Lamb came with a half order of Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans...I was not a fan of the potatoes I can't put my finger on it but I wasn't wowed...the green beans were good but kind of greasy...I would have preferred some fresh green beans that were not overcooked. My girlfriend ordered the Shrimp and Spaghetti (Tourkolimano) the shrimp was cooked perfectly and I found myself wishing I had got a shrimp dish. For Dessert I got the Chocolate Mousse Cake (Sokolatina) it was so good I wish I had a piece right now. My girlfriend got the Greek Yogurt with Honey and Walnut (Yiaourti) I tasted a little of it and it was very good. I am still glad I got my cake but for a healthy opinion this is great. This wasn't the best place I have ever gone too but it also wasn't the worse. The waiter and I wish I could remember his name made the experience a very good one for us and I even have to say there was an older gentlemen there who was celebrating his birthday and the entire restaurant sang along with his waiter and his dinner guest...It was fun and awesome to see people having fun. I will give this place another try and I will definitely make sure I have that Flaming Cheese and Chocolate Mousse Cake. Enjoy!!!
(3)Katie K.
This place is awful, on so many levels, don't waste your money, go some place else. My boyfriend and I went here with the Groupon deal back in October, I was incredibly disappointed with both the service and the food. Also the Groupon is not much of a deal anyway, they have family style ordering on the menu for similar prices. When we arrived we informed our waiter we were using a Groupon and he was polite about it. He promptly brought the "house wine" which, no doubt was watered down and came from a box. What can you do, we thought. It tasted like church wine, maybe. Next we ordered our cold appetizers and hot appetizers. Our waiter then brought out the salads. The salads were made with iceberg lettuce. They were also drenched in olive oil. The soup was next, it tasted like cream of chicken soup bought in bulk with lemon juice added. It was basically disgusting. The waiter acted insulted that I didn't eat it. This was comical because it was not like the soup was homemade. After the waiter brought our appetizers, I asked if we could order and he acted insulted that I was requesting to order. I really did not understand. I thought it was weird we had not ordered, or been offered to. We ordered our entrees and after that we never saw the same waiter again. Some how we insulted him to his core... not sure how. The entrees were completely so-so. I ordered the chicken kebab and to me it was inedible because it was drenched in oil. Very disappointing. It was also dry. My guest ordered the combination plate and everything tasted old, not fresh and pre-made. It tasted like it had been sitting out awhile too. In the end we got our desserts to go. We left a tip on the table and left. We figured that be fine since our waiter had not been paying any attention to us for most of the meal. But naturally, he noticed and chased us down, letting us know we need to pay "4.50" in tax. This I found to be absurd. Why are we paying tax on the cost of the Groupon when 1. the restaurant does not get the full groupon amount (groupon takes a cut) 2. I did not pay the full groupon amount (promo code). It seems to me they were trying to squeeze a little extra cash out of every groupon. I was appalled and found this practice to be unethical. Overall, major disappoints in food and service. I recommend never visiting this place even with coupon/deal/ etc. We would be better off ordering less food and real wine at a better restaurant. We would probably pay comparable prices to this "Groupon deal" after tax and tip. Don't go!!!
(1)Rohan D.
One of the first restaurants we came to when we first moved to Chicago as a family, then later I came here on my first dates out of the neighborhood I grew up in. I like the touristy decor, the food is still good American-Greek with nothing fusion, pretentious, or nouvelle. This is where they invented Greek-American, like saganaki (when we were in Athens as a family, dad ordered saganaki and the waiter derisively called us "Americans."), both the cuisine and the restaurant style. This is a dependable place to eat before downtown shows, you'll pay less than you would at the trendier places, and they will get you in and out more predictably. There are two bars (not sure why) and they would never upcharge you for ordering Ouzo or Greek Brandy wihout ice. I lived for a while in Greektown way back when I was working my way though a couple of degrees at the University of Illinois Chicago Circle Campus (now UIC), and I asked myself many times, is the Parthenon really any better than the dozen other Greek-American restaurants around here? Well no, but I've got a number of fond memories here, and it hasn't changed in a lifetime. I find value in that.
(4)Eric F.
After moving to Los Angeles where there are very few good Greek restaurants I really began to appreciate the wonderful and authentic Greek eateries on Halsted St. in Chicago's Greektown. And of these eateries, The Parthenon is one of the most established. I have been going there since I was a kid. And little has changed since. First and foremost, this is one of the best places to get really good inexpensive lamb, including chops off the rack. Also, leg of lamb, and frankly any lamb dish here will be good and not expensive for what you get. Now to the meal. The Parthenon offers a large menu of traditional Greek fare, including specials that are especially authentic (like tripe soup which is delicious), plus combo plates, and family meals for sharing. But whatever you get, I recommend starting the meal with a glass of Retsina (a white wine with resin, which gives it a slightly turpentine flavor that is unique and surprisingly satisfying when matched with the food), and the Saganaki (cheese doused in brandy and then set aflame with the waiter shouting "Opa"). Once those two things are consumed, your personal meal choices can begin. The Greek Salad is good here, but the AgvoLemano soup (creamed lemon soup with rice or orzo) is more interesting. And don't even bother getting the Greek Salad if you are not going to have it with the anchovies (only my opinion but in Greece they looked at American tourists like they were from the moon if they didn't eat the anchovies). Another starter that I like is the Grilled Octopus (Greece is one of the few countries that favors octopus, along with Sicily, Spain, Mexico, Peru, and japan). Of course you can also get appitizers that have nothing to do with Greece even though we all think they do, like Hummus (chick pea paste with olive oil and tahini) or Baba Ganush (eggplant dip with garlic), which are both Lebanese dishes brought to Greece by the Ottoman Turks. Then of course there are fried Calimari Rings, which everybody likes, even kids (for them I think it's the Catsup, which adults are not allowed to use of course). As far as main courses go I am always stumped, because I really want the starchy items like Mussaka and Pastiscio (both are like baked Lasagna, but the Mussaka is meat sauce and eggplant with beschemal cream, while the Pastiscio is meat sauce and wide hollow noodles like macaroni). But I also always want the meat to, like leg of lamb in a stew, or chops. There are about six types of lamb dishes at the Parthenon, all different cuts, and all different preparations, and the are all good. But whatever you do DON"T GET THE GYROS (unless it is on the combination plate). Of course it is as good here as at any Greek Gyros stand in town. But think about it, you can't get lamb chops or Mussaka at a Gyros stand, so why waste the opportunity. Whatever you get... make sure to order the vegetable side dish of green beans stewed in tomatoes and served over rice. When I was in Greece, everyone ate this with almost every meal. For the real starch lover, there is also a Greek Spaghetti, which is surprisingly different and good (a nice dish for fussy kids). The sauce is burnt butter and Greek cheese. There are so many good things to eat here that honestly, I usually order a combo, because I need to taste everything. After the meal it is nice to have a Turkish Coffee (they call it Greek Coffee because they don't like the Turks, who ruled over the Greeks for 400 years), and a nice piece of Baklava. As a side note: the owners and the waiters and all Greeks are friendly and talkative. Be prepared to have at least one conversation with one of them. It is part of the meal.
(4)Mary C.
Dinner date. Enjoyed it. The family dinner deals they have are great. The service was nice and the atmosphere is great. Although we did have a problem when we tried to use our expired groupon for its value. Make sure u check with them on how to use it before ordering. The manager gave me this crazy thing about a minimum order of over $100 in order to use my $46 value groupon. After a minor debate, I got to use it as a normal value but still made no sense to me how they even thought they can make people have a minimum order to use it. But overall, other than the hiccup it was good.
(4)Emily W.
Huge portion which is good, but the chicken salad I ordered was mediocre. Hubby ordered suckling pork, tasted OK but i would not come here again.
(3)Zoey K.
The service is good and they have complementary valet but they get filled fast. Food is alright, I enjoy the salad more. Banquet layout isn't that nice.
(3)Michael C.
The groupon feast for 2 is an insane deal. My girlfriend and i were so stuffed by the time the main course came around but I was super grateful that the deal let me try just about everything I wanted to on the menu. They first started off with bread which felt like it came from a supermarket stand. I really wish it had come warm and baked instead of cold. Still, I can never reject wonderful free carbs before a meal. The hot app came out pretty quickly and it was fun to see flaming cheese. The dish went really well with the bread served prior and though it was served alone, it definitely needed a starch alongside it. Next we had the hummus which strangely didn't taste like any hummus that I've had before. It had very subtle flavor but great fluffy texture to company the hot fried pita. Next came the salad and soup which were both pretty meh. Soup could've been warmed from a can -it was lemon rice- while the salad was decent only for the feta blocks. My girlfriend got the gyro and damn it was delicious. It was nothing like the stuff you get from a Coney- it was meaty and well seasoned. I had the chicken riganati which was an entire baked half chicken. it was super tender and had just the right amount of acid. The desserts here were nothing special but the impeccable service more than made up for deficiencies in some of the food. Fun times in Greek town! Almost took my entire entree home and that never happens.
(4)Tara M.
Oh YUM! Took Molly C. out for her farewell lunch with another coworker (Mols, what am i to do without you?) and have to say I enjoyed my lunch immensely! Our waiter was a sweet white haired man, who may have been one of the first Greek-Town waiters, very attentive though. Started with saganaki, which was wonderful! Perfectly yummy! Of course we received a bowl of Greek bread and butter, how can you go wrong. I had mini chicken shish kabobs, two little skewers with a perfect ammount of Tzatziki sauce( made with yogurt and just to die for!) and a bowl of really good navy bean soup. Coworker had the regular chicken shish kabobs with came with potatoes and rice rather than the Tzatziki and pita like mine, and looked just as good! Molly had a small order of Moussaka and said it was really good. I think, I know, I'll go back again because it's been years since I have been there and it was just as good as I remember.
(4)Amanda T.
After a long hiatus I have returned to the Parthenon. When I was younger Parthenon was my favorite Greek restaurant, probably because it was the only one my family ever went to besides little corner greasy gyro places. And I loved it. I tried saganaki here for the first time and learned the phrase OPA! As I got older and maybe wiser, I discovered some of the other restaurants in Greektown that I liked more than good old Parth. But my grandparents still love this place and this is were we went one Sunday evening. Everything looked as I remembered. The walls filled with all sorts of Grecian fare. The staff was attentive. Our saganaki was pretty good, the Greek salad with anchovies was delicious and the calamari was decent. For my main dish I ordered a gyro. The entree comes unassembled so you have to put it together yourself and I liked it this way. It allowed me to put as however much meat and tzatziki and whatever as I pleased. The gyro wasn't a complete bust, but not as good as I remembered. The gyro meat was very dry, so it wasn't as enjoyable as I had hoped. Parthenon will probably not be on the itinerary for my next Greektown adventure, but the place is not a bad at all. And if my grandparents enjoy it, I will more than happily go with them again.
(3)Mario H.
Food wise this place gets a 4 1/2. Everything was great and delicious. This was are 1st time here and the food was great. Kids loved seeing the HUGE FLAME from the cheese. OPA... Lamb was great, chicken was great gyro was great rice & potatoes were great, but rating everything to do with restaurant is where we had problems. Only 2 valets working on a Saturday afternoon so having someone take the car was at least a 10 minute wait. Getting someone to get the car after dinner even longer. Valet guys were very nice though, busting their ass to try to get everyone taken care of. Service was another problem, hard to get refills on drinks. Our server an older gentleman basically took our order and brought us our food, that was it. Had to grab busboys on several occasions to get us an extra plate we asked our server for, get us refills, bread, grab us our waiter cause he forgot to give us our check. Everyone one was hustling in their except our server, that is the reason for the 3 stars. Would definitely go back to get a much different service experience but did wise GREAT!!!
(3)Jeanette K.
I've been to the Parthenon many times, and with the exception of last night, its always been a 5 star experience. The food has always been excellent, service has been attentive, and the atmosphere is fun. Plus the free valet is a HUGE plus in Greektown. So, last night the BF and I went here after trying to go to the Golden Steer in Forest Park (closed on Sundays). I veered from my usual choices at Parthenon, and went with the rotisserie lamb. I'm typically a gyro or chicken kabob girl. The BF ordered the gyros and lamb kabobs. Of course we ordered the saganaki (they invented it here!). The saganaki came out and our waiter was less than enthused about his Opaa. We yelled "OPRAH!" like we normally do and it broke the silence of the restaurant. The main courses came out and looked good. However, my lamb was very fatty and we thought the chicken kabobs were undercooked, but weren't sure. Our shared illness later confirmed that they probably were undercooked. The service was surprisingly poor this visit. Our drinks sat unrefilled for at least 30 minutes, even though we asked for refills. The gyros were also delayed from the arrival of the rest of the food. I still give Parthenon 4 stars, since before this I've always had such great experiences. Hopefully with the next visit I will be able to upgrade my review to 5 stars, like I've always thought they deserved.
(4)Miriam B.
I lived in Greece yrs ago and the cuisine here is very authentic. We had the family style dinner saganaki, gyros, moussaka, egg lemon soup, roast chicken, lamb, spinach pie, baklava, custard and coffee for 19.96 a person!. Very nice service too.
(5)Elizabeth W.
Absolutely love this restaurant! I came here yesterday for mother's day and as soon as my family and I crossed through the doorway, they handed all the mothers flowers. We had a table of 9 and the service could not have been more courteous or efficient. We had drinks almost as soon as we had settled into our seats and our flaming cheese was blazing in front of us within 5 minutes of ordering it! Our Greek salad was so fresh and the dressing was zesty and delicious. We had 2. For dinner (that arrived to our table with such speed that I thought it was for the table next to us) we ordered gyros, roasted lamb, braised lamb, moussaka, the pig roast, and the chicken riganati. Everyone had their favorite and everyone left full and satisfied. My only complaint: not enough of the roasted potatoes! As if the saganaki, salad, and our meals were not enough, we had dessert too! Most of us had baklava, including me. Their baklava is one of my favorites, not overly sweet and delicious with a cup of coffee. My husband tried the chocolate mousse cake...a MUST try for the chocolate lovers out there! To put the cherry on top of our experience, the valet parking is free!
(5)Gasper S.
I returned to Chicago after 35 years and just had to go the Parthenon again. I can't believe it is still great. There was only two of us so we could't taste all that many dishes but what we had was perfect and the portions were just right. Of course we had the saganaki, the moussaka, a greek salad and the baklava. Although we don't really like Retsina wine, we had to try it just for old times sake and somehow it went perfectly well with our meal. Great job Parthenon.
(5)A W.
Saganaki over here! (saganaki over there!) Saganaki everywhere! (saganaki everywhere!) Now take it to da floor! (what? you scared, you scared) I said take it to da floor! (what? you scared, you scared). . . . . . . .*ahem*. . . So, yea, um the Saganaki here is pretty damn popular. It was rushing out of the kitchen like Niagra Falls. Left and right Saganaki was being set ablaze. Often times, like 5 at a time. I felt the heat as a set of Saganaki (make it a game and take a shot every time I write it) was being lit for a table behind us. I was feeling more along the lines of "Op---- ah ah ah, not to close to my hair!" Eh, but I could understand why so much Saganaki was flowing, outside of slight pyromania. I usually order Saganaki when I go to Greek restaurants despite the fact that it's usually too salty for me. Parthenon's Saganaki, however, is without the heavy salty flavor leaving only crisped cheesy goodness. Seek and ye shall find!! So, enough about the Saganaki. My dinner companion and I got the Traditional Family Style Dinner, cause I mean. . . it's damn near buffet, right? When I saw that on their website, being the buffet queen that I am, I had to partake. You get three appetizers (saganaki is one of them), Greek Salad, 3 main course sides and a selection of meat PER PERSON (awesome), and a serving of two different desserts all for $19.95. Unlike Maggiano's family style dinner where you need a min. of 4ppl to get it, 2ppl or more can get it here. Run through of the meal: +Appetizers Saganaki = Excellent. See above for more details Taramosalata = I'm gonna keep it real with you and say I thought this was a type of hummus, which I'm happy I thought or else I wouldn't have eaten it. When I looked at the menu online later I was reminded it was fish roe whipped with lemon and olive oil. Well, those whipped fish babies were good. Gyros = Self-explanatory, but these were great. We killed this! +Greek Salad = The feta cheese was wonderfully fresh. The dressing was nice, but a little thin for my liking. I would have preferred sliced Kalmata olives rather than having to do it myself. +Main Course Moussaka= The eggplant was tender and the bechamel sauce was well seasoned. Some Greek places have this taste a little too Lasagna-like, but this was right on. Pastitso= This was Ok. I only tasted slight differences from the moussaka. Seeing as they had a number of different ingredients, that's not good. Dolmades= Now, I love dolmades. The grape leaves were gritty and the filling left a lot to be desired. I was quite disappointed with these. Our meat selections= We got the Suckling Pig and the Athenian Chicken. Both were terribly dry and lacking flavor. +Dessert Galaktoboureko= It was my first time having this and I didn't really like it. The menu said it was vanilla custard in phyllo dough, so I was expecting something creamy. It was quite bready. The texture and I weren't seeing eye-to-eye. Baklava= Was wayyyyyyyy too sweet for me. What I could eat was yummy, but sweet to the 3rd power. I'm giving this place 4 stars because of the food I did like, the attentive service, and the lively atmosphere. They had like 3 Christmas trees on our dining side and lots of lights/other decorations everywhere. It was so festive and made for a great dining experience. I think the Family Style Dinner is great, but I'm gonna order a la carte next time. Probably will get like 3 orders of Saganaki though, lol.
(4)Steven K.
The first time I went to the Parthenon was for a rehearsal dinner. I enjoyed the food, and the staff seemed great. My second trip was another story. I went there on a date with another guy and wound up experiencing my first bout of homophobia in a restaurant in almost 10 years. The waiter, when he could be bothered to show up at our table, was very short with us and couldn't have made it any more obvious he wanted to be anywhere else but at our table. He was pleasant and talkative with his other customers, as well as attentive to their table. We ordered a humus appetizer and got baba ghanouj instead. I don't like baba ghanouj, and instead of addressing the issue, he just said, "Well, that's humus," so we asked him to take it away. I've been eating at Mediterranean restaurants for over 20 years, so I know what humus is. He avoided even looking in our direction when possible, and we had to flag him down to get more water. The best part had to be when we caught him making faces as he walked away from the table. Apparently, the sight of two men eating at the same table is a revolting experience. This was a disaster - we were polite, quiet (as one should be in a restaurant), and aside from me being a little indecisive about what I wanted for dinner, we were hardly the picture of difficult guests. The food was only ok this time, and coupled with our homophobic waiter, resulted in a lousy experience. I will not be back, and will be recommending that my friends go anywhere else but the Parthenon when visiting Greektown.
(1)Mike S.
Parthenon is a great alternative in Greektown. While Greek Islands may get all the main line pub, Parthenon struck me as being more authentically Greek, and more authentically Greek-American. Also, the place was PACKED when I went, so if you can call ahead, definitely do so. As opposed to Greek Islands, where both times I made reservations but really didn't need to. As with any other restaurant in Greektown, you gotta ge some Saganaki. I got a Gyro platter and as I recall it was quite good. One of the bonus features of Parthenon is they offer FREE valet parking! Make sure to get the car after you leave though. I may have taken a bit of a detour to another bar up Halsted, come back like 5 hours later and found my car about to be towed! Ooops!
(4)Amanda P.
By far my favorite greek restaurant. Everything and I mean everything is amazing here. The house wine is fantastic as well. My friend and I want to go back more often but have to put a hold on ourselves!
(5)tages t.
Friendly staff although slow for a not so busy night. I'm vegetarian so not a ton of options but definitely an adequate amount. I ordered the spinach and cheese spanakopita, very tasty.
(3)John T.
Best lamb in Greektown, by far. I love everything this place has, even if sometimes it feels a bit too greasy and fast-food Greek. Nonetheless, it is open late and the food is usually very good! Always try to taste the food before you add salt or pepper as this place is inconsistent with it's spicing. Great place that I recommend to everyone.
(4)Cage H.
While in medical school, I went out with a couple of Greek friends (Greek-trained physicians finishing fellowships in the US), and was surprised when they were surprised that saganaki, the famous Greek appetizer of fried kasseri cheese, was set alight at our table to a cry of "Hopa!" It turns out that the practice of flaming saganaki in ouzo before dousing it in lemon juice was started at Parthenon and later adopted by other Greek restaurants in the US who recognized good presentation when they saw it. Though I've tried many of the places in Chicago's Greektown (Roditys, up the street, probably has the best skordalia, if you want your mouth to burn pleasantly with raw garlic and are more concerned with warding off vampires than impressing your date), and find myself returning again and again to Parthenon. The service is efficient and friendly with a very homey atmosphere; the prices are quite reasonable and the portions substantial. Most of their entrees can be upgraded to a full meal with soup, salad, dessert, and coffee for about $8; when I do this, I plan on eating leftovers for at least the next day's lunch as well. I am partial to the sweetbreads, which I've normally had roasted with a hint of lemon. They're listed as lamb sweetbreads, but they taste just as delicate as veal. On my most recent visit, with several friends, I ordered an appetizer sampler with small bits of liver, Greek meatballs, sausage, and the sweetbreads; in this case the sweetbreads were delicately breaded and fried and everything was in a rich brown sauce. It was not as light as the roasted sweetbreads, but it was delicious. I also tried the cubanelle peppers, roasted and stuffed with an intriguing blend of fresh dill and feta; everyone at the table loved them. Most of the dishes here have been good to great. The Athenian chicken is a standard. The egg-lemon soup is light and tangy. The lamb dishes and moussaka are consistently good. It's a good place to take friends visiting town.
(4)Candy C.
Food was delicious. Saganaki was terrific. The only reason it is not 5 stars is because they did not come back after serving the food for several minutes and my husband's pop sat empty for at least 10 minutes before refill. There was only two other tables of guests so it was not busy. Staff was nice and really put on a show with the saganaki for our 2 year old daughter! They also surprised her with a special little drink.
(4)Cathie H.
If you're looking for REAL DEAL, this is it! I would recommend any of the traditional Greek dishes...as they area the best you'll find anywhere. Every trip home to Chicago ALWAYS includes a meal at the Parthenon.
(5)Jon C.
Not bad, not bad. Chill dinner for a Monday night. Staff was excellent and attentive. The pork kabob was a little well done but everything else was great. Excellent spanikopita, and the Greek combo plate was to die for. Fresh bread, potato, and veggies too.
(4)Carrie S.
The Parthenon is the second restaurant that I've experienced in Greektown. I really liked the classic interior of the restaurant where it felt like a restaurant not that Greece horked up all over the walls. The party room was nice and festively decorated. I had an excellent dinner here. The saganaki was hot and super tasty. For the first time, I had egglemon soup which was really good. It was a surprising mix of lemon and rice. The greek salad was so good here. It was how a greek salad should be. I really liked their mousaka. It was flavorful and a little explosion of Greek flavors in your mouth. The spankopita was good, usually not my favorite, but I really liked theirs. The lamb was great, but a little disappointing. It was from the bone and was impossible to find good chunks of meat. I was looking for big pieces of lamb and there wasn't any. The dessert was super delicious. As someone with a peanut allergy, I avoided the baklava. Thankfully, they served a yummy custard wrapped in phyllo dough. The custard was probably the most solid custard I've seen and so good. I'm definitely going back here for the excellent and pleasant decor.
(4)Melissa H.
I have been to the Parthenon in Greece and it does not disappoint! The restaurant in Chicago however...disappointing. Perhaps if you are a suburbanite or if you are visiting Chicago for the first time, then maybe you would enjoy this restaurant. We were here on a Saturday, and it definitely felt like we were amongst tourists and suburbanites from afar. This is a very loud restaurant. The people were loud and disrespectful, yelling profanities for everyone to hear, and they were obnoxious. Our waiter seemed very scatter brained and disoriented at times. I ordered the Orange Roughy, and the Beef Stamnas. We also had a Greek salad. Just a side note, a Greek salad in Chicago is not an actual Greek salad such as the kind you have in Greece. I was hoping that this restaurant would be more authentic, and it was not. Our food was pretty disappointing. The Orange Roughy and vegetables were bland and drowning in butter. The Beef Stamnas looked absolutely horrifying. I was pretty grossed out as I watched my husband attempt to pick the fat off the meat. I tried to give him some of my butter with fish to make up for his disappointing cow corpse, but he didn't seem to care for my dish either. For dessert we had the Chocolate mousse cake. It wasn't too great but it was better than both of our main dishes. The cake had an after taste that reminded me of food that had sat in a freezer for too long. I have not been to all of the restaurants in Greek town yet, but so far this is my least favorite. I would recommend Santorini as the best restaurant in Greek Town so far and more authentic.
(1)Jason P.
The only thing better than having Bulls tickets is having Bulls tickets and being able to get a good meal before the game from one of the many nearby restaurants. The menu has the gluten free and vegetarian items designated which is helpful for the vegetarians of the world, well only if there was not any confusion. I was all set to go to town on an order of flaming cheese, but it was not starred on the menu as vegetarian, so I decided against it. I then turned to the catering portion of the menu and under vegetarian they listed saganaki, though without the designation. I was just confused as it is just flaming cheese, but really who would have thought McDonalds puts beef flavoring in their fries?? My dining companions ordered the cheese and the flame was massive when they lit it. I have to say that this isn't the safest procedure especially with the spot next door burning down recently... I decided on the vegetarian special combination as it let me sample a lot of the dishes that I had not tried before. The highlight was moussakka which seemed like a more healthy version of eggplant parmesan. The food was pretty good here, but I probably won't be back until I have tried some of the other spots in Greek town. I might just need an expert to tell me which of these restaurants are the best...
(3)Emily Y.
People are always asking us, "What is your favorite Greek restaurant in Chicago?" - since my husband was born and spent half his life in Athens and I myself have traveled there twice. The Parthenon is usually our answer - the food is pretty authentic, service excellent, and the decor only slightly kitschy. Which is why we decided to hold our rehearsal dinner there, and we were extremely pleased with the experience. We had the small banquet room toward the back of the restaurant, and immediately upon arrival the waiters were filling drink orders, bringing out bread, and making sure everyone had what they wanted. We had chosen the Family Style dinner, which consisted of several courses. Soon after everyone arrived and was seated, they made a big display of firing the Saganaki, which of course all our guests loved. My husband wasn't a huge fan of their tsatsiki, but he has yet to find some in Chicago that he likes. Next were the Greek salads and gyro plates, followed by moussaka, pastitsio, and lemon chicken with rice and potatoes. All of the entrees were a huge hit, especially the moussaka. Oh I think there was some spanikopita somewhere in there too. It was an overwhelming amount and variety of food! The food here is pretty classic "Americanized Greek", but it's done very well, and all our guests were absolutely raving about it. And the price was right - the Family Style dinner is $19.95 a person. It is more food than anyone can possibly consume, even a ravenous adolescent brother or portly uncle. Drinks can add up, but they have decent prices on wine by the bottle. And dessert! How can I forget dessert! It is included in the price of the Family Style dinner - baklava and galaktabouriko, a sweet custard in phyllo. We ordered some chocolate cake as well to appease our pickier guests. Parthenon is a terrific place to hold an event - be it a rehearsal dinner, graduation or anniversary celebration or whatnot. You get a lot of delicious food for not a whole lot of money, and the meal itself is an entertaining experience. Or just go for a dinner on a Saturday night - order the moussaka. Their excellent service gets a nod from me as well - and they were so kind when our party got a bit rowdy and started doing shots at the bar....a bar that doesn't seem to get a lot of "shots" action on a weekly basis. Mine and my Greek husband's pick for a night-out in Chicago's Greek-town!
(4)Mark G.
Four of us went for dinner on Saturday night and I was extremely disappointed. Service was poor for starters. I kept looking around for our server and when we ordered all of the food came out at the same time including hot and cold appetizers and salads. It would have been nice to have some pacing. We then waited a half hour for our entrees which were slammed onto the table and we never saw our waiter again until we stood up to leave because he wouldn't come over to give us our check. The menu says that they make everything in house including their own gyros. Let me say, they should buy it from Kronos which is a hugely better product. Theirs was greasy and the meat fell apart. Actually, grease was the primary seasoning of the whole meal. Our whole fresh fish was dry and obviously had been long frozen. The chicken kabob, so dry that it was impossible to eat. No one wanted to risk desert of coffee. If someone says that they get great food there, they have no concept of quality. There are plenty of other Greek restaurants in the area which are much better. No surprise that they were 3/4 empty on a Saturday night. How do they stay open?
(1)Meridith H.
Here we have a great standard restaurant. You've got your almost kitschy interior, clean surroundings, friendly and attentive waitstaff, and expected Greek offerings on the menu. At a nearby table, an American man was treating two business guests from overseas to dinner - and he was spot on. The Parthenon is where you take people for an introduction to Greek food (provided they are not from Greece). Everyone in the room ordered saganaki (after my partner ordered it, that is - something about the flaming cheese struck a cord with all of our fellow diners that evening). The cheese was ok (tip, soak up the remaining grease and lemon juice with the bread - delicious & tangy). I ordered the vegetarian dolmades, and got 6 really big stuffed vine leaves. They made a solid dish and a satisfying dinner. I would be more likely to try my hand at recreating it at home and tweaking it a bit before returning to the Parthenon to revisit the dish, however. Would I come back? Yes, quite happily. Would I insist on doing so? No.
(3)Bobby D.
What another great Greek restaurant. The Avgolemeno soup is great, Yet a little salty. But still good. The dolmades are great. The Skordalia is fantastic. The meatballs OK. A bit on the disappointing side. But the greek-style rice is great too. Nice small array of liquor decanters at the bar.
(4)Nick S.
If you want to know what Greektown was like in the '70's; go to the Parthenon. I think, of all the Greek restaurants, the Parthenon comes the closest to the Greek home cooked meal. Traditionally, that's not fine dining, so be ready. If you like lamb, try this place out. I'm not a big lamb person, but I'll eat it here b/c it's so tender. One piece of advice when dining in Greektown is to ask the waiter what foods are made fresh daily. Sometimes, they'll let a tray of pastitio or mousaka sit around for a few days.
(4)Michelangelo V.
Honest review the food sucks now i have been coming here for years like probably since i was a baby it use to be amaizing now the food is horrible the food quality has really went to shit like tje only thing good is tje flamminh cheeze thays it everything else is old n cold n gross n its very expensive trust me qhen i say u will be disappointed plus the service was bad like really bad
(1)Cali G.
I love greek food, and I especially love dining in Greektown, but this was my first experience at this restaurant and it will be my last. I decided to take my date here on a Friday night at around 8:30pm. I was planning on dining at a different greek restaurant just a block away, but figured since we were already next to it, to give it a try. We walked in, and no hostess. I was a bit taken back cause the staff walked right by us and did not engage us with a smile, or hello, someone will be right with you.. nothing. 5 minutes past by and the hostess finally showed up. She sat us right away, but it seemed as if she was drained and unhappy. We look around the room and notice that we were surrounded by mature couples in their 50's, 60's, 70's.. There was absolutely no energy or laughter inside the room. The restaurant was beautifully decorated, but lacked energy and sign of life. The waiter comes by, and takes our drink order. 2 minutes later, a second waiter comes by to take our drink order. We inform him that a different waiter took our order. He looked frazzled and confused, not to mention that he was sweating and had greasy hair. Not exactly someone that I would want as my waiter serving me my food. The first waiter was no prize winner either, but nothing we could do at that point. The staff looked underpaid, unhappy, and overworked. We ordered a glass of cabernet each. I want my wine in a wine glass and unfortunately they arrived in smaller glasses. I asked the waiter to bring us regular wine glasses, and it took him forever to find 2 wine glasses for us. We ordered the greek salad for 2 to start with and when it arrived it was a dry little sad plate for 1. Normally, I love dipping my bread into the sauce, but this time.. there was no sauce to dip in. I ordered the octopus with rice and potatoes, and my date ordered the chicken. The octopus was ok, but the rice and potatoes was a dissapointment. It's normally my favorite part of the meal. As if things were not weird to begin with, that 2nd waiter comes back to our table and starts rambling on and on about the mix up that happened earlier. 5 minutes later, my date and I looked at each other in disbelief.The whole experience was like the twilight zone.
(1)Melissah L.
Came here with a Groupon deal and definitely got my money's worth! In my opinion, most of the food is only so-so, but the deal gives you SO much food that I completely saved my entree for lunch the next day. the good: - gyro platter- the pita and the meat is amazing. also, the dish could easily feed 2 people. - hummus and pita- i've never tasted hummus like this before but it was creamy and delicious. the pita is served hot and is thick and chewy! the not-so-good: - egg lemon rice soup- very coney island-ish, tastes like it came from a can - greek salad- coney-island ish as well, ice berg lettuce, mealy, flavorless tomatoes, pass on this one the flaming cheese was good (though, hard to mess up), and the desserts were decent as well (i've had better baklava elsewhere though).
(3)Kyle D.
Was just at Parthenon, although it is great that they have free valet... I will be heading to another restaurant in the area. The food was ok not great for the price and the waiter was a total crab and not friendly or helpful and didn't know the menu or how to work the cash register so I had to take picture of my receipt.
(2)Daniela M.
Ok so they had an African wedding going on..... Super loud but interesting...... The service, the waiter didn't even look at you when asking you questions. It looked like it was hard for him to concentrate on what he was doing. It was terrible. Also in watching the other waiters.... I saw one waiter literally drop the plates in front of the patrons and walk away...... I was stunned to say the least..... It was crazy..... My chicken was a roasted lemon chicken breast.... It was so hard I could have used it as a hockey puck... the potatoes looked like they came out of a can..... My boyfriend had the Chicken spinaka However you spell it...... he asked for a vegetable... He got green beans that were soaked in butter or oil and you didn't even have to chew them... It was gross...... Needless to say of all the greek restaurants in that area this will be the last place I go......
(2)B M.
I have Celiac Disease and while the menu lists the gluten free items, the waiter had absolutely no clue what an allergy meant. I continuously asked him to tell the kitchen about my gluten issue but he still wasn't understanding. I don't think the restaurant should advertise gluten free menu items if their staff isn't properly trained. I ordered a gyros without a pita and rice pilaf. Both were marked as GF on the menu. The waiter came back and said the chef wasn't sure if the rice was gluten free and offered me potatoes instead. He came back again and said the chef also wasn't sure about he potatoes and said he didn't know what to do. I ended up with just the gyros meat.
(2)Tangy Marie C.
After 30 years, my favorite place for lunch or a special dinner. My personal waiter is Salvador. He's perfect and knows me personally. My order is exactly: bread comes with a bottle of Roditis, Order lamb chops but with Greek potatoes (don't care for rice) first bcos of cook time. Order saganaki ASAP. Then eat salad before dinner arrives. It's so methodical I can give a person directions. Oompa!!! There is no better food or waiter. My Salvador whom is like a big version of tattoo saying the plane, the plane. I love him! Go and u will return, ask for Salvador for sure and tip him well
(5)Susan C.
I went here many years ago and decided to go back and try it again with my husband since he never been there. We order lamb sweetbread for an appetizer and that wasn't what sweetbread was to us and it was so salty which kept drinking a lot of water. I order the Lamb chops for an entree with roast potatoes and rice pilaf as a side dish. My lamb was ok but the side dishes had no flavor at all. My husband order the roast loin of lamb and it was horrible. The gravy on the lamb from what we can tell came out of a can and the lamb wasn't even tasty or had any seasoning. The service wasn't good at all. Our waiter was busy talking to a lady at another table. He didn't even offer if we wanted desserts. I would not go back to this place ever. Afterwards we said we both said we should of gone to Popeyes because we can get more for our buck there.
(1)Mad I.
3 or 4, 3 or 4....torn...great atmosphere, CRUMMIE gyro, good everything else....but that gyro.... Had the Groupon for $46 dinner for 2. Pleased with our choices, for the most part... *Soup= was yummie (whatever that was!) *Salad =was just okay... *Saganaki= delivers, nothing out of the ordinary if you've had it. Not the best or the worst. *The fish roe dip= was really disappointing...it was this funky bright pink stuff that some how tasted like NOTHING. I asked what it was made of and waiter said carp roe and bread.... questionable spread to be avoided.... *Sampler platter for $16 which had like 4 things on it, all pretty tasty. *Gyro= CRUMMIE. We were there before it got packed and I got the you know what end of the stick, or should I say spit. Lots of crumbled, burned little pieces with no flavor. The tzatziki was super duper lemon, if you like that.... I did see the girl next to me with a plate that looked juicy about an hour later... *house wine-good *Dessert=YUM! Tiramisu is better than any I've had at Italian places. Chocolate mousse cake-BOMB.
(3)Lauren F.
I'll be honest...Greek Islands has always been my family's go-to restaurant in Greektown. However, when my mom and I started looking for a large room to host a get-together for my family after my wedding abroad, The Parthenon had far and away the best options as far as private room and event menus went, so we decided to give a new place a try. Starting with the free valet service that they offer, everything at The Parthenon was great. The room we had was large and colorful, has a dance floor and stage, a private bar, and a projector and an audio hookup so you can play movies or slideshows and play your own music. The waiters and bartender were all very nice and helpful and our food came out at the perfect pace so we didn't feel rushed. We had Saganaki (flaming cheese), Greek Salad, Taramasalata (fish roe dip), Gyros with tzatziki dip, Avgolemono (egg lemon) soup, Moussaka (beef and eggplant casserole), Dolmades (beef and rice wrapped in grape leaves), Pastichio (a greek lasagna with noodles and beef topped in a bechamel sauce), Lamb, Chicken, Rice, Potatoes, Baklava, and Galaktoboureko (custard pie). Yes, it was a serious feast! Everything was delicious and everyone was totally overwhelmed by the crazy amount of food. After dinner we danced the night away until they told us it was time to go. The only downfall was that the room was incredibly hot, even with the A/C turned up all the way. We were definitely sweating when the dancing began. Despite that little hiccup, it was the perfect evening and my family had such an amazing time, much to the credit of the great food and service we received at The Parthenon.
(4)Allen D.
Crap, ordered the chicken stuffed with feta, there must be a world wide Feta cheese shortage I am not aware of. Dried chicken and absolutely no flavor. What a severe disappointment. Thank God there are many other Greek restaurants to choose from!!!
(1)Amanda G.
I cannot say enough good things about is place. My coworker (a Chicago native) says this is the only Place in Greektown and I can see why! We ordered the smallest family-style meal, which fed 12 people with enough leftovers for 3-4 more. We had the octopus, greek salad, flaming cheese and gyro appetizers. Redcina white wine is delish but very dry. Main course included roasted chicken, rice, grape leaves with veal, and pasta. Dessert was baklava and some other kind of pastry, finished off with Greek Coffee! Family-owned, authentic, and free valet parking. What else do you need??
(5)Gerry A.
After reading many of the excellent reviews on the Five course Groupon with a bottle of "house red", we boldly went this afternoon at 5pm. No problem with the groupon, we saw a lot of them, we did make a reservation but we did not identify ourselves as having a groupon. We had already printed our menus off and picked out what we were interested in within the price ranges. No flexibility in ordering more expensive entres and paying the difference, we asked just to see what they said. I have liked the Greek Rose Roditis in the past but this tasted more like an even cheaper white merlot in an unmarked bottle (picture a LARGE box of Wisconsin White Merlot back there with a funnel). We are going to go get some Roditis for a taste test and I will report. I don't think that house was the Greek Rose Roditis. But it was cold and wet and part of the $46 package, and of course we drank most of it. Update. Had some Roditis at the Greek Village in Schaumburg, MUCH better, they are decanting that stuff at the Parthenon out of boxes into unmarked bottles. Went with Flaming Saganaki for old times sake, were warned off the homemade sausage by our able server Peter and went with the Eggplant/babaganoush, good enuf. Went with Peter's recommendations on our choices and had the rotisserie lamb and the broiled octopus. Both were good, the lamb portion was ENORMOUS, we took home 2/3 of it, tender and not overseasoned and my octopus was also very tender and flavorful, and I took half of that home. The lemon soup was ok, so was the Greek salad. We went with the teramisu and Vanilla pudding wrapped in philo with honey, we thought both were good. Our bill was about $5, half the tax which Peter had told us in advance, and we tipped $19, nobody suggested any amounts but we can do the math on the hypothetical bill, and liked Peter's recommendations. So our total was $46 plus $24, $70 with LARGE leftovers. Service was slow and it's loud in there. I don't think we'll be back without another Groupon like that one. We would probably rather find someplace to eat that has outdoor seating and better wine and just order a couple appetizers and split a main course, might be the same $46, but we thought the Groupon package was a DEAL and today we are FANS.
(4)Tami S.
My maternal grandfather had an oft-repeated saying: "If anyone here goes home hungry, it's their own fault." Normally I reserve mentions of this phrase for jovial but fond reminisces around the family dinner table, but it TOTALLY fits in relation to my experience at the Parthenon. We (co-workers and I) had a group dinner here, and the food just kept on coming. It felt like we ate everything on the menu, but that'd be exaggerating. Barely. Service is "family style" in every sense of the word. You share the food. And the service was like "family," too -- you're a guest in the restaurant. (Except you'll get a bill at the end.) In came plates of the saganaki. We got the show... alcohol poured over pans of cheese, then lit on fire with a woosh. It was especially good with the crusty bread that came to the table. The bread also went well with the tzatziki and the fish spread. The gyro meat was flavorful. I snagged a couple crispy pieces and was quite happy. Thoroughly enjoyed the lamb. Lamb is tough to get right (pun intended), but they do a very good job here. Chicken was tasty, but was especially good with a bit of the sauce drizzled on top of it. The Greek salad was really tasty. Lightly dressed but full of oregano. I could eat a whole platter of that for dinner and be happy. Yum to the pilaf and the potatoes as well. They also brought out plates of pastitsio and dolmades, which I did not try... but both looked good and were popular. Along with dinner, we had bottles of red and white wine (the Tsantali Rouge and Blanc). Both Greek. Both good. Don't hesitate to try them. And of course, they go well with the food. I can't eat baklava, so I couldn't try the dessert, but it looked tasty and well made, and others seemed happy with it. The "American" coffee was enjoyable. All told I'd recommend this restaurant for parties and large groups. It's fun, but not rowdy; the food is good; and the service is welcoming, too. Just wear your stretchy pants!
(4)Jo K.
Best smelts in Greek town. Just ate at another restaurant in greek town and the smelts were frozen not fresh...no taste. Walked down the street to Parthenon and ate the best smelts I have ever had (and I have had a lot). Small fried fish lightly battered excellent with just lemon. YUM
(5)Rachel R.
I haven't been here in two years. Thought why not. Should have thought of another place. Made reservations for 9pm. The Host was rude and said that we had to be placed on the "List." Not sure why we had to be placed on a list to wait when I made a reservation. Went to the bar to wait and the bartender was ok. No drink menu and couldn't recommend a mixed drink. What kind of bar does that? Ordered a simple vodka martini to hold onto. It was delicious but the service was not their. Finally the wait was over and we were asked to follow a waiter who was showing two other couples where to sit. No personal touch, very disappointed. Ushered to the table to get a burst of energy by the buser as he throwed down plates and silverware on the table. To be greated by the waiter who was less than happy to have us. Had to ask for napkins and flag down some one for them. Started to place our order to find out no sou, they were out. Hummus out. The waiter did try to accommodate and brought out eggplant, but we didn't want it and he said their was nothing else. Not a great start what so ever. The entrees where good. The braised lamb was delicious but greasy with more rice than anyone person should eat at dinner. I had enough rice for leftovers for two more meals. The chicken was well seasoned but dry, no juice to be found. We had the house wine and I must say PASS on it. It tasted like the cheap wine I bought when I was a freshman in college. Last but not least ... dessert. They were out of everything expect Flan and a Lemon custard. Not the best by any means. If your thinking of Greek food, check out another spot in Greektown. It wasn't worth the money and I should not have two meals worth of leftovers at the end.
(1)Katie K.
Like most other reviewers I came here with a Groupon. If you're a senior citizen and love gigantic quantities of mediocre food, this is the place for you. I went on a Friday night, was promptly seated, waited around 10 minutes for a waiter to come. Handed him the Groupon, he said not a word, but appeared 5 minutes later with a bottle of wine that tasted like watered down Boones Farm. Again the waiter said not a word, departed and later appeared with 2 salads and some sort of dip with pita. Tastes eggplanty, but not sure since I didn't order it. The waiter follows the same routine, and appears 10 minutes later with flaming cheese. He says "Opa!" and promptly leaves the table. At this point I'm really confused...do I get to order anything today, or do I look so drunk off the boones farm the waiter has made the executive decision to order for me? He did come back to take the entree orders (I ordered the Athenian Chicken, tasted decent, but chicken was dry). At the end of the dinner, the waiter returns and tells me and my date that he will now bring out the dessert. At this point we have mustered up the courage to ask if he will be selecting our dessert for us, or if we get to pick? He says we get the custard since apparently everything else in the restaurant is sold out. At the end of the meal he brings out the check, smiles and says this is my gratuity (a nice $20 tip). This is the most I've heard him say all night, I'm even surprised he speaks English, but we don't argue since we're confused and sugar wasted on Boones Farm.
(2)Kyle P.
Came here on the Groupon and was pleasantly surprised. As everyone has mentioned, the Groupon deal is the deal of the century; you get an obscene amount of food and will end up taking home lunch or maybe even dinner for the next day from your leftovers. Positives: - Saganaki was hot like fiyah... literally and figuratively from a taste perspective. It was much better than the saganaki I got from Melanthios up in Lakeview - Baba Ganoush (on menu as "egg plant spread") could have been the best I've ever had - Salad was fresh and I liked the Greek dressing - Soup was unique and creamy... and yummy (contrary to a post or two below) - Braised lamb entree was SO FREAKING GOOD. GET THIS. Neutrals: - Gyro entree was just so-so - Galaktoboureko dessert was bland. This was probably just a matter of personal taste, though. - Wine was some sort of rose which isn't my favorite. But hey, it's alcohol and I got a whole bottle of it so there. Negatives - Our waiter looked rushed and wasn't the most personable. Not going to hold it against him as they were really busy but maybe they should schedule another few staff members... - Service was slow. People next to us ended up leaving without their dessert because they got sick of waiting. - Host seemed unorganized. We had reservations for 8. Called at 7:30 to say we would be about half an hour late. Were told it would be no big deal and weren't even asked for our name to change the reservation. Showed up at 8:30 and it was packed, ended up waiting 15-20 minutes. So what was the point of the reservation again? Okay so despite these negatives, notice my review is FOUR STARS. Simply come in with the expectation that it might take a while between courses and you should be able to relax and enjoy the experience of indulging in a massive, tasty Greek feast. We will be back!
(4)Heather L.
Best sit-down place in Greektown. That's not saying much though - I am pretty sure all the major restaurants on the Halsted strip is just owned by one large Greek family: Free valet. Passable service. Identical menus. Decent food. 3-Stars, really. But being the creative genius behind the delicious show-dish, the flaming saganaki, Parthenon, here you go - another star.
(4)Rhianna M.
So stuffed and full of happiness. This place has a theatrical Mediterranean theme and wonderful lamb. Try the loin of the lamb large portion and so tender
(5)Ginelle S.
Food was awful, service was more so. Go elsewhere. The Parthenon gives Greektown a bad name. I've been up and down the Halsted, Greektown strip since I was a wee-babe - Santorini, Greek Islands, Rodity's all of which I love - and never have a had a worse experience than at Parthenon. I've given it 2 tries now, but will be sure to stay away, from here on out, and encourage others to do the same...
(1)Daniel N.
Food was good. Service was friendly and attentive. Portions and prices reasonable. Decor and ambience could use some work. The house wine was surprisingly quite good, especially for summer. Hummus was some of the best I've ever had. Stuffed chicken was delicious. Rotisserie Lamb was good. House salad and lemon rice soup were both good. Chocolate mousse cake and tiramisu were both ok. We were so full by dessert it probably impacted the taste a bit.
(4)Lexi P.
I went here over the weekend with a large group of people. There were eight of us in total and we had made a reservation. We were seated when all of us were present and did not have to wait to be seated (i.e. they had set aside a table for us). When they brought us back to the table it was not completely ready. They had not put all the place settings down and had to bring more white paper to put over the table. Okay, not a big deal but we were seated 10-15 minutes after our reservation time so I would think they'd have it all set up. We waited a bit for the waiter but it was nothing out of the ordinary. We ordered a bunch of plates of saganaki for the table and it came fairly quickly and was very good. Then we told the waiter we were ready to order but he must not have heard us and walked away. Once he came back everyone ordered. We sat for a while waiting for our food. When it did come out it came out in spurts (i.e. 2-3 people's food came and then a few minutes later 2-3 more plates came). My boyfriend and I were one of the first people to receive our food. We had ordered a chicken dish which was supposed to have vegetables on the side and a vegetarian macaroni dish. The chicken dish came out with rice pilaf instead of vegetables and both dishes were lukewarm at best. Both dishes tasted awful due to the temperature and must have been sitting in "the window" without being kept heated while they waited for other food to be ready. When the waiter came (he did not bring any of the food) I caught his attention and told him both dishes were cold and asked if we could have them heated up. Instead of apologizing the waiter looked at us and said, "really? Both dishes?" Yes, we want both dishes taken back and heated up. I then repeated what I had said, that both dishes were cold and seemed to have been sitting around for a while. When I said this he rolled his eyes at me, said okay, and walked away...without taking our food. He went to the table behind us and spoke with them for a few minutes and then came back to take our plates. He brought them back (the same food we had had) with vegetables instead of rice for the chicken dish several minutes later. The food was the appropriate temperature this time. The vegetarian macaroni dish was okay. Nothing to write home about. The chicken dish which was stuffed with feta and spinach was also okay but again, nothing I would order again or go out of my way to have. When the bill came we were charged full price for everything. I was not the person paying the bill so I could not complain but had I been paying I would have asked to speak with a manager. I did not deserve to have a server roll his eyes at me when I asked for my food to be re-heated. I'm sorry I know what food tastes like when it has been sitting around for a while after being cooked but I grew up and worked in the restaurant industry. This restaurant is not worth the visit at all. There are plenty of other restaurants in Greek Town, I'd recommend going to one of those.
(1)Edward W.
With all the great places in Greektown this is one to skip. Service was terrible and the food was just ok. We went as a small group of four. The server forgot half the things we asked for. Food was served not the way we wanted. The gyro plate was fairly small for the price and the meat was a little cold. It was a Wednesday night and the place was not crowded at all. No excuses.
(2)Richard J.
Very disappointed. I have been here a handful of times in the past but man things have changed. I used to like Parthenon, but not anymore. My wife and I used a groupon for the five course meal plus a bottle of roditis wine. The Greek salad was a joke. I could have a better Greek salad from Panera..no joke The other food was good (minus the moussaka entree) but my other big issue was that the bottle of wine was definitely watered down. I actually buy roditis wine from binnys (9.99) by the way. The wine they served tasted like a watererd down version. Very dissapointed compared to the past. I think you lost a customer Parthenon
(1)Ryan B.
I was recently entertaining some out of town guests, and our meal at the Parthenon was a huge hit with all. The saganaki is, of course, awesome, and the vegetarians in my group were pleased with their options. I'm a big hummus guy, and I wasn't disappointed. The meal was delicious, the atompsphere was relaxing (I'm sure the flow of table wine helped), and the service was friendly.
(4)Laura P.
A severely disappointing experience. Actually it was more like a Greek Tragedy. Appetizers were wonderful, Saganaki is hard to mess up. And so are meat and cheese pies that are wrapped in phylo. My dining companion ordered a T-bone steak as they were out of the NY strips. (As indicated by the waiter). Great, ordered the T-bone. When it arrived the steak was NOT well-done as he had indicated it to be cooked. It was hot pink on the inside a clear indication of a medium-well. You are probably thinking that is not a big deal and it isn't but unfortunately the steak smelled as if it had been marinated in garbage, shit and blood. The steak was rotten. Completely and disgustingly rotten. The kitchen had literally taken an old steak and cooked it. The manager came over and said, 'We don't specialize in steaks, we specialize in lamb but this steak is overripe.' Who the hell cares? And what the hell is 'overripe'? You had steak on the menu. Why not say that you are out of steak, like the waiter originally did with the NY strip? I had the braised lamb. It was not much more than a fatty chunk of meat that was covered in an unflavorful red sauce that was more grease than red. The rice pilaf was also swimming in this sauce. Disgusting. For $25 an entree, I am sorry but I expect more. Totally and completely unacceptable. And the last thing the manager said to my companion was that 'They didn't do it on purpose.' What didn't you do on purpose? Serve a disgusting rotten steak to someone you thought wouldn't know the difference? Shame on you. Never again. Never again. My hope for this experience is just to NOT have food poisoning.
(1)John A.
My folks took me here for a late lunch or early dinner. I have been going to greek town all my life. Love the greek food. This place surprised me. I thought this was going to be an old stuffy place that has hung on since the 70's but I was wrong. A strong 3 1/2 stars. Atmosphere: Typical greek town. Not as nice as some and better than others. Service: Service was very good. Not great but on mark. Food: Here is where they surprised the heck out of me. I ad the combo plate to try it all. It is my greektown goto selection at almost all of them. The food was excellent. Specifically, the lamb was better than the lamb anywhere else I have been in greektown. Worth checking out. Might raise my score to 4 after another good experience.
(3)Jordan B.
My gf, friend, and I went yesterday night. Once we arrived, we were promptly seated. As we sat down, the waiter placed a loaf of bread on our table--the bread tasted fresh unlike some other Greek restaurants. Our waiter was very knowledgeable when asked for several suggestions. In terms of quality, the food was terrific. My pastitsio, which is similar to lasagna, was very tasty. My gf ordered the special--roasted lamb ribs--which she enjoyed. My friend ordered the Greek staple gyros but was already full from the bread and the Kalamata olives. Also, the portions are huge, even for Chicago. We're actually going to have our leftovers for dinner tonight! For a moderately priced Greektown restaurant, the Parthenon is a very good choice.
(4)Barbara K.
We were bedraggled, tired, and very hungry at 10:45 pm. We were actually looking for a different Greek restaurant that was down the street but this one came up first in our walk. A very nice woman told us that if we stayed there we would be very well taken care of and we could make a meal for the three of us with two entrees to keep the price reasonable. We decided to give it a try. Thank goodness we did! The service was impeccable; the wait staff was very attentive without being intrusive and kept our water glasses filled over and over again. Ambiance: relaxing, quiet Greek music, nice clean murals painted on the walls. Food. Omg. We ordered cod, broiled chicken cut into pieces, and braised veggie plate. Delicious and the meals are generously portioned. Prices very reasonable. The 3 of us got out for $45 including tax and 20% tip. Highly highly recommended.
(5)Li L.
Great staff, very friendly. Enjoyed two nights at the hostel next door and both nights I sat in the bar and enjoyed chatting with the bartender and manager. I'll look forward to a return visit.
(5)Betty H.
Service: 2, did not offer to take back undercooked lamb chops Cleanliness: 5 Food: 2 lamb chops were way undercooked, greek potatoes flavorless
(2)Andrew W.
Please do everything in your power and bring back the old saganaki cheese. I have been a loyal customer for my entire life. The new cheese is like rubber. Please please bring the old stuff back. It's a signature dish in Chicago and should have never been messed with. Thank you
(1)John B.
I can't bring myself to try any other place in Greektown. Always good food and service whether your party is for two or twenty. I will never forget the flavor combination of the home made bread, saganaki, and retsina wine. The only thing I can say that is negative for me is their Dolmades used to be served nice and chilled (which should be the correct way). Now they are served warm with a gravy that tastes like cream of chicken soup. I also miss the spinach cheese pies. The baklava is the best I have tasted. Also love their Greek coffee. Always good to see the same family managing the place for over 20 years - probably much longer. Free valet - but you be nice and tip them, ok? :-)
(4)Malcolm B.
The food is good! Our service was terrible... Please don't make me: go to a bartender, go to the other bar/bartender, then to the valet (who was doing his job, valet-ing cars/not out front) just to finally have another server break change ($40) so I could in theory, prep my group so we didn't need to split the check 8.5 ways (there was a baby with us, to be fair)... Water is also a nice touch while dining :(
(2)Kevin C.
Friday night dinner for four. Free valet is nice but the service was a bit pushy. The place had a funky smell upon entering. The food and experience added up to average and nothing more. Of course you have to order the saganaki which came off as kitschy to me. It was pretty tasty but then again its melty cheese. Out of the lamb dishes our server recommended the rotisseries-roasted lamb but he brought out the spare ribs. It was fine and I didn't feel like sending it back so I ate it. The meat was tender and fell off the bone but lacked appeal. The pile of roasted potatoes on the side were just there and unappetizing. The folks? A combination plate and the market whole fish. They were both pleased with their choices so that was a win for me. My date went with the kotopita. Crisp phyllo filled with chicken, veggies, smothered in a creamy white sauce. "Not as good as when I spent a week in the Mediterranean", she remarked. What a snot. Very large portions for all the dishes. That is always a plus but I just couldn't get past the mediocre flavors. My first trip to Greek town left me underwhelmed. I may have started off at the wrong place. Another adventure is certainly in store to get it right next time. Any suggestions?!
(3)K P.
The food was... boring. Not in step with the times. The service was slow. There are much better options in the area. If you're looking for atmosphere that is lively, you won't find it herem
(2)Ali K.
Great food and service. The flaming cheese was fun! We each got a salad and small gyro and like a lot of the other tables brought back a doggie bag! We were glad we were able to get reservations - the place was packed but the service did not lack!
(4)Allison M.
Loved the service here! Our waiter was so, so friendly and recommended the saganaki, which was fun (if a little cheesy, pardon the pun). My food wasn't outstanding though, I had the vegetarian combo which came with moussaka and spanakopita-- both good!-- as well as the vegetarian pastitsio and some very, very weird-tasting peas and carrots. The spanakopita was the best part, by far... Next time I think I'd get just that!
(3)Reuben H.
Skordalia is my new best friend! After not having any for years, I fell in love with it all over again last night over dinner with some friends (and the Mrs.). Good thing too that we are already friendly with each other, because the amount of overpoweringly delicious garlic and potato spread that was consumed probably had us smelling obnoxious to the neighboring tables, let alone amongst each other. Enjoying that along with some fish roe spread is a good way to start things off. For me, it is the simple things about Greek food that I love so much, and The Parthenon does a good job of sticking with traditions (some all their own) to maintain that timeless Greek-Chicago feel. I had a difficult time deciding what to order, so luckily for around $15 there is a massive amount of food on offer through their Special Traditional Combination dinner plate. Just about everything I was craving is offered on the plate (almost- some grilled octopus would have been a most welcome dessert). Special Traditional Combination (both traditional and special): - Dolmades (always a tasty combination of meat, rice and grape leaves- served with a tangy, lemon sauce) - Moussaka (kind of like pasta-less lasagna- eggplant and meat sauce cut from a dish that includes bechamel) - Pastitsio (another lasagna-like dish, but this time with pasta- stringy pasta, not sheets or layers of pasta) - Roast Lamb (really delicious here!) - Potatoes (another simple delight that if I knew ahead of time- I would have just ordered this along with the skordalia... braised to perfection- outstanding!) - Vegetable (green peas and carrots, not sure if that changes or if that is standard with this dish) Everything was delicious, but as I said before, the simple things really stood out. Roast lamb slices, braised potatoes and the delectable smear of garlic and potato known as skordalia have me dreaming of an entire meal of that next time around. Oh, and Saginaki was invented here. Yet another "traditional" thing many think of that is actually a Chicago invention. Much like Cracker Jack, the Ferris Wheel, Chicken Vesuvio, the skyscraper, and CLASS.
(4)Josh P.
My wife's family has been coming here for years at Christmas time, and they are so accommodating. The food is wonderful, the wait staff is super helpful. Nothing but great things to say about this place.
(5)Garrett T.
One of our favorite restaurants in the city, these guys have been doing it right since my now-65 year old dad lived and worked in the here. They do it low key, with silverware that you would see in a high school cafeteria and "wine glasses" that would be more suitable to some 2% milk, but that's the charm of this place. Good food, simply done. Easily the best and most authentic Greek in Greek town, don't let anyone tell you different. My perfect meal: Bottle of retsina and a shot of ouzo to start Saganaki (they invented it) Patstitsio or moussaka Family style w spit toasted pork or lamb, both are exceptional The service is friendly and the rooms are spacious, truly a must-visit spot.
(5)Danielle S.
Wish I could give negative stars. Who cares what the food even tastes like (and it's average) when their staff might be the rudest people on the planet earth. There are so many amazing restaurants in Greektown; this one isn't even worth your time.
(1)Cristie F.
They say everything is bigger in Texas, but personally I think that applies to Greek restaurants too. Big portions, big families, large amounts of flowing booze, an "OOPA!" every couple minutes, lots of loud laughter and conversations...you get the point. So, if you're looking for a quaint little spot to have a nice, quiet, romantic dinner, then the Parthenon is not for you. My experience was rather lackluster. However, I blame that primarily on our server. ((He brought on big attitude...imagine that...)). Why is it that when you whip out a Groupon or coupon of some sorts, servers immediately tune out? Not to mention I received a good amount of attitude and up charges when asking for accommodations due to food allergies and intolerances. The food itself was a mixed bag. Some things were amazing and others left me wishing I was elsewhere. My biggest complaint is the abundance of olive oil used in everything. Even olive oil can make a dish fatty and greasy... Let's review what made the cut, and what didn't... The good: - Navy bean soup. Amazing. - Flaming Saganaki - Cheezy, boozey, and delicious. - Mini Spanakopita pies - Pastitsio - Meaty, cheesey, creamy pasta. Yum. - Chicken Breast Shishkebob - Baklava The forgettables: - The hummus ((I'm still convinced we were brought the eggplant spread)) - Dolmades - Way tooooooo much meat, not enough rice. ((Unless that's your thing)) - Gyros - Dry and flavorless... - Greek Salad - Death by salad dressing. Overall the Parthenon left me with that "meh" feeling. Would I go back? Sure, I'd definitely give it another go around. Perhaps a server with a little less 'tude and more flexibility would turn a low 3-star review into a solid 4.
(3)Bob M.
Never been to a Greek restaurant before, so wasn't sure what to expect. We had a large group from our conference - a banquet room to ourselves. The food was fantastic and the people were great. Wonderful atmosphere. The flaming cheese was amazing as was everything else on the menu. We had the family style #2 which had many different courses. We went on a Thursday night, and the place was pretty busy. Highly recommended.
(5)N S.
Not busy ,day after Xmas,, octopus grilled, very tender. triropitakia (cheese pies) excellent. Okra and peas, excellent.. all I need for business lunch is fast, so we can return to wk. Now here is why I wrote the review; Greek chicken OK,, not as good as last week. The Fresh Snapper, was terrible, smelled fishy.. mentioned it on the way out.. the owner offered to replace next time, that was nice of him.Unable to finish, thought it was unsafe. so, that 's why the two stars .And its coming from a physician who knows fresh fish..!!!! Also it took a very long time for the the fish to be cooked, and it was not busy, also getting the check took a long time.. Overall its a hit or miss. Not the gold standard of Greek Isles.
(2)Becca G.
Review based solely on service since the food was adequate for the price range. Server although authentically Greek did not know what pasteurized cheese was, if you work in the food industry this is common thing. He not only didn't know but couldn't understand what I was saying when I asked if the cheese was made in house. We then waited 15 mins for the check while he was MIA. However he hovered while I was calculating the tip and scooped up the bill before I put the pen down.
(2)Travis K.
From when you come in, you almost feel like maybe you just happen to have some Greek relatives and they finally invited you over for dinner. The hostess was luvely and warm, the server was quite helpful with the menu choices and all of the food was quite delicious. The flaming cheese was excellent as well as the beets appetizer, braised lamb and suckling pig. My date and I very much enjoyed the experience.
(5)Allison B.
I would have liked to have put no stars. I have been a Groupon customer for years and have had a lot of great experiences. I have also discovered a lot of restaurants or services that I would use again and again. The Parthenon was by far the worst experience I have had using a Groupon. From the second we sat down at our table, I felt as if we were being punished for using a Groupon. I understand that they were busy and that mostly everyone at their establishment was using their Groupon that night because it was expiring, but there is no excuse to treat a customer badly. The waiter made it very clear from the beginning how annoyed he was that we were using a Groupon. On top of that the food was horrible. I had checked the exclusions of the Groupon and it said that the entree was only worth $17.45. The meal that I wanted was $18.25. When the waiter came to take out order and I asked if I could pay the difference in order to get the meal that I wanted. He looked at me and responded as if I had asked him the most insulting question in the world. He responded with that all Groupon customers are the same and that I was not special. I could have the dinner I wanted but I would have to pay the full amount. I felt assaulted. I then asked the waiter to come back because I didn't know what I want and he walked off with no response. Needless to say, the meal that I ended up ordering was tasteless and didn't eat it. It could have been because I was so angry but probably not. Then it came time for the bill and he dropped off our check and pointed to the full amount and stated, "You have to tip me on this amount" and left. I have ALWAYS tipped on the full amount when I use a Groupon but in this case, I tipped him on the tax and left very upset. I will never go here again.
(1)Elaine M.
This place is a great value. Portions are large and reasonably priced. We began our meal with an order of the MINI SPANAKOPITA PIES! Easily the tastiest part of our meal. The order came out hot and delicious. The inside all gooey and the outside nice and flaky. Then we had the egglemon soup. It was cozy and comforting on a cool spring evening. Followed by the Greek salad. The salad was okay but the dressing could have had more flavor to it. Our main course was the ROTISSERIE-ROASTED LAMB. The flavor was good but the cuts on the plates were inconsistent. There was a lot of bone on my plate but mostly none on my husbands. To finish we had the BAKLAVA. It was good but I have had better. It was a bit dry and needed more of the gooey honey sauce to make it great! The Parthenon restaurant is easy to get to, just a couple of blocks off of route 90/94 and has complimentary valet parking (although we exited at just the wrong time and had to wait for our car for bit as there was a line).
(4)Sarah C.
I went here on a groupon deal. The food was great, however the customer service was terrible. The waiter was not personable and seemed annoyed that we had a groupon. He did not attend to us much throughout the meal and we waited a long time for the check. The thing that upset me most was the fact that he told us what the total balance was and that we had to tip on the total balance. We left our tip on the table and as we were leaving, he stopped us to ask us where the tip was. It was extremely rude and awkward. I will never go back nor recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Vina O.
I am afraid I have to demote this place to two stars. I ordered their gyros there recently and it was much dryer than I remembered. My husband and I also shared their shrimp and scallops dish and the scallops were very oily and limp. My girlfriend also got food poisoning from undercooked pork. The extra star is because service is still friendly, as always. Unfortunately, good service is not enough for me to return again. My Greek cravings will now be satisfied at Greek Islands or Pegasus.
(2)Amy T.
I think this is the first time I went to an actual Greek restaurant for food. I usually go to artopolis bakery and cafe that is closer to Jackson. Right at the door is the host who will seat you. They are dressed distinctly. What captured me was the roasting lamb at the window. (not to mention the huge craving for meat). I came in with my friend and we had some awesome lamb spaghetti and the hot appetizer. Sorry, I forgot the names. The appetizer platter for one has one of each sample and kebabs. I was pretty amazed how the meat were so tender. The same goes for the lamb. It was juicy and had the taste I was craving for. The place had soft music that fits the mood. Lighting was not bad either. It was in between romantic and well lit. The decor got me amazed as well. I thought I was sitting outdoors for a minute. They had what I would call "clothkins" that were neatly folded on the plate. One thing was the servers weren't as attentive. We told them we were in a hurry, and it seemingly took quite some time for us to depart. I still had a good experience here. The serve tried to recommend some food for us as well. They were really helpful. I guess the price is reasonable, but I wish they were negotiable. The lamb leg spaghetti price threw me off... Not a bad place overall.
(4)Dana R.
I have been here a few times for dinner with my wife, and also with my in-laws, and each and every time I have been here I have left satisfied. All three times I have been here I have had the same waiter named Stasis, and he has always done a fantastic job making us feel as though we were eating at his dining room table. One of the times that we ate dinner here, my wife and I ordered a separate entrée, and the other two times we ate family-style. The food, especially the gyros and tzatziki sauce were especially good. The desserts on the other hand, were always the highlight of the dinner. If you are in the mood to get a large amount of food at a relatively cheap price, this is a good place for you. Besides being a Greektown staple, the old world charm is worth at least one visit if you are considering dining in this neighborhood. If you are, definitely ask for Stasis, he is the best waiter they have guaranteed!
(4)Deb H.
Had a great dining experience here -- amazing bread right off the bat, good service, flaming saganaki, and a wonderful entree of spanaki. The only thing that stops me from giving five stars instead of four is that I was less than impressed by my rice side to the entree.
(4)Linneh M.
Came here because of the groupon. The amount of food for lves than 50 was amazing. They were nice to offer us an alternative when we asked since the groupon came with wine. The waiters re kind to keep coming around and checking how we were, but too much. There were many waiters cominf around and it confused us, but there were lot of people. The portions are large and fulfilling, but dessert was meh. Great experience, but nothing worth going back again.
(4)Steve A.
This was a fantastic recommendation! Why? Atmosphere was upbeat, vigorous, positive, crowded but family-ish, overall an 8.5 of 10. Staff was frenetic but super friendly, helpful, ethnic, happy, overall a 10 out of 10!! Food, this is where they shine!! Tons of selection and all fantastic!!! Great prices. We got a family meal where you pay $XX per person, there were about 3 appetizers, salad, soup, 2 entrees, several sides and 2 desserts,....it was only about $20 per person and everything was flavorful, authentic and delicious! Highly recommend!! If I lived in Chicago this would be a regular spot, for sure!
(5)Claire S.
Absolutely the worst lamb chop ever!! They were full of fat, with hardly any meat. They should be embarassed to serve such awful meat. Otherwise dinner good and service good as well. I don't like to give negative reviews, but this food was so bad, I felt compelled to comment.
(2)Diana C.
Went to the Parthenon when I was in town helping my boyfriend move to Chicago, and I'm definitely a fan. The decor is a little dated, if not charmingly cliche, but it adds to the overall atmosphere. It's great that their menu features a lot of gluten free items (without making major substitutions) so my boyfriend (who has Celiac) was able to enjoy an authentic Greek meal that reminded him of his mom's home cooking. I ordered spanakopita for myself (not being gf) and I was in heaven when the waiter brought them over. They were piping hot fresh from the kitchen, with crispy phyllo dough and that wonderful creamy spinach and cheese center. The appetizer could have been a meal for me, but I stopped myself from eating everything so I could enjoy my entree. My bf ordered dolmades and I can't even remember if I managed to snag one off the plate before he ate them all - they were apparently THAT good. Broiled octopus & rice pilaf for my boyfriend - already tipsy from ouzo, he enjoyed the perfect texture of the octopus & pilaf. I had the Greek style chicken & potatoes - simple but delicious, with just the right amount of seasoning. The potatoes were a little overdone/oily, but nothing a little bread couldn't fix. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in Chicago.
(4)Amanda K.
We specified gluten allergy and our meal was delivered on a bun and with a roll on the side. In addition to the meal being completely incorrect, the beef was absolutely horrible. I think we could have received better beef at White Castle! Very disappointed!
(1)Mary C.
Had the groupon deal, dinner for two. Loved the wine. I had the stuffed chicken breast which I loved. My husband had the pork chops which he thought were okay. We had the fried sausages and potato garlic dip as an appetizer. Both were good. For dessert we had the tiramisu and chocolate cake. It was PACKED. We had a very friendly waiter who helped make the night special!
(4)Tiffany S.
I used my groupon which was a fantastic deal!! I came here a few months ago with my friend and I have a nice visit.The waiter was very fast and friendly. The food was good...The soup could have been a little tastier, but it was alright. Everything else was fabulous. I liked the flaming cheese the best. I will be coming back here.
(4)Meredith B.
Came here for lunch with two friends last Saturday, and we had a nice time, but sadly going to take things down a star. I had some coffee and ordered some appetizers to make a meal. I got the Greek salad, chickpea soup, and taramosalata (pink fish roe dip). The dip was good like last time, though not as strongly flavored as I recall, but I went to town on that stuff with the sesame seed bread from the basket on the table. The chickpea soup was just silly. It was literally broth and chickpeas. Not a thing else. Homemade broth, I think, but still. There were just like, 50 chickpeas sitting in it. What? I expected other veggies, a partial puree, ANYTHING but chickpeas floating in broth. If i want that for lunch, I will pour some broth into a bowl and open a can of chickpeas into it. I'm not saying it tasted bad, but it was totally ridiculous. Greek salad was okay - too much lettuce, not enough other goodies, but the olives and big hunk of salty gorgeous feta definitely elevated it. Bummer is that my friend who came a little late ordered a chicken salad - we all heard her - and they brought an Aegean salad out instead. Easy mistake, she corrected him, he took it away. And he didn't bring back the chicken salad for AGES. The Greek empire could've risen and fallen in the time it took him to bring the right salad. I seriously hate this at restaurants - if there's a problem with the food, take it away and bring back a replacement ASAP. No excuses, especially when you're not busy! That needs to take priority over whatever else the kitchen is doing. By the time they brought it out, she had to wolf it down so we could make our 3 pm appointment in the neighborhood. She ordered the salad around 2 pm. The whole thing took that long. Silly. I had nibbles of the spanakopitakia and it was rich and creamy inside, and my friend really liked her chicken salad. I think I need to order food-food here next time, not appetizers, to judge more thoroughly. That soup was seriously just goofy. I think the food here is generally good, but the service could stand to be improved for sure!
(3)Gina K.
Ah Chicago, who does gyros better than you. I walked in to this restaurant and i seriously felt like I was walking onto a set from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Super warm greetings from everyone. It's in your face hospitality and like the movie, lots and lots of food. The lunch plate is more than enough food but it's tradition for us to indulge in Saganaki, flaming goat cheese. yelp.com/biz_photos/kybu… Rumour has it that the Parthenon was the one to start with the blazing cheese. The warmth from the flash flame can felt from across the room. It amazes me that such a huge fire can be put out with a puny lemon wedge as shown in the picture. I'm almost tempted to try extinguishing the next fire with a lemon. Well almost... Even though they were super busy with a large tour bus sized party in the other room and large tables in the main dining room, service from our server and kitchen did not suffer and that a big deal during a lunch time rush. Good service, decent food, add the time saved from the free valet service and the Parthenon becomes one of my Chicago gems. Ef-kari-shto Thank you Parthenon. =)
(4)Sarah T.
I went with a group of 4 on a Sunday night and the place was packed. The worst service I've ever had & our server barely spoke English. The food came out cold and they could have cared less, never again!
(1)Jacob K.
The service was excellent. The groupon gets 2 people way more food than we could ever eat. The house wine is a light sweet red (similar to zinfandel). Hummus and zucchini were great apps. Dip the zucchini in the hummus. Then a small soup and salad, both Greek. Many of the nicer entree items are not available with the groupon. Do not be deterred! The gyro platter is the way to go (not like fast food gyro, much better). Then 2 desserts, baklava is a must.
(4)Alan R.
For the restaurant that claims to have created Saganaki, I was disappointed in Parthenon. The Saganaki was definitely the best part of the meal, but I felt like everything else was pretty average. The gyros were dried out and everything else was just pretty average.
(3)Loretta P.
My DOP and I came here on a midweek evening in May. Our server was personable, and helpful. We had Flaming Saganaki (Pretty tasty kasseri, until it starts to cool off and get rubbery), Egg Lemon Soup (I actually enjoyed this uniquely tangy, creamy sensation!), Greek Salad (Not so good: bitter iceberg lettuce, too much oregano, and cheapy little cubes of feta), and Pastitsio (This was a winner, made even more tasty by the the extra creamy/tomato-ey/gravy/sauce stuff the busser brought me!). The bread was your standard slices of french bread, but warm, with butter, it made my night! Opaaa!
(3)Jeannie A.
Met a few friends for dinner here on a Wednesday night. We had a Restaurant.com certificate which gave you $75 off of $112.50. Great deal!!! There were 5 of us, so we knew we'd spend the money - and you can use it on drinks. I sat at the bar while I waited for my friends to show up. A bit uncomfortable as the people around me all were speaking Greek and there was one crazy-guy at the bar getting very loud. But then he bought me a drink, so all was cool :) The house red wine was awful. We ordered the saganaki, meatballs, and spinach cheese pies for appetizers - and they were all very good. I had the combo plate for dinner and none of it was very good, so I would not recommend. Two friends go the braised lamb - one had a good cut of the lamb, and the other was completely not good. Strange. The other friends ordered this shrimp/scallop dish that looked amazing. I would try that next time for sure. Had a few of the oouzo mixed drinks where were strong. Didn't have dessert. I will say that service was GREAT. Our waiter was fantastic. The place was empty and we were there from 5pm - 8pm. It's a good place to go with a group, but I don't think the food is all that great. Too many other places to eat at in Greektown.
(3)Duncan S.
This is one place where the expression 'you could do worse', would not be used as it would be hard to be possible. We had a group of 25, one server who was surly, forgetful, disinterested and incompetent. The drink service was non existent, with the wine in tiny shot like glasses and the waiter offering red or white as the selections (both barely drinkable and from a box). The soup egg, lemon and rice soup was bland and lukewarm. When all the food was finally served after plenty of comedy and plates going back, I was left with no main. The waiter asked me if I was eating? Huh? Yes the gyros I ordered. You do remember telling me after enquiring about the difference in price on the menu was the children's serve versus the adult serve. The gyros were just OK and the pita bread was stale. My wife had baked chicken that was over cooked and dry and the salads were made with the care of a prison cafeteria. The one pro; valet parking and the décor is kind of interesting old school style. I sure scratch my head when seeing places like this in Chicago attracting big crowds. Maybe the sentiment overrides the need to have good food and service.
(1)Kevin B.
I don't recall ordering an entire farm, but I do believe I got it. The Parthenon's Athenian Chicken special was by far the largest pile of meat I had ever dared to take on. I think they have to contract with a different farm for each entree, there's no way there were any chickens left from wherever they came from. We had the flaming cheese that everyone else talks about in their reviews, and everyone yelled "OPA!" and all that, but seriously, the meat. If you like heaping piles of meat upon meat, well-spiced meat at that, The Parthenon is your place. Guys (or ladies who love eating mounds of meat), take a date here. You'll look cultured, and you can act surprised when all that meat comes out. Act like you don't really want that much, but it would be a shame for any to go to waste...
(4)Risto D.
Great saganaki Egglemon soup that tasted like watered down mashed potatoes with rice Good fresh greek salad Overcooked roasted leg of lamb Waay too salty (steamed) roasted potatoes Undersalted broasted potatoes Overcooked lightly seasoned very rubbery tasting pan fried calamari with dipping tomato sauce that didnt taste like absolutely anything Sesame bread that was good Even the tsatsiki sauce that my wife asked for on the side was tasteless We had to wait such a long time between the salad and the entree. The tables that got seated after us got their entrees before we did. I asked for my potatoes to go along with my wifes calamaris buy only got the calamari. And that was after waiting pf 20min for someone to come and check up on us. Terrible service. Not going back
(1)Liz M.
We enjoyed the Parthenon last night. The Saganaki, Egg lemon soup, and Salad were all tasty . I had Chicken Spanaki, which is chicken breast filled with spinach & feta. The portion was large and tasty and I took some home. My husband had the combination plate, which was a nice full plate of Greek specialties. The wine Roditis is nice, not too sweet, or too dry. For dessert we enjoyed the chocolate cake and Baklava. The atmosphere was crowded and happy. We didn't wait too long, and weren't rushed out either.
(4)George R.
Free valet parking at restaurants in Greek Town? Flaming Saganaki? Sign me up. Came here with the groupon for a 5 course meal for two: two appetizers, two soups, two salads, two entrees, two desserts, and a bottle of house wine. The flamaing saganaki, eggplant spread, and salads were really good. The wine was light, and my girlfriend really enjoyed it (good thing I was driving). The soup was decent, but kind of salty and heavy. I thought my entree lacked flavor, although it was decent, but my girlfriend seemed to really enjoy her entree. The service was good, but a bit slow when we initially sat down. Our waiter was kind of goofy unintentionally, but we found it fun and endearing. He did hold a plate of cheese while setting it on fire for us after all.
(4)Jen R.
Been coming here for years. Bring your friends and enjoy the experience. Flaming Cheese, Pastistio, Spanokopita oh my. Greek wines a plenty. Family owned & operated. Check them out. Opah!!
(4)Drew F.
THE BEST place I have ever eaten. The cheese they set on fire is to die for. The spaghetti and lamb, gyro, broccoli and pasta, all excellent dishes. And it isn't even that expensive. I go here whenever I get the chance.
(5)Colleen C.
This place is the best! The atmosphere is beautiful, reminiscent of the city of Santorini. I went for my 21st birthday, and while my family was away the bartender poured my sister and I shots of Jack understanding that the exchange had to go quickly. Our waiter was a buff version of John Stamos, and had a sharp sense of humor. The rose was cool and crisp, and the dessert was to die for! Anyone who eats in Greektown knows that when you go out you get fed until you can't see your feet. It was a great experience with great food. I recommend the saganaki appetizer, and the galaktoboureku.
(5)Tim J.
My first visit to this place in sixteen years since I was in college and my parents thought this was haute. This visit was for someone's preference in our party, and we were a party of six. Same loud environment. Terrible garish, sophmoric mural style paintings on every damn wall. Loved the family and b-list celeb photos. Hated the self indulgent magazine and newspaper food reviews mounted and modpoged. Ok. so just a so so interior. Then came the torture chairs. They were wooden and covered with vinyl. Half way through dinner service, my ass was killing me. Service was not horrible at first...but I knew things took a turn when everyone's food came out but me and one other in my party. We both had gyros. This confused me because gyros are pre-cooked and waiting on a spit. Not a huge deal, but nine minutes of people awkwardly waiting for me to get food coulda been avoided. No, come to think of it, bullshit. This is inexcusable. A party of seven can get their food at the same damn time at a McDonalds... Later, on my way back from the restroom, which I had to get to by walking through a bar..., I slowed my walk so as to not bump into a lady and a waiter carrying three empty pitchers slammed into my back from behind me and almost knocked me off my feet. He screamed, "Oooooh!" and didn't look at me, didn't stop or slow down and certainly didn't apologize for ramming pitchers into my back. Now this was just inexcusable. No apology, I should have left there in an ambulance. IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH...NOW THE FOOD... Four servings of their signature, flaming cheese was ok. Spanokopita was too wet with too much spinach. Feta and olive plate was the best with lots of oil to sop up with plentiful and yummy sesame bread. Entres were brought and the waiter had the poor sense to argue with our guest of honor about his side of veggies vs what he ordered, which was rice....instead of simply apologizing and getting him rice! he actually raised his voice and said, "no no you have the vegetables". I sat across from him. he ordered something unusual and I listed to him carefully. He specifically said "rice pilaf". No big deal, right? just bring a little side plate of rice...but nooooo......we have to argue about the fucking rice with the guest that I am trying to impress. Just fucking great. Our check was $240.00!!! What would have a side. I could not believe it. I was extremely embarrassed. Greek Chicken was ok, but undercooked and too oily....and several of our party mentioned that the dish was better at Omega or Olympic star (kinda dive greek places in the burbs). Gyros were paper thin slices and cooked into meat potato chips. If this is good in your eyes, so be it. Not for me. Weirdly, they brought one plate of pita and one large plate of tzatziki sauce...so the other dude that ordered gyros was all the way at the end of the table from me. So an awkward passing of these condiments back and forth ensued. Food taste was ok. When we finally got our food. Then the service took another bad turn. A party of 16 was seated next to us and we became invisible to our elderly waiter. Dessert was totally screwed up. We got an extra of the "carmel cream" which turned out to be store bought flan....and then we waited twenty minutes for the plain single scoop of ice cream and another 20 for the check which we thought was correct. After the fact we found out that the other gyro guy and I actually got brought the small portion of gyro, which should have been 8.95. Instead we were charged for the large portion for $12.95. This should be a world class restaurant. Certainly the prices are pretty high. I would expect decent food and better service. I would have rather gone to Nero's Gyros. I am reminded of that teeny bopper song my grand daughter listens to...."you and I...are Never Ever...Getting back together..."!!!
(1)Arun A.
Went to this place before a bulls game and i always wanted to try Greek food but i was very disappointed. I'll start this with environment, I had a group of people screaming and drunk sitting behind me again they were drunk at 6 o clock. Now the food, Lets just say it was OK and it won't make me go back to that place.
(2)Amy H.
I had such high hopes for the Parthenon, but I was underwhelmed after reading their awesome story and rave reviews on the website. Sadface. A super sweet guy brought me here on a first date, and I was excited to be WOWed by both him and this restaurant, but only he ended up WOWing me. PARKING: Free valet!! Sooo awesome! Sets up a dinner date nicely. SERVICE: This aspect of my experience underwhelmed me the most. Our waiter was not very attentive, and whenever he lit up the Saganaki, and said OPA, his face and voice showed that he had done it 1000 times already...which he probably has, but it was my first time! He kinda killed the excitement of the blazing fire for me. FOOD: I originally wanted the Vegetarian Special Combination, but they didn't have pastitsios (booo), so I went for the Vegetarian Moussaka. I regret my choice, as it was just too intensely flavored for me. Too salty. However, my date loved it, and I loved his Sea Scallops, so he was super sweet in basically trading dishes with me =) Sighh the scallops...so plump and flavored just right. Yummy. Oh and of course we had the Saganaki, which was heavenly. I definitely wouldn't eat it too often, though, because it's oily...I thought about how many extra minutes I would have to hit the elliptical for after each bite. AMBIANCE: Love the decor! I wish we had been seated in the room with the beautiful murals of calming Greece scenes. Maybe next time. I'll definitely come back for the decor, Saganaki, and Sea Scallops...hopefully I'll have a more enthusiastic waiter next time. =)
(3)Mister M.
This is my favorite spot in Greektown. I find the atmosphere and food preparation far superior to Greek Islands. The Parthenon actually invented Saganaki. This is not a traditional Greek dish, but invented right here at The Parthenon in Chicago. What you get here is a more traditional Greek experience than you will get at Greek Islands. The food tastes like has been prepared for you, instead of taken out of the food warmers like the Islands does it. Service can be lacking at times, but the food generally makes up for it. Reasonably priced. Greek salads are wonderful Moussaka is terrific. Housemade Gyros are fantastic. Lamb dishes shine-if you are lucky you will be there when the lamb comes off the spit and gets paraded around the restaurant in a celebration of love for the animal and it's sacrifice. Reasonably priced wines served in traditional little glasses like they would do in Greece. If you are unfamiliar with Greek wine, you will be pleasantly surprised. Try a bottle of Naoussa Boutari for under $30.00 and the whole table will be happy.
(5)Adam R.
Our recent experience at Parthenon was brought on by finding a great online deal but the experience was only average. We arrived right on time for a 7pm reservation, but waited 30 minutes before we were seated. Once at a table, we fell into the "service abyss" that exists somewhere in every restaurant, waiting another 15 minutes or so before a waiter came to start taking drink orders. When we went to order, the theme of the evening (at least for what we wanted) was that they were out of it. I have no issue with a restaurant wanting to keep their food fresh and thus running out at the end of a busy day, but we were not closing down the restaurant that night and I felt the missing menu items became excessive. Food was slow to arrive, but everything we ended up ordering tasted great aside from a couple more issues: a chicken entree was incredibly dry, a pork entree was incredibly tough, and two lamb entrees arrived cold. Again, we definitely enjoyed the taste of everything but stars were lost in execution here. As for atmosphere, we felt quite cramped when waiting for a table. There's almost nowhere for waiting parties to be, so everyone's just crowding into the entry or bar and running into each other. Decorations were as to be expected, but needed a refresh. The carpeting in our area was beyond worn out and the decorations and even the walls were covered in dust as if they hadn't been cleaned in a while. It was definitely a bit disconcerting. Many things about this experience would have lead me to rating this restaurant two stars, but in all that happened everyone we encountered was incredibly friendly and apologetic about any issues. I may try this restaurant again for that reason, but probably won't be rushing back
(3)Laura E.
I was here last weekend for a family reunion. About 25-30 people attended so we had the private room. Everything from the flaming cheese to the lemon rice soup to the spanakopita was great. We had a bunch of appetizers but unfortunately I can't remember exactly what they were but they were good. So good that I was full by the time the main entrees came!
(4)Yolanda S.
Absolutely Love this place!! I have been eating here since I was a kid! We come every year for my mom's birthday and we usually get the family style dinner. You can't go wrong with any of the food! The gyros are authentic, the potatoes melt in your mouth, and the saginaki has you yelling Opa because it is just that Awesome!!
(5)Liz J.
We visited The Parthenon based on a recommendation by a Greek local we encountered elsewhere in Greektown. We weren't quite ready for dinner, and only wanted drinks and an appetizer, but they didn't seem too happy about that. We ordered one appetizer for three people, but they tried to get us to each order our own. It was late in the afternoon, and they were prepping for dinner, and they clearly wanted us to either stay for a full meal, or not be there at all. It wasn't a very friendly atmosphere.
(3)Meg G.
I have really enjoyed my many experiences at the Parthenon, my family has been going there for about 50 years. I am actually hosting my rehearsal dinner at the Parthenon this summer. I feel they have very reasonable prices for such large parties. I wouldn't order a steak(I can't say if its good or bad since i have never had one there) but i would say the braised lamb is delicious and appetizers are to die for. Some places over salt the Saganaki, but the Parthenon has it just right!
(5)Julie D.
We are long time residents of Chicago who dine out regularly - I personally, have not had a worse meal at a restaurant - ever. We took our 11 year old daughter who is working on a school project relating to Greece, with the hopes to inspire her a bit with the cuisine. To start with, the place was empty - we thought because it was off peak (2pm on Sunday). Then we found out why: Unfriendly service - the place was empty, but we were rushed to place our order. Drink order was wrong, and the waiter insulted my daughter by picking a napkin up from the table and saying "is this yours?" Simply because she didn't have it on her lap yet. All of that aside, the salad I ordered tasted like it was dressed with cheap oil and water, completely tasteless and unappealing. Then the entrees came - only two - we waited another 10 minutes for my dish. The gyros was like sliced shoe leather, completely dry, served on a pile of plain raw onions. The tzatziki sauce (which is one of my favorites) was a tasteless lump on a plate that looked like cottage cheese - not resembling a sauce in any way. The calamari was fresh (the best I can say) but VERY greasy, and the sauce it was served with, was a reasonably good herbed marinara, but cold, should have been served warm - it was not a cocktail sauce. My husband said he liked his vegetarian Moussaka, as he tried to save the day! My daughter's pasta was enough for a family of 4, but was scantly dressed with a redish sauce that tasted like apple pie, very strong on the cinnamon, served with parmesan cheese? Very strange! The place has seen better days, I'm sure. After what was a very unenjoyable family lunch, I conclude, that this restaurant at best is for the tourist passing through, with no repeat business expected. It is NOT for the discerning local who knows the difference and has many choices, or for anyone who knows good food. We were never asked how the food was! This is the very first I compelled to write a review because the experience was so despicable! This place needs to shut its doors!
(1)Noemi P.
Sat night party of 6. Took my new GREEK inlaws there for their first visit to Chicago.Would definitely not come back here. The best thing was probably the Tzatziki and the taramosalata. Our orders were messed up. drinks as well. I ordered the pastitsio and it was cold and bland. My party's food was cold in the center. Kinda tasted microwaved or reheated. I'm not an expert at greek food but my new family is and their take on it wasn't very good.
(1)Taha R.
IMPORTANT!!! If you have a Groupon, DO NOT go here. I REPEAT, DO NOT go here. DO NOT PURCHASE THE GROUPON!! This place was a horrible experience. Almost every review if not every review for this restaurant by people who used a groupon was negative. Please do not purchase the groupon! We are vegetarians and we thought there would be some decent choices on the menu for us even with the groupon. Now one reviewer below mentioned that she felt like she was being punished for using a groupon. The same happened to my brother and I. As soon as we pulled out our groupon, the waiter completely changed his attitude. Throughout the evening, we could barely get a hold of him. Every other server was around to answer any question we had. This guy dissapeared as soon as we showed him our Groupon. We told him we were vegetarians and he told us "I'll take care of you". He didn't offer any suggestions. Just gave us our food accordingly. We were served salad for our cold appetizer and hummus and eggplant dip for our hot appetizers. The salad was unbelievably oily. The hummus and eggplant dip were actually pretty decent. Now for our entree since we are vegetarians, he offered us only two vegetarian options and we asked him if there was anything else he just asked us what we wanted. I just had a plain spaghetti with marinara. Now the desert, I had a chocolate cake which was very very good! He never asked us for refills on our drinks and he came by handing us our check and saying he tipped him self. We looked and the dude tipped himself $17. The only reason I gave this one star is because the desert was fantastic and on second thought the eggplant dip was great. But I really wanted to give the restaurant 0 stars. Like I stressed dont bother if you have a groupon. NOT WORTH IT!
(1)Linda G.
We have been going to Parthenon now on a monthly basis. Definitely the best food. We compared it to Greek Islands. The food is better at Parthenon. Greek Islands has a better entrance and nice tile and a good bar set up but for food, Parthenon wins. Try the Lamb with dill and artichokes. and remember FREE PARKING in Greek Town!!! Old Town should try that.
(5)Kenneth R.
My Big Fat Greek Conference Banquet was held at the Parthenon. Plusses: fine Greektown ambiance and huge quantities of food. Negatives: the dishes were really kinda mediocre (reminiscent of a college dining hall, let's say) and the banquet seemed to last forever. After over two hours sitting at the table, I excused myself on the grounds that I needed my beauty sleep. For all I know, the banquet is still going on.
(2)Gail K.
We visited using a Travelzoo Deal last weekend with another couple. It was a good deal for a lot of food - 1 shared appetizer, Greek salad, lemon rice soup, entrée and dessert. The problem was that the entrée choice was limited to those below $15.75 so if you wanted something more expensive you had to pay the full price for it not just the difference above $15.75. Of course we chose Saganaki for the appetizer as The Parthenon invented it. The salad was fine but they brought the soup too soon and it cooled off while I was still working on the salad but was good none the less. I wanted to try something different for an entrée so ordered the kotopita (chicken and vegis in phyllo dough with a cream sauce) and it was very good. I experimented again ordering custard in plyllo dough for dessert and didn't care for it. I should have ordered the Tiramasu or chocolate mousse cake like others at the table. Portions are large so we all had leftovers to take home.
(4)Amy A.
I sooooo want to give Parthenon 5 stars, but it was just shy of a perfect score due to a few minor issues here and there. Overall it was fabulous and I would definitely come back. Like the rest of the bazillion diners last night, we had a Travelzoo voucher for a 5- course dinner for two people. I did not notice any less service or attention due to the voucher, but the restaurant was just very crowded, so service was slow. Also, the room that we were in echoed, so when we were sat next to a party of 8, it got fairly loud. Anyway, onto the food... First we shared an appetizer and we chose the Saganaki. Who doesn't love flaming cheese??? It was flavorful, fun presentation, and just downright delcious. 'Nough said. Second came the Egglemon soup. It was delicious. For those people that are gluten-free, the menu indicates that this item is one of them. Score! The only thing I would have tweaked was maybe add a tiny bit more lemon, but this one was tasty and appealed to the masses. Third came the Greek salad. Again, so yummy. Normally I am not a fan of Greek salad because they are always underseasoned and too greasy or too vinegary. This one was the right combination of everything put together. Fourth were the main entrees. This is where they fell short. We ordered 2 different entrees: Special Traditional Combination - I loved half of it and really hated the other half. Here are the components broken down piece by piece: Dolmades - Great. Flavorful, perfectly balanced. Moussaka - Too much bechamel. It tasted like flour and nothing but flour. Pastitsio - Again, too much bechamel. Tasted like flour and I could not taste anything else. Roast Lamb - AMAZING. Perfectly done. Not gamey. Not chewy. Just great flavor and texture. Poatoes - Great. A tiny bit tangy, and tiny bit roasted, perfectly fork tender. Just really nicely done. Vegetables of Peas - Good, nothing to write home about, but fine. Chicken Breast Spanaki - This is the broiled skinless breast of chicken stuffed with spinach and feta cheese. Poorly executed. The chicken was extremely overcooked and dry. Overuse of the feta on dry chicken is not a good combination. It basically tasted like a salty piece of cardboard. We also ordered braised potatoes to go with it, but they brought out the rice pilafi. It took awhile for the entrees to come out, so we didn't send it back. Rice was good, but we would have preferred the potatoes. Fifth came dessert. We ordered the crema caramel which is like a flan. FABULOUS. It was light, tasty, and perfect way to wash away the disappointing entrees. We also got ice cream which is standard. No complaints. Beverages - be careful as some are non-refillable. We got dinged twice for the 2 apple juices for my son. I ordered the Greek iced coffee and it was yummy, but it was kinda tiny and no free refills. So as you can see, there are many great elements to our meal, but they need to work on the entrees and figuring that part out. We'd come back, but we'd probably not order entrees again unless we were very specific about instructions on how to cook or prepare the items. Everything else, they've got it covered.
(4)Rebecca R.
This is good places to grab lunch. I always go there with a couple of my friends and we never had any problems with the waitresses that were serving us. My favorite thing to eat would be Kotopita. I love that with every meal they give you an option of a full meal or just lunch. The lunch is very filling, my guess would be that dinner is served in an even bigger portion. This place is usually very busy which means that you have to wait a little for your food, so be patient when going there! It is also a bit pricey. The place itself is nice, but the bathrooms are pretty yucky. After my first visit to the bathroom I decided I will never use it again. However, overall, good service and great food! Plus for Parthenon Restaurant
(3)Rebekah H.
Had an amazing Travelzoo deal and went as a party of 6. We had an amazing time, the waiters were so patient and helpful. The saganaki was delicious and well prepared. I love feeling the heat of the flame when they light it! The food was very good for the most part, the chicken lemon soup was great, the feta in the greek salad was full of flavor. I thought the suckling pig, while tender and juicy, was lacking in flavor and seasoning. All in all, another great experience and we can't wait to go back! P.S. They have free valet parking so no need to scour the streets for a spot!
(4)Sarah D.
I dined at The Parthenon last night and has a really disappointing experience. My boyfriend and I went in without a reservation and were seated within a few minutes. The restaurant itself is huge, many rooms with a large number of staff scurrying around the restaurant at all times. We were seated at a table in a back room near the kitchen. The overall appearance of the restaurant is dingy. Carpets are stained and bits of food all over. Quite unappetizing to eat in a room so filthy and hectic. We were seated and our waiter said something very quickly, which neither my boyfriend or I could understand. He seemed confused that we weren't ready to order after having just sat down, and he left without a word. He returned a few minutes later and we put our drink order in. He brought back my boyfriend's soda a few minutes afterward, but did not bring me the glass of wine I had ordered. We ordered the flaming cheese - which pretty much cannot be messed up. It was good; unfortunately that was the only thing we ate that was edible. My boyfriend ordered a lamb entree. I ordered a Greek chicken dish, and reminded the waiter I hadn't yet gotten my wine. We never did get refills on our water glasses. Our food took quite a while to come out. When it finally did, my boyfriend's lamb was cold, and my chicken was very dry. The waiter had also not asked what our preference was for side dish (potatoes, veggie, rice), so my chicken came with potatoes (my last choice). Both entrees were pretty bland and I could tell they had been sitting in the kitchen waiting to come out for a while. I've been to many Greek restaurants in this area. One of my favorites being Greek Islands. If you're in the mood for Greek food, I definitely recommend you check out yelp reviews and go elsewhere.
(1)Char Y.
We came with a coupon for meal for two. We ordered braised octopus - good but greasy saganaki - good, melting cheese! special combination - good, a selection of entrees scallops - ok, very greasy crema caramel - great, not too sweet and very soft baklava - ok galaktobeureka - ok I thought the food was ok, but tend to be on the fatty & greasy side.
(3)Caitlin S.
We came here for the first time with a groupon. Overall, I would say the food was really good. I enjoyed the flaming saganaki, eggplant spread, greek salad, and egg lemon soup. Actually, loved the egg lemon soup! However, we had an issue with one of the entrees. I ordered the chicken rigatani and loved it! Half a chicken in an oil, lemon oregano sauce with the braised potatoes. So good! My husband ordered the roast leg of lamb...because it was a greek restaurant and they supposedly specialise in lamb....big mistake. The roast leg of lamb was actually shaved lamb (looked just like gyro meat) doused in gravy...that's it...it tasted ok, but was not worth the price and looked like cafeteria food. Also, our groupon came with a bottle of house red wine....gross...stay away from this wine....I agree with other people who posted on here when they said it was watered down....it didn't taste very good, and I am almost convinced it had no alcohol content...normally if I drink half a bottle of wine I feel something....it felt like we drank a bottle of nasty tasting juice....and don't expect "red"...it was more like a rose juice. My biggest complaint though was that the entire time we stepped foot in their restaurant there was a really loud and obnoxious man that continually shouted things and dropped F bombs while he watched a basketball game on a huge tv. Apparently, my husband and I were seated in the bar...because I was first confused why a fancy restaurant would have giant tvs in the dining room... So much for a romantic date night....My husband and I saw the man and his table take several rounds of shots....so I can only imagine he was severely intoxicated. He repeatedly shouted "chang chang chang". He was very disruptive and obscene...however, no one from this establishment ever spoke with him or told him to quiet down...the entire time we ate, this man was shouting and swearing. No one apologized to us either for him ruining our dining experience. Also, this man was not a young kid...he was a grown middle aged man acting foolish....why did no one at this restaurant tell him to quiet down or cut him off?? By allowing that one guy to have a "great" night...everyone else had a crappy night...so well done...I'm sure my husband and I won't be the only ones not coming back...
(1)Carla S.
I wasn't expecting much, as my boss recommended this restaurant. Mind you he ate here back in grad school, which is more than a few years ago. But being from San Francisco and coming here to meet even more of my girlfriends family, we went along with the suggestion. Celiacs rejoice, there is a gluten free menu! And there are options. Many many options! I started with the broiled octopus and wasn't sure what I was getting into. But I saw others here loved it and thought what the hay. It was amazing. I was going to share with the table but decided not to after all! I was a bid disappointed that the flaming cheese wasn't gluten free, but after such a good dinner, I let that go! I ended up having the Greek style chicken and potatoes and it was a great choice. I think I had a whole chicken. And the potatoes were the stand out dish. Forget what everyone says about being oily - the oil is added flavor. My mouth is watering right now thinking about them. Gluten free done right!
(5)Marjorie F.
I should always listen to my Greek friend when it comes to dining in Greektown. This was the site of a Meetup event, so I thought I would sample the fare while I was here trying learn how to write a screenplay. First of all, the server seemed bothered by the fact that he was assigned to our group. Geez... Cheer up, big guy! I wanted to remind him that there are lots of people out of jobs, so he should be happy that he has one. My order was very simple: taramosalata (fish roe dip), egg lemon soup, and the gyros plate. The taramosalata looked good, but what I tasted was AWFUL. One bit and I was done with it. Blech. The waiter did not give me any pitas so I sampled it sans bread. Why would you serve me a dip without something to dip into it??? I'm wondering. Next, the egg lemon soup was delicious. It was perfect for a chilly November evening. It made me hopeful for the main course. When my main entree finally arrived, there was only ONE pita and a plateful of overcooked meat with a bunch of chopped onions underneath. The tzitziki sauce was OK, but served long before my plate arriving. It was all very unpleasant. Maybe I'm a food snob, but having wonderful experiences at other establishments in the area, I expected more. As for the restaurant as a venue for a workshop, I think that this Meetup group should investigate other options. There were two other events going on simultaneously which was very distracting as I was trying to focus on what our speaker was saying. Overall, I was not impressed by the Parthenon. There are so many other options in that part of town --- skip this one!
(2)Erica P.
Good food. Good service. Great ambience.
(3)Kate G.
As a hardcore fan of Greek Islands down the street, I had said I'd never need to try any of the other restaurants in Greektown; however I came across a Travelzoo deal that was two good to pass up. For $35, we go one appetizer (under $6.95), two small salads and soups, two entrees (under $17.95) and two desserts (under $6.95, I believe). We went on a Sunday night and the place was pretty busy. For how huge their staff was, our waiter seemed to be pretty frazzled, but the service was still fine. For our appetizer, we got the spanakopita. The filling was really good, but there definitely wasn't enough phyllo on the outside, because it was lacking flakiness. It also seemed like it had been sitting under a warmer for a couple hours, which probably contributed to the sub-par exterior. The Greek salad was standard, but good. They were out of the avoglemono soup (sad face), so we were given a navy bean soup in its place, which was actually really good. At this point, I was already getting full, so had to laugh when I was presented my ginormous entree, the special combination (dolmades, pastisio, moussaka, lamb, peas and potatoes). I did manage a couple bites of everything. Dolmades are one of my favorite Greek foods, but these were not great. The filling was mostly beef and would have benefited from more rice; it had been packed in very tightly, so it was like taking a bite of a dense hamburger patty. Normally I am not the biggest fan of lamb or pastisio, but I thought both were pretty good. As for the moussaka, it was good, but not nearly as good as the one over at Greek Islands, which is heavenly. The boyfriend had the gyros, which he seemed to enjoy. We got our desserts to go, both ordering the baklava. I got a second wind at home and tried mine. Not bad, but definitely not the best ever. If you are hoping to get dessert in Greektown, definitely walk over to Artopolis, which has absolutely amazing baklava and other desserts. The value of the Travelzoo deal was amazing and I'd say I had a good experience here, but I doubt I'd come back knowing there are better places (Greek Islands and Artopolis) just down the street.
(3)Liz O.
This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in general. The food is delicious, the service is great, the atmosphere is lively -- what more can you ask for? My all time favorite dish here is the Grilled Octopus...super delicious! I also like the location, it is accessible by train and they have valet. It is a perfect place for a Friday night date...
(4)Chris M.
Great place. Highly recommend the lamb chops, the flaming saganaki (very unique!), meze platter. Family friendly. Free valet parking.
(4)Barry f.
I have been coming here since I was a child. Great food. I recommend the braised lamb, Gyro, and the saganaki. Everything else is pretty good as well. Great place and very nice ownership. Love it! Also they changed up the menu in 2013 so check it if you have not tried it.
(5)Mahsa T.
Lunch special is a good value ($10) and includes soup, salad and entree. Portions are small but enough for lunch. Egg lemon soup and Greek salad were good but my gyros entree had too much fat on the meat, never seen gyros with that much visible fat on it. Probably the worst gyros I've had. I had a taste of my friend's tilapia and that was good. Service was friendly but painfully slow, especially if you're in a hurry to get back to work. Free valet is a plus. The food and service at Greek Islands is much better.
(3)Bonnie A.
The saganaki is a must. I love watching them set the cheese on fire and say OPPAH! It always makes my day. I really like the eggplant moussaka. It is my favorite dish there. You can never go wrong with that.
(4)Jeannine K.
Regular menu has items marked that are gluten-free. You can easily dine here and still enjoy all the popular Greek dishes. Yum!
(5)Dodge S.
For some reason I make it out to more Chicago restaurants for business meetings than I do for actually going out to a restaurant on my own. Well anyway, me and my closest 70-80 business friends met at the Parthenon recently and had a blast. This is a great choice for sampling Greek food and even better, Greek beer! Full bar, excellent table service, and we really enjoyed the food. Our group had a choice of chicken, lamb, vegetarian, or combo plate. I could not finish the roasted chicken because of the portion size, but the other plates did look nice and received a lot of compliments. Inside was spacious, and we were directed to the right once you enter the front door, for a large room that had its own bar and buffet line. I would definitely recommend coming here for a great meal even if you are not with a large group. Easy access with CTA bus #8 off South Halsted Street. Might have to make reservations because this place always seems packed. How do you say "bon appetit" in Greek?
(4)Shannon S.
I get the dolmades almost every single time. The only time I stray away from it is to get the combination plate so I can eat dolmades and a bit of everything else. I've never had anything I didn't like here. Every dinner starts with sagnaki, consists of constant flowing roditis and ends with a very happy (and full) girl. The service and that atmosphere are great. The free valet is a major bonus and even if you don't want to use it street parking is usually pretty easy to find.
(4)Amy R.
We had a LARGE group for lunch, and it was great! They gave us a private section, and the service was fantastic for a group that size. We didn't have to wait long for our appetizers or our entrees! And the portions....enormous! We had a cheese appetizer which they flambed on the spot, and it was really gooey and delicious. I ordered the gyro, and it was pretty much a plateful of meat, but they were the kinda crispy texture I like. The only negative is that you have to specifically ask for the pita bread, which I thought was weird. Everyone at the table seemed to enjoy their food, and there were plenty of leftovers for the next day! I highly recommend it for the price and portion and especially if you're in greektown.
(4)Janet E.
We came here straight off the blue line (Halsted stop). Super easy to get to. Snagging a table here was easy too because the restaurant is very large. They had a private party in their party room that did not disrupt our dinner or food service at all. (And if it did, I did not notice) We shared the pan fried zucchini with skordalia (cold garlic mashed potato dip), egg lemon soup, and braised lamb with rice pilaf. Plenty of food for two people and we even had left overs. The service here was good but not better than Greek Islands. The servers didn't seem happy themselves so I could sense they were not going to go out of their way to make us happy. We saw two waiters standing around talking to each other. When we called them to tell them we were ready to order, they said they would call our waiter over to take our order. I guess they don't do team work service here?
(3)Andrew S.
I've been a couple times and have made this my go-to Greek in Chicago. The saganaki always comes out correctly, and lamb and rice never disappoints. Service can be spotty at times depending on your server. If I could individually rate the food and service the food would get a 4 and service would get a 3.
(4)Kristin K.
Aaaaaahhmazing. Great authentic Greek food, great selection, good prices. Lots of seating. Their specialty fried cheese with brandy is excellent as is there lemon rice soup. I had the pastitsio which was pretty good. I would love to come back when I'm back in Chicago. They also have a little market where you can buy Greek groceries.
(5)Richie D.
WOW! I have hit up almost all the Greektown restaurants and eventually found myself always going to Greek Isles next door (well until they were shut down by the health commission). This time I guess I saved "the best for last" by venturing into The Parthenon. I'm SO glad I did. According to all the newspaper/magazine postings on the walls, it is supposedly home to the famous Saganaki burnt cheese and gyro! I wanted to try something different so I ordered the Kotopita (Crisp phyllo case filled with boneless chicken and vegetables, served with rice). For all those dill fans, this is a not-to-miss. Another little thing: Service is always attentive and authentic in Greektown, but not necessarily friendly. Our waiter at Parthenon made us feel at home with all his jokes stated in his sexy accent. He definitely added the cherry to the top of the cake. Don't go elsewhere! And with all the rest of Greektown, take advantage of the free valet. One downfall could be no outdoor seating.
(5)Kandi G.
I love Greektown, I enjoy going to the restaurant itself - but this is about catering. Although their food was good, delivery went well, and they tried to work with me to fix the issues - I was very disappointed in the serving sizes for the cost of the catering order. When you go to the restaurant you always receive an ample portion, catering was a different story. I would go to the restaurant again, but won't do catering.
(1)Jennie C.
Have to give this only 3 stars. Came here with the travelzoo voucher, which got us a ton of food. The saganaki was excellent, though a bit runnier than any other I've encountered (not a bad thing, just pointing out the difference). The egglemon soup tasted like neither, but it was hearty & warm. Greek salad was nice and crisp but my veggies were drowned in the dressing. Friend got the rotisserie lamb, which was very dry. My stewed lamb was fork tender and richly flavored, but it seemed kind of greasy too. Desserts were letdowns...tiramisu flavors didn't really marry, and the galaktoboureko was surprisingly hard. But they win points for not making the desserts cloyingly sweet. Service was excellent if a bit slow, but it was a busy night. My biggest problem with them was the valet. Right in front of my eyes, he made a huge U-turn on Halsted st even though there were cars coming at him (my car!), slammed on the brakes and ended up grazing one of the traffic cones in front of the restaurant. I'd think twice before valeting my car with them again.
(3)Jeffrey Z.
The service was a 0/5, the atmosphere was a 1/5, the food was a 2/5. Any time we needed the waiter, we had to ask a random busser because he never came to check on us. The egg lemon soup was perfect after I added a little extra lemon, and it was the highlight of the night. The flaming cheese and spinach-cheese pie appetizers were ok. The gyros was the absolute worst I've ever had, and I've had a lot of gyros. It tasted like a cross between beef jerky and old end pieces of fatty steak. There are plenty of other options in Greek Town...
(2)Sandra M.
The food is great here...what else can I say. The lamb, rice, potatoes, the cold garlic mashed potato appetizer, flaming cheese...YUM! We had my son's Baptism luncheon here and they took great care of us. We had about 100 people in the party room. The food came on time, hot, delicious, and I was able to relax and enjoy the afternoon.
(4)Lucy N.
We bought the Travelzoo voucher but I still feel robbed. They have, very sneakily made the limit for the entrée course $17.85 - so of course the better items on the menu are all $17.95+...there really wasn't anything that caught my eye and it is not possible to pay the extra to get the better items either. The 'greek salad' was a pile of iceberg lettuce with a square of feta, two olives, two bites of cucumber and two segments of tomato. An authentic greek salad it certainly was not. The soup was an unappetising glob of blandness. All of the food was very poorly presented. I had a terrible upset stomach the next day which I'm blaming on the humungous pile of fried mini-fish I was presented with. I am sure that no human being could consume that much. The baklava was reasonable but probably store bought. They are only getting two stars because the waiter was adorable.
(2)Alice D.
This place has tasty food! I liked what my friend and I ordered. My complaint is that the service is quite below average. We were ignored for such a long time for this and that. It took so long to get our check that we were wondering if we left, how long would it take for them to notice. But the food is pretty good.
(4)Mike K.
$12.95 for a gyro feast and this idiot argues with me over ketchup packets? I asked him for six little packets he says "I give you two" Opens up the ketchup vault and forks over two more with a look of distain on his face. So, my advise go down the block to one of the other 10 gyro places that don't micro manage ketchup. And when I asked him for two more he said " I already gave you four" These are like really small packets. They give you more packets of ketchup on Maxwell street when you get a polish. For a really nice looking fancy smancy place they sure acted pretty low class. I was also disappointed with the lack of meat in this $12.95 feast. It was worth at most $8.00 Not very much meat more onions than anything. Wonder when this place with be for lease. Must be loosing money.
(1)Jonathan C.
If you want to eat at the first place that 'made' Saganaki (Flaming Cheese), then come on in. It is a good tourist spot because almost everyone I know thinks saganaki is an authentic Greek dish, sort of surprising as brandy is not traditionally thought of as a Greek liquor. But the food is not my favorite Greek food in the Chicago area. For that I usually go to one of the Greek restaurants near my parent's house in Niles. We have some Greek family friends who prefer those to Greek town, so I take their word on that. All in all, go here for your standard run of the mill, nothing suprisingly good, nothing suprisingly bad Greek meal. I, for one, would only eat here if other people really wanted to.
(3)Geo P.
We went here Sat nite. There was no wait. We walked in even thou we were 20 mins late . The food was very good . I love the gyros plater...The services was great too!! I'd come back again !!
(4)Ed U.
"Dance? Did you say dance?...O-PAH!" Want to smash a plate? Dream about dancing the Sirtaki shoulder-to-shoulder with a mustachioed waiter? Ah yes, my friend...when you are in Chicago, you must come to Greektown. And when you are in Greektown, you must eat at the Parthenon. You can feel like an extra in a restaurant scene from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". Everyone here talks like Anthony Quinn in "Zorba the Greek". Even the women. They must all be related because they want you to feel like you are in their home back in the old country. There are painted murals of the Greek islands on the wall to take you away. All the waiters are in their crisp whites. If this isn't a port on the island of Crete, it sure must be close. I arrived a little before 11AM just as they opened for lunch and was immediately seated in the main dining room. As an opener, I had what else but the $4.50 Greek Salad with anchovies (see photo) - very fresh tasting with a big square of feta cheese and a wonderful vinaigrette. My main entree was the $12.95 Braised Lamb, a hearty portion of meat that was falling right off the bone (see photo). It came with lots of rice to sop up the juice. This is good, gut-busting comfort food, perfect for a brisk, wintry day. Take advantage of the city's diverse ethnic neighborhoods because you are unlikely to find more authentic Greek food outside of Greece. At least that's what they told me...and I believe them. O-PAH! FOOD - 4 stars...lamb falling off the bone...how you say "yum-o" in English? AMBIANCE - 4 stars...yep, it's a Greek restaurant alright SERVICE - 4 stars...they want you to eat good and have good time...O-PAH! TOTAL - 4 stars...a must-stop on your around-the-world Chicago dining circuit
(4)Marissa M.
So there were other restaurants more packed on Halsted in the Greek Town area, but my brother wanted to go to this one after hearing about it from a friend we all trust as a foodie and chef. Huge dining area, but there was food under my table from previous diners, which made me want to move. I hate when things aren't perfectly clean when I am dining. It seemed lazy and made me feel like anything could be dirty after that. Not a good way to start the dining experience. The food though was stellar. I ordered the braised octopus, my brother had some Greek sampler thing and my Mom got spinach and cheese stuffed chicken. EVERYTHING was delicious! I ate my Mom's leftovers for lunch the next day cold and it still was packed with flavor. My octopus made it out the door in my belly...I did not have any leftovers...nor did my brother. If the floor under my table had been cleaned up, I would have rated this place higher. Grade: B -Worth checking out. Street parking I think.
(3)J N.
We got a Travelzoo voucher for the Parthenon. $35.00 for five courses for two people,the meal was fine. Service was slow and the room was loud. The waiter lost interest when he saw the voucher. BUT The "complimentary" valet parking just ruined it!!!! I told the valet the took my Jeep how to open the door. He must not have passed it along to the guy that returned it. He could not get out of the drivers side door because he broke the door mechanism. I had to crawl across the front seat to get in, and had to do so every time I drove until I could get it repaired . It cost $97.00 to have it repaired. So my meal cost us $132.00 I emailed the Parthenon but to date, no reply. There was no disclaimer on the "free complimentary parking' sign prominently displayed in front of the restaurant. Employers are liable for damages to property done by employees. We won't be back. Go to Roditys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)Dee D.
I was here a while back with two of my now deceased aunts, and BOY was the food great. Being as naive as I was about Grecian food at the time, I ordered chicken. I mean, how can you go wrong with chicken? Service was quick. Dropped a napkin? Replaced before you can even think to ask. Drinks refilled automatically. Good background music. The food was off the chain. I will be back.
(5)Nikki K.
Just finished dinner and there's nothing to mull over... Hands down, the worst dining experience in Chicago. Our food was lukewarm at best, and my entree was cold. It was tasty, but it was obvious that my pasta was pre-made, sliced into a brick and served without a visit to an oven to warm up. I never saw the waiter check up on us. But what's terrible is that when the waiter asked us if we wanted boxes, I asked him if the dish was meant to be served cold. He told me that no, it wasn't. He brought back our check and tried to play it on me, like it was my fault or that I was trying to scam him out of a cold $14 pasta dish. "You should've said something." Apparently he did check in with one member of our party on the end, but he NEVER checked with me. And he should have because I needed another drink as well! We all had empty glasses. What decent restaurant lets that happen? Shoddy service and the server (short, pudgy, shaved head) should be moved to the bar/carry out orders only. If he sincerely apologized for my food being cold without the attitude, I might have given this restaurant another chance. Now? I'm telling everyone to avoid the place. The food's cold and the service is unprofessional. Never!
(1)Courtney W.
This is hands down my favorite place in Greek Town and quite possibly my favorite Greek restaurant period! What do I love about this place? First, they provide free valet parking. Not many places do this anymore and finding street parking in the area is almost impossible. When you walk in, everyone is extremely friendly and you are treated like royalty the minute you walk in. I have eaten here about fifteen times and I have never received poor service. They handle large groups well and it doesn't take three hours for all of the food to come out. Now, for the food. Start out with an order of the saganaki (goat cheese). It isn't rubbery like most places and it has just the right amount of salt. Scoop some onto one of the poppy seed slices of bread at the table and you've got a winning appetizer. Get the greek salad, they'll even give you some extra amazing feta on the side. It's a huge salad and easily feeds a large group. The dressing is amazing. For the main course, get the supreme lamb chops. They are rather large and deliciously juicy. They come with a plate of rice and some lemon potatoes and both could be great meals by themselves. For dessert, the lemon custard pastry with honey is fantastic. I can never remember the Greek name of it but it's heavenly. Let me not forget the alcohol, the rodidas wine is to die for. I brought home an entire jug of it the other day for some friends. It comes from Greece and they store it in giant jugs in the basement. Everything considered, this is a great spot in Greek Town. I haven't found a better place for lamb chops. It's a no frill establishment that has been in the area for quite some time.
(5)Tera D.
So fun! I highly recommend the Parthenon for a group dinner outing. They have a great family style menu for only $20 per person, which really has something for everyone and will leave you stuffed. We went with a party of 8 on a Saturday night. At first it looks like a fairly nice restaurant where a group shouldn't be too loud or obnoxious - not true! Once flaming cheese starts flying out of the kitchen every 5 minutes, you can't help but get a little rowdy! They also have a big wine list with lots of bottles in the $20 range, so you can definitely have a very reasonably priced night of fun. Extra bonus - they take reservations. Some of the other restaurants in Greek Town do not.
(4)Kathryn R.
The Verdict: Go for the saganaki, then leave to eat somewhere else. One star for the saganaki, one star for the location and valet parking. On a Saturday night I ended up apologizing to my out of town guests for the rushed service, loud environment, and overly salted poor quality food. In the room we were sat there were even crooked pictures on the wall. This place has gone downhill in recent years. It used to be a family owned and run business. The attention to detail, flavor, and service are not worth the prices or the stomach ache afterwards.
(2)Michael R.
Three stars for the festive party atmosphere. Three stars for the location, in Chicago's fun Greektown neighborhood. Two stars for the food, which is about as good as you'd expect at an average Greek diner. Great for large groups who want to drink Roditys wine and make a lot of noise.The lamb with artichokes was fairly bland and short on meat. The greek salads were pedestrian. The pastitsio was also fairly bland, but filling. Go for the fun, not the food.
(3)Lizabee H.
I have been coming to the Parthenon for about 30 years - literally since I was born. I am a HUGE Greek food fanatic, and can honestly say that no other restaurant in Greek town compares. The food here is consistently awesome and the owners are friendly and wonderful. But now onto the most important part - THE FOOD! I think with any restaurant there are standout dishes. I can't say I've ever had a bad meal here, but there are certainly dishes that I always order, and are the best Greek meals I've ever had in chicago. Here are my ultimate go tos - the all time favorites! 1) Cold Combination Appetizer plate: I ALWAYS order this. This cold combination plate is the best I've had anywhere PERIOD. Included in this plate is marinated cold octopus (frickin delicious!), bean salad with dill and olives, taramosalata (fish roe spread), melitzanosalata (eggplant-garlic spread), a dolmade and a cheese puff. This cold plate alone, for one, is enough with bread to be a meal. If there are two of you, only order the cold combo plate for one - it is PLENTY of food. If you have four guests, order it for two. Another excellent appetizer is the broiled octopus - the most tender octopus I've ever had. Order it, you won't be sorry! 2) Tigania: at the Parthenon, their Tigania is slow cooked pork medallions in a wine-tomato based sauce. AH-MAZING. Not only is it my favorite dish at the Parthenon, but it's my favorite Greek dish period. The pork is soft and melts in your mouth, the sauce is soooooo flavorful, and the rice absorbs all the goodness. It's an easy dish to overlook. Don't overlook it! Order order order!!! 3) I am not a pork chop fan. Typically I don't like them at all. BUT, the pork chops at the Parthenon are the JUICIEST pork chops I've ever had in my life. GET THEM. 4) Best Moussaka I've had. 5) Whole fish of the day prepared Greek-style. GET IT. My dad's favorite, along with the lamb chops. 6) Lamp chops - GET THEM. Huge, and like butter. 7) Lamb with artichokes is delicious. 8) My favorite avgolemono (egg-lemon soup). 9) For vegetarians, their veggie combination entree is delicious and huge. 10) The rotisserie roasted greek chicken is AMAZING. SOOOO juicy and delicious. When you bite into it you will be shocked. Another easy dish to overlook on the menu and assume is boring. DON'T overlook it!!! SOOOO good!!!!!!!! 11) All the entrees come with a side - I highly recommend going with the braised eggplant, braised okra, or the spinach rice (served on weekends). Typically they just give you rice or potatoes as a side. Ask specifically for one of the above dishes. There are waiters that have been working here for thirty years. It's an institution. Get a bottle of house Roditis wine, put some lemons in it the Greek way, sit with your cold combo plate, and enjoy! The other places in Greektown just don't compare. Don't follow the sheeple and tourists and go to other places like the Greek Islands. Over the years I have tried other places and always felt disappointed and underwhelmed. The Parthenon is a Chicago classic and probably my favorite place in Chi-town! I have never made a reservation here in my life, so I wouldn't worry about trying...I didn't even know they took them, except for large parties! The wait is usually very very quick, so no worries about this issue. Oh - and free Valet parking, of course :) Oh, and just FYI, the Parthenon invented the deeeeeelicious flaming saganaki!!!! 'Nough said.
(5)Jenny F.
The BEST Greek food in Chicago. I have been coming here for years and the staff is friendly, the atmosphere is nice, and the food is AMAZING!!!! I love it.
(5)Susan C.
Oopa! Oopa! Before I left California for Chicago, friends told me the Windy City was perhaps the place for the best Greek food outside of Greece. The Parthenon did not disappoint me. What a menu. Just about everything Greek you could think of -- a fantastic selection of hot appetizers, cold appetizers, tapas, salads, vegetables, soup, pasta, lamb, chicken, beef, pork, seafood, desserts, wines. The restaurant is vegetarian friendly, too. For an appetizer, my 'ol college roommate and I settled on the house specialty: Saganaki or mild kaseri cheese flamed in brandy. The waiter delivered it on his arm served in a round dish and set the gooey, stringy, delicious dairy product on fire with liquor, all the while crying Oopa as other wait staff joined in. My braised lamb simmered in tomatoes and wine was so tender it fell off the bone. And the serving size so ample, I had it boxed and gave it away to a local leaving the restaurant since I had no place to keep it. It came with rice pilafi cooked to perfection. My friend ordered skinless breast of chicken broiled with lemon and oregano; it also came with rice pilafe. The taste, moist and tender, and the serving size, again, ample. We wanted to order dessert and quite frankly were too full. Service was good and friendly. Definitely not intimate dining yet a lively atmosphere that made eating here festive and lots of fun.
(4)Matt C.
As I stated in my Mr. Greek Gyro review, I am Greek. Very much so! So when I stayed in Greektown during my first visit to Chicago, I stayed in the Parthenon Hostel which also has a restaurant right next to it! When I checked in I discussed with the person who was working there about a good Greek restaurant to eat at for dinner and she told me that the Parthenon next door is good AND I get a discount for staying at the Hostel! This was perfect for a 21 year old with a budget! So, I went and had the best food experience that I had in Chicago. I've been to Greek restaurants, I've eaten Greek food. We have a nice Mediterranean restaurant here in Upstate NY called Aladdin's, but this place is what I have been looking for. When you first walk in the decor, the people, everything says traditional Greek and as I walked in I got excited because I knew that I was in for a good experience. We sat down and checked out the menu and I was excited to read all of these delicious foods that my YiaYia and her friends would make homemade on different occasions. Spanakopita, Gyro, Saganaki, Moussaka - so many choices. My fiancee ordered the Spanakopita and I ordered the Moussaka for our entrees and we ordered Saganaki for an appetizer. If you didn't know Saganaki is a traditional cheese dish that when the waiter brings it out for you they actually start it on fire, yelling 'Opa'! According to Wikipedia, this actually started here at this restaurant. I don't know if that's true or not, but it's pretty cool nonetheless. The entrees were delicious. The Moussaka was perfect and just like my YiaYia and her friends make! The Béchamel sauce was delicious, as was the meat and eggplant. I am unsure about whether the meat was traditional lamb or beef, but it didn't matter to me because I actually have never (knowingly) ate it with lamb and it was delicious anyway! I have yet to find a Spanakopita that I can successfully compare to my YiaYia's, but this is as close as it comes! My YiaYia's is less spinach and more cheese, when most Spanakopita that I find is the opposite. In conclusion, this is definitely my favorite place that I have eaten at in Chicago thus far and I'd be interested in finding more Greek restaurants that I can compare to this! Opa!
(5)Eric D.
Chicago has a great Greek population and thus some great Greek restaurants. This one was decent and had a very friendly staff w/ a great table show of the flaming Saganaki...they created it! Atmosphere - Loud, touristy, bright, traveling card reader, flamethrowers over there over here. Food - I had the braised lamb - full dinner, which for $23 came w/ egg-lemon soup, Greek salad, and baklava which I split w/ some Galaktoboureko (vanilla custard). I am a dessert fool. The soup and salad were decent. The lamb was good but had starchy gravy poured over the top. Next time I would ask that it not gravy-fied. The desserts were great! If I had to choose I would go w/ the Galaktoboureko. But I like custard. I chickened out opting for the Saganaki as I have a problem w/ cheese. It still looked good and watching the waitstaff light it was amusing. Service - Friendly, helpful and prompt. This place is a machine! Price - The $23-ish full dinner/ combo meal is a decent bargain in the area. Overall - None of the dishes w/ exception of the desserts made me go "yeah, I need to get back here".
(3)Ariana T.
Better than I thought, love the octopus and the pita, the salad is great.
(4)Paul S.
Soooo much to eat & delicious - let me tell you. Our meal. The yummy Saganaki - can you say "Ooooppah". Also had delicious mini spinach cheese pies Entrees Kotopita (Greek chicken pot pie) And Scallops Saganaki a LaSoto. Huge scallops with a tomatoe based sauce and rice. Our server was Elias - very friendly.
(5)Steve P.
If you have a Travelzoo, do yourself a favor and throw it right in the shredder, just consider the $35 a sunk cost. It is not a deal at all. We prob saved like $10 overall and were unimpressed about nearly everything. My fiancé wanted to surprise me with it and take me to an "authentic" Greek restaurant; I almost broke up with her for choosing this place; just kidding. We thought we had a choice for the appetizer, soup, and salad but our waiter brought us some fried cheese appetizer, which was awful, some thrown together salad, OK at best, and lemon-egg soup which was nearly inedible. Following these courses we had the octopus and lambs leg for dinner. Wow, were these terrible. The octopus was swimming in oil so I had to douse in lemon to offset the oil taste. The lamb was very overcooked and was covered in some brown sauce, which seemed to be the kind that came from a can at Dominicks - needless to say, this was not appetizing at all. For dessert we had ice cream and chocolate cake, this was the best part of the meal and would recommend to only come here for this if your tried the restaurant. One other plus for the restaurant was the Greek wine, elios; would recommend this and lots of it to make the food taste better. Also, the waiters seemed to treat us differently compared to other tables. They only came by after the meal was nearly done but were very attentive once they dropped the check and waited to get a tip. The plates we had seemed to be presented very different from other tables - ours seemed to have been sloppily thrown together and were half the size of other plates being carried around the restaurant. Not sure who rated this place above two stars, which would beg me to ask, have you even been to another establishment outside of McDonalds or Subway? Do yourself a favor and go to one of the gyro places a few storefronts north, they are 100x better.
(1)Riley B.
My fiance insisted we go to The Parthenon one evening as she had been eating their all her life. I thought to myself, like an idiot, (like I'm sure many of you do when walking/driving down Halsted/Greek Town) that the other more "posh" looking places had to have better food, service, etc. But man was I wrong! We pulled up. Got free valet parking. Walked in to friendly smiles. Sat down. The old waiter (who had been my fiance's server millions of times previously) was reminiscing that he knew her when she was just a little baby. He remembered exactly what she wanted to order (without asking) - Roditis and a Cold Combo Appetizer. Holy moly was it delicious! I couldn't stop eating the delicious foods in the appetizer (cold octopus, bean salad, taramosalata = the best, melitzanosalata, dolmade, and a cheese puff). Then came the meal, Tigania (slow cooked pork medallions in a wine-tomato sauce). After the appetizer and bread I was nearing belt-busting but it was too delicious to not finish! On subsequent visits I've managed to save some to take home in a doggie-bag and, man oh man, is it delicious the next day! Also, according to wikipedia (with references) The Parthenon invented saganaki - which, of course, their's is delicious. All in all, go to the Parthenon for great food, great service, great value, and an overall amazing experience. Keep going and the dedicated staff (which seems like they've all been their forever) will get to know you.
(5)Laura K.
Atmosphere was a 5, food was a 3. We went here on a Saturday night with a group of 8 and luckily this place took reservations. It is a great place for big groups both the atmosphere and the menu. There was flaming cheese being served left and right, and they even do the whole Happy Birthday singing for people's bdays (the table next to us). So with our group of 8, not once did I feel like we needed to take it down a notch which was great - especially with all the wine that was being consumed. As far as the menu, they offer a very reasonable family style menu ($20/pp) where they bring you a TON of food: greek salad, flaming cheese, gyros, chicken, macaroni with eggplant, dessert, etc. While the food wasn't the best I have had, I still was impressed with the amount they bring and left feeling full and pretty satisfied. So overall, I really enjoyed my experience here, however I think the next time we venture out to Greek Town, I will want try somewhere different.
(4)Tom O.
Not a fan of Greek food. But was invited as a guest to meet there before a Hawks game, so I didn't want to be rude. Figured I'd hang out, then go to the UC and eat a hot dog. I decided to try the Gyros, again, not to be rude. It was AWESOME!!! Then decided to try to flaming cheese (saganaki). FANTASTIC!!! Then tried the meatballs with onions (I think the meatballs were made with lamb). DELICIOUS!!! I tried a few more, liked most of them too. The staff was great, extremely attentive which I really appreciate. I've already gone back, just a really nice experience!!! And they have complimentary valet, which is nice too.
(5)Leaha P.
The Parthenon has been the place to go in my family for many years. My grandfather was born in Greece and first took me here when I was a kid. We take the train into Chicago so we don't have to worry about parking. It is the best stress free way to enjoy Chicago. This place is all about family and great food. The Saganaki is always fun to get because it is flamed in brandy right at your table. The moussaka is something never to pass up when you come here it is rich but they also have a vegetarian choice. The wonderful people who own the Parthenon have kept up and amazing place to enjoy food, family and of course the Ouzo. I try to go back every year when I visit my family in Chicago. I will always love the Parthenon!
(5)Nicolas L.
No offense, but you people are crazy. Do not come to this restaurant if you have any hopes of having a decent meal. I will say that the service was fantastic--prompt and friendly. The service was the only good thing about our experience here. Drink menu--the wine list leaves much to be desired. Course one--appetizer: we ordered the saganaki and gyros. The saganaki was good (standard for saganaki). The gyros were tasteless and fatty. Very strange. I've never had fat strips on gyros meat, and there was virtually no seasoning on the meat. It was dry as well. Course two--greek salad--skip itand save yourself 5 bucks. Iceburg lettuce with a few veggies. Course three--We ordered two meals--Pork chops and the combo platter: The pork chop was decent. Could have been better. There was nothing "stand out" about it. I could have cooked it at home. The combo platter was a disaster. It looked like banquet hall food. The "lamb" was actually a slice of beef (who are you trying to fool!) and the dolmades were gooey and tasteless. The moussaka was pretty yummy though. Course four: the baklava was yummy, the flan was blah and the vanilla custard with phyllo dough was pretty good. Bottom line: The server was great and the food was awful. We had tons of leftovers and didn't bring any home. An overall disappointment. We will not be coming back. Even though the prices are cheap, the food isn't worth it. You'd be better off making a frozen meal at home!!
(1)Anne S.
We just went here again last week for my birthday, and I realized I should have tons of updates for this place to show how many times I have been here. I couldn't help buy notice that there were tons of large groups (15+) in the dinning room. It made me think of how perfect that place would be for a group outing. It's a friendly place, with great food, and they handle groups well!
(5)Andrea H.
So half of my family is Greek, so I know I've been here before, but I don't really remember it. Seems like this will be the case in a few years as well. I came here with a group of 10 the other night. Our server was good, the food was good (I like how they offer half portions), the atmosphere was family friendly. All around good, but nothing was too memorable. Except for maybe the palm reader... A few of the girls had their palms read. I swear one of the girls was looking at the lady like she was completely nuts when she gave her the results. Turns out I was wrong, apparently she was exactly right. So yeah, if you like to have your palm read, you are in the right place.
(3)Svitlana P.
There's not much to say about The Parthenon. Yes it has free valet parking and yes, it serves ok Greek food. Maybe it's because I've been spoiled at Greek Islands Taverna, Ft Lauderdale, FL. Or maybe it's because I have high standards.....either way, I was not impressed. After dining at Greek Islands Taverna, I expect that homemade hummus and fresh baked bread and pita should be complimentary at a Greek place. Here all you get is bread and butter. The food is just ok. And there's not much to say about the service. The waiter took forever to take our order, left the squeezed lemon on my menu after bringing out the saganaki, and I'm pretty sure I was spit on while he was talking. I doubt I'll be coming back.
(3)Joe Y.
Groupon scam. If you come in with a groupon they treat you like garbage. The soup was from a can. The hummus was not very good and they brought out 6 small triangles of pita bread. Hot appetizer had 1 option available even though it claimed more. I ordered the gyro platter and asked for extra pitas to share with my date. He brought out 2 pitas total and said one was for me and one was for her...BS. Just so happens the gentleman to the table next to me ordered the same dish and was given 2 pitas w/o asking for extras...but don't worry I was still charged $8 for the extra pitas. Waiter was just lazy. The dessert menu had roughly 5 items within the groupon budget. However, 3 of the items had "run out" and the 2 items left were the 2 least expensive and most unappealing. Then we had the privilege to sit and wait for our check for 20 minutes while our waiter was enjoying the last drag on his cig. The joint was sleezy. I will never go back with or without a groupon.
(1)Mary E.
I think the Parthenon has some of the most authentically Greek food in the city (my best friend is Greek so I have been subjected to lots of Greek cuisine). The other day I came here with a small group and we ordered the "Traditional" family style dinner. It was incredible. They brought us so much food including bread, salad, saganaki, gyro, chicken, lamb, greek lasagna, egg plant lasagna, and desert (vanilla custard and baklava). Plus drinks were included. The service was fantastic and the restaurant was clean and attractive. We had so much fun. The Parthenon is a must of anyone venturing into Greektown. Did I mention I only paid $13 (ordinarily $19 per person but they were having a special)?
(5)Nam D.
Honestly the food is okay but the service was very good at Parthenon Restaurant. I honestly find the dive Greek places to have better food but if you want a sit down atmosphere or have a large party Parthenon isn't a bad choice. I usual go for the Family Style dining choice which you can have little bit of everything. The appetizers are mostly going to be your favorite thing during the dining experience. Later you can pick from lamb, pork, or chicken as your entree picks. The chicken I found to be dry and the best meat I thought they prepared was the roasted pork. So I'd review this joint as OK .....
(3)Seth F.
One of the best places in the city for a group that you don't have a reservation for (didn't want to end this sentence in a preposition so I added this parenthesis, take that Strunk & White). On more than one occasion I have had a large group of people (10+) over at my house when we were deciding on where to eat and The Parthenon wins a fair amount of the time. In my review of Greek Islands I mentioned my conflicted stance on reviewing Greek restaurants. They are usually very efficient and I've rarely been disappointed with my food. But that same efficiency generally comes with a very impersonal atmosphere, making the restaurant feel more like a factory than place to enjoy food. On top of that, I feel that every Greek restaurant's menu could be changed with another's, but the family-style option here is what sets it apart (and why it's so good for groups). Parties of 2 or more can order a prix fixe option that comes with like 7 courses (most of which is what you would typically order at a Greek restaurant anyways) and it only costs $20 a person. That's a dern good deal and a great option if you're looking to satisfy a group with some members who don't like to spend a lot on a meal. They also have a house wine, which we eventually discovered is most likely just white wine with some cranberry juice mixed in, but still order it despite it losing its mystique.
(4)Sonya M.
I've eaten at The Parthenon a few times and it's always been a pleasant experience. Last night my family and I ate there to celebrate my 10 year-old cousin receiving a role in the Joffrey ballet version of the Nutcracker. We didn't have a reservation but because someone in our party is friends with the owner we were able to get seating for nearly 30 people. The restaurant was PACKED but we were ushered to our seats immediately. There were 2 waiters assigned our group; one was fantastic but the other one was a GRUMPY GUS! This particular waiter was slow, impatient and inattentive. He was the only sore spot in an otherwise fantastic evening. For instance, the other waiter gladly agreed to separate the checks for any guests that requested it but not Mr. Grumpy Bear... Most of the people in my party ordered the traditional family style dinner but I ordered the Athenian broiled chicken with the vegetables and an extra side of roasted potatoes. It was delicious!! Everything was cooked to perfection and everyone who'd ordered the traditional meals all said they'd regretted not getting what I had ordered!! I don't get to The Parthenon often but when I do it's a definite treat.
(4)Jean C.
I ordered the avoglemono out from here a few weeks ago with my friend. She was in the mood for soup or rice so I said, why not both? She hadn't tried this before and I told her that she would love it. We placed the order to be ready for an 11:15am pick up. They were on time and when we brought our soup back, it was still piping hot. The bread was plentiful and perfect for dipping into the soup. It wasn't the best avoglemono I've had in Greektown but it still hit the spot. The price for the soup was inexpensive and the service was friendly. I'll definitely be ordering from here again since it's so damn close to work.
(4)J N.
Went here with three others, so I was able to try 4 main course dishes. They were all pretty average. It mystifies me that it is so busy. Perhaps they have a loyal following? It is a family type establishment-- nothing wrong with that, but be prepared for lots of kids running loose, cheap and boring dishes lacking subtle flavor, with an emphasis on portion rather than taste. Like a greek Denny's (or other family style chain). This place was awful on so many levels- obvious that they are cheaping out on quality. They are making shortcuts on ingredients and wine quality and it shows. The waiter was very nice, but not helpful, and incredibly inattentive. When I asked about the different wines he always said "it's nice ". Well, he was wrong. The two reds we tried were of poor quality. we had to send the first one back because it had changed into vinegar. i am not a wine snob and for me to send back anything it would have to be completely unacceptable. We started with the lemon rice soup. Ugh. I am certain that the broth was from a can. It tasted like Campbell's chicken soup with rice. You would think the management would notice that no one finished it.. I had the spinach pie. I asked the waiter for spanikopita and that's what he suggested. I was soooooo disappointed. It was almost indelible it was so salty. Yes, I know, feta can be salty. However, they should have balanced the feta with the spinach in proper proportion. The phyllo was good but only on the top layer. I guess this is easier to make than real spanikopita. Too bad they don't make it! The roast chicken was way too dry. But if u like dry chicken order it because the portion is huge. The roast lamb was tough and way over cooked. I don't recommend it. One in the party ordered steak. Personally, I think it is kinda silly to order steak in a Greek restaurant, but anyhow... it was a meager cut, thin, over-priced and unseasoned. Although we told the waiter at the start that we need two checks and he thanked us for telling him in advance, he forgot at the end and we had to wait a long time for him to fix this problem. When he finally did bring up the final checks he hadn't bothered to actually seperate the items , so we had no idea who was paying for what. Our table was next to the dish station in the back. The bus boys smashed and crashed so many dishes it was impossible to talk. I even heard a few breaking. It is my feeling that these guys must hate jobs and are trying to get fired.! The hostess came by and asked if we were enjoying our meal, then didn't really wait for an answer. We skipped dessert. The womens bathroom was a mess. Yuck. Over all, I would go to this other Greek place nearby. I also reviewed them. The competitor is by far a better restaurant.
(1)Nancy G.
We ordered through Delivery Wow and the food took almost two hours to be delivered and it was horrible. The gyros plate was totally dried out and they didn't include any sauce. spanakopita was greasy and small. We couldn't have been more disappointed.
(1)B L.
If I had to choose the best in Greektown, Greek Isles would be it, but Parthenon is a very close second. I've had a banquet here with about 30 people and the prices were extremely, extremely reasonable. The servers were very nice and I was very pleased with the experience. On a side note I tried booking the banquet at Greek Isles first but was unable to. I think it was a blessing in disguise because it let me try this place out. Give it a whirl!
(5)Carrie W.
The Parthenon has become a mainstay to our friends and family... Every January we go out to celebrate my Brother.in .law's birthday.... about 12 of us came out to celebrate amongst the frozen tundra (usually there would be more of us... but the flu took them out) to celebrate "Grecian-style". On this specific night the place was very busy... after a beverage or two at the bar we made our way to this cozy little back room (it was just our large party and another party, about the same size). Our friend Jimmy took the helm and talked to the waiter that was assigned to our table.... The food and wine then started coming out in waves.... We started of course with their house "the pink kind" wine; this stuff is so smooth it's dangerous! (All night we never had an empty bottle) Food-wise.... You can never go wrong... The "waves" started with your Saginaki... which was flamed up tableside, with all that came out (about six orders) it could've started a five alarm fire! That was eaten very quickly, since we ALL love it... scraping the leftover molten cheese off of the hot metal plate... spread it on some of their bread... HEAVEN! More wine... Gyros and pita came out next... And don't forget the Tzazhiki! They make it all in house. All in house... the meat itself was a little bit drier than I was used to, but that's not a bad thing. They use a blend of meats... and they don't use any preservatives or fillers... and the flavor was so there, spot on! Even more wine... Octopus, my favorite came out... Has to be the best octopus in town... perfectly brined and grilled... always the best! This was followed by a traditional Greek salad. The wine just kept coming.... Now came the Lamb Chops, Greek Chicken, rice... green beans.... and potatoes... this part was more a tidal wave; surfs up? Don't stop a pouring.... The Lamb Chops, always grilled to perfection... the Greek Chicken, always so juicy... the rice, always love the rice; always so good (I went for 3rds!)... the green beans, a group favorite... and the potatoes, who doesn't like potatoes? And then came dessert.... all the Greek classics were offered.... and coffee too... We ended our evening back in the bar, and end all be all closed the place down. Is that a bad thing?! So for a group or for a table of two, The Parthenon has a lot of great options out there for everyone. Check it out and give it a try!
(4)John D.
Great late night service. Pleasant helpful staff. Food was well worth the trip. This is now my go to Greek restaurant when I am in Chi Town.
(4)Ben S.
I'm no connoisseur of Greek cuisine so keep moving if you would like something more critical or professional. The restaurant was packed so there are definitely some good things to report. We had a party of eight with the infants and had no problem with the space or service. The place was a bit noisy but the baby slept through it like a champ. My favorite part of the meal was the house wine, Roditis (spelling), so that should tell you a little bit about the food. Wine was very reasonable and tasted great. Flaming cheese appetizer was good but a bit greasy. The soup was decent and the Greek salad was very good. But the entrees were mediocre and I was not a fan of the desserts. I had the meatballs which were ok and the rest of the table had gyros and spanakopita. The pita was good but the spanakopita was made with frozen creamed spinach and was not memorable. I give the place a 3 for the wine alone. Everything else was blah.
(3)Sheila T.
We purchased a TravelZoo Voucher for The Parthenon and our party didn't know what to expect but we were all looking forward to the experiencing. The Voucher was very specific in that we could only redeem on specific days and not on any holidays, Greek or otherwise. Also, it included 1 each appetizer, soup, salad, entrée and dessert all within a specific dollar amount which ended up being on the high side of each course. The PROs: The Saganaki! It was very good. The presentation was done well. The downside; it's usually served with some form of flat bread for spreading. We were served bread at our sit down but it was gone by the time the saganaki arrived. Our Server was 4-star! He was engaging and informative. It was very busy and he did a good job with checking on us regularly. Our water glasses and drinks were continually refreshed. The Valet! An absolute must. The Dessert! Not bad at all. The CONs: The Salads. They were drenched in oil and the lettuce was soggy with it. The Lemon Rice Soup: Very salty! The entrees. None of us were satisfied. The quality was poor. The lamb was especially fatty, the rice dish was unpleasant. No one could finish their dishes. This was unexpected and disappointing. We were glad to have had the opportunity to visit this establishment, but we walked away disappointed with the experience. ~ ~ ~
(2)Yadira D.
A couple of weeks ago, a few gf's and I decided to go out to dinner to celebrate one of the gal's bdays and we let her choose the restaurant being that it was her bday. She chose this place, and I'd never been here but gotta say I absolutely fell in love with this place. We had reservations, and we were seated promptly. Our waiter (completely forgot his name) but he was AMAZING! From beginning to end, we had no complaints. The food was soooo delish and I couldn't get enough. The whole experience was great. I will definitely be back.
(5)Josh G.
We had dinner at the Parthenon this evening. We had a great time, were treated "right", and enjoyed excellent food. For appetizers, we ordered the braised octopus, bean salad, and flaming cheese. The braised octopus was the best I've ever had. We will definitely be ordering it again. For dinner, we had the lamb meatballs (very good), the Chicken Rigonati (large portion with excellent sauce), Musaka (a large very fresh tasting serving) and the Athenian Chicken (very good, crispy and tasty). We had the greek yogurt and chocolate cake (Sokolotina) for desert. Our waiter could not have been nicer and more attentive. We noted that he and teh busboys connected with the fact that we were with kids. Parthenon makes an effort to be a kid friendly place, at the same time it's a good place to go with just adults. See you again soon!
(5)Jeff B.
They served you a lot of food!! We ordered some wine, greek salad, and a whole bunch of things. The menu IS SO HUGE THAT YOU WON'T KNOW WHAT TO ORDER. The pita bread tasted like pita bread done right, the red beets were average, and the gyros were just dandy. My cousin brought them gyros home, but then she said that they smelled like poop, so only eat the food in the restaurant! Otherwise, your food will smell bad.
(3)Andrea R.
After 2 of my gals and I attempted to shake our booties at a hip hop class at the Lou Conte dance studio we were in need of some grub. And Greektown was only a few minutes away! The first restaurant we noticed was Parthenon so we took advantage of the free valet parking (gotta love that most restaurants have this in Greektown) and made ourselves at home. The waiter greets us: My friend Aubrey: Do you have any of that pink spread? Waiter: Perhaps you mean fish roe, which we do have, although ours isn't pink My friend Nicole: What's fish roe? Waiter: fish egg spread Nicole: Ew (wrinkles her nose) Waiter: Maybe I should rephrase this. It's caviar Nicole: Oh, I"d try that! Moments later Nicole was spitting out the "caviar" spread and making faces, but Aubrey and I were quite happy with it! We also each ordered a bowl of lemon egg rice soup. I wrinkled my nose at the taste of this, but Aubrey was more than happy to finish my soup. And I had more than enough food with my spread and mini spinach cheese pies (the appetizer portion was perfect!) The total came to $36 for all 3 of us (and that's including tip!) While I don't like Parthenon as much as other restaurants in the area (Venus is my favorite) the price and FREE valet parking reminded me I need to eat in Greektown more often!
(3)Jaz P.
Tried to get into Meli's for brunch with my friends from out of town @11am Saturday. Once my buzz of the wait buzzer wore off after 1 minute of our 50 minute- wait to get seated, we switched gears to have some Greek for lunch.. So we walked across the street to the spacious and inviting Parthenon. The three of us ordered the flaming cheese, a Greek salad with anchovies, the combination platter, a small gyros platter, and the meatballs platter. The $15.95 combination platter is a great way to become acquainted with Greek food for a newbie like me. It features grape leaves, moussaka, pasticizis, and roast lamb. I've never been one to understand the allure of Greek dishes aside from gyros, but this time, the moussaka, an eggplant meat lasagna dish, had me sold! The noodle had the perfect amount of crusty chewy texture, layered with an equally perfect mixture of eggplant and meat. (Pardon me for a digression. To explain the mechanics of me, Jaz MO, once I'm hooked on a dish, it becomes a regular life-long addiction. It might be too early to tell, but the warning signs are there. I may have officially developed a new love of moussaka.) Thus, optimistically, I will soon proclaim moussaka at the Parthenon is the standard bearer for moussaka. The gyros was savory, much more naturally textured, less sweet, and less oily than other gyros platters I've had in Chicago. My friend explained it's likely because it was closer to being authentic lamb rather than the lamb/pork mixtures ubiquitously served elsewhere. Whatever it was, I will definitely be coming back and ordering it again. Ahh the origins of a future conundrum. It's going to be a tough toss up between the meal size portion of moussaka and the gyros. Will likely need to plan to go family style in my next visit. I am glad we got the appetizer portion of the gyros. We were stuffed and couldn't even finish what we ordered. There's a separate room for the bar, with flat screen TVs featuring sports, and at least 2 ample sized tables. If you're craving football and Greek food on Sunday for lunch, this might be the perfect place.
(4)Kristy H.
On my first trip to Chicago, I was told that regardless of my schedule, I had to eat at The Parthenon. I managed to work out the timing and went over to UIC-Halstead. At 3 PM on an abysmally hot July afternoon, I was the only diner in attendance. I walked in, apparently a little bedraggled-looking, and was immediately brought water with lemon and my waiter (who looked remarkably like Kurt Vonnegut) suggested a glass of white wine. I enthusiastically agreed. As I was eating alone, a mostly-vegetarian, and not looking forward to returning to the heat, I ordered three appetizers. Two other people could've eaten with me, without a doubt. I had Dolmades, Bean Salad, and Melopita, which was on the "special" appetizer list. The melopita was amazing: feta baked in sheets of filo, then drizzled in warm, thyme-scented honey. I was allowed, no, encouraged, to stay and linger over my meal. The Kurt look-alike brought me more wine, and even poured something far better than the house white I started with at no extra cost. I sat, cooled off, read a book, and relaxed while enjoying one of the best meals I've ever had. Four days later, my husband got in to town. After he'd driven eight hours, the last thing he really wanted to do was get on a train and head back into the city from our suburban hotel. But we did, and he still gets a little moony-eyed when remembering that meal. Again, we ordered appetizers. He had some little meat pies, octopodi, spinach pies, and some little chicken tart-like things. I had two appetizers that night, having learned my lesson. The feta-stuffed cubanelle peppers were so delicious, I stopped at the grocery store when I got home and got two pounds of the peppers and some cheese. The evening meal was much busier, but the servers were no less attentive. They remembered my visit from earlier in the week and were bemused at my quick return, and one of the owners came by to chat. When I asked about a drink I'd had in a Greek restaurant in Vienna, she took the time to sit down and chat with me about the drink and the memories of her childhood its mention recalled. I worked in food service for long enough to know that making your customers feel like they're dining solo in a busy room is a feat few servers and cooks can manage. The staff at The Parthenon do it in spades. Their food is remarkably delicious, wine list phenomenal, and the service impeccable. If you're able to get there for dinner, you should go.
(5)Nix F.
Hosted a work xmas party here the other day. The food was fantastic (we had a buffet), but the service was quite lacking. When the waiter did come around, he had to replace everyone's drink because he had been gone so long. This occurred the entire 3 hours we were there. And it's not like it was crowded or anything. Would help if their alcohol didn't come in tiny little glasses. Maybe my coworkers and I are just alcoholics though. :)
(3)Joan O.
I had a night out with my girlfriends and we choice a Greek Restaurant. My first time trying a full meal at a Greek Restaurant, and wow! I love the ambiance, the wait staff were excellent, the food OMG! We started out with bread and flaming Saganaki, Chicken Lemon Soup. For dinner I had Macaroni Pasticsio mouth watering awesome. My friend had Lima Beans in tomato sauce, the other had Pasta with Chicken and peas in a cream sauce. We each taste test each others dish. We close out our dining pleasure with coffee and share a slice of Baklava, Yummo! I must say 2 thumbs up to the Chief and I will return again.
(4)adam C.
My favorite salad is a Village salad. I just got one from these guy. It had ONE olive, and 4 slices of cucumber. It was as piss-poor a Village salad as I've ever gotten. How sad :(
(2)Michelle K.
My favorite Greek restaurant, by far. I've been going here with my family for years, and I've yet to have a bad meal. The lamb is tender, the spanakopita is flaky, and the moussaka is creamy and savory. And, most importantly: the saganaki is cheesy and salty and delicious. The atmosphere and servers are definitely Greek-tastic, which is part of the charm. Next time you're in Greektown, this place is a must-go!
(5)rebecca f.
The Parthenon Restaurant has the BEST homemade gyro in Chicago and everything else is great too.
(5)M Terri O.
The lamb with artichoke hearts in avgolemono sauce....oh MY! So filling, but SO yummy! bring it home & have leftovers for the next night's dinner. Yeah, everything else is fantastic too. But I love lamb, & this restaurant has more lamb dishes than anyplace else I've ever been (and I come from a town with dueling Greek & Albanian festivals).
(5)Jeff G.
I really enjoyed the food at Parthenon. I came here while studying at UIC 10 years ago and wasn't that impressed. This time I was pleasantly surprised. I had the stuffed chicken (stuffed with spinach and feta) and it was delicious. The manager came by and saw that the piece of chicken was rather small, so he brought me a second one, with a second serving of potatoes. I told him I couldn't possibly eat any more, so he suggested I take it home! That is great customer service if you ask me. The only issue I had with my experience at Parthenon was the noisy table we were seated by. Six women drinking and shouting about very inappropriate subjects. I realize the restaurant can't do much about that, but seeing that I was on a date, they could have sat us in a more secluded spot. The place was practically empty and they sat us right next to these horrible women.
(4)Jim M.
For whatever reason my family has taken out of town guests here since I was a child. We're rubes... I know. It's always been fun, moderately priced and delicious. But after our last visit I don't think we need a family meeting for consensus on this one. We're gonna switch it up. What I remembered as kitschy and fun has become tacky and mediocre. For the benefit of the inexperienced we usually go family style to prevent them having to order by throwing a dart at a map of Greece. While not the most sophisticated place on this stretch of Halsted, I think I've always enjoyed the food. Unfortunately, last night most of the Traditional Family Dinner was terrible. The taramosalata was off- the roe had to have been old. It smelled like a can of tuna fish left on the dashboard of a hot car. The dolmades were bland and loosely rolled, just sloppy. But worst of all was the roasted lamb. The skin was cooked hard and was inedible. The meat was sparse, fatty and riddled shards of bone. I couldn't believe it. I was embarrassed. The service was fine but it wasn't the show of manic attention I've come to expect. Maybe the energetic waiter act has gotten as tired as the decor. I mean the fuse box was sloppily painted over rather than getting a facade. The whole place felt half assed. Also the strange woman covered in small bells and wearing a bejeweled acrylic sweater telling fortunes and shilling for tips in the dining room was more than a little awkward. To be fair, the gyro was fine, the pastitsio was delicious and the desserts (baklava and galaktoboureko) were both perfect. Unfortunately for the price, which is now close to other better places a block north, that isn't good enough for me.
(2)Kenny L.
Man, their traditional family style meal is HEAVY! But for $20/person, we were able to have left over for dinner the next day. I do recommend getting something else other than the roasted pig for the meat choice. theparthenon.com/dinner-… Holy Moses am I still digesting this meal? Perfect for groups!
(4)Mary A.
Amazing amazing food. The flaming cheese is a MUST appetizer. for entree I got stuffed tomato an green pepper. All I can say is..... Wow. 5 stars!!!!
(5)Veronica M.
BEST FAMILY STYLE DINNER EVER - took my boyfriend & his family for dinner, was 7 of us, ordered the $25 per person family style dinner, so much food, so good, and service was very nice. Trying to get reservations of 7 on a Friday night with only an hour notice, when I called there, the woman who answered with her Greek accent was very nice and said "no problem honey, you come in at 7:30"
(5)