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Name: Cross-Rhodes
Address: 913 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL, 60202
Telephone: (847) 475-4475
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.96

Cross-Rhodes

913 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL, 60202

(847) 475-4475
Store is closed

Cross-Rhodes Menu

Appetizers

Spanakopita

Taramousalata

Hummus

Feta Cheese & Pita Plate

Feta & Kalamata Olives Plate
Soup

Egg Lemon

Vegetarian Minestrone
Salads

Traditional Greek Salad

Large Greek Salad

Greek Villagers Salad

Tossed Salad

Large Tossed Salad

Caesar Salad

Large Caesar Salad

Cucumber And Tsatziki Salad

Vegetarian Salad

Feta Cheese

Gyros Slices

Chicken Breast Slices

Skirt Steak
Charburgers

Charburger

Rhodes Burger

Maria Fries
Country Style Pitas

Country Gyros Pita

Country Pork Souvlaki Pita

Country Chicken Pita
Sandwiches

Gyros

King Size Gyros

Souvlaki

Ham

Cheese Pitta

Vegetarian Sandwich

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Skirt Steak Sandwich
Dinners

Gyros

Souvlaki

Skirt Steak Rhodes Style

Chicken Greek Style

Bbq Chicken

Fried Shrimp

Maria Fries

Mousaka

Vegetarian Mousaka

Pastitsio

Vegetarian Pastitsio

Mini Greek Salad

Mini Caesar
Side Orders

Greek Fries

Maria Fries

Feta Cheese

Olives

Long Grain White Rice

Pita Or French Bread

Tsatziki Sauce

Bbq Sauce

Feta Cheese

Pickles Spears
Desserts

Baklava

Chocolate Chip Cheese Cake

Carrot Cake

Chocolate Fudge Torte Cake

Healthy Meal suggestions for Cross-Rhodes

Appetizers

Spanakopita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taramousalata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hummus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Feta Cheese & Pita Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Feta & Kalamata Olives Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soup

Egg Lemon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Minestrone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Traditional Greek Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Large Greek Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Greek Villagers Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tossed Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Large Tossed Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Large Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cucumber And Tsatziki Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Feta Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyros Slices [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Breast Slices [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Skirt Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Charburgers

Charburger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rhodes Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Maria Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Country Style Pitas

Country Gyros Pita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Country Pork Souvlaki Pita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Country Chicken Pita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Gyros [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

King Size Gyros [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Souvlaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ham [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Pitta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Chicken Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Skirt Steak Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dinners

Gyros [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Souvlaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Skirt Steak Rhodes Style [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Greek Style [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bbq Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Maria Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mousaka [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Mousaka [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pastitsio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Pastitsio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mini Greek Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mini Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Side Orders

Greek Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Maria Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Feta Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Olives [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Long Grain White Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pita Or French Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tsatziki Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bbq Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Feta Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pickles Spears [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Baklava [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Chip Cheese Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carrot Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Fudge Torte Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Jen B.

I love this place--my favorites are the gyros and baklava. The Villager's salad is also delicious.
(5)
I B.

We used to order here on occasion, every couple of weeks after moving to Evanston. Well, one time I called to place an order and after hearing the name, the person on the phone accused me of being some irate customer that must've been in recently and told me that when I pick up the order, that "there better not be any trouble." You completely got the wrong person and didn't even bother apologizing. Needless to say we cancelled the order and never came back.
(1)
Annie T.

What a wonderful place! Service is excellent, great care with quirky orders(allergies), and tops in burgers and Gyros! Yummy, yummy, yummy!
(5)
Lewis B.

The food is acceptable and they rarely get orders wrong. The prices have gone up slightly but not enough to be prohibitive. Regardless, I'll never be back due to the social climate. A word to management - tell your wait staff that if they're going to insult gay customers, they should do so out of ear shot. It's not like there were special dietary demands or time demands. I let it slide the first time but couldn't overlook it the second time. This review is short because there's nothing more to be said. The food is acceptable but the staff is a nasty bunch.
(1)
arpan s.

Country pork souvlaki sandwich hands down the only thing I get here haven't had a chance to move around on the menu for last two years always the same order. Holla Service hit or miss has been good lately though. good wine deals by the bottle. Cash only which blows but whatever for now. Have passed the place up a few times over that. It's not Cuba...report the income
(5)
Alyssa J.

We just moved to Evanston from Texas a few days ago, and the owners of our new rental brought us here for dinner to introduce us to the neighborhood (and their favorite local restaurant). On a Tuesday evening, we only had to wait a few minutes to get a table.They mentioned they used to visit almost weekly when they lived in the area, and the server, Sam, recognized them and greeted them. Really welcoming - I'm not sure if it's family-owned, but it had that sort of feel where everybody knows everybody. It was super family friendly, with toys for the kids to play with and cheese and crackers to snack on (great for the one-year-old in our party). It's a crowded space, but I really enjoyed the atmosphere - like some other reviews mentioned, almost like a diner type feel. I'm a big fan of "local" places, and this one has a great local feel. We had a half-carafe of wine (seemed to be reasonably priced but I didn't examine too much). I ordered the sandwich-portion of the gyro with a half order of greek fries. The gyro portion was great - very glad I didn't order the dinner portion, as they said it was larger. It was delicious! I resorted to fork-and-knife-ing the meat/etc. out of the gyro (I'm an amateur). The spices in the meat were delicious and each piece had a crispier side that was delicious. The greek fries were amazing too! So flavorful and crispy. Reminded me of Gilroy's garlic fries for anyone who has been to AT&T park. My Husband had the charburger (a burger with a crispier "crust" from what I understand). He said it was really good as well. We will definitely be visiting again - they seemed to do a lot of take-out business while we were there, and with it being just a few blocks from our condo, I can see many burger nights in our future! Definitely worth a try if you are looking for some comfort food with a local feel!
(5)
Ori F.

My partner and I walked in and were invited to sit anywhere. The restaurant has a distinctly diner-ish feel. Clean, simple, very low key. Even at about 5, pretty earlier for dinner, plenty of tables were full. As people came in they often said "hi" to particularly servers; clearly a place with lots of regulars. They have the Greek standards on the menu, and everything that came out smelled great. We each had an amply stuffed gyros sandwich. Very tasty, and a very good deal. We'll definitely be coming back.
(4)
Tiff T.

This was the 2nd time I've ever had Greek food and I must say I have another type of food I'm into. Cute place with family friendly type of atmosphere, little tight and packed with other lovers of this place, but worth it considering decent prices and good quality. Would go again.
(5)
Virginia Q.

What a nice surprise of a Greek restaurant! My friend and I connected at this place as a "mid-point" choice between our homes. We enjoyed a great salad with loads of feta. We followed that with two vegetarian dishes that were wonderfully flavored and nicely proportioned. The only minuses were the wine choices (cheap supermarket choices) and they took no credit. Since we were unprepared for that, we limited the number of items we chose from the menu.
(3)
Shawna S.

Delicious food and our waitress was fantastic. She really went above and beyond for us. The major con: CASH ONLY!
(4)
Sarah Beth B.

We came here on a saturday night, looking for an easy and delicious meal-- which we totally got. What we weren't expecting to get, however, was a math adventure. See, while we KNEW that Cross Rhodes only takes cash and we brought cash with us, we were not totally responsible with it. Before looking at how much money we had, we just went ahead and ordered a lot of wine, leaving us with about $20 to spend on actual food. Rather than just going for the gyro sandwich route, which certainly would have been in the cards price wise, we decided to branch out a little. We ended up with maria fries, a spanakopita, and a big greek salad (and, obviously, a lot of wine). It was actually a PERFECT dinner. The maria fries are insane-- delicious fries drenched in a lemony sauce, topped with tons of feta. The spanakopita was flaky and fresh, and while the salad could have used a bit more dressing, it was a delicious counterpoint to the fries. And, despite a few tense moments, we came in well under budget. We've been here before, so I know that the menu staples-- gyro, chicken-- are delish, but this was actually a really fun way to do dinner. Set a random budget and make sure you stick to it!
(4)
Dan B.

This place has just average food. I have mainly had vegetarian dishes here, the moussaka and pastitsio. They didn't seem particularly freshly made either of the times I've had them and were a bit bland. The one thing that irks me about the place is they are not very accommodating. They won't substitute any of the sides with their dinners, even for an extra fee. Just today I went in to see about getting a vegetarian pita sandwich made "country style," which includes fries and tzatziki sauce on the pita. The server very adamantly said that they cannot do this. I really don't understand why they can't do that, they have three meat sandwiches in this style and I don't see why it would be a problem to alter their vegetarian sandwich in this way. It seems like they're not very keen on being accommodating for customers, you take it or leave it. Sorry but your restaurant is not that good to be in the position. Their pricing is also a bit on the high side for their portions, especially since they don't offer lunch specials. And a $.35 carryout fee is pretty unusual, I can't think of any other restaurant that does that. Much better Greek options in Chicago proper.
(2)
Ceyda E.

Amazing food, amazing staff. The only con (and a rather major one) is that they don't accept credit cards. Otherwise delicious.
(5)
Brianna B.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 because the service was so fast. We had spanakopita, hummus with pita, a Greek salad, and fries, and all of it was fine, but nothing special. The fries were a little weird, sitting in a wine sauce and getting soggy. We came because it's the closest place to eat near FEW distillery, and didn't have time for much else. But it doesn't seem like a place to seek out.
(3)
Cindy D.

If anyone at Cross-Rhodes reads this- Take Credit Cards! You're not saving any money, it's an active decision to not come here because you have to get cash. The best thing here are the Maria fries. So lemony, herby, delicious. Gyros are fine, not amazing- but good. The greek chicken is delicious, and a massive portion. Egg lemon soup is okay. But the fries! Worth it alone.
(4)
Tiffany T.

I've been to Cross Rhodes twice now, and the first time I went, I definitely would have given a strong 5 (maybe a 4 because of the cash-only thing). The serving I got in my gyros was huge, the waiter I had was attentive and kind and the food came out so quickly. The second time i went, I had gone for a celebration - literally right after my graduation ceremony. The food, the waitstaff, all great. However, my qualm came when I had to interact with the manager. I went up to pay and i had mistakenly given a smaller dollar bill than I thought and had expected change in return. When I asked about it, she corrected me, showed me the bills I had given her and I told her that it was fine and I was walking out. As I tried to leave, she shoved the check over the counter towards my face and started yelling at me about why I would even ask the question and what I was expecting back. I was expecting change back so I could leave tip at the table. However, due to my lack of small bills and just the general feeling that I NEEDED to leave and that I was unwanted, I never got the chance to do so. I feel guilty and if I return and have the same staff, I'll be sure to leave more. But I'm getting the feeling I'll never return because of the manager alone.
(2)
Cathleen H.

So after ordering take out from them several times, I have finally had it! Extremely inconsistent which is a staple in the food industry! This time I ordered their Chicken Souvlaki, which I have ordered to go a million times. I ordered it with Greek fries which means they pour a white wine lemon herbaceous sauce on top. So needless to say I was not expecting crispy fries which come with the Souvlaki. I also ordered the white sauce which is Tzatziki. So fast forward to me opening my to go order at home to find that they had slathered my whole meal with the Tzatziki. Every other time that I have ordered this dish to go, remember that I have ordered it a million times, they have put the sauce on the side. So not only were my fries not crispy, again not what I was expecting anyway, but they were literally swimming in a mixture of the Greek sauce for my fries and the Tzatziki. My husband, realizing that I was very unpleased with my meal, called up the restaurant to let them know of the mistake hoping that he would at least get an apology if not maybe a free meal during our next visit or something, you know the way almost every single restaurant works. Instead the owner picked up the phone when he called and proceeded to tell him that that is they way they have been doing it for 20+ years and their customers like it that way. So my husband reiterated how we have ordered this meal numerous times and never received the Tzatziki on the dish, rather on the side. Again the owner said the same schpeal about how the customers love it like this. Never once did she apologize, never once did she offer to correct it and never once did she realize that this IS one of her customers telling her that they did NOT like it like this and that maybe when this dish is served to go the sauce should be on the side!! I will never return to Cross Rhodes based off of this experience. This is NOT how you treat your customers, the people who pay your bills and keep your doors open!
(1)
Dave Y.

Horrible service. Unreasonable staff. Came here for the first time for lunch. Ordered a dinner Gyro, cup of minestrone soup, and plate of hummus. Excited about trying the Greek food here I ordered quite a bit. :) However, my excitement was offset by the service. It's pretty bad here. Bad bad. The waiter didn't really want to be here. And he takes it out on the customers. Just get to-go and don't eat in......or so I thought. Oh man, the Gyro here is doused in salt. The hummus is a rip off - you get a very very small plate for the order. Overall, they really take advantage of the fact that there are no real Greek restaurants around. Evanston-ians need some real Greek food infusion~
(1)
Mingyang J.

I live one block away for two years, can't believe I didn't come here all this time! Super nice people here, hearty environment and comforting food!!
(5)
Stephanie B.

These gyros are jam-packed with delicious lamb and fresh ingredients! And super inexpensive- a great sandwich for a great price. Just have cash ready as this place doesn't take cards
(5)
Jimmy R.

I change my review and revoke my previous rate 5star --back to none. I've been there several times because their gyros are delicious. This lady's served me a few times. The last time I went, she forgot to bring me my drink I'd ordered. I've always ordered Sprite along with gyros. It doesn't take a genius to tell whether a person pretend to do what s/he doesn't want to do(for whatever reason). I've never tipped less than $5 in a restaurant if I'd stopped by to eat. If I do, tip less, it's an insult to YOU for a reason- especially, when my tip includes coins. I'm in the process finding a new favorite gyros place. In the mean time, anywhere out there but here. Suggest a place or two if u might but please, do not give me a whole list or u'll get coins lol...
(1)
Nick B.

It actually kind of bums me out to have to write this review, but enough is enough. Cross Rhodes, you've been a staple of my partner's world for years and I have spent the last year getting to know you quite intimately as well. You've always been tasty, but your service has always been tepid at best. I've been able to look past the lukewarm service because you have pretty good food and you're local! I come from a family who owns local businesses and spent five years running one myself, so I more than understand what good customer service is and you, sadly, don't have it, CR. Last Thursday you served up some freezer-temp service and it was the last straw for me. I usually look passed mediocre service -- I'm in the industry myself! -- but even I couldn't stomach it this time. You know the scary part? It had to be almost atrocious because I'm the one with the long fuse in my relationship and my partner just left when she saw the Looney Tunes-esque steam billowing from my ears. Your waitress was too busy chatting, counting her tips and downing drinks to pay much attention to us or even offer up a smile. You really screwed the pooch here, CR. You had two extremely loyal customers and you lost them for the foreseeable future, if not forever. Bad, CR, bad! Let this be notice to anyone who frequents CR, don't put up with the below average service that CR offers just because they're local and they have great fries. You deserve better!
(2)
Alex R.

I've been coming to this restaurant regularly for at least ten years and I wish I could give more than five stars. This neighborhood "Greek ish" restaurant never disappoints. Most items are under $10, and everything is fresh and delicious. The hamburgers are terrific, in particular the cross rhodes burger that has a pile of their delicious gyros on top of the burger is wonderful. Other favorites include the Greek chicken and the "Maria fries" which have crumbled feta on top of their delicious vinegary Greek fries. I don't think it's a "destination restaurant" that I would travel an hour to, however if you're nearby you can't beat it.
(5)
Ana W.

Great place! Very affordable food and a perfect place to have a no-frills, but exceptionally tasty meal. We have never had a bad meal there (and have tried pretty much everything on the menu). **Their baklava is FANTASTIC!**
(5)
Gen P.

I love the fact that i can have a gyros late here and not wake up with swollen eyes from all the salt. Everywhere i go get gyros it tastes too salty and thats why the gyros at cross rhodes is my favorite place to go to. Not to mention they have the friendliest people there.
(5)
Anya A.

A favorite go to restaurant. The food is delicious and the service is good. Try the Maria fries as they are simply amazing. This place can get very busy, but I have never had to wait more than 20 minutes to be seated and the food is served quickly.
(4)
Brett M.

If you enjoy Greek cuisine then this is your best bet for in Evanston. The food here is nothing short of authentic and nothing short of delicious. They also offer organic or free range varieties which is a HUGE plus in an area that places a value on this. What a dynamic. Think of a family dining experience with food quality that is closer to fine dining. The service was nothing special but at the same time I don't come to a place like this looking to be pampered. Because the environment and ambiance here is more diner(ish) then it helps to lower the cost on the excellent quality of food. This is what makes Cross-Rhodes such an excellent bargain. They also service wine(s) and beer.
(4)
Amanda S.

I've come here for most of my life, and my advice is still the same: get the Greek chicken with wet fries and a side of the lemon rice soup!
(5)
Anthony M.

A friend recently recommended that I try the Greek food here and after looking at the menu I was very excited to try the lemon rice soup and a Greek Chicken. The location is easy to find and there is plenty of parking on the street but as I walked up to the door I was greeted by a sign on the door that said, "Please read sign in the window!" At first I thought...oh no they went out of business but then I realized it was worse then that. The sign read: "It is with a heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Cross-Rhodes owner and longtime Evanston resident Jeff Russell. Jeff was a bright light in our community, a fixture in the neighborhood for decades, and will be deeply missed by his family, his friends, and the countless customers who passed through the doors of this popular establishment. His humor, his generosity, his loyalty, and his humanity will never be matched. And Evanston will not be the same without him. You are welcome to stop by Cross-Rhodes this Thursday night, September 13th (2012) between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm to share a memory with the Cross-Rhodes family." My thoughts go out to the family during this difficult time. I would like to pass on to the family that as I stood outside for about 10 minutes there was so many customers who were taken by surprise of Jeff's passing. It was amazing to see everyone stopping to read the sign and then to see the sadness on there face. I could tell that Jeff was well liked. Rest in Peace Jeff!
(5)
Kurt L.

Bad, bad service. We were swarmed with waiters, including the overbearing maÃ®tre d', when we walked in, and pestered several times after we were seated to see if we were ready to order, but as soon as we placed our orders (a greek salad, a gyro plate and some fries), suddenly things slowed to a crawl. It took FOREVER for our food to come out, and it's not like our dishes were cooked to order, so I don't know what the holdup was. I was in a bad mood by that point because I was hungry, but the food was nothing special when it finally did come, and it wasn't cheap, either (Plus, cash only. Dumb.). I came here hoping for a little taste of the Coney Islands I grew up visiting in Detroit, but left disappointed. There are enough places to get Greek food in Chicago that I don't think I'll be coming back any time soon.
(2)
Nina B.

I really enjoy Cross Rhodes. I needed to get thank you meals for some of the teachers at school that helped me out with a project - thus my reason for visiting Cross Rhodes. I've gone in the pass, for sit down and take-out and have always liked it. I'm surprised I never wrote a review. First, I called the night before, to place the order, because time was of the essence the next day; when the meals were needed. I spoke with a nice young man who assured me that all would be well. He said to call ten minutes before they opened to have the lunches ready about 15 minutes after they opened. And it was as he he said - even with a somewhat particular order. The food was great and the teachers were happy - one surprising herself that she ate the whole thing - it was so good.
(5)
Annie W.

You know, the service was fast and fine, and the food was OK...but the fact that in 2014, they are still not taking credit cards really bothers me. Because going next door, I paid $3.50 in ATM fees on a $17.50 bill - just so the restaurant could save an incredibly negligible amount of money on credit card fees. As a business owner, I know what credit card fees look like on a large scale, and the amount of money they are saving by not taking credit cards is tiny - if they passed on 100% of those fees, it couldn't amount to more than a 3-5% increase on bills (in my case, probably less than 75 cents). I have a hard time understanding why people are buying this line of reasoning that they are saving "so much money" because the diner is passing on pennies in savings, while everyone who doesn't carry cash gives $3.50 in fees to a bank. It doesn't add up. Clearly your customers want the ability to take credit cards. Maybe consider listening to all of the reviews stating as much. It's time, folks!
(2)
Diana M.

Best Greek Salad and Minestrone Soup I have ever had. Friendly service, reasonable prices.
(4)
Mike P.

Might have given 4 stars but first time and it didnt bowl me over so let's see what happens next time. There will be a next time. From the outside it looks like a typical fat gyros & hot dog place. Not so, its a full service restaurant with liquor license. Went for late weekday lunch (2ish) it was about half full, we were seated and had menus quickly. Not a bad menu for neighborhood greek food. Definitely want to try a couple dinners, but we were there because we hadn't had a gyros in a while so thats what we both got. I got egg lemon soup and a half order of Maria fries. Soup was adequate. Probably wont order it again unless its a cold wet soup kind of day. The gyros were mildly seasoned. usually I like a strongly seasoned meat but to be honest the older I get the more instant and severe the heart burn so this was still tasty and easy on the digestion. Same with the sauce, a bit mild and looked like it had been pureed. Should've got a regular but got the big size. Oh my! Huge, absolutely huge! Unwieldy huge, had to eat half with a knife and fork before I could even wrap my hands around it. A lot of food for the price. Had to try the maria fries after seeing the pics and reviews. Interesting idea and it tasted good feta and a seasoned lemon sauce over nice thick steak fries. Again, not bowled over but yeah it was good and I'd suggest them to friends for sure. Oh, and the half size is plenty! Will have to go back, it's just 15 minutes up the street. Try something else cause it looks to offer a lot more than a lunch sandwich. Then I'll update.
(3)
Jordan B.

Fantastic food, my favorite place for a gyro & Greek fries. Very good quality & cheap
(5)
Sean O.

The gyros here are great, especially on the Greek salad. My only issues are that sometimes the Greek fries, which are delicious, don't have any of the lemon and wine sauce on them. There are times I've gone where they're great and other times where they're dry. Also, the tomatoes and cucumbers on the Greek salad are cut too large. Other than that, I'm a fan.
(4)
Chet M.

Coming here after a 8 year hiatus, nothing seemed to change and the food is just as good as it ever was. Greek chicken was grilled to charred perfection as I requested. Fries were smothered with that tart and tasty chicken au jus. Avalemono was a treat to come with the meal. My kids were treated to cheese and crackers (Kraft American & chili oyster type crackers) before the meals came. How cute! This place is getting to be one of those iconic comfort food places one yearns for as the years roll by...
(4)
Dee S.

Ehhh this place is OK, not great by any means..The food is just kind of bland and basic, nothing really stands out EXCEPT the fries, which are pretty darn good since they drizzle red wine vinegar and rosemary over them. Now, the appetizer take out hummus is the most disappointing pathetic excuse for an order of hummus, it comes in one of those little coleslaw cups and it's not even that good, its on the runny side. This place really needs to work on what goes with what, Example: The burger is pretty decent size and they serve it with a little bun, like the kind you buy for a picnic. Everything just becomes a mess halfway through, stuff starts falling out and it's just not fun to eat The "Kaiser roll" they serve with the chicken is pretty large, it kind of takes over and if by kaiser roll they mean "stale loaf of bread" than ok fair game. Plus they put a TON of RAW onions on the sandwich, that just doesn't make any sense, the onions completely take over the whole flavor. You never put raw onions on a chicken sandwich, did anyone ever tell them that? The Gyro is pretty decent, if I had to recommend something it would be that.
(2)
Josh C.

It has been awhile since my last review and my response is the same. The food is great and the service is awful. They only have 2 waitresses for over the entire restaurant. As a result they were not checking in with our table or removing plates and refilling drinks. I had to get up from our table to ask for a to go box and for our bill. Again, the food is really good but until they hire more wait and bus staff I will take the extra time and go to the Athenian Room.
(3)
Steve A.

I would describe Cross Rhodes as more of a diner than a restaurant. With a different menu it would be a typical greasy spoon breakfast place. The food is conventional Greek fare. I had the Gyro dinner, which was a large mound of sliced lamb served over vinegar fries with sliced tomato, onions, greek yogurt and a pita. Quite tasty. The hummus appetizer was also fine, lemony, and fairly thin in consistency, with pita for dipping. Service was fast and friendly, and I was greeted by the staff upon arriving and departing. The place was busy, and I think it is this friendly atmosphere as much as anything that accounts for it. No credit cards and no alcohol.
(4)
Cassie S.

Is Cross Rhodes a good place to go when you're on a diet? No. Unless you are determined to either a) break your diet or b) be miserable. Is Cross Rhodes an otherwise amazing place to go get scrumptious gyros and soup and sandwiches and and and... oh the fries. Greek fries with all that tasty vinegar. Mmmmmm. Cash only!! Street parking can be a little frustrating but you'll find it eventually.
(4)
Greg K.

Great greek food. The gyro (basic, not king-sized) was loaded, bursting at the seams with the most succulent of meats. The lemon soup is must-have-must-slurp.
(4)
Caitlin B.

Delicious! Evanston doesn't have much competition for Mediterranean food, but CrossRhodes could hold its own in Greektown. Small, family friendly, inexpensive and great food! Cash only.
(5)
Andrea R.

We are currently staying in temp housing in Evanston, and tried takeaway at this little greek place. We called in our order & the turnaround was very quick. The greek chicken, greek salad & gyro salad were great, and we definitely plan to be back!
(4)
Iryna Z.

Went there for lunch! Rundown, dirty greek place wannabe. With asian decent waitstaff, I was simply confused where I was. They are loud, annoying and hard to understand. Now...the food - terrible. Worst greek, Mediterranean style food ever. I made better homemade tzatziki sauce. There was no hint of garlic or cucumber whatsoever, and thats what it suppose to have in it. If the only way I could describe it, it would not be PG13. Sauce alone was so gross, I don't know whether they make it themselves or its out of a bottle. Awful. After uneventful lunch, we went to pay, and shockingly they don't take credit cards - cash or check only. So we had to go the ATM and get charged fees to pay our check. From that you can clearly tell who their clientele is - old people, and people that never had REAL greek food before. Go to Greek town downtown if you really want to write "It's the best greek food I've ever had"! To say the least, it left a BAD taste in my mouth. Foo.
(1)
Bart S.

I love this place, The Greek Chicken in Greek Town is not as good as what you get here, and it is also at least 4-5 bucks cheaper. The French Fries in the lemon/wine sauce with the chicken are also something to tell all your friends about. The Gyros are top notch, the Skirt Steak is also good. I had a cup of the lemon rice soup, it was steaming hot, and full of flavor. Cheap eats, over the top good. For dessert, they offer carrot cake and baklava. I asked if they had galaktoboureko, the cash register gal, had no idea what I was talking about. Perhaps they should look it up. It's OK, everything was great!~
(5)
Rick R.

Ok I really don't know what to make of this place or all the rave reviews but I just don't get it?? All I know is that when you leave, your clothes will need to be washed coz they will reek of grease--yuck! Customer service here is excellent I must say. We were greeted right when we walked in and they said "sit anywhere guys" so we sat in the back and it was pretty gross as it was like a Salvation Army soup kitchen with Light blue stripes to kinda Greekafy the place. Not that I'd ever been to a soup kitchen, but if I had, this is probably how it would look. So about the food: we both started out with a cup of lemon rice soup and it was not bad but not good either. It was lemony with rice and sort of with just warmed-over hot water with no chicken broth taste whatsoever. For the entree I ordered something which I thought would be pretty safe and a no-brainier so I got the gyros dinner. First off let me say that this was the blandest gyros I ever tasted that I needed to salt and pepper the meat. Serious?? I thought all gyros meat came from he same gyros factory in Chicago. Now the worst part of this dish was the tatsiki sauce. As several Yelpers mentioned, this sauce tasted bottled or something. In fact, it tasted like it was "cut" and added some bland filler or something. There was no cucumber in it, no yogurty zing, just kinda vinegary white goop--eckkk!! It came with a huge side of "lemony herb rice" but what I got was stuck-together-grayish-off-white rice with again some vinegary taste on the bottom of it--again disgusting. My friend ordered the Pastiscio and that too was pretty tasteless and lacked any cheese or nuance of cinnamon. The staff here like I said was very nice, friendly and helpful. But the food is not worth the trip no matter how cheap it is. Make the drive to Greek town, coz you ain't gonna find it here in the corner of Evanston. I'm no "Rhodes" scholar but I'll "Cross" town to get me some real Greek cuisine!
(2)
chester T.

Mmmmmm Cross-Rhodes. Everything is good.
(5)
Rob F.

Not really a Greek restaurant, but a good spot for reasonably priced casual food. Have had most of the items on the menu, the Gyros and other items are all done well. I have never had a problem with the service, but it can get busy on the weekends. Doesn't take credit cards, but not an issue if you know about it in advance -- plus a person's bill won't be over $15 anyway.
(4)
Matt M.

I like gyros cause they are soooo delicious! I also like a good deal, helpful services, and hearty servings. Check 1, 2, and 3. They make delicious greek style salads, great gyros, and fresh sauce to throw on your oh-so-tastey sandwiches. Downfalls? The diet coke doesnt flow very well and they use shot glasses to serve it in. I really wanted to give you that fifth star!! Eitherway, I will be back very soon.
(4)
Jennifer L.

Just moved to the area and had to try this place. I love Greek food!! First time I ordered carry out. Ordered spanakopita, gyros and fries. Not bad, good enough to go back. Second time came with a friend and we dined in. Service isn't the greatest, but I could have overlooked it. What bothered me most and why I won't return anytime soon was the level of cleanliness or lack of. When I picked up my order during my first visit I noticed the floors were really dirty. I assumed they must've had a busy rush and hadn't gotten to the floors yet. During my second visit we sat by the window. Same dirt but more of it. I swear they hadn't swept since my first visit 2 weeks prior. Says a lot about a restaurant. If you can't take 10 minutes to sweep, what other areas of sanitation are you skipping... I wanted to vomit after seeing all the dirt and hair while trying to eat. Needless to say, I lost my appetite and didn't finish the rest of my fairly expensive meal. I walk by there often and will take a glance at the floor when I do. I hope to see a clean floor sometime soon, i'd like to go back since it's so close to where I live...
(2)
Andrea C.

A really delicious spot! Went with Dee W. for the first time when we were craving Greek during a work day. She showed me the ropes. I got a gyro sandwich and the Greek lemon fries- yum!! Huge, heaping portions for cheap. Not a date night spot- pretty casual and quick, but no complaints on this place!
(4)
Melissa M.

This place is way overrated....first of all they don't take debit cards only cash. Hmmm that's so old school I wonder why. Second there food really isn't that traditional. The wait staff reminds me of an old diner from some rural town. So lacking.... Our experience with the Owner was handled so unprofessional. She had inherited the business from her deceased father and what I hear and experienced really isn't a good business owner. She lacks in customer service big time. Example: we ordered food over the phone for carryout and specifically told the order taker twice what we wanted. We got home and discovered missing food. So I immediately called the owner and she said it wasn't on the ticket and you didn't pay for that. So my gf called back and told her what she ordered and again same response we then placed another order the she drove back over there to get the additional food that they originally forgot. When she got there the owner insulted her and also scolded her and blamed her for the screwup. I'm like really??? Isn't the customer right plus your so busy I know mistakes do happen but to blame the customer??? Obviously that her father had built the business up and now she took it over says a lot. I had refused going there to dine over the last 1 1/2 years and my gf does carryout there. I prefer to go to Greektown for authentic Greek food where the service and food is head and shoulders above this dive. Sorry to say this but when your established you need to maintain customer service and this restaurant doesn't care about repeat business....
(1)
Debbie S.

Yeah...so this place is good. Stopped in here after moving in to our new place in Evanston with my parents, the hubby and our 2 year old. Initially service was a bit spotty and it took them awhile to figure out how to seat 5. I was a little perturbed by everything until our food came. Then I forgot about everything and just enjoyed my gyro and Greek fries. Here's a tip -- order the Greek fries. I try to stay away from french fries but these are worth it. The gyro was flavorful and the meat was perfectly cooked. The fries are soaked in a lemon garlic oil type sauce that it outstanding. I don' t think that I have ever had Greek fries -- how did I not know about them before? Only downside (and not really a downside) is that this spot is cash only. Just make sure you remember before you try it out. The space itself is small and not particularly well appointed, but in this instance, it doesn't matter. Prices are low and food is great. I'm willing to give up a little atmosphere.
(4)
Betsy H.

Last Friday night I had dinner here with my parents and my 22 year old son. The atmosphere is so bright, clean and pleasant, and the service is friendly and fast. I split the vegetarian pastichio dinner, with vegetarian minestrone and french bread, along with a large order of Greek fries, with my son. The pastichio is so warm and full of vegetables and a rich bÃ©chamel topping, and the noodles are cooked to perfection. Their classic Greek fries are consistently tangy, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, and comforting. My parents split the chicken sandwich and an order of dry fries. They loved it and we all had a great time talking it up about how we've been going there for years and still find the same great quality. A family next to us had a little boy there and he got a free package of oyster crackers and a slice of american cheese, just like my son got when we took him there as a small child. Thanks for the memories and for continuing as always, Chross-Rhodes!
(5)
Michelle K.

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

Best place in Evanston! Great food. Everything is good.
(5)
J S.

Consistently Great and Always Easy. Perfect spot for a quick sit down lunch or dinner. Always fast and prepared well. Country Chicken pit is my Favorite. Hummus is top notch!
(5)
Mary C.

Hands down my favorite Greek food on the north shore. I've been coming to this place since I was a kid and it hasn't changed. I still hate that they don't accept credit cards, but that doesn't keep me away. Cross-Rhodes is the best value to portion ratio I've seen. You will not leave here hungry! Some standouts? The lemon soup is ultra yummy. I also love their herb and dressing-soaked Greek fries. I get cravings for these and no one makes these on the West Coast where I live now. You can't go wrong with a gyro sandwich or if you're trying to be good, try a salad with a little bit of meat on it. The dressing is super tangy and the salad portions will be enough for two. I've also had their pastistio, which I'm a fan of. My boyfriend likes their souvlaki. They've changed the menu a little bit, but only in good ways. All the classic dishes are still there. I recently had a country gyro, which had fries and feta on it. It was pretty good, but I think I'll order the classic version next time. The decor and menu style hasn't changed since I was a kid. There's something really nice about that. It feels like home. There's no place I would rather have a food coma than here. I'm so glad they still do the carafe of water on the table. Between this and the fast service, you'll never be left trying to flag someone down. The staff are mostly the same, so that's always a good sign. Sad to hear about the owner passing. We filmed a commercial in the restaurant and he was very accommodating. His daughter is equally as nice. I hope she continues to keep the tradition going. Evanston needs more family-run businesses and fewer chain places. Thank you Cross-Rhodes for being the old standby who is consistent and cheap. I dream about your Greek fries in California. Wish we had a Cross-Rhodes West over here!
(5)
Jennie T.

I read about this place on Serious Eats, and the article looked so good that I forwarded it to Kenny, only to find out that he had previously recommended it to me. We went, and the meal was fantastic! We ordered the spanakopita (spinach and cheese pie) to start. This was good, but I've had better. We split our main dish, which was the Greek-style chicken with the egg lemon soup and Maria's fries. I loved the egg lemon soup. It was very citrusy in flavor, and you don't need to add any more lemon juice to it (they provided us with a lemon wedge on the side). The half chicken came out sitting on top of the fries and feta cheese which sat on the white wine, lemon and herb sauce. It looked really appealing, even with some burnt ashy parts on the skin! Best of all, the meat just fell off the bones. It was juicy and very delicious. The white meat sections were a little dry, but I was fine with dipping it back in the sauce and eating it that way. The fries with the feta cheese were delicious! Who knew that feta cheese would go so well with the fries? And the wine, lemon, and herb sauce too! The meal was very filling for the both of us, and our order came out to be around $15 (we had ordered a baklava to go--it was just okay). Cheap and delicious? I'm a fan! The service at Cross-Rhodes was a little slow though. I think our order came out quickly, which I liked, but it took them a long time to get our order and then a long time giving us our bill just so that we can pay at the counter. The first part, I can sort of understand. The last part was a bit confusing--I didn't understand why it took so long to give us our bill.
(4)
Annie G.

I never write reviews but I had such a wonderful experience here tonight (as always) that I promised myself I would. I came into Cross-Rhodes with my 16 month old son and realized I had forgotten my wallet and only had $6. I was super embarrassed and explained the situation to the waiter who was nothing but kind. Not only was I able to get a delicious egg lemon soup and fries, but they brought out a piece of cheese and crackers for my son without even asking. I guess they do this for all kids which is reason enough to go back!! The food is amazing, the service is great (we had Sam and he was as sweet as can be)-- it really doesn't get any better! I love Cross-Rhodes!!
(5)
Robyn K.

Did not like this place! Hummus was so bland. Grecian chicken was so full of vinegar. Fries were icky and soggy. Don't order rice- saw the rice and it was soggy and mashed up looking. They didn't replace my water ever. It wasn't even that busy! Don't waste your money here
(2)
Sarah G.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending Custer's Last Stand, which has been held in Evanston every summer for 41 years. Typically, I adore festivals, because there is so much food to choose from! I went with my mom, who was there just because she wanted to spend some time with me. Win win for both of us. On her suggestion, we went to dinner at Cross Rhodes on Chicago Ave, and I loved it. Although the North Shore has so much amazing food to choose from and an abundance of restaurants to peruse, it can be hard to find a good Greek place unless you go into the city. Well, Cross Rhodes was a great experience. All the food is authentically made, the service is quick, and the atmosphere is casual, perfect for enjoying whatever entree you order. As a first time customer, the menu is easy to understand, and chock full of things to choose from. For an appetizer, we tried the Greek Caviar (Taramousalata), which came out with pita bread. Surprisingly, one thing I had never tried was caviar. It came out, and I was a little bit daunted because it was pink, but one of my mottos as a foodie is I will try anything once. I'm really glad I did because it was so good! Pita bread was the perfect thing to complement the flavor of the caviar. We couldn't get enough! Next up we ordered the classic Egg Lemon soup. On paper, it sounds weird, because it's an egg, lemon, and rice soup. Not to mention we ordered it on a hot summer day. But I knew it would be fantastic, as it is a staple at Greek restaurants. If you're at a "greek" place and this isn't on the menu, be concerned. It was the best Egg Lemon soup I've ever had. Lemon was just tart enough, rice and egg combined made the flavors explode in my mouth like fireworks. Finally we got to the main dishes, which were eagerly anticipated. My mom ordered the Mousaka which is a Greek casserole dish made up of eggplant, potato, beef, cheese, and egg custard topping. Although my mom would never associate as a "foodie" like I do, she is able to appreciate a good meal. My main entree was similar, a Greek Lasagna (Pastitsio) which had pasta, layered spiced beef, cheese, and an egg custard topping. Typically, when I go to a Greek restaurant, I order Spanakopita (spinach pie) but I wanted to try something new. It really was quite similar to Italian lasagna, though I highly enjoyed the egg custard topping. Something about it just brought all the flavors together for me! I cannot recommend Cross Rhodes enough. I can't believe I didn't know about it sooner! I fully intend on going back and trying lots of other delicious entrees, and I encourage anybody who loves great Greek food that won't break the bank, to do the same.
(3)
Stephanie O.

We are so incredibly lucky to live near such a wonderful gem! We come here A LOT and have never ordered anything we didn't like. The Greek chicken is unreal. The skin is crispy and charred but the meat is tender and literally falling off the bone. The Greek fries are thickly cut steak fries drenched in a lemon garlic sauce that is addictive. Don't be put off by the name "egg-lemon," this soup is a creamy, lemony bowl of goodness. I crave it in the winter (particularly when I'm sick). It is great paired with the strips of gyro meat mounded on a pita. I can't say enough about how delicious this place is. If they catered, I would have had them cater my wedding. Seriously. It's that good.
(5)
Alicia B.

I've been wanting to try this place for a while and have heard nothing but great things. And it's true, it's good! I was kind of boring and just got the vegetarian salad but I did add gyro meat to it that was good. They also had fries on it, odd but I do live fries so no complaints from me! They put their own lemon garlic sauce on the fries that is very good. Their hummus is great! Probably some of the best I've had. And nice warm pitas to go along, we even had to ask for more pita. The restaurant itself is very cute inside. And everyone working was very friendly with a smile. I only gave it 3 stars because I feel like i owe it to the restaurant to try something other than a salad there. I will definitely be going back for more!!
(3)
Matt T.

I love the food here so damn much. I grew up a few blocks away and basically had CR once-a-week. I've never had a better gyro or skirt steak and the chicken is always a good bet. I've had the burger which is also good but never really ventured past these items. Off course I can't forget about the best fries in Chicago; which are, the Greek fries. That lemon herb juice CR puts on everything is crack. Especially when they douse the skirt steak and rice in the marinade. It's nice to see they have incorporated some craft beers to choose from. Some people complain about cash only but that's always been the case here and it's a family establishment and saves money on the credit card transaction fees. There's a bank next door. Deal with it. Nothing much to complain about. Service is great and friendly and the food is fantastic. It's such a bummer that Jeff, the original founder and owner passed away a few months ago. He's one of the reasons CR was a great place to get a meal and hang out. Glad to see CR is still going strong with Jeff's daughter in charge. Even though my wife and I moved further west and south in Chicago I will still make a trip out here once a month, at least.
(5)
Debbie N.

We've been coming to Cross Rhodes since they opened many years ago. The original owners, Jeff and his wife, were charming. The recipes (from what we were told) were family recipes of Jeff's wife and were/are absolutely delicious! Over the years, the menu has expanded, the place updated but the food has remained as good as ever. Their daughter runs the restaurant and is every bit as charming as her Dad. The Greek Chicken is big and delicious. We get it with pita, salad and greek fries, well done. The hamburgers can't be beat....rare on pita with feta cheese...yum. Skirt steak, delicious; and the gyros.....absolutely the best. They only take CASH.
(5)
Dave S.

This place has really gone downhill! I used to like the chicken souvlaki plate with "Maria" fries but it was downright bad the last two times I've been there. A few months ago, I ordered this dish and thought that the chicken was dry and overcooked. I chalked it up to a fluke and ordered it again while there last night. It was exactly the same though, dry, overcooked and, if not for the tzadziki sauce, totally flavorless. What happened to the nice, juicy chicken souvlaki of old? I'd like to know.
(2)
Adam H.

This place flat out rocks! Tons of food, low prices, and nice people!
(5)
Peping Tim C.

Food is delicious. Service was really quick. Best of all the staff is very friendly and accommodating! Definitely a great place to eat.
(5)
No O.

Rude! The owner of this place actually tried to take my food away from me. She said, "This is not a fast food place. If you are going to eat here, you need to eat on a plate!" The cook had actually taken my order and never asked if I wanted it for there or to go. I clearly sat at a table and intended to eat it there. So, when the cook gave me my food, I sat right back down at the table I was sitting at and started eating my food. That's when the owner rudely approached me. She had clearly just walked in off the street and wanted to handle my food without even washing her hands. I just left. I would never visit this place again. The food was only mediocre anyways... in fact, fast food may have been of better quality.
(1)
Jon L.

Gyros is pretty good but should be all lamb, not half beef/half lamb. Greek fries are very dry and not as flavorful as they should be.
(3)
Marissa P.

The food was adequate, okay for the price, but the atmosphere wasn't so great. For starters there were other patrons who started making homophobic comments about me and my partner. I know you can't fault a restaurant for that, but the patrons kept on talking loudly and pulled the waiter in on the conversation. He said that we'd be out soon enough. I couldn't get the bill fast enough. I felt so uncomfortable being in that environment. I would not go back there.
(1)
Betsy E.

Have been a customer for more than 15 years. Great spot for dinner in or carry out. Food is well prepared and tastes great. Big fan of their Moussaka, Pastitsio, gyros and shirt steak. Bring cash as that is what you need to pay with. But it's a local restaurant run by a family who loves it.
(4)
David L.

Not much I enjoy more than a cup of egg-lemon soup, Greek fries, and the Greek chicken from Cross Rhodes.
(5)
Brenden G.

My wife and I really enjoy getting carryout from here. I typically order the Gyro Dinner and my wife usually goes for the Moussaka. The lemon soup is amazing and the fries are great too. The portions are huge, but make sure you bring CASH. The staff is friendly and the food is great. Whenever we have friends or family visit, we have to hit Cross-Rhodes at least once!
(5)
Adam C.

We tried this place for the first time and really loved it. The Chicken was some of the best I have ever had in my life. You think by now, you've probably eaten chicken in every possible combination of flavors and styles, right? Nope. You haven't. The way they do Chicken at CR is nothing short of a miracle. It comes to you so juicy and mouth watering la delicious, served in a lemony broth that just permeates the entire bird on your plate. I could easily eat this every day for the rest of my life. The hummus and pita bread was also outstanding as a side. The lemon soup was incredible and so was the carrot cake dessert that asked home made and fresh from the oven that day. They also had Daisy Cutter beer as a special feature. Last but not least, our server, Jillian, was incredibly sweet and personable. We have only lived in this neighborhood for a week, but we already found a place we know we'll be frequenting.
(5)
Heather K.

My favorite is their chicken sandwich but I tweek mine a bit. Instead of the kaiser roll, I get a pita. Also instead of mayo I get the tahini sauce. Mmm.. yummy!
(4)
Matt L.

Is there a separate Yelp for people who cry about restaurants that only accept cash? Cross-Rhodes was here before you, and in all likelihood, it will be here long after you finally work up the stones to move to California. If you don't like it then shove off. Subway is right across the street. I should probably note that the establishment itself isn't so militant about the policy, it's just, like, their policy or whatever. This place has been here for thirty years, the last ten of which at least have been firmly in the much-vaunted, alleged 'Cashless Future' that we were all promised as children of the '80s, and, look, I get it. We all want to live in the world of Shadowrun where we carry cred sticks and openly engage in murder-for-hire while zooted out of our gourds on trendy designer narcotics named Zapp or Moto. But in the world that we in fact do live in, there are a few establishments that still move at a more deliberate pace. That's not to say the service was slow. Much the opposite. There was a delicious, char-broiled dead animal between two buns in front of me in under five minutes. But Cross-Rhodes doesn't need all your fancypants gadgets, doohickeys, or merchant account service providers that take a pound of flesh every month in flat and per transaction fees. Their system has kept the doors open all this time, why bother changing for you? Or, hey, maybe they'll change after they read your reviews. After all, you do make a compelling argument how, mathematically, it's just easier for you if Cross-Rhodes starts forking over a slice of its revenues each month just so it can better cater to lazy mopes who refuse to stop at their own bank's ATM. By the same token, someone should take an additional .5-5% out of the direct deposits you get from your employer, because it's just easier than cutting a check. +1 for a burger that didn't get sprayed with a special resin to make it taste char-broiled. +1 for clearly not giving a muffled rat's fart what you think about its cash only policy. +1 for pun in the name. -1 for no free drink refills but +1 for hooking it up with one anyways. +1 for having a bunch of He-Man guys and Garbage Pail Kids and whatnot at the register.
(4)
David R.

I'm glad that I gave Cross-Rhodes another chance, because the meal that I enjoyed there last week was far better than what I remember from a few years ago. It was the day after Snowmageddon, we wanted some hearty fare, and we came to the right place. I surprised myself by ordering the vegetarian pastitsio, essentially a Greek lasagna featuring spinach, carrots, mushrooms, peas, parsley, onions, flat noodles, cheese, and "egg custard topping." All those vegetables sounded better to me than the meat version, which is just beef and tomato sauce in addition to the noodles, cheese, and "egg custard topping." And I made the right choice, because this was a very tasty dish as well as filling. The warm french bread and the simple salad were a nice accompaniment, and I even liked the spanakopita appetizer despite a general aversion to cooked spinach. I tried a few bites of chicken souvlaki and Greek fries, both a thumbs-up. Service was a-okay this time, and I enjoyed the vaguely familial vibe in the dining room that night. I still feel that the prices are a little high for the quality and quantity of food; but my overall opinion has been rehabilitated to the point that I would happily return.
(3)
Angela C.

CASH ONLY! There is an Charter Bank ATM next door, if you don't mind their $3.50 ATM fee. Parking usually isn't a problem. A Greek friend hosted her birthday dinner here, and we had a total of 14 people in our group. That was difficult to manage, particularly since they don't take reservations, but the staff tried their best to accommodate us. We ended up being split into two tables. All the food we had (souvlaki, gyros, Greek-style chicken, mousaka, and pastitsio, Greek and Maria fries) was excellent. In addition, we had a bottle of retsina, an interesting wine made from pine sap. For the amount of food we got, the price was very reasonable. Highly recommended and Greek-approved!
(5)
Aaron B.

Admission: this is the place I have gone to every year to celebrate my birthday. It is not the most authentic Greek food around, being somewhere more along the lines of Americanized Greek cuisine, however, the quality of the food with respect to the price, the speed, breadth of dishes, and overall atmosphere cannot be beat. The must try dishes are definitely the gyros with red sauce, the Greek fries (or wet fries as locals call it), and the Greek Chicken. The gyros is very flavorful and comes in huge portions; it actually has some pretty complex flavors, and tastes very clean, especially considering what it is. The Greek chicken is extremely succulent and the mixture of the spices and the lemon is not too overpowering, which I find most Greek style chicken to be. My favorite thing is probably the egg lemon soup. I would do anything for this. I have come from as far away as the far Northern suburbs a couple times just to get it. It is the best cold remedy ever. For as much as I love this place, the only things that I would say would bring it down from 5/5 stars is: 1. They only take cash. While if I wasn't just about to graduate from college I would probably carry around cash, the fact of the matter is I don't carry around cash. 2. I recently had one okay experience. I've been going here for years and have a ginormous sample size, so one mediocre experience in all of the times shows it's just an outlier, but still it's what stops me from giving it 5/5. Overall I would highly recommend this place.
(4)
Kristy K.

Apparently, the way to my heart is through feta. That being said, Cross-Rhodes has successfully found a way to my heart. Feta, feta, feta. I love feta. This place is a feta lover's wet dream. They must love feta as much as me because you have the option to put it on anything, and I am talking huge rectangle size pieces of feta that you have the thrill of crumbling on your own. Ahhhhh! Okay, enough about the feta. This place is awesome. My boyfriend and I decided to go a movie up in Evanston and were Yelping it up to find somewhere to eat beforehand when we found Cross-Rhodes. Cross-Rhodes was the perfect before movie meal. The service was so quick and the food was wonderful! To begin, I had a very scrumptious Greek salad loaded with feta. For my main dish, I had the Chicken Greek style with a side of those amazing Greek fries everyone raves about. The fries lived up to the hype. The chicken was very delicious and tender. The pitas here are also worth mentioning, for they are perfect! My boyfriend had the Rhodes burger with feta and it was juicy and flavorful. In sum, if you are looking for a delicious, quick meal for a reasonable price, try Cross-Rhodes!
(4)
Ben T.

Favorite place to eat in Evanston. I grew up eating here for about 20 years. It was the first restaurant my parents ever took my brother to eat. The gyros is the best I've ever had and the fries are incredible. If you're not looking for gyros, the skirt steak is another great choice. Make sure you eat at the restaurant if you can!
(5)
AJ M.

Came here for lunch. It's a nice little Greek place in Evanston. I had the souvlaki which was decent, meat was a little flavorless but not bad. Get the Mary fries they are amazing with hint of Lemon juice and feta, but then again I love everything with feta! Gotta go back and try the Gyros!
(3)
Andrew H.

My folks are lucky enough to live directly across the street from here. We usually carry out but occasionally dine-in. This is an excellent restaurant and an Evanston treasure. When my folks moved in, they ordered for the first time and the owner said "you are going to eat here a lot". He was right. Their gyros is fresh, tasty and delicious. Try the Greek fries they are wonderful. The Avgelemino soup is always a favorite. Taramousalata is also very good. I like the Villager Salad. The wait staff and support staff are very good. This is CASH ONLY. Parking can be a challenge during peak hours as it is only street parking. BIG PEOPLE: Seats can be a bit rickety and uncomfortable.
(5)
David S.

My memories of Cross-Rhodes folds into my memories of gradschool like butter on warm toast. The friendly diner serves up several nice dishes. Let me give you the low down: The Greek Villager Salad - a real greek salad (read: no lettuce) of cucumbers, tomatoes, and feta. The Gyros are delicious as you would hope. But for me, the Charburger with Feta is the thing that cannot be beat (a fat burger patty, a thick slab of feta, between a bun and served with crispy fries drizzled with a Greek olive-oil and herb based dressing). Now, pay attention, I would leave NU and call ahead my order while I stood at the Noyes platform. By the time I got off the L at Main and walked to Cross-Rhodes it was ready for pickup. Then I'd walk straight home and enjoy. It's the sort of optimization you do when its 10Â°F outside.
(5)
Mac M.

This place is an absolute gem. Once you get hooked you will be craving their food for the rest of your life. They have almost no turnover of their staff which is almost unheard of in restaurants and guarantees consistent quality. I go there for the best Skirt Steak dinner in Chicago with greek fries. Great Gyros and Greek Chicken as well. I drive 40 minutes to go there about once a month. If I lived in Evanston, I would be there once a week. And i legitimately respect a cash only restaurant.
(5)
Scott W.

Superb greek food Cheap wine. Descent food prices. Takes cash only. Opa!
(4)
John K.

Ill be leaving Evanston soon and I will miss this place for sure. Cross Rhodes isn't fancy like its nearby neighbor Oceanique. Its a nice cozy affordable place when you can get some wonderful food. The things they do with vinegar and seasoning is fabulous especially when it comes to the Skirtsteak and the Greek-style chicken. After the meal, you will be feeling full and hearty. I perhaps wouldn't suggest ordering the Gyros...unless you want to finish the numerous strips of lamb (so much). Their other stuff (Spinakopita, soups) is okay not good. I would go here to for the skirt steak and the chicken with some wine.
(4)
Ehow C.

Cheap and delicious. The place is cash only to keep your costs low. Isn't that nice of them? As for the food, the gyros are generous, don't get the dinner unless you want delicious leftovers. And don't get me started on their Greek fries. On an interesting note, before coming to this restaurant, I would get my burgers medium well. The owner, over the course of a month, converted me to a medium/medium rare kind of guy. This was for better and worse. Poor GI track.
(5)
Andrew S.

Sure it tastes good, how could it not? The place is cheap but greasy and dirty. The sauces they put on the gyro are questionable. If you are close by just get delivery from greek fire grill, and if you are willing to travel please get yourself to Pita Inn, itll change your persepctive on greek fare in the area
(2)
Sourma K.

My local, local, local greek spot (I live very close by). You can't go wrong with Cross-Rhodes. I haven't had anything bad at this place. My usual is chicken kebob, greek fries with feta and the egg lemon soup. If I ever need a jolt of energy the frappe is a must - made to froth perfection.
(4)
Matt R.

Fast! Seriously, this is the fastest service I have ever seen for a restaurant, small or not. I think even a McDonalds doesn't serve that much faster, and that's fast food. First thing to remember CASH ONLY! There's a charter one around the corner, which sucks for anyone not on charter one, but it's a 30 second walk from Cross Rhodes. The greek fries here are flat out awesome. I cannot stress this enough. Veggie sandwich here also pleased my fiancee bigtime, as it included a giant helping of onion, tomatoes, feta, and cucumber with some oregano. Considering that she loves feta, that was great by itself. What did they add in addition? Apparently if you order sandwiches they throw in some feta and seasoned tomatoes as well. So a huge plus there. Rice was good lemon rice, too. All in all, I think I spent around $20 for 2 sandwiches, 2 appetizers. Pretty good deal!
(5)
Mick S.

Sorry, but I don't think the meat you get there is of a good quality. This place was recommended to me by a colleague due to its long tradition - so I finally checked it out a few days ago. I had a gyros and found the meat questionable to say the least. Good gyros looks different. Why do they have to use the awkward mix of beef and goat? The greek fries (with vinegar) were tasty though - and for the other dishes I can't say since it was my first (and probably also last) time. Just avoid the gyros.
(2)
Cassandra A.

My husband and I were looking for an affordable dinner option in Evanston and drove past this place and decided to stop. Glad we did! Service was friendly without being in your face. We odered the Hummus as an appetizer and it was excellent, however order an extra pita, it only came with one. We both ordered a Gyros sandwich, which were good, pretty standard and no surprises. The real reason to come here is the Greek fries!!! DO NOT PASS THESE UP! Overall we had a nice, quiet, affordable and tasty meal.
(4)
Victoria W.

I read a review on here that says their Minestrone is below average, I disagree. They may have stepped up their game since the previous reviewer had been to the restaurant. When I came here around October 2012, and all I ordered that night was a cup of minestrone soup. It was already late, I think around 9PM, and I just wanted something warm to eat because as you know, the winter in Chicago kicks in pretty early. The other person in my party ordered chicken with fries and the entree came with an order of soup. He gave me his minestrone soup that came with the entree. I just remember the soup was exceptional, I remember telling myself it was the best minestrone soup I've ever had! And let me be clear, I've had A LOT of minestrones, even in Evanston. The consistency of the soup is just right, not to soupy not too thick. The vegetables were very hearty. The soup is not sour, like many minestrone suffers from. Just the right amount of oil in the soup and served warm enough to be eaten right away. This reminds me of very well seasoned, home cooked grandma soup that took half of a day to prepare. I even told myself that I would go back for their minestrone from now on. A comment on their chicken, it was pretty good, wood fire roasted just right, the chicken could use a bit more moisture though, it was kind of rough and dry. The fries are just ok, nothing special, I'd give it a 4/10. The biggest problem I have with this place is that it smells too greasy, the kitchen is exposed like any other fast food Italian or Greek place. The price here is fair, and the best part about this place is that it opens late!
(4)
Matthew L.

Great Greek food at a great price. I treated a friend to this place and had a great meal. We split a plate of Greek fries, thick-cut and covered in malt vinegar. Delicious. I had a gyro which was delicious! My only complaint about it was that the tzatziki sauce didn't quite have enough flavor. The meat was perfect though. Very big portions and the beer is at a great price! I would go back in a heartbeat!
(4)
Formerly Picky Eater J.

Absolutely amazing
(5)
Dan R.

Wonderful restraunt, great chicken and cheap.
(5)
Justin S.

I really liked the gyros sandwich. I thought it was one of the better ones I've had, perhaps even top for the north shore, but that's about all that impressed me. The waitress was nice to the point that I asked for the check to be split between me and my friend, which they did but almost as if I was creating a problem for them. While I was considering some desert, after waiting such a long time and having the check thrust upon us it pretty much made up my mind to the contrary. In all fairness, they did seem like friendly people, especially with those who perhaps dine there more frequently. That aside I wish that fries came with the sandwich (yes I'm an American) and that they took credit cards. Maybe I return one day for the quality of the product, but not because I felt valued as a guest.
(3)
Wendy K.

Friendly, comfortable atmosphere and quality food. I really enjoy the greek farmer salad. The greek chicken dinner is also very nice with greek style fries (sometimes a little lackluster, but when they are "on", they are great!).
(4)
Keiko S.

Augh, we should've checked the reviews more carefully before heading out here, because we forgot to try their famous lemon fries! Regardless, we liked the food. They're generous with the olive oil and basically with everything else as the portion's huge. The chicken (Greek style) was oddly soft and too lightly seasoned for my taste. It's probably better to stick to gyros and kababs. Wonderful staff. They know how to make you feel welcomed. The place is not fancy, but not dirty either. Lastly, we noticed that there were people constantly coming in and out with their take-out orders. Indeed, this is one of the most popular hole-in-the-wall Greek joints in town.
(4)
M.J. S.

We were happy Cross-Rhodes diners for years beginning in the '80s. Always enjoyed the food and Jeff's company. Was sorry to hear he died and we hope the restaurant will continue moving ahead. We've been away from Chicagoland for years and when we think of Greek food, we think of Cross-Rhodes before the Greektown places like Santorini (great fish!), Parthenon, and the others. Rock on Cross-Rhodes!
(4)
Cori R.

I have been going out of my way to get my cross rhodes fix since the early 1980's. I have now brought my family and they too LOVE it. Their grecian chicken and fries are scrumptious!!!!
(4)
Laura P.

Meh is just about right. Not my most favorite Greek food. Had a gyro. Pretty hard to mess up, but, it was lukewarm. And, the pita was rubbery and hard. The fries were wrapped up in the same foil as the gyro. Which seems efficient but just made them slimy from the steam that was probably from the gyro when it was hot. My companion had a dinner which included rice, it looked average. Not really a fan. The staff was nice and pleasant but didn't really make up for the average food.
(2)
Yvonne Y.

Fries done right! Got the fries with the Greek lemon juice and spices. Hot, citric and the 1/2 order is just a bit much for 1 but not quite enough for 2. Had the gyro and the meat was a bit crispy but still delicious. Once again, ridiculously huge portion. When I crave for Greek food next time, I'll be back. My husband liked the souvlaki but I thought it was ok, not too tender. Tables are PACKED together so if you are claustrophobic, take it to go.
(4)
Judy S.

OMG! I'm leaving Illinois soon and if I don't get their secret recipe of that lemon/wine/herb sauce, I will die. I moved here a year ago and found Cross-Rhodes pretty quickly. Fortunately, the first time I went in I had a little cash -- which is critical because it's a "cash only" place. This is critical; however, unless you walk around sans money like I do, their prices are so reasonable, it's not a big deal. I've had their gyros, burgers, skirt steak and roasted chicken. You really cannot go wrong; just make sure you get the Greek fries! I'm moving back to Florida (lost the job here) in a few weeks -- I hope I can pry that secret sauce recipe out of their hands. I must also give kudos to the bussers - there is one in particular, an older gentlemen, who is very attentive when the wait staff is not. My only complaint about Cross-Rhodes is -- no free refills on soda, which is absolutely absurd, particularly in light of the size of the glass and the amount of ice. They'd be much better and fairer to their customers if they at least allowed for a carafe or 1/2 carafe purchase, like wine. But no regular soda refills -- come one! For the "cash only" policy and, in particular, no refill policy, 1 star deduction
(4)
Xriz H.

Good food pure and simple. This was the place that turned me on to french fries on a salad. Service is pretty good and I like that the owner is so trusting and caring of his staff that he makes sure they do not need to handle the cash transactions. Portions are wee bit too small but I think in e long run for my waste size that is a good thing. Can't say all dishes are the best of the best, but the food is good. Highly recommended!
(3)
Ju L.

The king-size gyro is RIDICULOUSLY huge, stuffed so full with meat to almost a disgusting degree. The Greek-style chicken is a little dry, but delicious and flavorful. But if you are in the mood, definitely get a burger-- mmm, broil-y. It's under $7 with cheese, and comes with Greek fries (doused in lemon juice/herbs) or normal fries. The Greek fries are amazing at first but the lemon becomes too intense after just a few. Food is good, service is notably friendly, and prices are reasonable, but mostly I like the ambience of this place. It's unassuming, quiet and pleasant, and kind of feels like a small-town restaurant-- just much cleaner. A great place to visit for dinner with a friend when you just want to get away from Northwestern.
(4)
Joyce C.

NOTE: stars based solely on the Greek fries. Was reminded by Yelpers about the Greek fries recently, and went in for the first time in years. I remember being disappointed by them back when, but couldn't remember why. Got an order to go this eve and ate 'em hot. I was expecting something slightly drippy, if not gooey, but was again disappointed: they were no more moist than the average decent fry, only tasting of vinegar/lemon juice, oregano and thyme--all good flavors, but just too dry.
(2)
Vincent C.

Cross-Rhodes is the best place to get take-out in the Main St area. One of these days I will dine-in, but most every time I stop by there's a crowd waiting to be seated. Just make sure you stop by an ATM beforehand, because this joint is cash only. If you like your shawarma piled high, get the gyro dinner because it will easily feed two. The country style pitas are also delicious. I'm not sure how authentic the Greek fries are because I don't recall seeing them when I was in Greece, but no matter, they're delicious. The Maria fries are even better with all that crumbly feta. You can obviously get better Greek food in Greektown, but this place is all right by me.
(3)
Denise C.

Great place for no nonsense, good quality Greek food. I always get the chicken shwarma sandwich and Greek fries. The Greek fries must be eaten there - quality is not the same as carry-out - and they are craveable! The staff is fantastic and the place is very kid friendly, too!
(4)
Susana D.

Dependably delicious, friendly vibe, and now, good beer! Especially love the vegetarian salad with gyros (including the oxymoron).
(4)
Lizzy R.

We walked in on a Saturday afternoon and were immediately seated into the crowded restaurant. One of the employees quickly assisted with providing a chasse seat for our 16mo baby. He also asked if he could give her some complimentary cheese and crackers and inquired if we needed a sippy-cup. It's rare to walk into a restaurant and have the waitstaff be so kid-friendly. Nevertheless, I wouldn't necessarily call this a "kid" or "family" joint. Don't expect lots of crying babies and annoying moms because you won't find them. Cross-Rhodes caters to all ages and the staff is top-notch. Also, the food is really awesome. Great variety of choices and delicious.
(4)
h h.

I'm a bottom-liner. That means I don't need to be too wordy. This is probably the best gyro I've ever had. The pita is cooked to perfection. An ever so slight crisp. oh my god. I'm going to faint. The gyros meat is delicious. Juicy. The Greek Fries are probably the best I've ever had. The Greek lemon sauce they spread over the fries with a brush is too die for! Go now. Don't waste time.
(5)
Barack O.

My minestrone soup, fries, and vegetable mousaka tasted delicious even though I wasn't really in the mood for Greek cuisine. In fact, I felt portion sizes were too small. (But prices were low.) Service was amicably quirky, matching the restaurant's atmosphere. It took a few minutes for someone to bring us menus, but everything thereafter was smooth sailing. Curiously, this restaurant maintains a website but no credit card scanner. You'll have to pay cash. If memory serves, there's a Charter Bank branch next door and a Fifth Third Bank ATM in the lobby of the CTA station.
(4)
Marcee W.

Unpretentous, inexpensive, fabulous Greek chicken and fries. Carries Chicago's best carrot cake (from Cheesecakes by JR). Gyros are also spectacular. New menu item, Maria's fries, combine traditional Greek fries with feta cheese. Try the burger topped with gyros for an unusual taste treat. Mmmmmmmm good.
(5)
Bill D.

This place is our standby for cheap quality food quickly. Pick up orders are 10 minutes every time. Been here 5 years now, sometimes we order weekly. 10 bucks for a salad, half greek chicken, fries and pita is pretty much unbeatable. We have yet to get anything bad here, even the cheeseburger is really good. Everyone likes the fries 'wet' but I get dry fries and use them to sop up the same amazing lemony herb sauce that comes with the greek chicken. Skirt steak rhodes style rocks too. The staff and owner are always friendly, you can tell its a family run place. Cash only clearly does not hurt their business, this place is always busy. As others mentioned, there is a charter one ATM next door.
(4)
Jean C.

The food is great basic Greek fare. And, there is a lot of it. When you're looking for unpretentious straight up Greek dining, this is it. The sauce they load up their soggy fries with make them yummo with or without ketchup. Go here for a bargain and a laid back lunch or evening meal.
(5)
Chatzy F.

This place is the best Greek Food in the North Shore! The Greek Fries are oh so good, they make the best Lemon Chicken Soup and the Greek Chicken Dinner is also very good!
(5)
Kimberly D.

Stopped in today for lunch while I was waiting for my car to get serviced at the Autobarn. I have been coming to the Autobarn for a few years and never noticed Cross-Rhodes. It really doesn't look like a restaurant from the outside and only knew it was a restaurant seeing a big sign for "Greek Fries." I LOVE greek chicken and was only introduced to it when I moved to Chicago from NJ. So I try to order it anytime it is available. The Greek Chicken Dinner, which was $10.95 and selected pita bread, greek fries, and salad to be included. Chicken came out a little charred so I was worried that it would be dry. However, the chicken was super moist and juicy. It was not completely drenched in lemon and oil, but there was just enough to bring out the flavor. One of the better ones that I've had. Service was very friendly and food came out quick. Will definitely return to Cross-Rhodes for lunch the next time I get my car serviced.
(4)
Gracee W.

I cannot think of any better restaurant in the world. This is as good as it gets. The Greek fries: to die for. The Greek rice: My favorite food on the planet. The Gyro's is perfectly cut, cooked, and the side serving of it is the perfect size for kids. Great for kids: crayons, toys, and super-sweet waiters. Super in-expensive, but doesn't accept credit cards, so come with cash. The best of the best. Go. Trust me, you'll love it.
(5)
Paul M.

So I ended up at the Cross Rhodes restaurant last night. I was with a friend going to SPACE and we walked past here on our way to Trattoria DOC. The food is reasonably priced (cash only), the salad fresh and the fries are excellent! I had the egg lemon soup and pasticcio. Next time I'd try the chicken dinner or souvlaki. Overall I'm glad to have found myself at the Cross Rhodes. Now if I can only know where to go from here...
(4)
Leon D.

It was another cold winter evening in Evanston. As I was getting off the Purple Line El, the smell of grilled meat titillated my olfactory senses. I closed for a moment to savor the unexpected scent and made my way towards Cross-Rhodes, the source of the aforementioned aroma. As I walked in, I wasn't surprised to find the place packed with diners many of whom I've seen before: Cross-Rhodes gets a lot of regulars. Despite the crowded dining room, a quarter of an hour later I was seated at a table of my own, faced with the arduous task of selecting the night's meal. I thought of starting with either the Egg Lemon or Minestrone soups, which I've enjoyed numerous times before, but tonight I decided to go with the always-excellent Taramousalata. Appetizer selected, I scanned further down the menu to see what entrÃ©e would strike my fancy this evening. There were the Souvlaki skewers which had always been decent or the Greek -style chicken which was always tender with a nicely-charred exterior, covered in lemon sauce. Tonight, however, called for lighter fare and thus I decided to go with the Greek salad. Having then decided that man does not live by salad alone, I added a side of grilled chicken breast and Gyros slices to my order. I ate slowly, enjoying the fresh vegetables and the grilled meats set before me, my water carafe continuously being filled by the wait staff without being prompted. I looked on as order after order of burgers, skirt steaks and Gyros were being prepared by the cooks. The burgers at Cross-Rhodes come from a Chicagoland area butcher instead of a restaurant food distributor. Their juiciness, succulence and taste had earned them a recommendation from the Chicago Magazine in 2009. The skirt steaks, tender and juicy, have always surprised me by their quality and. The Gyros dinners I've eaten could have been great if not for the tzatziki sauce which was NOT prepared at the restaurant and had a somewhat artificial flavor. Finally, done with my meal, I went up to the register to settle my bill. The owner, as usual, had asked how the meal was. I told him it was horrible as usual, smiled and promised to return the following week. I did and will continue to do so many more times in the future.
(5)
Agnes P.

The best gyros I've ever had! Thin cut meat and crispy; just the way I like it! Not a big fan of the rice, I've had better.
(4)
Patrick R.

I've been coming to this restaurant since i graduated from college 20 years ago... its as good as it was then. I love the souvlaki ...pork, white sauce on top and Greek fries. Great food for a great price. You will not be disappointed
(5)
nan g.

Love the greek fries and the KING gyro! When I don't feel like cooking I know I can get a great meal at a great price at Cross-Rhodes in Evanston. Food is always hot and good. Took my parents here and they loved it too!
(5)
Daniel S.

I've been eating at Cross-Rhodes for years, but it wasn't until I moved out of state that I began to appreciate how fortunate I was to have had a top-notch Greek restaurant in my old neighborhood. Cross-Rhodes is not about the fancy touches, nor should it be. The food is delicious, prepared fast and presented simply. The portions are big, but the prices are reasonable. Service is very friendly - on most visits, the owner is working the register and delivering food. If you're not sure where to start on the menu, I'd strongly recommend my favorite: Gyros sandwich with tzatiki and a half order of lemon-herb fries (the full order of fries is just too big for one). If you're lucky, the meat has been roasting for a while, giving you a nice variety of textures. No chewy gyros out of the freezer here. If I'm ever asked to choose my last meal (here's hoping I'm not!), this would be a strong contender. Two important Cross-Rhodes quirks to know about: 1) This restaurant is CASH ONLY. There's an ATM in the bank down the street, but save yourself a service charge and come with cash. 2) All customers, both dine-in and carry-out, go to the same counter. Don't feel like you're being ignored if you're waiting for a minute. Someone will get to you - just be patient. It's worth the wait.
(5)
Joe S.

Very good. Very affordable. Very Friendly. Only complaint is the salad dressing (oil and vinegar) although that is more of a personal preference
(5)
Helen T.

I love their greek fries & we take a long drive to get here but the waitresses were so poor tonight that I probably won't make the drive again. They were too busy looking at each other's phones & also, working on a crossword puzzle.
(1)
Brandy K.

Greek french fries! Yum!
(5)
Angela C.

I am addicted to the Greek Fries at this place. Huge thick cut steak fries dripping in vinegar, lemon, olive oil and oregano. They also have great salads, soups, and burgers. Lacks in the atmosphere department but if you become a regular it starts to feel like an episode of Cheers.
(5)
Mark K.

A great place for Greek food, you can tell it's really authentic when the patrons look like they just got here from the old country themselves. We were here for lunch and tried their country style pitas, mine was with pork. Very delicious. The meat was perfectly grilled and very smokey, like it just came off the back yard grill. The yoghurt and feta cheese sauce was really good. The pita itself really fresh and pillow soft. The pita wasn't that big, but about right for the price. We also had the fries, these are the best part - they are huge steak fries, golden and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, they come seasoned with a white wine vinegar sauce and you can get them with feta cheese. One order was enough for two people, especially since the pork pita has a few fries in it. Only down sides - they take cash only and open at 11:30. Bottom line - this is better than any fast food and many of the places in Greek town. The food is awesome, service is great, prices are good, they serve beer and wine. No wonder there are no McDonaldses in that area, these guys would run them out of business quicker than you can say "Op-Pa!"
(5)
Mrs. F.

This place has been around for years! A cash-only business where they don't put any money into the restaurant (nor into cleaning a floor that, at noon, had food on it). The gyros sandwich is huge and for $6, comes without fries. It was offered with a choice of sauces, including barbecue and tzatiki, the traditional cucumber-yogurt sauce. I chose the latter, but it was transparent, watery, and tasteless. I'd go back if I had a craving for gyros, but I'd bring my own sauce.
(3)
Leslie S.

We have been going here for a long as they have been in business. Have always had great food and service. Gyros, Greek chicken and fries are wonderful.
(5)
David D.

This place serves somewhat cheap quality food for a cheap price. Want to know how this place is cheap? They are stingy, or maybe that's just the owner who hovers around the place and sits in front staring at customers? They charge for extra sauce, another sign of how cheap the owner is, hell they're not a sauce place. The food is decent, its greek fare. The steak fries are good, people generally like them wet. Gyros are generous in portion, its good stuff. If you want some greek, then come here because its decent. Recommended.
(3)
Kathy P.

I have been coming to Cross Rhodes since I worked in Evanston years ago. I had a pregnant boss who had heard that the white sauce induced labor. By the end of the third trimester, we were eating there several times a week. But I would've eaten there anyway. I recently returned and was happy to find that things are still the same. The service is friendly, and the gyros are tasty. I especially like that I can order a salad, top it with French fries, and still pat myself on the back for eating a "healthy" lunch. Best of both worlds! If you go, get your fries wet and your gyro extra saucy, even if you have no bun in the oven.
(3)
Max E.

I'm glad a friend recommended that I come here. The greek fries are a great accompaniment to the gyros, which are cooked perfectly. Very friendly staff.
(5)
Kate S.

I just got back from lunch there with my brother and parents. My brother's friend suggested it, and it's quite good. The Greek fries are fantastic, but I would prefer if they weren't completely soaked in the lemon vinegar - the ones on the top of the pile that weren't as soaked were delicious. I had a souvlaki chicken pita, which was good (the chicken wasn't fantastic, but I htink it's a personal preference thing). My mom and brother both had the souvlaki dinner, and my mom loved the chicken. My dad had a gyros, and it was massively large (he got the "Giant" option). My brother also had a greek salad, which looked fantastic and he enjoyed. Overall, definitely good, pretty cheap, worth going back. It's a little out of my usual dining radius because it's not really within walking distance of campus, but having a car or when going with someone who does, it's a good choice. Cash only.
(4)
Priscilla C.

Fast and friendly service.....MUST have the Greek fries!.... oh so good....mouth watery again must...... go........ back.....
(5)
Patrick D.

I've been going here for years. Consistently good food, very reasonably priced. Friendly, helpful staff. Lunch and dinner. The flank steak is a great deal. Done perfectly. The burgers are terrific. Friendly to all, singles, families, young, old, gay, straight.
(4)
adam k.

This is a regular lunch spot for me. Fast and consistent, the gyro's never disappoint. I would consider Cross-Rhodes the best fast lunch option in South Evanston. If you are feeling a little extra hungry - the greek fries on the gyro plate are worth the extra bucks. Cons: soda only in cans are on the expensive side, and they are cash only, which isn't that big of a deal, but requires extra preparation. Jeff's untimely passing is sad, but I'm glad the family has decided to carry on with the restaurant. Hope they will remain a fixture in the neighborhood for a long time.
(4)
Vicki S.

I had a very different experience than some others have had. Years ago, I ate here often and always enjoyed it. When I became a vegan, I stopped going since there was little on the menu for me. I went back last week because I heard they had a very good veg sandwich. The sandwich has feta, but as I have done at many restaurants, asked our server if they could substitute hummus. His reaction was immediate and strong - absolutely not, this is a rule, not even the owner can do that and if anyone tried to do that, they would (and he used hand gestures to show them being pushed out the door). I could buy hummus separately, but then I would be paying full price for the sandwich without the cheese and then full price for the hummus. (If I had been offered a discount on the sandwich, I would certainly have done this). When I asked why we could not ask for something so simple to do, he replied that it was not their "style" to put hummus on sandwiches. Apparently, it is not their style to be responsive to customers, either, or to take into consideration that certain diet choices require some flexibility on their part. I was shocked to say the least, and at some point, thought we were re-filming 5 Easy Pieces (for those of you who remember the restaurant scene with Jack Nicholson). So I'm sad that I can no longer eat there. But the good news - we went over to Olive Mountain on Davis St., had an amazing vegan sandwich full of good food and a friendly welcoming server. Now I have to go write their review.
(1)
Steve J.

This place is a great dive type atmosphere with friendly employees who understand exactly their role in this buisness. I'm always greeted promptly and confidently by someone as soon as I enter. Really decent food and a bit different. Though, no free refills... C'mon.
(3)
Daniel Y.

I hadn't been to CR for several months (I moved out of Evanston in August), but this place has not lost a step. The food here is always, fantastic, huge portions, and very reasonably-priced. This was actually the first time I had ever dined at the restaurant, and our server was very nice and attentive. They have all the standard Greek fare, but in all honesty I've never gotten anything other than the Gyro dinner. The lamb is excellent and enough for two meals...and I am a big eater. The tzatziki sauce is also very good. But what ever you order, trust me, make sure you get the rice with the white wine sauce. It is heavenly. Cross Rhodes might not be the fanciest place, but it just damn good food for a great price.
(5)
Matt S.

I've eaten here once a month for my whole life. It really is the best greek food you will ever find at this price! Hands down and believe me I've looked. The gyros are great (and huge), The egg lemon soup is not to be missed, and the fries are so good I bring an extra order home every time I go. (True to my chicago roots, haha). But if your still not convinced I will tell you the trade secret. Go with one of your hungry, large chicago style friends. Order a king size Gyro $5.95 (yeah I have the prices memorized) and order an extra pita (.75) Large fry 3.95 and if you made the order for pick up you just ordered way too much food for two people for about $10.
(4)
Jade T.

Cross-Rhodes has extremely few options for vegetarians. My boyfriend had the vegetarian sandwich. It comes wrapped up in foil like a Chipotle burrito and is overloaded with tomatoes, onions, and feta cheese. "Deliciously difficult to eat" he says. I had the vegetarian minestrone cup ($1.60), which wasn't special. The (very few) vegetables in the soup were almost disintegrated. Perhaps due to the soup has been cooking on a hot stove for hours. I also had the Greek Fries. The "Lemon Herb Dressing" was rather .. interesting. The taste was somewhat similar to malt vinegar. Sour and makes fries soggy. I was underwhelmed by the food at Cross-Rhodes. It may be a great, inexpensive restaurant for omnivores, but certainly not for vegetarians.
(3)
Dee W.

Fabulous location for Greek food. They gave us a carafe of ice water with a lemon. Service was very friendly and polite. What really won me over was the Greek lemon fries - just perfectly seasoned with a slight tang of flavor. Their gyros dinner was huge and very well-portioned for only $8 - I stuffed myself full on that. [See picture for picture of gyros dinner] And they had glasses of wine for affordable cheap - a glass of red was $3. They have take-out available which is something that I'll have to check out next time I stop by. The atmosphere is nicely set up and the food was delish and quick/friendly service! Definitely another find here in Evanston.
(4)
Stacey P.

Nostalgia! When I was younger , my mom and I used to come to cross rhodes to eat... I loved it. There has been something near a 20 year hiatus since I've been back. Well, it's still pretty tasty. I got the grilled chicken sandwich and a cup of egg lemon soup. I love greek flavors, and the soup did not dissapoint! The chicken sandwich was huge and heavy, causing me to have a stomach ache later, but that's more my own fault than theirs. The chicken was moist and delicious. Their pitas are also good, but quite greasy. My coworkers like to get the gyros and salad, which evidently are quite yummy ones.
(3)
Bruce B.

How has it taken me this long to write a review for Cross-Rhodes. Their lemon drenched fries are the best I've ever had. It's hard to go any other place for gyros and fries. I can't write about anything else on their menu, because I've never tried it. In the 10 plus years of going to Cross Rhodes, it's hard to stray away from perfect made gyro with incredible fries. I'm pretty sure they still only accept cash. If you have driven by the place and wondered about it - go in! Get fries.
(5)
Iris H.

Had an appt. yesterday in Evanston and the bf suggested lunch at CR. How come I did not know about this place. It's located in a great, deep store-front space on Chicago Ave. next to the ORT Resale Shop (love that place). Made it there at the end of the lunch rush. And, upon walking through the door we were greeted (really overly greeted) by a friendly table of 3, the loudest of which I guessed was the owner. Sat down at a table and were kind of rushed to order by the high octane, smiley little waiter man. The menu is really basic -- Greek fast fare -- but not too terrif, if you ask me. I order a $5.00 gyros, reg. size, It was not good. The meat was seriously slimy and underdone (not grill after being cut down is my guess). The tzatziki sauce was nasty, translucent, and the flavor of it reminded me of the hideous powered milk my father used to serve up in the 70s to save dough. The onions, tomato and pita were fresh. I didn't eat much of the sandwich and took it home for the bf who seemed delighted with his gyros ala super size. The "Greek fries" were tasty. Really just steak fries, heavy on the grease, will a lemon/pepper/garlic/vinegar sauce thrown atop. (Btw - The best fries I have ever had come from yelp.com/biz/candlelite-â€¦ light restaurant go there asap -- Yum!!!!) Okay, this next part is probably just me being moody but the two little waiter guys would not STFU. As the lunch crowd was clearing out, they literally sat one table away from us hemming and hawing, at uncalled for tones and levels as nobody else was there. This created the sinking tip syndrome in my book. 15% to the dime. There are too many great places in Evanston for me to wanna stop in at CR again. I must admit though, the iced tea was perfectly brewed and lemoned to perfection. Okay, maybe if I am reaaaaally thirsty.
(2)
Lesley A.

I still get a good laugh thinking about the first time I came here with a few friends. Cross-Rhodes is a nice Greek restaurant to go to in Evanston if you're sick of obtaining your gyros from some grease spoon and want to dine in a sit down restaurant. It is accessible by the Metra North Shore line and El Purple Line (both via the Main stops). When I entered Cross-Rhodes, I was immediately greeted by the friendly owner who you could tell was just a generally happy person who enjoyed life, and wanted you to smile too. The place was busy on a weekend night and you could tell that the people were there to just chat with friends and family, and have a reasonable sit down meal. I recall ordering the gyros, which came with steak fries. They were okay and you can't really lose with ordering them. However, dessert was pretty funny: my friend never had baklava before and we encouraged him to try it. Upon taking his first bite, he let out a loud "OOOOOH!", not realizing that the waitress was behind him! She checked to see if he was okay and we all got a good laugh out of our friend's first baklava experience. I also had a taste of the baklava. It was lovely. We left the restaurant saying goodbye to the friendly owner.
(3)
Ryan O.

This place used to be decent before they raised their prices. Food seems to taste better when its a deal. I got a chicken soulvaki sandwich with 4 little pieces of chicken in it, stuffed with onions and tomato wedges, and it was just under $7. No side, no drink. There are much better deals out there.
(3)
Craig S.

Good Greek food. Leans more towards diner fare though.
(3)
Nora W.

It was a dangerous day when my husband and I moved mere blocks from Cross Rhodes. I am particularly fond of the greek chicken and fries (the white wine sauce on the greek fries is to DIE for). I've also enjoyed their gyros and my husband says the burgers are great, too. You get a TON of food for the price and it's delicious. For example, the greek chicken is under $10 and you get a side salad, pita or french bread, greek fries or rice, and the chicken itself - more than enough food for 2+ meals for me. They can get really busy on weekends, so plan ahead. Service is always friendly. Make sure to bring cash!
(5)
James H.

The gyros at this unpretentious cafe are superb. I found the flavor of the gyros sandwich I had for lunch was fresh and flavorful without being over-powering. The greek salad was also fresh and delicious. My friends shared a large burger as they have done before and I thanked them for introducing me to this pleasant cafe. Another plus is the proximity to public transportation with both Metra and CTA Main Street stations about a block away. I do not have any excuse not to return!
(4)
Theresa K.

I was looking for a quick and tasty lunch spot white in downtown Evanston and came here because of the positive Yelp reviews. We ordered frappe (Greek iced coffee), egg soup, vegetarian pasticho and souvlaki. Everything was delicious, light and the perfect proportion; just enough to feel full. The restaurant was spacious and moderately crowded. Prices were good and service was quick and accommodating. Convenient if you are in the area and like Greek food or something other than the typical sandwich shop for lunch.
(4)
Blake W.

CASH ONLY First, the staff was really friendly and helpful. They seemed truly interesting and helping people understand and explore some Greek food. BUT... the food wasn't anything. I had the Lamb gyros and they were dry and lacking flavor. The fries???? What in the world is special about them? They are simple steak cut fries, blah. My wife had the Pastitsio, (it's not made in house our server told us) and it was not very good, small and obviously pre-made. We did start with the Taramousalata which was tasty, but can you really mess that up?? I'll be going back, it was cheap and I think I'll try something else. If the staff wasn't as nice I wouldn't bother though...
(2)
Luke A.

Great for what it is - a family friendly, inexpensive Greek burger joint. What's not to love? Try the Greek fries!!
(5)
Des D.

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

What else can I say but AMAZING. This is one of my favorites an everything I've had is delicious. My faves are the Greek chicken, Greek fries (you must must must get them wet and not dry), Greek salad, and they're gyros are also to die for. An amazing meal at a reasonable price.
(5)
ann s.

We've been going to this place forever, since back when the decor looked airy and fresh. I love the dressed fries and the gyros. That and the Greek salad are mostly what I get, over and over again. Didn't think the moussaka was anything to write home about--it needs to come with a vegetable or a little wad of skordalia, or be a little bigger or something. Engaging owner, even when that means having the guy harangue you into eating the tasteless, out-of-season hothouse tomato on your gyros just because they're costing him so much money! I'd be very sad if it were gone.
(4)
A.J. M.

Oh momma. I can't believe living in Evanston for 20 years and I never went here. What a huge shame. But still, I loved the small atmosphere, but let's get straight to the food. The gyro sandwich I got was huge! I can't believe they offer a "king-sized" one. How is that possible? But the sauce was fresh, as were the meats and veggies. It's probably the best gryo sandwich I've eaten. And the best part? It's only FIVE BUCKS! What bang for your buck. Before I give it 5-stars, I need to go back and try out their other Greek selections. Something tells me they'll be damn delicious.
(4)
Robin R.

Cross-Rhodes is great! If you like meat, onions, and pita you can't go wrong. Also the greek fries are yummy. I do wish they we're cash only though, I always forget that and have to run to an ATM nearby after my meal.
(4)
Lilie G.

Love this place. Found my menu item and visit at least once a week. Sometimes take-out, sometimes I eat in. Lately its been take-out, just because I rather eat alone at home. My fav item: Country free-range chicken pita... mmmmm..... has fries that were dipped or marinated in a vinegar sauce on the pita sandwich.... :)
(5)
Eszter H.

The redeeming qualities of this place are the low prices and the location. Otherwise, it's not really worth a visit. And given the number of other options in the area (such as Lucky Platter very close by with similarly good prices) I see no reason to go here much at all. I used to do take-out, but the quality just doesn't make it worth it. I dined in once, but again, the lack of tasty food makes it a disappointing experience best avoided.
(2)
Mark T.

One of my favorite places and a must visit when I come down to Evanston. I've been going there since college and the food and quality are top notch and at reasonable prices. I love their chicken souvlaki, gyros, skirt steak and greek salads.
(5)
Jeff S.

I remember the first time that I walked into Cross-Rhodes -- shortly after it had opened in 1984. It was truly love at first bite. And amazingly, absolutely nothing has changed after 27 years!!! The Greek chicken is STILL in a class by itself ... the burger is STILL the best you'll find in the Chicagoland area ... the gyros STILL can't be beat ... and the Greek fries with their secret lemon-wine sauce? Well, suffice it to say that this writer's addiction is now going on three decades. Actually, one thing HAS changed over the years -- and that's the fact that the adorable little three-year-old girl who scampered beneath the tables in the early days has grown into the most charming, attentive Restaurant Manager you'll meet up with this side of Kalamata. And as for the "Maria Fries" that bear her name -- they might be the only thing at Cross-Rhodes that are more enticing.
(5)
Gfiddy F.

All sorts of great food to try at Cross-Rhodes.
(5)
Stanley T.

Food is decent. Typical gryos, burgers, sandwiches, salads fare. The one special thing -- I love the Greek fries with Lemon Herb Dressing.
(3)
Brit D.

LOVE this place! the happy go lucky owner is awesome! He loves his job and his life, good for him! I always get the gyros on a greek salad with friesss on the side! very good :-) but I actually got the spanikopita one time because I love spanakopita, and it was really bad... it was obviously frozen before but I would never let that bring my rating down! What a fabulous family place!!!
(5)
sheena r.

a coworker was telling me about this place today at work while we just blabbed on about food all morning. she informed me about their greek fries that were doused in vinegar and purely delicious. oddly enough, after work i was driving with my sister in downtown evanston looking for a place to eat, and my sister mentioned cross rhodes. it was obviously meant to be. so we went in and were greeted by a friendly gentleman and told to sit wherever we want. i didn't realize it was a place with service, as i thought it was just going to be some sort dengeos/grecian kitchen type of place. i scanned the menu and obviously already decided we were going to split a plate of greek fries, but was torn between ordering the king gyros, a greek salad, or yes, a burger because i've been having terrible burger cravings. i eliminated the burger because i didn't want to be that person to get a burger at a greek place (even if i did order it with feta cheese) and, opted with the king gyros because im a fatty like that. our food came promptly, and i dug in. the fries were very tasty, but my sister told me they used to be different. with lots more vinegar, practically drenched, and these were just lightly coated. still, they were good. the gyros was good of course. i guess the king size just meant triple the meat. which is fine by me. i ate my way through, then by the time i ate enough meat to fold my gyro, i was stuffed. i took one bite, then wrapped it up to eat for later. this place is cheap and good. so if you're lookin for a place to get some gyros and tasty fries -- check out cross rhodes.
(4)
foodie c.

Good Chicken Souvlaki, Steak Sandwich and Greek Fries! GREAT quick service...fab food..go when you're starrving
(4)
Larz F.

The feta burger and fries are amazing. The greek specialties are just okay. I worked in a greek restaurant for many years and have a pretty high standard for my greek food. Stick with the burgers, gyros, and sandwiches and you'll be happy.
(4)
Dennis H.

Good food and value. Gyros are pretty standard though their King Size Gyros sandwich is LARGE. Souvklaki pork and chicken are both great, tender, juicy, flavorful. Definitely get the greek fries ... mmmm ... parking can be tough. Also, no credit cards accepted but located next to a bank in case you need an ATM. Overall, a nice casual meal with consistently attentive service.
(4)
Andrew T.

The gyro here has A LOT OF MEAT. So much meat that I was wishing I could trade some for more of their tasty Greek Fries. Friendly staff, a comfortable atmosphere and open kitchen make for a nice combo.
(4)
Raul T.

Greek fries rock!!! I am pleased with whatever I order here......you can't go wrong with anything.
(5)
Rick B.

I could eat the fries with every meal. Love the lemon egg soup. Don't foget its cash only!!!!!!
(5)
Devon W.

Great food and huge portions. Their gyros are fantastic, and almost two meals. The greek fries are also delicious, but tend to leave me feeling over-full and sleepy (although that may be my own fault). Surprisingly, their burger with feta is among the best I've ever had. Their restaurant is plain and cramped, but if you're in the area I'd highly recommend takeout. Bring cash, they don't take credit card.
(4)
Jessica R.

I remember the first time I ever ate here, just after my mom, brother and I had moved to Evanston from California. I was nine years old. Without asking, the waiter brought me and my brother complimentary American cheese slices and oyster crackers to tide us over. I've always been touched by that memory... Anyway, it's 20 years later and I still love Cross Rhodes: my "usual" is the Greek Vegetarian Salad with fries on top, but everything is delicious: the charburger, the egg-lemon soup, the taramosalata, the gyros, the souvlaki... mm, now I'm really hungry.
(5)
Ali D.

The best thing about this places is the price - so cheap! And for the price, you really can't beat the food. The food was tasty - I had a veggie pita and order of greek fries. My pita had a little too much feta on it, so I just took that off. Then the fries were good at the beginning of the meal, but toward the end they got WAY too soggy with the dressing. It was pretty unbearable to eat at that point. So a good third of my fries went uneaten - which is unheard of for me because i LOVE fries! One downside was the area to wait for a table. It was very crowded and we always felt in the way of people entering and exiting. Another downside is you have to pay in cash. While the meal is incredibly inexpensive, I know both of us had to make a special check to make sure we had cash before entering the restaurant.... I mean, who really carries cash anymore?? They will need to upgrade and start accepting CCs.
(3)
Christina G.

I have been coming here since high school and I love the food. I always get the same thing (I am a vegetarian so there isn't a huge list of things for me to choose from). I get the cheese pita and the greek salad. The best thing about Cross Rhodes are their greek fries and I craved them when I was pregnant with my daughter.
(4)
Sarah F.

They have some of the most amazing Greek fries, with lemon herb dressing. They also serve free-range chicken (yea!), but don't have a big selection of vegetarian foods.
(4)
Jon S.

These guys are great. Some of the best fries around (and "healthiest," if it's possible for fries to be healthy). If you're getting fries to go, wait until you get there to place that part of your order -- they will be even fresher. Their chicken sandwich is very good too, although I recommend having it at the restaurant instead of to go. Very friendly service, just enjoy the owner's quirky sense of humor.
(5)
Lena B.

I've been here a few times now and everything I have tried on the menu has been delicious. Their gyros are so overstuffed I have to pull out meat and onion and pile it on a separate pita. Their lemon fries are divine - just the right crispiness, tart, but not overkill. My favorite so far is the feta burger. Something they did to that burger made the meat tender and juicy. Affordable, too - dinner usually runs ~$8/person. Staff have been very friendly also.
(4)
Jacob K.

The food here was ok. I had the steak sandwich that most people rave about and it was at best mediocre and not exactly a great deal for what you are getting.
(3)
Annie W.

I absolutely love Cross Rhodes. You cannot go without ordering a large order of Greek fries. I'm vegetarian, and I'm always happy with the vegetarian sandwich (though I sometimes feel sloppy when the tzatziki gets all over me), and the carrot cake is luscious. And then, when you leave, your check (for two) is often around $20-25. Such a steal. A gem.
(5)
Jonathan K.

had myself just a regular burger here to go. this burger was FAT, and juicy. thick steak fries, for about $7. it has a nice local feel to it and seems to always be steadily serving. i'll do the gyro next time.
(4)
C E.

Being Greek, I've tried many Greek restaurants around city and the suburbs, I was not impressed here. Service was nothing special, food was bland, you're better off at a Greek owned grill or diner if you want fries and gyros. Haven't been back.
(1)
Deez D.

Nothing special here. Good to okay food, definitely not great food. The best fries in Chicago? I don't think so, not even close. The fries are drenched in lemon and vinegar. If you like the over whelming taste of vinegar and a hint of lemon in your mouth, then these fries were made for you. Tried their feta burger and steak sandwich. Again, nothing special. I wouldn't come here again.
(3)
Geoff H.

The first time I went to Cross-Rhodes I didn't know what I was in for exactly. All I knew was that I wanted good Greek food at a reasonable price. Once I stepped in and was offered a sample of the fries (an offer made to make sure I wanted to stick with rice), I was sold. Once I tasted my meal (gyros sandwich), and my fiancee's (chicken kabob), I was in love. Awesome food and a friendly staff are always a great combination. I am yet to sit down to eat, but I have noticed that it is usually full of happy customers. My only warning is that it's cash-only, so hit the ATM around the corner before walking inside.
(5)
Hey U.

Great skirt steak with greek fries! Gyro is very good too! Slightly pricey menu, tiny dining room and the bare minimum "remodeling" prevents the 5 star rating.
(4)
Rachel D.

YUM! Great chicken souvlaki, great greek fries, great feta burger, and great greek iced coffee (sweet coffee w/ whipped cream). AND, the service was great. The staff was all very friendly and talkative (in a good way) and we were in and out within 40 minutes, which was fast enough for us. We'll be back.
(4)
RIck F.

One of the biggest things I miss about eating in Evanston. My review for the most part echoes all the sentiments below. Serive is awesome even when the place is slammed. The greek fries are simply beyond description. THE STEAK SANDWHICH is my fave in Chicago, simply the best Ive had anywhere ever. It is best when coupled with the with the tzaki sauce. I wash all this down with an iced Frappe. The owner has got a wry sense of humor and is probably the only busienss in Chicago where the NO CREDIT CARDS doesn't seem to irritate anyone. The cheddar char burger is far better than many others Ive had at swankier places , and the gyros plate (aside from being huge) is much fresher than most. All this for a buck or towo more than your average beef stand. Keep up the good work, guys!
(5)
Darlene R.

i've past this place a million times and was really excited to try it after reading yelp reviews. i was expecting something better than hubs, or the gyro joint across the street from me. however, what i got was the same old thing. the gyros were fine, but nothing spectacular. i got a cheddar burger and it was alright minus the cheap bun. the greek fries were really crispy even with all the lemon vinegar dressing; however, they didn't rock my world. i just realized that i got overcharged! the menu said the cheddar burger was 6.75 and on the bill it was 7-something. regardless of the dollar over charge, this place isn't anything special. note to self: nothing worth stopping for here.
(3)
Alexandra T.

Feta burger and greek fries. Seriously. Better eaten in the restaurant then carried out. The spanikopita is apparently heavenly. Just go.
(5)
Dave K.

The chicken souvlaki is fantastic. The fries tend to get a little soggy in the takeout box, so I try to dine in whenever I can. I haven't tried the baklava yet, but it looks deliciously tasty and BIG on the counter top. Friendly wait staff and ORANGE SODA on tap. I'm a big fan.
(5)
James B.

Solid greek/american establishment. Been doing it and doing it and doing it well for about 22 years now, according to the owner/cashier/host. Nice guy. Great gyro plate, tasty white wine and herb-drenched fries. Fast and inexpensive. No frills. Will be back.
(4)
Steve K.

I wish Evanston weren't so far away. I love Cross-Rhodes for the egg lemon soup, lemony Greek french fries and Greek chicken. The prices are very reasonable, portions are ample, service is quick and congenial. I don't get to Cross-Rhodes nearly as often as I'd like to.
(4)
Renato P.

A little bit too college town pretentious here for me to be a regular , I work close by. I've been here a hand full of times and the food was really good every time. Even the salad stood out as really good , typical Greek salad done well. The spinach pie was another stand out , really good. I really liked the Grecian chicken even though I've had much better at alot of places. The lemon potato's were really unique , I can't say if I got really into them , but I've never left one on my plate either. The pork kabob was really good, if not a little dry once out of 2 tries.
(4)
Ellen D.

I love this place. It is great for dine in and carry-out. The egg lemon soup is delicious. And the pitas are always warm. The spanikopita is good. I always have trouble limiting my order, so I usually get all my faves and pig out. The pasticcio (basically greek lasagna) is my go-to. And the gyros is also really good there. I love the greek fries and like to dip them in the tzatziki.
(5)
Alan R.

Great food with average service. I think it has gone down a bit. I used to frequent here much more often when I lived a block away. The chicken, skirt steak, fries (in a lemony dressing) and egg lemon soup are fantastic, but not quite as good as they used to be, except for the fries which are still the best anywhere in Chicago. We actually went here the day after my wedding with family and friends equaling about 20 people and occupied the entire front half of the restaurant. We had the highest ever bill there and even with that many people, I think it totaled about $230.
(4)
N. K.

It's faux Greek cuisine at its very best. The feta burger is one of the most dense bites of joy that one can experience. The fries are amazing. The avgolemeno soup and spanakopita are a little thin on size but wonderful. Is it cramped? Sure. Can it be slow? Yep. Are you paying $12 per person and leaving with a smile from ear to ear? Yeah, mostly that.
(5)
Emma M.

An awesome place to get great Greek-American food! This little Evanston charm has been there for a long time and is continually busy. The owner is always there to make sure everyone is having a good time. You can get a cheap, good bottle of wine for like $12.00 and you must try the oven roasted chicken, the fries, the gyros and their pita is sooo good. I have never had anything I didn't like. The service is average- I think they usually only have 1 or 2 servers for the whole restaurant. Check it out!
(4)
Jeff W.

Some places just get it. Good food. Good price. Not flashy, just place to get some great Greek food. Service is much improved now that that world-famous hip-hop producer works there much less.
(5)
Philip A.

Forget Dengeo's, this is the best for gyro in the area. Greek fries are where its at!
(5)
Earl W.

Gyros are great - "king sized" is worth it if you're hungry. The fries are delicious also.
(5)
Alexandra B.

This place was awesome! It was super cheap, fast, and good. I was with a group of people and we all loved what we had. Just beware that they do not take credit/debit cards so bring some cash. I think my only complaint is that the Greek Fries could have had some more seasoning and lemon juice (it seems to gathered at the bottom of the plate) and some feta cheese on top. Other than that, my veggie sandwich and spanekopita were great. And $3.75 for a glass of wine... you won't find that anywhere else.
(5)
George V.

While it can't compete with the food in Greek Town, Cross Rhodes does a darn good job. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area or even vaguely around the area.
(4)
Mark S.

This place was SUCH a disappointment. We read a good number of positive reviews from this site, and so decided to try it out. The Moussaka and Pastitsio were almost certainly cooked in a massive tin pan earlier in the day and then reheated just for us. How nice, they REALLY shouldn't have. The french fries were quite good, but everything else, including the brilliantly terrible decor, was awful. Don't bother...
(1)
Michelle M.

Great gyros and Greek chicken. The Greek fries are also great. Cheap beer and wine and the food is always consistent.
(4)
Soo L.

This restaurant in the past served excellent food and was delicious. But ten years later, the grade of burger seemed to be of a lessor chuck and the Gyro I ate was also not how it used to be. I don't know if it was due to costs of food going up but I was disappointed to say the least. I hope that the owner will return to fine quality as this used to be an outstanding restaurant.
(3)
Irma V.

Love, love, love this neighborhood, very casual, place. My husband and I were regulars when Jeff first opened because we lived in the neighborhood. Through the years we moved around, even to the SF bay area for 10 years, but we always made our way back to this great little find for the chicken with red sauce, Greek fries, lemon soup and pita! We've never found anything like it and now that we're back from California and living in the area again we can be true regulars. Although Jeff never considered us anything but regulars! Everyone feels welcome here.
(5)
Tiffany T.

Best. Greek. Fries. Ever
(5)
David G.

This place is a KEEPER!! The food was fantastic, I had the gyro dinner. My colleague had the same, was under 20 bucks for two to eat, and we left FULL!! The Greek Fries are truly unique and I highly recommend including them in whatever plate you choose. Service was quick, efficient, and kind! I will definitely return to here!!
(4)
Linda S.

Great gyros, huge salads and really crispy steak fries!
(5)
Daniel K.

i realize i have only written a few reviews and the ones i have written have been heavily meat biased. so. i am not going to talk about how the skirt steak at cross rhodes is the best i have had. and that you should definitely get it with rice not fries with "etcha, etcha" sauce. instead, i am going to talk about how good their salads are, with the red wine vinnegar dressing, the glorious feta strips, and the delicious kalamata olives. the servers are hilariously friendly, and so is the egg lemon soup. yummy. whatever i get at cross rhodes i always get with some pickles on the side as well. they have tremendous pickles.
(4)
jason h.

this place has one of the best burgers in town no question. In addition good gyros and egg-lemon soup. I've eaten their since i was a little wee one and its the bomb possibly not the healthiest place but not overly greezy. quality meat and snadwiches.
(4)
Jen H.

Oh yum! Talk about cheap Greek food on the run! Delicious tzatiki sauce, spanokopita, and chicken kebabs. The light lemony sauce they use on their rice and veggies is fresh and delish. My fiance' picked up takeout one night and was treated by the owner to a complimentary order of the famous fries...you wouldn't expect fantastic fries (steak style) from a Greek place, but they are their claim to fame, and they were definitely good. Just don't forget to stop by the ATM first...they only take cash!
(5)
Gracee W.

Oh. My. God. I love this place with every part of my heart, mind, and soul. It was the first restaurant I ever went to, and I absolutely love it there. Everyone there knows us, and some of the waitresses even know what my family wants when we say "the usual". It's amazing! They listen to everything you tell them, and the food comes out super fast. I usually get a side of gyros, and share a plate of rice and a plate of fries (sauced up, of course), and it is D-LISH! They have this totally fabulous Greek sauce, and it is like: oil, vinegar, lemon, and oregano, and it is the best thing on the planet. The food is cooked to perfection. They love families, and have cute little toys and crayons for kids to play with while waiting for their food (which doesn't take that long, BTW)! And lastly, the prices are WONDROUS! My family gets 2 chickens, a burger, a side of gyros, a plate of fries, a plate of rice and it's all about $25! Long story short: Go there. Eat there. Love it. Come back with all of your friends, and they will repeat the process.
(5)
Jennifer L.

the food is ridiculously addictive. i continuously rotate through the menu, but if you're a first-timer you must try the greek chicken. or the gyros (voted best in chicago). and the fries. and the minestrone soup (homemade by alberto). and the taramousalata...okay i'll stop now!
(5)
Anum A.

This is the place to go for the best Greek food! It makes you want more and more. The best part is, that it is so cheap that its ok to have more. The service is also very fast. Then there is the dessert that is to die for. So make sure to check this place out whenever you have a chance.
(5)
Keith L.

really the best/cheapest greek restaraunt in the city or suburbs! dont sleep on the burgers though.
(5)
Marc L.

This place is really laid back and unpretentious, which I appreciate. The food is awesome too. And cheap. Always a good combo. I had the combination pork and chick souvlaki dinner with the Greek fries. Both the pork and chicken were delicious, really flavorful and juicy. The fries were tasty, the tartness was a little intense after a while, but I dug it. I'd totally eat here again if I was in Evanston, the foods great and the prices are low. The cash only doesn't bother me, since I usually have some cash on me. And even if I didn't, the bank I use is next door.
(4)
J W.

Two words: greek fries. I have actually gone to the ATM specifically to go here (they don't take credit cards).
(5)
Adrianna A.

I eat here as often as I can afford. I love, love, LOVE the red sauce and the lemon soup is fantastic. I wish the bowl for takeout was bigger for the price, but I'll keep getting it because its delicious. The fries are great, the chicken is awesome, and I've always found they gave me plenty of food for my dollars. The staff is always friendly and have served me (takeout) even when I sneak in a minute till closing. One of my favorite places!
(4)
Roy A.

Some of the best gyros I've had to date. The pita is surprisingly different from other places as it seems to be as fresh as can be. The meat is as juicy as can be and the Greek fries are the best I've ever had, period. The burger, I believe, is an underrated aspect of the menu here. I don't generally see people ordering it but getting it on a pita with some feta cheese is pretty darn good. The only problem I have is the seating near the entrance is very cold in the wintertime since the door is literally always open with people coming in, but it seems to be worth it because the fries are magnificent and the gyros and burgers are well above average as well.
(4)
Jims L.

Had a chicken sandwich, I don't know why, and tried the gyro sandwich and it was yummmmy. Also had an order of their fries, which were soggy by the time I got to eat them in my apt a block away. Sad. I love Greek food so I have to like this place. Just remember before you go that it's CASH ONLY!
(3)
Gary X.

The last time I had been to Cross-Rhodes, the service had been very poor. A friend & I decided to try it one more time. BIG MISTAKE. There were only 4 tables with customers including ours. The waiter was more interested in talking (it sounded like he was speaking Vietnamese) with another employee than providing customer service. His attitude & body language projected that we were an inconvenience to him. We ordered something to drink. I had to interrupt his conversation with the other employee 5 minutes later, because he still hadn't brought us our drinks. At one point I had to get up & go get additional napkins. On multiple occasions I had to ask the waiter for a drink refill. FYI: The glasses are small, which they fill with ice (even though I told him I didn't want much ice), so you get an empty glass quickly. AND when the bill came I asked what the extra charges were ( $1.35 each) & was told that refills were not free (pop & iced tea was what we had). I told the waiter that he should tell the customers that drink refills aren't free , & he gave me a, "I don't care what you say" look. Pertaining to the meals: The gyro meat was EXTREMELY salty. I only ate half of the meal & the rest went into the garbage. The same with my friend. When paying (cash only) I advised the cashier that I wanted to speak with the manager. She had a thick Greek accent, & advised that there was no manager working. She did advise that her daughter owned the restaurant. I told her the issue with the waiter & she said she would tell her daughter, but I don't know how much she understood. I won't be going back to Cross-Rhodes.
(2)
BD C.

I have been going to this place since it was first opened. The food, the staff, and the owner(who suddenly) past away, could not make me and my family made to feel more welcome. Know that the owners Daughter has taken over(She has done her dad proud), the same great food, service and staff still make us feel they same way. Come in try this place you would not be disappointed just bring cash- they don't accept Credit cards This Has never stopped me from going and never will...
(5)
Vanessa C.

Ummmmm......can you say YUMMY?!! Talk about wonderful staff as well, my lady was so nice, and energetic, and made sure all was well! I recommend trying the Greek fries for sure, Greek salad ( duh! loooove feta cheese), and they have really good skirt steak. You will leave FULL and your wallet will not feel empty in the least, don't forget to tip well because the staff are great!!!
(4)
Trey S.

Been a customer since 1995. Hands down the best gyros I've ever had. Always cooked to perfection, served on the best pita bread and whatever it is they use for their 'red sauce' (which is an option in place of the traditional tzatziki - or what they call 'white sauce') is mouth watering. Their 'greek fries' are absolutely incredible. The lemon/herb sauce that covers the fries is to die for. The service, management, atmosphere, etc...are all top notch! (oh and their cheeseburgers are seriously the best I've ever had!!!)
(5)
Cindy D.

I went here tonight with my bf. I always get gyros if it's on the menu, so for dinner I got the gyro sandwich. The meat and pita were grease-less compared to other "fast food" places. My bf got the skewers. Unfortunetly, we didn't get the fries, but the food was good for the price. Yum yum for $14.90.
(4)
Andrea W.

Been going here for years. LOVE the Greek Chicken so much that's it's difficult to try other things on the menu. Burger is one of the city's best and big Greek salads with gyros good too, but you just have to try the Green chicken with fries. Comes with a pita and salad to start. This is a diner-like place that's fast, good and inexpensive. Two people with a bottle of wine and two entrees for like $30 bucks! Service is attentive and fast and the owner is usually at the cash register. Place does tons of take out business, but restaurant is great mix of Evanston, Northwestern and northshore crowd.
(4)
Betsy H.

I love getting take out from Cross-Rhodes on weekdays. Not only is the diner-style burger perfect comfort food, but the addition of a nice, salty slice of feta makes it extra special! And...mmm...those citrusy greek fries. Plus, the man at the counter pulls a quarter from behind my ear when I pay!
(4)
Danielle L.

Rude, rude, rude!! We ordered from there for the first time. I offered my credit card. She said, "cash only." Same girl took our order and didn't tell us that before we walked 3 blocks with an infant to pick up our food. We had to get cash from the atm next door which charged $3.50. The hostess was the rudest person we've ever met in the food industry. She was in her late 20's, 30's. Long dark hair. Probably Greek. She wouldn't apologize for not telling us about the cash only policy when we ordered. The food is decent, but not worth having to encounter that hostess again.
(2)
Kuan S.

This place has HUGE portions. I've eaten there a couple of times and both times I ended up rolling on the ground cause I was so full...that was, of course, after I got home because I'm sure someone would've called either the cops or 911 if I did that there. I got their gyros dish which came with an insane amount of meat. If you have trouble sleeping, scarfing down some of this will do it for you. The food definitely hits the spot!
(4)
Patti B.

An NU alum I met in California told me to eat at Cross-Rhodes when he found out I was moving here. That says something, doesn't it? Anyway, my first night here I had nothing to cook with and no food to speak of, so I walked in, told the owner I was new, and asked what was good. Right away he got someone to cut me a plate of gyros, loaded it with white sauce on one side and red on the other, and threw in another plate of lemon butter fries. He asked how it was and which sauce I preferred, then ordered me some of it to go, noting that it would be more than enough for me unless I had an insanely high metabolism (he put it in funnier words than that, something to the effect of "metabolism of a munchkin-eating giant", but alas, I can't remember exactly what he said). As it turns out, the gyros were very good, quite tender, and the sauce was strong and tangy. I liked the fries, too, even though I'm not usually a fries person. Oh, and when I paid, the owner did a magic trick with my change. I've never felt so welcome in a new place before!
(4)
Juls M.

The chicken and hummus, bleck! The Greek fries, blerg! A soggy mess. Even my pita bread was wet and pasty.
(1)
John D.

Vegetarian salad, with feta, no tomatoes, fries on the side, pita. And a cup of coffee. This place is amazingly good and really cheap. I lived right around the corner for many years and ate here many times a week. The greek fries are out of this world, and really unique. All my friends love this place too, from the skirt sandwich to the feta burger. This is a must visit whenever I'm in Chicago.
(5)
David B.

#NAME?
(5)
Elena A.

I was really glad to find a place like that within walking distance from where I live in Evanston. These guys do a great job: very tasty food, friendly service, good prices and delicious Greek wine. It's a nice place to go if you want to have a tasty, healthy dinner out without spending a fortune. They do a lot of nice things like bringing you samples of food and wine. Their fries are sooo good. Pita is fresh and tastes like it comes straight from the oven. I went there twice, and the second time I walked in they recognized me and greeted like I was a family;-) The only think to remember if you decide to go is they accept cash only!))))
(5)
Sadie P.

After reading all of the positive reviews I couldn't wait to check out this place so I convinced my fiance to take me to a late lunch after we went to the movies. We ordered so much food it is a little embarassing. I started with the lemon egg soup which had a chowder like texture and a delicate flavor. Cliff started with the Greek Villagers Salad that had such goodies as olives and feta cheese. I had a small salad, Greek fries and the skirt steak, all of which I loved. The steak had a great flavor and the fries were lemony good. Cliff's gyro plate was huge and flavorful, with the gyro meat with just the right texture. Oh, and I tried the lemonade and it was homemade, a real treat. I highly recommend this place for a casual meal. And don't forget the lemonade. And the cash.
(4)
faith b.

This place already has so many reviews, but I can't help myself... Cross-Rhodes is so yummy! The lemon soup is something I will never get tired of and their fries are delicious! (and I normally HATE fries). The portions in this place are huge so you always get your money's worth. The service here is also very good. Everyone is very friendly. The only thing that could make it better... is to start accepting plastic as a form of payment! However, it's nice to know that there is an ATM 30 seconds away so you can get what you need.
(5)
Tim O.

Great food. The fries are the stuff of dreams. It is essential that you get the white sauce (on, not on the side) and the greek fries. The steak is marinated to perfection, the Chicken is perfect. I hope this place never changes. Ever.
(5)
Wendy B.

Fries on top of a salad! Absolute genius.
(4)
renee k.

While I was eating here, an exterminator sprayed for bugs and the spray got into the ventilation system -- into my food and lungs. The vinegar that they use for salad dressing was sitting on the floor. I will NEVER eat here again. I should have phoned the health department, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. If that's what you see while eating, I can only imagine the other sanitation issues in the kitchen. That said, their greek fries are the only really good thing on the menu. The chicken is always overcooked. There is nothing special about this place except the terrible things I noticed. I can't understand the rave reviews.
(1)
Andrew S.

Cross-Rhodes is my favorite Evanston restaurant, hands down. For the price the food is simply unbeatable. If you're looking for something high-brow go elsewhere. However if your looking for a place to take your family or friends to have an excellently priced, filling, good meal, come here. Friendly staff as well. Their cheeseburger with greek fries is unbeatable. My only complaint is that they really could use a little bigger building. The place is packed almost every evening. This and there's no out door eating causes me to give a 4 star rating. - Andrew
(4)
Dallas F.

Whenever in Evanston I absolutely have to go to Cross Rhodes. Everything I have had has been so good. Theres a sign on the counter that says they won some french fry competition. I am a french fry junky and I can see why they won! Those fries are great! Also, there is something amazing about their chicken. I order the grilled chicken on the greek salad and its addictive. I could probably eat here everyday.
(4)
Sue R.

We have been going to CrossRhodes forever. They have the very best lemony Greek fries anywhere. Their Greek salads are ample, the gyros sandwiches tender, the pita bread grilled with just a touch of color and the tomatoes are always fresh. The baklava is an ample portion, the filo fresh and the honey and nuts cooked just until the nuts give off a nutty flavor and the honey soaks into the cracks and crevices of the filo. The chicken is cooked until it is quite tender, the skin a little crisp and the meat moist. The portions are generous, and the staff remembers your name. Quite a treat to have this restaurant around as a staple in Evanston.
(5)
Sasha R.

I've been coming here since I was four years old and it's still a favorite. The salads are great, as are their pita sandwiches (veg. and cheese pita). Still, it's probably similar to any cheap Greek place, if it weren't for the fact that they have the most amazing fries. Add tzatziki to that and it's heaven. The onw thing that sucks is that they only take cash.. it's cheap so it's not too big of a problem, but for those of us who prefer paying with a debit/credit card and hate carrying around cash, it can get annoying.
(4)
Jason E.

Spanikopia is excellent! both the minestrone and lemon soup were delicious. i ordered the mousaka, also very good. portions could have been a little bigger, but over all not much to complain about. absolutely must try again.
(4)
Michele B.

Best Greek food around. They even cleaned up the place and painted. Greek salad, spanikopita, Greek chicken, Greek fries and tsatski are the best.
(5)
Amy W.

I love crossrhodes, it's uber cheap. I always order the gyro sandwich and the greek fries.. both wonderful... and the spanakopita is also delish. It's a pretty casual restaurant, nothing too fancy. The waitstaff is very good and the food comes out really quickly. The only downside is that as most others have said, CASH ONLY.
(4)
Kristin L.

We order from here about once a month. The chicken is good, but our standard order is the skirt steak. With the salad (or soup) and Greek fries, it's enough for two solid meals. Love those Greek fries! But ask for extra marinade on them. Without it they can be a little dry. Only complaint is that they're cash only.
(4)
Amber K.

Best bang for your buck right here in this little unobtrusive restaurant in Evanston. This is a friendly neighborhood joint where the owners/workers seem to recognize all of their customers. I think this place has the best charburger and fries (Greek) in all of Chicago. better than Pete Miller's, Rosebuds, Gibsons...you name it! but for only a tiny fraction of the price. I'm also a huge fan of the souvlaki sandwiches (with the white sauce) and the gyros. Do not leave here without getting their Greek fries!
(5)
Jesster A.

Another favorite old stand-by. Greek lemon fries are great - but eat at once or they get soggy (not good for carry-out.) And who said not much here for vegetarians? How about the good Greek salads and the really good Vegetarian (pita) sandwich with feta. Although they have done a nice job creating a pleasant atmosphere (the front can be crowded with people waiting for take-outs) - we too prefer the carry-out route (then we head straight to the beach (or a park) for a picnic. This works very well (except like I mentioned, for the fries getting soggy) especially if you order 1 King sized gyros (there's enough meat for 2 gyros and get the white not the red sauce,) 1 salad (size of style of choice to split) and 1 extra pita bread (you bring your own beverage and extra napkins) - then for less than $15 you have a delicious dinner for two. Yum.... in fact I think we'll do that tomorrow - no wait - we were going to try the 2-fer pizzas (on Tuesdays) at Candlelite... decisions, decisions.... so much to eat - not enough meals in the day or room in the tum.
(4)
Alexis E.

Best cheeseburger I've EVER had! My husband is addicted to the Greek fries. And they are so quick - they have saved dinner on more than one occasion!
(4)
April L.

I love this place. I wish there was one in San Diego. This place is all about those damn addictive Greek fries!!! I've never eaten fries that tasted so good! Service is fast and the people are always great =)
(5)

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Address : 913 Chicago Ave
Evanston, IL, 60202
Phone (847) 475-4475
Website https://crossrhodesevanston.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

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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Cross-Rhodes

913 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL, 60202

Cross-Rhodes Menu

Appetizers

Soup

Salads

Charburgers

Country Style Pitas

Sandwiches

Dinners

Side Orders

Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Cross-Rhodes

Appetizers

Soup

Salads

Charburgers

Country Style Pitas

Sandwiches

Dinners

Side Orders

Desserts

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Alex R.

Ana W.

Gen P.

Anya A.

Brett M.

Amanda S.

Anthony M.

Kurt L.

Nina B.

Annie W.

Diana M.

Mike P.

Jordan B.

Sean O.

Chet M.

Dee S.

Josh C.

Steve A.

Cassie S.

Greg K.

Caitlin B.

Andrea R.

Iryna Z.

Bart S.

Rick R.

chester T.

Rob F.

Matt M.

Jennifer L.

Andrea C.

Melissa M.

Debbie S.

Betsy H.

Michelle K.

Will B.