PLACES TO EAT

Greek Islands, 200 S. Halsted - Official Web Site
Stepping into this bright, spacious restaurant is like stepping into a bustling Greek cafe; you are instantly surrounded by the hubbub of good conversation, the sound of lively Greek music, the aroma of bread and Greek specialties and the general celebratory atmosphere of Greece itself.

After being led to your table, you will be offered complimentary bread and parmesan cheese with authentic Greek Malva olive oil. The cheese is much zestier than the subtle Italian variety, since everything at Greek Islands is strong on flavor and full of character.

Start your meal with the fried eggplant with tomato cheese sauce. The sauce is made of chopped onions and other vegetables and adds a tangy flavor to the eggplant. For a nice complement to your appetizer, the kotosoupa, or chicken vegetable soup, is a good choice. All soups are made fresh each day.

As your entrée, try the Combination Plate; there are many choices on the menu and it can be hard to pick just one. The Combination Plate lets you sample a little bit of everything! The entrée includes a perfectly cooked roast leg of lamb, mousaka (a baked eggplant casserole), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), meatballs, vegetables and potatoes. On the other hand, you can never go wrong with the dish that made Greektown famous in the first place; the Gyros Plate is a house specialty. You will receive a hearty helping of home-made slices of ground beef and lamb with herbs and spices as seasoning. Be sure to pace yourself with this one; the serving size is anything but skimpy.

Artopolis Bakery and Café, 306 S. Halsted - Official Web Site

This large, airy café is the perfect place to meet friends, curl up with tea and a book, or just take in the scene as people pass by the immense windows. There are large counters around the café; one of them offers soup and sandwiches, another offers baked goods, and another sells tea, wine and other beverages. Although there is some seating on the ground floor, most seating is found on the wide balcony that overlooks the entire café, thus creating an open space. Décor is airy as well; there are Greek tiles on the walls and pastel paintings scattered about. The atmosphere is elegant yet cheerful, and even at night the café is reminiscent of a bright summer afternoon.

Greek pastries are a specialty of the Artopolis Café. Baklava is a Greek staple and is popular even among non-Greeks. Other pastries include the melomakarouna, which is a cookie made with honey and walnuts, and the kourabiedes, which is an almond cookie in the shape of a crescent. The kataifi is another pastry made with almond; it consists of flaky, shredded pastry sweetened with honey and sugar. There are more traditional desserts as well, such as chocolate cake, passion fruit pastry and strawberry mousse, but the Greek specialties are worth a try. They offer a unique sweetness and are a delightful mouthful to eat as well as pronounce!

BARS/CLUBS

Byzantium, 232 S. Halsted - No Official Web Site

Byzantium is a genuinely Greek club; walking in, you have no doubt as to the nationality of the place. The staff is Greek, as are many of the patrons. The house band, also called Byzantium, plays an interesting mix of traditional Greek and popular music.

The club holds an International Night at least once a month; these can be Serbian, Greek, Macedonian or Bulgarian. During these nights, music of a specific country is played and its culture is celebrated.

Divided into two rooms, the front of the club is well-lit and ideal for conversation. The second room contains tables and a small stage and is lit with dim red lights; the mood is set for patrons to enjoy live music.

For its music, tasty bar food and inviting atmosphere, Byzantium has become a popular nightspot for visitors to Greektown as well as locals.

Cover charge is $5-7.

PLACES TO STAY

Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro, 733 W. Madison - Official Web Site

Stepping into the cool, polished lobby of the Crowne Plaza it is evident that here, luxury and taste are emphasized.

This large, welcoming hotel offers rooms that are fit for the most discerning of travelers. With almost 400 guest rooms, each of which includes a flat-screen high definition television, high speed internet access, cordless telephone, weekday newspaper delivery and several other amenities, the Crowne Plaza is truly a luxury establishment.

Located in Greektown with easy access to the Loop, the hotel is ideal for business travelers as well as tourists. The Crowne Plaza offers concierge service, valet laundry and dry cleaning, valet parking, a business center and wireless internet access in all public areas. There are also meeting and banquet facilities on the premises.

Dine, an elegant restaurant that serves American cuisine, is located in the hotel and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

TOURS

Chicago Neighborhood Tours, Greek Chicago - Official Web Site

Chicago Neighborhood Tours offers a tour called Greek Chicago. Offered on certain dates throughout the year, this tour explores the history and heritage of Greeks in Chicago. You will learn of the first Greek immigrants to Chicago, their customs, their culture and their religion. This tour will also take you through points of interest around Greektown, including the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center, the St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church and the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.

Reservations are required. Price is currently $50 and includes lunch. Senior and student discount and group rates are available. 312.742.1190.

For your convenience, the locations of all the businesses mentioned in this article are shown on our Greektown Neighborhood Map.

Greektown Web Links:

• Greektown Feature Article

• Greektown Neighborhood Map

Chicago Neighborhood Information

• See our Chicago Neighborhood Overviews & Map.