Best Group Dining Greek Restaurants in Chicago
17 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.
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
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Family Friendly Favorites
Business Lunch Power Players
Birthday & Celebration Central
A Greektown classic where the best meals are built around grilled seafood, bright salads, and the kind of crowd-pleasing plates that keep big tables happy. Go for the signature starters, then pick one main lane—whole fish or a hearty baked dish—and let the room’s lively energy do the rest.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mediterranean grilled octopus, Flaming saganaki, Moussaka
What Makes it Special: Big-room Greek cooking built for classic starters and grilled mains.
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
Zeus Restaurant
8.3
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Quick Bites Champions
Zeus is a no-frills Greektown stalwart dating back to the early 1990s, known for gyro and chicken plates loaded with pita, fries, and tzatziki at accessible prices. With well over a thousand cross-platform reviews and decades of service, it’s a dependable stop for fast, filling Greek comfort food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gyro Plate, Mixed Plate (Gyro & Chicken), Greek Gyro Salad
What Makes it Special: Long-running Greektown counter where classic gyros plates anchor generous, affordable meals.
#12
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.
#13
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.
Yasemi sits off the lobby of the Godfrey Hotel as a modern Greek-leaning Mediterranean dining room with plenty of natural light and a flexible all-day menu. Open since 2025, it runs from breakfast through dinner, giving River North visitors and office workers a sit-down option for mezze, grilled seafood, and braised lamb without leaving the block.
Must-Try Dishes:
Whipped Harissa Feta with Warm Pita, Grilled Octopus, Youvetsi Lamb Shank with Orzo
What Makes it Special: Hotel-attached modern Mediterranean spot with full-day service and a spacious, comfortable dining room.
Worthy Picks
#17
Jimmy's Best
7.6
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
A Halsted Street neighborhood grill where the Greek lane shows up through straightforward gyros—sandwich, meal, or plate—alongside broader fast-food staples. If you’re coming for Greek flavor, stay focused on the gyro trio and a simple side instead of jumping across categories.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gyros Sandwich, Gyros Meal, Gyros Plate
What Makes it Special: A multi-purpose neighborhood grill with a clear gyro sandwich/meal/plate lane.