Avli on The Park - Lakeshore East

Avli was great! I had been to their River North location and I decided to try this location as well. The space is stunning and has a good ambiance. The food was really delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed the feta shrimp and the crème brûlée for dessert! We tried the saganaki and the hummus as appetizers which were also quite good. I would totally recommend Avli for a nice dinner date or special occasion meal.

Avli on the Park is one of my favorite spots for date night. They serve delicious, elevated Greek food. I've been to this location several times (in Lakeshore East) and the River North location once. Avli feels like a restaurant that does it all: It's a place elegant enough to bring out-of-towners and show them a good time, yet feels like a community to become a staple for regulars. Folks in suits would also have business meetings, and it's also a place where you can bring your family to meet your future in-laws for the first time.

I shared a beautiful evening with friends at Avli, The service was obliging and paced perfectly with meal completion. Our server was accommodating and shared fun banter amongst the group. Let’s get to it… The food was Amazing. From the sesame crusted spanakopita, the light but rich arugula salad. The steak was rich and juicy very tender. Our baklava inspired ice cream dessert left myself with already planning another outing. The atmosphere is sensual and clean beautiful white granite with a marine feel. I loved every bit of my experience and I will be back soon. Thank you Avli staff and chef who was kind enough to greet us at our table.

Upscale Greek food and modern style. Lovely view of the park and greenery from the bar. Efficient and friendly service. The humus and feta spreads were really good with delicious, warm pita bread. Roasted chicken and potatoes in a lemon olive oil sauce was delicious. Lamb rack was succulent too. Really enjoyed the dessert options, especially the flaming caldera with vanilla ice cream. Chill atmosphere where it was easy to hear conversations. The lighting is dim in the evening so it was hard to read the menu without our phone lights.

Local Chicagoan made the reservation and we love her for it. This was my favorite dinner during my time in the Windy City. We shared a bunch of dishes, downed many cocktails, and enjoyed the overall ambience. I think about the ice cream dessert regularly (if they have it on the menu please get it, I think it may change your life or cause a fight at the table for who gets the last bite). There was a private dining room next to where we sat and I feel like that also would be a fun time with a good group. Wonderful service—we felt like queens for the evening. Highly recommend!

We went for mid afternoon lunch. They offered a delicious 3 course lunch special. Each course was delicious! Our server was very kind and friendly. I was thrilled that she said they had gluten free pita which were really surprisingly good! Atmosphere was very pretty with views of the park.

A visit to the jewel box overlooking New East Side Park, Chicago. Start with a trio of dips, crudités, and toasted pita with warm olive oil and za'atar. You can choose from taramasalata, the creamiest cucumber tzatziki, roasted hummus, eggplant dips, and more. We always add a tender grilled chicken skewer for each person. The house salad offers fresh herbal flavours with large diced tomatoes and cucumbers. The velvety, creamy chicken soup is a healing staple and a reliable takeaway choice. We love the fresh seafood offerings: whole seasonal fish, prawns or roasted salmon, airline chicken breast, and lamb shank with risotto or grilled chops with ladolemono (Greek lemon sauce). Good portions include vegetables. Staff members Kennedy and Jordan ensured our meal was satisfactory, anticipated our dining needs, and managed the timing to allow us to reach our event. Thanks to manager Rich for stopping by our table to say hello. It was a welcoming touch. The space is modern and comfortable, with many dining sections and lounges to relax in. Try the rice pudding or orange olive oil cake. #dining #milleniumpark #chicago #catering #datenight #michellinstar #restaurant #nightout

Avli is the place for a group Greek dinner. With a party of seven, we were seated in a glass-walled room at a large round table, ideal for sharing our orders. The restaurant has a variety of seating arrangements that can clearly accommodate groups of all sizes, from the usual rectangular/chair tables to the rounded/cushion seating areas. The waiter who served us was incredibly patient and informative, giving us recommendations on food pairings and helping us navigate the menu. We ordered a wide range of Meze (appetizers) and Spreads to start. With most Meze dishes coming in four pieces, his guidance helped us order just enough for everyone to get a taste without filling up before the main course. If you are looking for some flair to witness, the Flaming Saganaki is a must. They light the cheese on fire right at your table, melting the top layer away and making it stretchy when pulling it apart. The main highlight for us, however, was the Moussaka. It's a rich, multi-layered casserole of potato, eggplant, and beef ragu that is pure flavor. It was so good that we ended up ordering a second one for the table. (Reference image attached, the one with the big spoon) For dessert, there are only two choices to go with: Chocolate Mosaic and the Ekmek. The Mosaic was a delicate combo of semi-sweet chocolate and biscuit, while the Ekmek was a vanilla mousse on a walnut bottom served on a sizzling plate. Strong in taste yet soft on the filling; the right combo to end the night on. (Both desserts shown as images.) What really stood out was the service. Even as it got past their official 10 pm closing time, the staff never rushed the remaining guests. For any group looking for an authentic Greek meal with flexible seating and truly attentive service, this is the place. I will be visiting again in the near future!

Amazing Greek inspired food and wonderful cocktails. Beautiful restaurant with a great rooftop patio. Nestled in a park and a five minute walk from Millennium Park. Prices are very reasonable. Service is spot on.

Was lucky enough to come here for a work lunch with a big group and that is definitely the way to go. We ordered almost all of the small plates and none of them disappointed. The calamari, pita, and lamb small plates were my favorite but you can’t go wrong in whatever you pick. Service was just as excellent as the food was.

It's such a lovely place with lovely chefs and servers! We were a large group, and the staff took care of us so well. We had picky eaters in our group, and yet the chefs catered to their orders so immaculately. It is a bit on the pricey side but truly worth it if you love your mimosas and fresh fresh greek food!

A fantastic dining experience!!! First try, after seeing a musical downtown at the Auditorium theatre. The ambience is lovely, spacious and slightly modern with a gorgeous view over the park. Our server Jen was training Tony- both were super attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and gave excellent suggestions since the menu has so much to offer! We started with the fried calamari (perfectly cooked and fresh!) and one of the spreads, next time we’ll try the sampler of fresh spreads which comes with 4. We were worried it was too much food, because entree portions are very generous! I highly recommend the small plate Greek Shrimp- AMAZING! Best jumbo shrimp I’ve had! Also the Greek salad, and branzino and house special lobster cream pasta- all superb! Leave room for dessert: baklava ice cream was so flavorful!! Also I highly recommend the banana pudding- it sounds simple but it was SUPERB!!! So much flavor. I will be back! Highly recommended for a special occasion or date night or with friends. A slowed down decadent dining experience for sure, worth every penny for the quality service and food!

It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The fresh fish was incredibly delicious. A special shout out to Ryan, who took excellent care of us. He provided incredible service.

The most relaxing place to dine. First, you enter a beautiful setting, where you can have a private event at a two- story venue. The venue has a stunning view overlooking the city. It is walking distance to MillenniumPark.If you are looking for romantic, and healthy delicious food,this is the place.✨✨✨✨✨✨

Quick ratings from my experience: Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 I would go back I enjoyed a great dinner with friends. We ordered appetizers for the table. Meatballs 4/5, calamari 5/5, fried zucchini 4/5, hummus Personal opinion: meatballs could've had more flavor and the zucchini breading was too thin. My entree- Chicken Souvlaki: 5/5 Great flavor, great portion size. Around the table friends also ordered the lamb chops, and shrimp souvlaki. Parking: if you're not familiar with Lake Shore East you might have trouble finding the parking. For a discount. Avli has a QR code to scan near the host stand.

Wow—Avli has seriously leveled up! Something remarkable has happened here over the past year, and it’s all for the better. I’ve dined at Avli before and while the food was good, it didn’t really stick with me. But recently? It’s been a whole new experience. From the appetizers to the entrées and desserts, every dish was bursting with bold, unforgettable flavors. The service was warm and attentive, the ambiance felt effortlessly elegant, and the prices are actually better than I remember—making the whole evening feel like a hidden gem kind of discovery. We ended the night with their Caldera dessert—salty caramel, flame-broiled to perfection. It was indulgent, creative, and downright delicious. Avli has truly become a standout. Go check it out—you won’t be disappointed. (Tish was there too!)

Had the most delicious dinner on the Avli roof top! Excellent and super attentive staff made this one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a long time! Moussaka was amazing as well as the calamari...both cooked to perfection. Dinner wouldn't have been complete without trying the Baklava ice cream! So delicious and worth every calorie! Will definitely be back!

We went to Avli on the Park for dinner and I was completely blown away by the food, venue, ambiance and service!!! First off, it is tucked away in a gorgeous neighborhood, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, surrounded by a gorgeous park! The rooftop makes you feel like you’re on vacation. All of the staff, especially Chef Niko and his team, are incredibly friendly and provide a superior level of service. The food is truly a work of art that not only looks beautiful but tastes incredible. We were a group of 8 and tasted most of the appetizers. My absolute favorites were the Avocado and Cheese and the Filo Shrimp. I had the moussaka for the entree and it was very delicious and my Hubby ordered the lamb chops and raves about them! The whole experience made me feel like I escaped to an upscale resort in Greece for the evening. It was such a wonderful night out with our friends, I highly recommend it!

Came in for a quick cocktail before meeting up with some friends and the vibes were immaculate. Big thank you to my bartender Brendan for amazing drink recommendations & to the manager Beena for being super sweet and making my experience memorable. 12/10 service, will be back because of them!

I rarely take the time to write a google review but I need to spread the word on how great Avli on the Park was to work with for a group event! We had a group of 20 girls for dinner this past weekend and everything was absolutely seamless and enjoyable! As the host, there is always pressure, but the service was truly impeccable and our waitress Jennifer was so attentive to all 20 girls it was unbelievable. I would absolutely come back for another event and it fairly priced too!

I've been here many times over the past year. There's only been one time where I was unhappy with an experience here, but I didn't let that one time take away from all the other times I've received great service. Happy hour, brunch, drinks in the evening, and even my dinner got my last birthday. While I do hope they can improve their dessert menu, I am overall satisfied with their offerings.

Having been to Avli up in Lincoln Park, Avli on the Park seems like a perfect spot for when a friend staying at hotel nearby wanted Greek food. Avli on the Park is a bit of a different vibe though, with high energy music and a livelier crowd. The food is just as good, with my chicken souvlaki tasty as ever. Overall, it’s a solid option for quality food while avoiding the tourist crowds on Michigan Ave.

A fun and good place to hang out and they have good Greek food. Beverages are all delicious and definitely worthy for how much it cost. That $50 Fish is definitely overpriced and not flavorful at all so don’t order it. But the rest are good and our waiter is a nice guy!

We had a wonderful meal and experience at Ali Taverna that we dined here. The food at this location is great! Menu has less than the Taverna and we missed some options. Service was mediocre. We ordered soup, meatballs and a side of potato’s and broccoli. The soup is wonderful. Meatballs came next and the waiter checked on us and informed us he staggered the items. We wanted them all together and he did not ask. We also added tzatziki sauce and pita at this time. So good!

I recently visited Avli with a party of four, and unfortunately, our experience fell far short of expectations. Three of us ordered the lobster pastitsio, which turned out to be incredibly disappointing. The dish was almost entirely pasta, with only three tiny, unimpressive pieces of lobster in each serving. To make matters worse, it was completely devoid of flavor—no seasoning, no salt, no pepper. It was bland to the point of being unenjoyable. Given the high price, we expected a much higher standard in both quality and portion size, especially when lobster is supposed to be the star of the dish. Sadly, this was not the case. For the price we paid, the meal felt like a complete letdown. While the service was adequate, the food quality alone would make us think twice about returning. Hopefully, the restaurant takes this feedback seriously and improves their offerings in the future. Review 2: After my initial review, the restaurant manager personally reached out to us, inviting us to return for another dining experience. As a gesture of goodwill, they generously offered the lobster dish on the house, just for us, which made us feel truly valued and special. On our second visit, the lobster dish was noticeably different—expertly prepared with a refined touch that elevated its flavors. The presentation was more elegant, and the taste had a rich, sophisticated depth that was absent the first time. This thoughtful gesture not only enhanced our overall experience but also showcased the restaurant's commitment to exceptional service and customer satisfaction.

The Greek salad was amazing! The cocktails were spectacular and we all LOVED the $25 three course menu! I had the hummus and the salmon. Our waiter was very busy so we didn't receive much attention things were forgotten and neglected...but not on purpose. It's a beautiful restaurant overlooking the park. It feels very light and bright! Will definitely be back and recommend to friends.

First time eating here-we were a group of 7 and we reached a tad late coz we were trying to walk up n down to find this place 🤣-clearly we are not from Chicago We started with a bunch of apps and each and every app was just outstanding ! The presentation the taste everything was so fresh and inviting ! My friends all had wine which they said was a great pairing I particularly liked the shrimp kataifi n the calamari…there was also a cheese appetizer which was flambé-d table side but I can’t remember the name( it tasted very provolone like) The only disappointing app was the pita and the spreads/dips…the proportion of the dip was not enough for anyone and the dips weren’t that great either Main course we got a bunch of things like pasta with mushrooms(I think) chicken souvlaki etc everything was quite flavorful and fresh We enjoyed the ambience and the meal

Very beautiful restaurant, and atmosphere was great. Firstly the saganaki was just ok, the honey pepper fig on top was a little too different for my taste. The chicken souvlaki was very good. Definitely would recommend getting that. The steak tenderloin was pretty good but a very small portion and does not come with anything else (mashed potatoes or fries). The zucchini chips were pretty good. And lastly the dessert was an experience, that table side flamed white chocolate flan with berries was fun.

Previously visited Avli River North and I wasn’t very happy with the food so decided to give it a try to their The Park location. Ordered from their lunch menu: Tzatziki, Avgolemono soup and chicken bowl. Favorite dish: Soup, it had great flavor and felt just right for cloudy Chicago day Least favorite: Chicken bowl - think the rice can improve, it was a little under cooked. The chicken was cooked really well. The chickpeas needed more flavor and also were a little hard. Service: sat at the bar and service was good and fast Overall: if you work in the area this is a solid spot for lunch - i wouldn’t go out of my way to come.

First, just like most restaurants, they seemed under-staffed but they apologized and took care of us. The dessert (chocolate cake) was mouth watering good! The main entrees were good, but felt things can improve. Salad felt a bit too much was on the plate. Lamb had a burnt taste, but overall tasted good.

Had an enjoyable experience. The waiter was accommodating. However my daughter received a spritz drink with mint as a thank you for being patient drink while her drink was being made and it got busier and she never received that. The asst to the waiter poured olive oil all over the saganaki and it wouldn’t light so we received a wet saganaki with no “fire” show. The lemon soup was excellent, it’s hard to perfect that soup. The dips were all very good as well. The souvlaki was flavorful and tasty. It would have been much better if it wasn’t so extremely loud, almost piercing - just around the bar area to the point it would have been appropriate to have asked half the bar to take it down a notch so people could hear each other. The tables all around us were quiet so it was strictly the bar, a dining room separate would be a great thing.

Went here for dinner with my wife and a friend to celebrate my birthday. The food here is good. The was complimentary bread, olive oil, and olives as well as an amuse bouche. We had the tasting plate of 4 spreads with 1 pita cut into 4. The spreads were generous but 4 pitas were not enough for the amount of the spread provided nor the number of people being served. We asked for more pita and was given 4 pieces again. We left the remaining spread. But much to our disappointment was a 2.00 charge for the additional pita. We ordered the lobster pasta, feta shrimp, and Scottish salmon, a round of cocktails, bottle of wine, and desserts. The food was very good. The service started out good but then the waiter became overwhelmed with a larger table and we had to flag him down repeatedly. We waited for over 30 minutes to obtain our bill. This restaurant has delicious food but loses its shine with miserly fees and uneven service.

Greek food with a beautiful rooftop terrace. Walking distance from millennium/Maggie Daley park. The tzatziki and calamari was delicious. The Greek omelet was bland and the chicken souvlaki was dry. The Avli club and the Greek fries were delicious. For a Greek restaurant the club sandwich should not be the tastiest item we had. The waitress was nice but we hardly saw her. It was like they need more waitress. They had a party downstairs maybe all the staff was downstairs.

Good evening lady’s and gents ! Avli on park awarded our event with a mixed feelings , while DBO delivered top notch mezcal old fashions and other cocktails 🍸 Kitchen delivered to us super greasy calamari’s that tasted 3/10 . If not a bartender I would never return , food not approved, DBO’s hospitality 10/10. I hope this review will be useful.

This was December 27 found time to review now I mean m giving it two stars because the manager in black uniform n wait staff was super nice. All I would say is avoid this place if you have a small baby n stroller. The main manager/owner wearing white chef kind of dress first of all took all orders rudely n made us feel so unwelcome because of stroller n baby and then I kept avoiding but in the end he just made it worse by forcefully asking my spouse for a 20% tip (we gave a decent tip already)that was so weird. So yeah very unwelcoming non family place

Terrible experience, the food was not tasty at all, I had to return 2 plates to the kitchen. I tried the soup and too much lemon, the chicken souvlaki was dry and not tasty, the musaka was dry and same not tasty at all. Definitely not what I expected ! The only good thing about this was the presentation of the dishes, other than that I did not like it !

Wow! This high-end!!! restaurant with all its fancy decor and pompous staff serves the lowest quality that I could imagine! My wife and I have spent 5 days in Chicago and tried a lot of restaurants because good meal is part of our plans for travel! Every minute we spent there and every bite on this awful chicken was waste of time and money! The chicken was too dry! Each skew had 2 small pieces of dry and salty chicken with a big onion and some bell peppers. The plate was terrible in design! The tomato was served as if the kitchen guy was in hurry and just cut it and threw in the plate. Red onion was salty and dry and the worst part, fries were anything but fresh. It was like they just warmed up a leftover from last night! I’m happy that we didn’t order more because my wife had a sense that this restaurant is not going to serve well! We left the plate exactly as you see in pictures intact, paid for it and then I told the waitress about the quality! She asked if I want her to do anything for us! I just said no just know how awful the experience was and she thanked me for that! In a normal restaurant the manager would come with an apology and tries to band aid the injury but they were so proud to even do that! It doesn’t even deserve an star but there is no option here! Don’t ruin your day here!

I get the bisteki gyro delivered from here all the time because it’s so good, but in the 15 times I’ve ordered from here in recent memory they’ve screwed up the order 10-12 times. Sometimes the fries are missing, sometimes the tomatoes, sometimes the sauce. ATP it’s a surprise that the order delivers with all the right ingredients. Great food, atrocious service. EDIT: decided to give this place another try after the owner responded below because I love gyro and this place is like 2 mins away from me. They messed up that order too. I give up lol.

Restaurant was beautiful however, host/ greeters were rude and so was the server. When speaking to one of the hosts she made nasty faces whenever being spoken to or speaking to my spouse. The waiter was not very attentive at all and I overheard him speaking very disrespectfully of my spouse to another server in Spanish not knowing that I too speak Spanish! Food also was below average… definitely would not return after the way we were treated here. Definitely ruined our Valentine’s Day dinner

Sent daughter and son in law for my daughter’s birthday. Two hostesses where so not into there job. No good evening no thank you for joining us tonight. Even with our joyful introduction there was only silence, a feeling of not being welcome, no eye contact and silent awkwardness. Afer being seated and some time passed the hostess then rudely tossed a happy anniversary card on the table. Wait staff was confused because he thought it was a birthday event. While the food and wait staff were good it was ruined by the rude reception. Respectfully reservation 2/7/26