Best Date Night Greek Restaurants in Chicago
14 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Ema
High-volume Mediterranean mezze from Chef CJ Jacobson with consistently strong execution.
Notable Picks
#1
Ema
8.9
Ema is Lettuce Entertain You’s bright River North Mediterranean room, built around Chef CJ Jacobson’s lighter California-style mezze, hummus, and kebabs in the lobby of the Hyatt Place. High-volume, multi-platform reviews and a steady local following make it one of the neighborhood’s most reliable spots for shareable small plates and vegetable-forward spreads.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Hummus with Lamb Ragu, House-Made Stracciatella with Vine-Ripened Tomatoes, Lamb Kefta Kebabs
What Makes it Special: High-volume Mediterranean mezze from Chef CJ Jacobson with consistently strong execution.
#2
LÝRA
8.8
LÝRA is a modern Greek flagship in Fulton Market, pairing live-fire cooking and island-inspired dishes with a high-energy, design-forward space opened in 2022. Locals use it for big nights out where charcoal-grilled lamb, pastitsio, and cocktails turn dinner into an event.
Must-Try Dishes:
Charcoal Grilled Lamb Chops, Deconstructed Pastitsio, Cast Iron Moussaka
What Makes it Special: Modern Greek showpiece blending Mykonos-inspired cooking with a high-design Fulton Market space.
8.8
Opened in 2009 by chef Jimmy Bannos Jr., The Purple Pig is a high-volume Mediterranean small-plates restaurant on the Magnificent Mile where pork, offal, and vegetable dishes pull from Italian, Greek, and Spanish flavors. A Bib Gourmand pedigree, tens of thousands of reviews across platforms, and an always-busy dining room make it one of downtown Chicago’s most proven small-plates destinations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Milk Braised Berkshire Pork Shoulder, Charred Cauliflower, Pork Belly
What Makes it Special: High-volume Mediterranean small plates spotlighting pork and Spanish-leaning tapas.
8.7
Andros Taverna is a contemporary Greek restaurant in Logan Square from chef Doug Psaltis, serving wood-grilled meats, seafood, and house-baked breads with a focus on seasonal produce. Locals treat it as the neighborhood’s destination Mediterranean spot for date nights, group dinners, and brunch, thanks to polished service, a deep mezze menu, and a busy dining room with a large patio.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kataifi Cheese Pie, Charred Octopus with Chickpeas, Lamb Chops with Lemon Potatoes
What Makes it Special: A chef-driven modern Greek tavern where wood-fired cooking and thoughtful mezze make it a destination within Logan Square.
8.7
Avli River North is an upscale Greek restaurant in the heart of River North, known for contemporary takes on classics like saganaki, souvlaki, and lobster pasta served family-style. A large patio, upstairs dining room, and lively bar make it a go-to for group dinners, date nights, and Santorini-adjacent happy hours.
Must-Try Dishes:
Flaming Saganaki, Chicken Souvlaki, Short Rib Pastitsada
What Makes it Special: Modern Greek cooking with a big patio and shareable feasts.
#6
Tama
8.6
Tama is a Bucktown Mediterranean bistro with Greek-South American leanings, where mezze, lamb, and seafood plates share the menu with vegetable-forward dishes and a serious wine list. The compact, softly lit room reads as a neighborhood date-night spot first, but small groups treat it like a shareable tasting menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Patatas Bravas with Spicy Greek Yogurt, Braised Short Rib with Orzo and Mizithra, Focaccia with House Spreads
What Makes it Special: A chef-led Mediterranean dining room where Greek-inflected mezze and large plates feel refined but still neighborhood-casual.
8.4
A contemporary Greek dining room that leans into shareable mezze, seafood-forward mains, and a lively, group-friendly pace. Order best when you build a progression—spreads and small plates first, then one whole-fish or lamb centerpiece—so the table stays coherent instead of scattered.
Must-Try Dishes:
Whole red snapper, Kataifi shrimp, Flaming saganaki
What Makes it Special: Greek mezze-to-mains progression in a lively, polished room.
8.3
A long-running Andersonville Mediterranean room that rewards a share-the-table order: dips first, then a couple of hot plates that keep the meal moving. It’s a dependable sit-down pick when you want familiar flavors done with steady execution rather than trend-chasing twists.
Must-Try Dishes:
Combination dip sampler, Burek (meat-stuffed pastry), Saganaki
What Makes it Special: A shareable mezze-and-hot-plates Mediterranean menu with staying power.
8.3
A long-running Greek dining room that leans into classic taverna dishes and a full-service rhythm rather than quick counter fare. The strongest meals come from a tight hot-apps-to-grill order: one crowd-pleasing starter, one seafood or lamb lane, and a composed main that holds up across repeat visits.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grilled octopus, Moussaka, Saganaki
What Makes it Special: A full-service Greek menu built around classic taverna staples and grilled mains.
#10
Taxim
8.3
Taxim focuses on regionally specific Greek cooking, serving wood-grilled meats, seasonal produce, and meze in a dim, brick-lined room with a rooftop patio over Milwaukee Avenue. Locals treat it as the neighborhood’s serious sit-down option when they want a longer Mediterranean dinner instead of quick counter service.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wood-grilled octopus, Braised lamb shank, House mezze platter
What Makes it Special: Rooftop-friendly modern Greek spot emphasizing regional dishes and meze.
#11
Elia
8.2
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Date Night Magic
Girls Night Out Approved
Group Dining Gatherings
Elia is a modern Mediterranean restaurant on Division where mezze, mixed grills, and seafood arrive in a candlelit room accented with deep reds and live-fire aromas. It’s used for birthday dinners and date nights when diners want an all-evening experience built around shared plates and a broader wine list.
Must-Try Dishes:
All-you-can-eat mezze and grill spread, Lamb chops, Baklava dessert
What Makes it Special: Modern, music-forward Mediterranean room built for lingering celebrations.
#12
Taverna 1821
8.2
Taverna 1821 is a newer Greek pop-up in Fulton Market, spotlighting regional dishes like shrimp manti, lamb skaras, and seafood tomato orzo in a cozy, polished setting with a patio. It channels a taverna-style menu into a modern West Loop context, making it a strong choice for mezze-driven dinners and happy hour.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp Manti, Lamb Skaras, Seafood Tomato Orzo
What Makes it Special: Chef-driven Greek pop-up spotlighting regional dishes rarely seen elsewhere in Fulton Market.
8.1
A newer, modern-leaning Greek dining room where the menu reads best as a curated small-plates-to-protein progression rather than a sprawling sampler. Build your meal around one salad or spread, one seafood or soup course, and one standout main so flavors stay distinct and the table stays hot.
Must-Try Dishes:
Maroulosalata, Avgolemono soup, Mussels saganaki
What Makes it Special: Modern Greek cooking with a share-plates approach and cocktail-friendly pacing.
8
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Trendy Table Hotspots
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
A polished Greek dining room that leans more modern steak-and-seafood than taverna, with a menu built for a composed, course-like progression. It’s at its best when you treat it as an occasion: one strong starter, one seafood or lamb lane, then a clean finish instead of over-ordering.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb chops, Smoked lamb ribs, Spanakopita
What Makes it Special: Modern Greek cooking with a polished, occasion-forward dining room.