man, I don't know if I"m just not into Greek food or what, but I thought the food was just slightly above average. I would give the food a 3 star (strictly because of my food preference), but I feel compelled to give this place a 4 star because there's just something about this place that I would feel bad about giving it less than a good rating. I got their chicken specials and while it was nicely cooked and moist; I didn't find it much better than rositterie chicken or anything. Doesn't make much sense, I know, but I guess the service was great and the hilarious hostess/owner-lady was awesome.
I'm sure that if you like Greek food, you'll love this place. For me, it's not my favorite cuisine.
First off, this is some outstanding Greek food. Â As soon as I opened the menu and saw that you had to allow 35 minutes when ordering the pastitsio, I called the waiter over and put my order in. Â And boy, was I generously rewarded by that choice. Â The dish was made fresh to order, and consequently was the best I've ever had. Â Period. Â The noodles weren't even remotely gummy, the spiced ground beef was flavorful, and the bechamel....the bechamel! Â Heaven with nutmeg and an oven-browned crust. Â Plus, you could have fed a family of four on that casserole.
So there I was, all smug with my delicious pastitsio, knowing I was eating the best meal of the evening. Â And then one of my dinner companions offers me a taste of his spanakopita.
Not fair, Mythos. Â You may not serve me the best pastitsio I've ever tasted, and THEN SERVE THE BEST SPANAKOPITA I'VE EVER TASTED, TOO.
The third diner at our table ordered the roasted lamb shank, and this too was unbelievably good.
But beyond how good the food is, this is a restaurant that is Greek to the core, and a more warm and welcoming experience you'll be hard-pressed to find. Â When we arrived - without a reservation, a mistake I won't make again - we were told that they could squeeze us in, but we would have to finish up in AN HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES, because they were fully booked for the evening. Â And looking around at the empty tables, every single one had a "Reserved" sign on it. Â Over the course of our meal, all of those tables filled up, and everyone proceeded to have a meal that felt like home for the holidays. Â Lots of conversation and laughter, food and wine, space to talk and breathe and drink and then some more food, and not even the HINT of a rush. Â As it was, we had plenty of time to enjoy our food, had to actually flag down the waiter for our check at the end of the meal, and as we were leaving one of the owners - a painted-up Greek matriarch if ever there was one - came over to apologize for RUSHING us. Â She then proceeded to hug and kiss us out the door like we were favorite cousins. Â I guarantee you, the rest of those tables didn't turn even once that night. Â Everyone stayed and dined and laughed and talked until they reluctantly closed the doors.
Those Greeks; they know how to eat a dinner. Â I'll be back!
Really fantastic food. Light, well prepared, good portion size and quality. Highly recommend it. Â The Chicken Oreganato was worth the wait. calamari, Mythos salad and zucchini patties were all great. this is a terrific neighborhood spot but also worth the drive. BYOB is a great selling point too.
Review Source:I am almost afraid to write this review as I want to be selfish and keep this place to myself. I am and always have been obsessed with great Greek food. The further north we moved in the city the more I worried about being so far away from the Greek staples.
Then one hot night the fiance and I went to explore our new neighborhood and stumbled upon this place. Â First off it is BYOB which is always an added plus. If they are busy and all of the tables are full the owner will grab some glasses from the bar and you have your wine while you wait for your table.
The owner is amazing, many visits later we came in here after I had one of those no good terrible awful days at work. I told her my sob story about working in the male dominated food and beverage industry and she gave me some of the best advice I have ever received to this day. But I digress.
The food is spectacular. You must try the Tzatziki, Saganacki, Pastichio, any of the steak options and everything else on the menu! They do not light the Saganacki table side but believe me you are not missing out on any flavor. And I am sure I butchering the spelling of all of these delights.
You must visit!
I am a connoisseur of Tzatziki and this was the best I've had outside of Greece. Also great is the Loukaniko. Â The real star though is the Kolokytho-keftedes. Â They are so light and fluffy, it's like a zucchini-flavored pillow of air.
I like their appetizers more than their entrees- I'd rather just get a bunch of apps when I go here.
On Tuesdaty Jan 15th, 2013 a friend and I came into this restaurant at 4 minutes to five pm.  We were unsure of what time they open, however the front door was open.  Once we enterered ther was noone to be found inside the restaurant.  I said loudly Hello? and then again, Hello?  Nothing.  So we decided to sit at a table by the window and wait.  About 3 minutes goes by and a women comes out from the kitchen, looks at us with no acknolegement whatsoever and retreats back into the kitchen. I assumed someone would then come out and greet us.  Nope. another 2 or 3 minutes go by and now I'm hot.  Totally annoyed.  I said to my friend "Let's get outta here."  Really wanted to try this restaurant as I live 1 block away.  I have also worked at the Italian Village Restaurant  (Vivere) for 23 years and have been a waiter for 30. Inexuable.  Unnacceptable. Apparently,. Mythos has too much money and too many customers
Shame.
This review is long overdue, as I have been frequenting Mythos for a number of years now. The food, ambiance, service and staff are phenomenal. I have introduced many friends and family to this establishment with confidence as they always deliver and never disappoint.
I am always greeted warmly and seated promptly. The staff is friendly and always willing to offer suggestions when navigating their menu for any novice of Greek cuisine. Their weekend specials are always a treat. As mentioned by a number of other reviews, their pastichio and chicken reganate are delicious and in my opinion very authentic compared with a number of other establishments. I'd also recommend the brizolakia, it's incredibly flavorful. I've been able to try a number of entree's on the menu and have yet to be disappointed even in the slightest.
Something I have noticed every time I am at Mythos is that you will witness patrons sharing their meals with others at their tables. I myself am guilty of this, but it's merely because I want everyone I dine there with to have a chance to sample all of the wonderful possibilities. One doesn't share a "bad" meal with others at their table. So I can't be alone in my love of their menu.
I haven't dined at every Greek restaurant in the city, but this is by far my favorite!! As with any desirable restaurant in Chicago, I recommend a reservation to ensure a table, this isn't fast food!! When the dining experience is as great as this, you have to understand that you won't be the only person wanting to enjoy Mythos on any given evening.
Thanks Mythos!! We'll be back soon for more!!
This place is really a 3.5 star restaurant but I wanted to give it the nod because we had a great service experience here.
Ambiance/Service: Came here friday night and place was full but we still got seated upon arriving and without a reso. The place was pretty snazzy feeling with teal walls, tan seating, and dim lighting. This place would almost feel romantic if it weren't for the noisiness, a common consequence of high ceilings, minimal partitions, and hardwood flooring. It was actually hard to hear my fiancé sitting across from me. I had actually just driven 10 hours from Kansas and was feeling really nauseous but the staff was great, the hostess made sure we got bread right away and was concerned but not over-bearing. Our waiter was helpful with the specials and made sure the order was put in almost the moment we sat down since it would be a 40 minute wait for their signature dishes. Waters were promptly filled and the menu warns you that bread and other things take a while because everything is almost made to order.
Food: The zucchini...fritter.. appetizer was pretty tasty. It was piping hot from the oven with a crispy cheesy crust and warm fluffy center. The feta cheese spread was two balls of herby cheese served with freshly toasted/grilled-tasting bread which was light and enjoyable. Both the appetizers tided us over until our food came. The roast chicken signature dish which you wait 40 minutes for was excellently cooked, moist and tender with a salty peppery skin... but the spices were nothing revolutionary. The Greek lasagna which took similarly long to bake was a ziti pasta topped with uniquely-spiced ground beef topped with a thick fluffy cheese layer that reminded me of marscapone, a hint of sweet and creamy. The rice was really not that great, one of the worst I've had at a restaurant but the accompanying green beans were really tasty with some magic spiced tomato-y sauce.
Overall our meal was pretty heavy on cheeses with the chicken and rice being the only truly light dish. The dishes were all tasty but I never once had mind-blown. Aside from the lasagna, none of the spices or herbs were strong in flavor nor very memorable. This place seems to excel in one thing, freshness. Our fritters, chicken and lasagna were freshly baked, our feta bread freshly toasted. The flavors are subtle and the textures excellent but in the end I was waiting 45 minutes in a noisy restaurant and paying a premium for food that was not boring but also not exciting. Again, the food might be a 3.5 but we appreciated the excellent service, nice decor, and their gourmet emphasis on freshness (whether that is worth the wait/cost is up to you).
We went here with a group of friends and it was very good. Â We really loved the food and the service was very enjoyable. Â HOWEVER, I don't get this whole "corkage fee" thing and it really turns me off when restaurants do it. Â Either fork up the dough and get a liquor license or be a BYOB. Â Don't charge your guests to bring their own alcohol that they paid for already. Â I know that it's legal in Chicago, but just because something is legal doesn't make it right. Â We ended up spending over $30 in corkage fees for the group which seems superfluous. Â
Off my soapbox now. Â If you're looking for fabulous, authentic Greek food, this place is a great option. Â They are very friendly and the place is one of those old, divey Chicago finds. Â The flavors are spot-on and the menu is varied. Â I would definitely go back, just maybe not on a boozey night!
So on Saturday night it's hard to get in anywhere without a reservation. Â After our first through third choices fell through, we settled on Mythos but mostly because by the time that we were able to drive over from the other part of the city that we were in, we could actually get seated and served a meal.
When we arrived, it was pretty busy - every table was full, including a very large and extremely loud party in the smaller side section. Â We waited about 5 minutes and once a table got clear, we were seated. Â
In general, because it was so busy, everything took a little while. Â I won't complain because the service was extremely friendly and, well, it was busy. Â
We ordered a couple of appetizers: the loukanikos, which were bright, delicious sausages, the zucchini patties, which really reminded me of Japanese potato croquettes, and the feta spread - along with two bread baskets. Â I would have been happy to stop here with these items - decent portions to share and all just absolutely delicious.
I knew that I had to try the pastichio because one of our dining companions said that it was the best he has ever had. Â I'd never had it before but I figured based on his comments that it was kind of a necessity and he was not wrong. Â It was pretty fantastic. Â Noodles, beef, bechamel and puff pasty - the sauce directly under the pastry took on a fantastic pastry or pie crust quality and it was a little weird that something so hearty could be so soft and light at the same time. Â Awesome stuff. Â Well worth the menu's stated 35 minute cooking time! Â We also had the veal chop, pork and the braised lamb and I think everyone was extremely happy with their items. Â Note that we had ordered two of the lamb when the chef came out and let us know that they only had one left. Â She recommended the pork and it was more than acceptable replacement. Â All very tasty items, which came with a choice of potato or rice.
Yes, we even had enough room for dessert. Â Save yourself the hassle and order one of the orange cake and one of the puff pasty filled with custard. Â Our server said that the orange cake was the most popular but that the puff custard goodness was her favorite. Â Definitely two very different desserts as the orange cake is sweet on sweet on sweet, while the puff custard does not quite feel like a giant sugar explosion has just occurred. Â Not gonna lie, though, that orange cake was the perfect super sweet end to the evening. Â And I loved the little dessert forks we got to eat it with.
Go hungry and make the time to eat. Â This is not fast food - it's good, old-fashioned home cooking in a warm atmosphere. Â Kind of like if you go to your grandma's or your aunt's house. Â Well worth the wait and just over all excellent!
My plus one and I wandered into Mythos one Friday evening and were fortunate to score a table since it looked very crowded. It is BYOB here which was sort of a surprise to us. One of my favorite Greek dishes is pastitcio, and Mythos serves a mean bowl of it. Bowl??? Yes they serve the pastitcio in a generously sized glass bowl, and then the server scoops out the meaty and creamy goodness onto my plate. It was definitely worth the wait as you could tell this was made to order. My dining companion enjoyed her chicken dish as well.
Review Source:How lucky we are to have this little gem in our neighborhood! Â Went last night for the first time after talking about going there for a year... Why on earth did we wait so long? Â We will now certainly return, and soon. Â
First, there was "George." Â When a waiter is excited about the food, it's always a good sign that you're in the right place. Â We were about to order the "standard" Greek restaurant fare but George suggested we try some different things. Â He did not steer us wong. Â The Kolokytho Keftedes, "patties of shredded fresh zucchini & romano/parmesan pan prepared in extra virgin olive oil" were fantastic, light, heavenly little creamy patties;The Mythos Salad was fresh and delicious. Â We then split an order of the Pastichio and an order of the Pork Tenderloin. Â The Pastichio was fantastic and well worth the wait for the "made to order" freshness. Â The pork Tenderloin was beautifully marinated and fork tender with green beans and potatoes that complimented the pork perfectly.
We left with full bellies and with some leftovers in tow. Â The Chef, "Vicki" was talking to all of the diners and was just hilarious and so passiionate about her food. Â All in all, Mythos was a great, and a-typical Greek dining experience;Far more like Greece and less like Greektown while still feeling fun and festive.
C and I went here a couple of weeks ago. I was a bit dubious because the name suggested it a tavern atmosphere rather than a restaurant. However, the reviews convinced me that we should give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised to find a pleasant dining room and ambiance; nothing at all like a "taverna" implies. Perhaps it's a matter of translation. In Polish (my heritage), taverna means exactly what it sounds like: a tavern . . . like a corner tap. Perhaps in Greek it means something more refined. In any case, the hostess (possibly the owner) was gracious and the waitress attentive, but not overly so.
We started with the calamari appetizer, which is deep fried with a crispy batter, but not at all greasy nor chewy. Quite the contrary, it was excellent. Before it arrived, the waitress delivered a small basket with bread and whipped butter. It was very tasty. Next, we ordered a salad and lamb shank dinner, to share. By the time we finished the salad we realized that we couldn't possibly eat the lamb if we were to try the famous orange cake. So we asked the waitress to package the lamb and rice, which made a wonderful dinner the next night. The orange cake held up to expectations. Overall, we really liked Mythos. Indeed, we returned for another try last night.
Our second visit was as good as the first, but this time with our friend MR in tow. We shared calamari . . . perfect, once again. C and I ordered the pasticio (sp?), to share and MR ordered the dish with meatballs. The pasticio was quite different in that the sauce was like a custard. Very nice. We tried MR's meaballs and found them very flavorful. MR can be a bit picky, but she appeared thoroughly satisfied.
We plan to come again. We especially like that it's BYOB. Parking is on the street, but doesn't seem to be problematic.
Amazing Greek food and a pleasant experience from start to finish. If I had any complaint at all, it would be that they are pretty slow. If you're in the mood to relax and in no rush then it wouldn't be a problem. Just be warned that it could take up to 3 hours from start to finish if you're with a group of 5 people.
Everything is made to order, so the spanikopita, for example, takes about 30-40 minutes to prepare. Some of the other entrees also take about 30 minutes. We put our spanikopita order in first and everything came out together about 30 minutes later. Time flew and we ordered three appetizers to keep our appetites at bay. I recommend all of them. We tried the seasoned sausages, zucchini and Parmesan patties, and the saganaki. I would definitely order any of them again.
The bread basket is small, but the bread is fluffy and filling. They serve it with a thick garlic-infused butter and you can order extra baskets for $2. Try not to fill up on bread though, because the entrees are where it's at. Each of us ordered something different and were impressed with each dish. We tried the half chicken, the biftekia, pork, spanikopita and the braised lamb. We all agreed that the braised lamb was the best. I had it with a side of feta and couldn't have been happier.
For dessert, we ordered the orange cake. You have to get this. I'm tempted to return here just for the dessert if I find myself in the area again. It had the consistency of a thick angel food cake, but it was soaked in some type of honey (possibly with brandy) and orange syrup with a real candied orange on top. It was heaven on a fork.
We split 3 bottles of wine during the meal and were charged $3 per bottle as a "recycling fee." They were nice enough to chill the bottles for us in back and open them up and put them on ice. We were a little disappointed we were nickle and dimed on the BYOB and bread. The total came to about $38pp, but the quality of the main entrees, that spectacular dessert, and how nice the servers were made up for it. We had a splendid time!
Having eaten in Greektown's Roditys, Greek Islands, Zorba, and Parthenon all my adult life (and have had some great meals at a great value there), I was pleasantly surprised with Mythos giving the city's Greek restaurant elite a run for the money. Here's the lowdown:
YES YES YES
* Calamari was lightly coated and fried to perfection, like at Roditys.
* Pastichio was worth the 45 min. wait, a sight to see, and tasted dead on.
* Rice and peas were delicious and could stand alone on their own merits.
* Service was friendly, helpful and always accomodating by the blond young man.
* Chicken Regenata was simple but flavor and execution was dead on. Â
* Fried zuchinni patties were very tasty and flavor was dead on.
* All dishes had a fresh homemade quality and taste to it.
* Brought in 2 cans of beer and a frosted mug was brought out ASAP.
* Bread was hot out of the oven and garlic butter tasty.
* Orange cake was good and off the beaten path. We shared it.
* Prices were reasonable and friendly.
* Quiet and slower paced room, if that's your speed.
NO NO NO
* Did'nt ignite saganaki at tableside. Kids didn't like, was deprived of OPPAA!
* We ordered 2 lamb shanks.One was brought out 30 min earlier. Old batch?
* The lamb shanks tasted a tad bit salty. Told server but he did nothing.
* They played what sounded more like Middle Eastern music than Greek music.
* On a Friday night from 5:15 to 7:00, only 3 tables were filled. Something wrong?
* Of those 3 tables, they were seated right next to us. Why cramp us in?
* Was not greeted or visited by the friendly owner or chef.
* Propped open door to save on AC, then let the bugs in? C'mon.
*Parking sucked, had to park a full block down on Seeley.
* Missing that lively Greektown OPPAA vibe, if that's what you're after.
I can tell you that having had real Greek food for years and tried pretty much all the Chi has had to offer in terms of Greek food that this is the closest to taste, texture, and temperture Greek food is all about. The Pastichio will literally make your toes curl. It's phenomenol. If your looking for a down home warm setting with real people and authentic food? Look no further friends...
Good eating
=)
In a city like Chicago, known for its Greektown, Mythos stands apart. First because it's not located in Chicago's Greektown; far from it. Second because it serves food far better than the typical Greektown restaurant.
You can walk or drive past this restaurant on Montrose Avenue and not notice it. It is unpretentious and welcoming. It has no liquor license. No valet parking or a parking lot (though street parking was easy on a Saturday night). But it has what matters most: care and focus on delicious food.
The menu is deceptively sparse. The dishes are carefully selected. The service is friendly and attentive. And the atmosphere is truly convivial.
During my recent, first, and certainly not last visit, our party tried the zucchini fritters, tzatziki, horiatiki salad, pastichio (Greeks' notion of mac and cheese), Â braised shrimp, veal chop, and biftekia (grilled meatballs). For dessert we had yogurt with sour cherry syrup, bougatsa, and orange pie.
The appetizers were great; the fritters quite notable.
The grilled meatballs were outstanding. Moist, nicely grilled, with fragrant spearmint, just great, as close as you get to the real thing.
Pastichio (tubular pasta, beef sauce, bechamel, all baked together) was also great. It takes about 45 minutes to prepare because they bake it fresh. The ground beef filling was perfectly seasoned with cinnamon, cloves, and a touch of nutmeg. It doesn't get more homey food that this. Worth every minute of waiting.
The veal chop was an exercise in perfection-through-simplicity: good quality meat, barely seasoned with salt, pepper, oil, and lemon, grilled to perfection. Very good.
The braised shrimp were good as well. Not as garlicky and I'd like them but a perfect combination with the rice and the green beans.
What was out of this world, I-cant-believe-they-make-it, was the orange pie. It's some sort of lumpy semolina custard, flavored with orange syrup, and topped with a slice of orange preserved in syrup. The nearest thing I remember is "kousmeri", a local delicacy in Ioannina, Greece.
In a town where Greek desserts are limited to baklava and kataif and other syrian/ottoman varieties of syrup-soaked pastry, this orange pie stands a cut above them all. It speaks volumes about Mythos and the care its owners take to provide patrons with honest-to-Zeus, home style, Greek food.
I have walked by this place probably more than a thousand times and never actually tried it.  This loss lies completely and utterly on me... because  I have totally been missing out!
It was a Thursday night that my boyfriend and I went on this lets try a new restaurant date--which we try to do at least once a month. Â We have had this on the "to try list" for too long considering we live just blocks away.
When we came in we were surprised that its actually more quaint and nice than we thought from the outside. Â The warm lighting, greek music and white table clothes were pleasant and inviting. Â You can get totally dressed up for a fun special occassion or be like us and wear jeans and feel just as comfortable. Â Its whatever you want as far as the style. Â
First thing to worry about is drinks... well its BYOB so they took our bottle of white and immediately had glasses and put it in a chiller at our table for us. When we were pleasantly greeted by out authentically greek accented waiter he was incredibly pleasant and forthcoming about what was "delicious"! Â haha. Â Very entertaining and kind gentleman. Â
Per our waiter's reccomendation we had the zucchini appetizer which I honestly couldn't tell you what the greek name for it was. Â It was amazing! Â They were like greek fritters with zucchini and garlic and I don't even know how to describe them but they were awesome! Â We ended up with that sans the spanikopita because he said you can get spanikopita anywhere you can not get this anywhere! Â So there ya have that.
Next we had our entrees... of which my boyfriend went with our waiter's suggestion of one of the most popular and delicious items on the menu which coincidentally takes 45 minutes, the pastitsio. Â He had never had this before anywhere. I have had it at a few greek places in greek town where it can sometimes be more like a greek version of lasagna and sometimes very dry. Â THIS WAS AMAZING and totally worth waiting for. Â The way the cheese baked on top was so fluffy and there is so much of it that he could not finish. Â Incredibly fresh obviously since it JUST baked. Â I ordered the greek meatballs with rice and vegetables which the name also escapes me on this because I was focused on the english side of what I was getting... but they were super warm and the dusting of cheese of the rice and moistness of the rice with my meat and vegetables was just the most warming comfort ever. Â
I realize when it comes to describing our entrees I am not doing them justice with their names and actually getting across how good they were. The food overall was incredibly freshly made and you know how I know, because the chef came out twice to see how we were doing and if we liked it. Â The staff at this place is nuts and totally like you're in the family when you come here. Â
We never even saw the dessert menu the waiter just said I will give you the best and then if you don't like it I get you something else. Â So they said they were baking a phylo pastry with custard for us that would take 10 minutes. Â And when our waiter served it and came back five minutes later it was gone. Â We literally plowed through this decadent and crispy but chewy but cinnamony and savory sweet goodness like we had not just eaten a full meal. Â It was awesome.
I don't get to have greek food a whole ton and I realize why because when you go and get the real deal its gonna set you back a few days on your calories BUT this place is worth every bite and minute. Â We were there for almost two hours but it felt like nothing. Â This is truly how you want to eat. Â You want to space things out, drink your byo wine and just enjoy the night. Â Truly european style dining. Â SO don't go in with the american attitude of I'm in a rush and this person needs to wait on me, because they are there to serve you, but they are also there to entertain and liven your senses. Â A truly unique place run by the best kinds of people in town. Â I'm not greek, but its times like this where I can feel like I am, because I felt like family at their table.
This is yet another great neighborhood place for a date or group of friends (also BYOB). Food is fresh, service is friendly and ambience is romantic and comfortable.
I'm giving this place 4 stars because I enjoy simple, healthy food with no frills; Mythos offers flavorful appetizers, well-cooked protein coupled with crisp veggies. Portion sizes are perfect and the price is right.
I have no idea why it's taken me so long to give Mythos the love that it rightfully deserves, but after another fantastic meal last night, I figured it was time!
Sorry Greektown, but Mythos has the best, most authentic Greek food in the city. More like the kind of food you find in the old country, rather than Greek food that's made for the (American) masses.
The pastichio is absolutely to die for and easily rivals my father's, which I swear is the best around. The lamb chops, loukaniko, horiatiki salad... delicious. I also recommend the soutzoukakia (mini angus beef meatballs), which my sister ordered-- Â they were fabulous. Finally, order the galaktobouriko for dessert. You'll thank me later. Vicki, the chef, is seriously a master in the kitchen. I even asked if she would move in with me last night. :)
That brings me to the service which is top-notch. In true Greek fashion, the meal does take a little while, but the food is lovingly prepared and more than worth the wait. Plus it's BYOB, so you can enjoy some wine and conversation before the food arrives. Vicki and Toni, the sisters who run Mythos, are warm and welcoming and always walking around to see how the meal is. Vicki even gave us some cooking pointers last night-- she's delightful and a wealth of knowledge about Greek cooking.
I always leave Mythos full and happy with a warm, fuzzy feeling-- like I just left my Greek relatives' home! Bravo, Mythos!
Let me just preface by saying that This place is easily the BEST dining experience that my husband and I have had in 2012 so far.
I made a reservation for a party of two last night on Friday. When we get there we are immediately greeted by the owner with much warmness - the kind that makes you think she's known you for years. Our waiter, who was also Greek gave recommendations that did not disapoint - an appetizer made of zucchini and parmesan then formed into patties and lightly pan fried to golden goodess with a garicky, potato spread on top. For entree's we ordered the pasticio and braised lamb shank - OH MY GOD, so good! There's no way I'm going back down to Greek Town, not when this gem of a place exists. As the night went on, we were delighted that the chef came out to each of the tables to make sure we were enjoying ourselves and the food. Desert of homemade baklava was flaky, buttery and drizzled with sweet honey - some of the best I've tried. Its BYOB there too. We got to talking to Toni, the owner and she let us try this other desert o the house, a flaky pastry with custard inside (absolutely divine!) and so nice of her!
We met great people like the owners Toni and her sis the chef, as well as folks around us - when people are treated well, they are happier while dining and we walked away feeling blow away by kindness and stuffed by gourmet Greek fare. Please try this place, it is so worth it!
Had dinner at Mythos last night. Â We didn't know anything about it, other than the fact it was Greek food. Â We made a reservation for 7:30... they called us back and said... can you come at 7:00?? Â Well, I suppose we can come at 7:00... but we really wanted 7:30... Â How about 8:00? Â What's going on? Â Well, it turns out that they have two groups of 13 coming at 7:30...
so in order to give us the best service they can, they thought it would be best if we arrived either before or after those groups.... Â wow... thanks for thinking of us... 7:00 it is!
We had a couple of appetizers some type of feta dip, with bread, and zucchini patties... don't ask me to give you the Greek names... both yummy, and we'd brought our own wine... (a French Malbec)...
Our server (the chef's daughter) was charming and helpful... she told us some of her favourites, and some of the most popular dishes..
I ordered the "Psaronefri" filet of pork tenderloin, char-grilled, delicious with rosemary.. looked like chicken, tasted like heaven, so tender... yum. Â Arrived with tender red Greek potatoes.
My wife ordered the Pastichio... (Greek Lasagna, baked in a glass pot)... they warned us upfront that it takes 45 minutes since it's made fresh... Â it was clearly a popular dish in the restaurant... we saw one on almost every table.... it was worthy of praise... it kind of looked like a large pot-pie, with a crust of mashed potatoes on the top... browned, and excellent. Â A large serving, prepare to take some home, unless you share.
We also ordered Braised Lamb shank - Basically Osso Bucco, done Greek style. Â The lamb was tender, fall-off-the-bone, not gamey at all ... very good with rice pilaf.
And finally "Soutzoukakia" char-broiled Angus meat balls - covered in red sauce with cumin & fresh tomatoes served over bed of rice pilaf. Â One of the best dishes of the evening.
Toni - the chef's sister, wandered the dining room, greeting patrons, stopping to say hello to regulars she clearly knows, picking up emptied plates and returning them to the kitchen. Â She's a dynamo. Â She was high-energy, clearly in her element. Â The table seated next to us was clearly "family", and they talked so highly about the restaurant... when we finished our meal, as we were leaving, Toni thanked us for coming... it was as though she had hosted us in her home.
We'll be back. Â soon. Â How do I get to be adopted into this family?
Wow! Â A real Greek Tragedy here in Chicago!
Slow service! Â Horribly long wait to get any service of any kind. But, they're really quick to take your coats!
We went with a group of 17 to celebrate a Birthday and they split the tables up! Â Huh? What a great way to feel isolated from the rest of the group. Â When we looked right across the room there was two separate dinner parties that could have sat where we were and allowed our party to stay together. Â Nice lack of planning Mythos.
A restaurant like this needs faster turnaround. Â If you know 17 people are coming for a Prix Fixe meal why does it take so long to get it out to us?? Â A meal that should take 1.5hrs shouldn't take 3! Â This isn't a romantic dinner restaurant. Â If it were I wouldn't have to schlep in my own wine! Â Poor time management Mythos.
The staff might as well have masks on because they are lacking any personality. Â As a matter of fact it would probably help the restaurant quite well if the staff did and then put on a play for us. Â At least then we'd see them and be able to ask them to open our bottles of wine. Â For my money I'll go back to Greek town where you have a better chance of getting in without a reservation, the same great food, more personable servers and no reason to BYOB! Â Mythos is being overpraised by these other reviews. Â Don't believe in the Myth!
Best Greek Food in Chicago! Â Not only because of the food, but also the amazing service, friendly owners/staff, and general look and feel of the restaurant. Â
Is this somewhere to go and have a quick dinner? Â No, but thats not what i'm looking for when I make a night out of going to dinner either. Â Anyone who said this place is slow and given a negative review because of that fact, to be cliche has probably never in their lives "stopped to smell the roses". Â
I was happy the moment I walked through the door and was greeted with a vivacious and friendly hello and apology for the poor parking. Â Everything that was eaten through the course of the evening from the feta spread, to the chicken specialty, to the greek lasagna, was phenomenal. Â I had eaten Greek at the "Greek Island Restaurant" and had regretted it so bad it took me nearly a year to try Greek food again. Â I am very glad I did after coming here, and will be back many times in the future to visit with my new friends at by far The Best Greek food in the city of Chicago.
FYI: (10% Discount for Cash Transactions)
This place is quickly becoming my favorite restaurant in the city!
Twice in as many months, I've had company in town and have taken them here. Â The food never disappoints. Braised Lamb and their signature dish (Pastichio sp?) are guaranteed winners.
The staff and chef are amazing and make you feel so welcomed.
Every meal here is a great experience and worth every penny.
If you have not checked out this restaurant yet, do yourself a favor and make a reservation today!
Fresh, tasty Greek dishes being prepared upon ordering. Â Had the spanakopita and braised lamb shank. Â Heavenly. Â You may find the lamb shank a bit too salty. Â They have nightly specials like fried pork chop and moussaka. Â I heard they only serve moussaka once every two weeks. Â Will definitely be back for the pastitcio and other dishes. Â Be prepared for a long meal as they prepare everything from scratch. Â Helpful staff who provides lots of details on the dishes and are very friendly to families. Â
Tips: Â BYOB, pay in cash to get 10% off, allot 2 hours for your meal
My wife and I walked in on a Friday, 5:30pm, with a bottle of wine in our hands (its BYOB). Â Mythos was empty. Â No customers were eating dinner, the servers were all standing along the bar and we were the only customers.
A server came and greeted us with "do you have a reservation?" Â We said no. Â As she looked in the book I noticed maybe 75% of the tables had small "reserved signs."
Again, mind you, we were the only customers in the restaurant.
She asked again, "No reservation?" Â
"No." I responded. Â She then said, "Could you eat your meal in less than an hour?"
At that point I politely said, "No thanks, we are going elsewhere." Â And we left and had a great dinner at Reza's on Clark.
Look, I understand that you cannot walk into some places in the city without a reservation. Â My point is this:
1. Greet us like you want us there;
2. Quote is a wait time ("it might be an hour? Is that ok?") we may be willing to wait;
3. Explain to us why we cannot get a table when there is no one in the restaurant and some tables are not reserved;
4. Accommodate your guests. Â Make them feel wanted. Â
You failed to do any of this and we took our business elsewhere.
Ciao.
R
Bravisimo! The restaurants in Greek Town should be glad they are not located in Greek Town because Mythos would blow them all out of the water.
I try to visit Mythos every chance I can. Today I had the pleasure of having dinner with five of my friends. They were truly amazed with the food and service. We were  warmly greeted by Toni as she sat us at the table and took our coats and a few minutes later Vicky her sister came to talk to us.
Toni started us with some great appetizers Loukaniko ( Greek Sausage) Saganaki and the kolokeftethes. My friends could not get enough they wanted more.For entrees I ordered the pastichio ( I unfortunately had to share but this is my favorite just like moms) the chicken riganate, chicken souvlakia and the pork souvlakia. Everything was delicious and plentiful.
For dessert  Toni got us the galaktobouriko, baklava and the orange cake. I had a tough time finishing the  dessert because there was so much good food I was stuffed!
When we left my friends thanked me for bringing them to Mythos they said that they had a different outlook on Greek food after eating here. Â Apparently Greek Town left a bad taste in their mouth. I know we will all be back soon! Â
Toni you girls keep up the good work! Everyone is always so nice in here and excellent food!
One night two friends set off for dinner. Expectations... 1. Good food, 2. BYOB, and 3. Nice quite setting to chat.
***** Record skips ******
"HELLLOOO (booming voice) welcome to Mythos!" says the owner Vicky or maybe it was the other owner her sister Toni.
We are rushed to our table and jackets ripped off of us. She says "sit, sit, eat, eat". I scratch my hand on the table. She immediately pulls out a bottle of Windex, sprays, squeezes, and tells me it will be fine. It's a Greek thing you know.
Ok, so maybe that didn't happen but you almost get this feeling like it's possible. She is this boisterous, motherly, and large personality type who makes sure you have all that you need. She moves around the room with a few nice comments here and there. She really commands the room. The rest of the staff, though not as excited, still performed a great service.
Unfortunately, the food isn't as bold as its owners. It's not that it's bad, just not amazing by any means. The always spectacular Megan G and I shared the Spanakopita (spinach & feta cheese pies wrapped in filo dough oven baked fresh to order). It was piping hot and tasteful but somehow I've had better. We both order the Grecian Chicken Breast (boneless whole chicken breast marinated in fresh lemons extra virgin olive oil, imported greek oregano & herbs charcoal broiled on briquettes vegetable of the day & choice of rice pilaf or greek potatoes). I know not very adventurous but we know what we like. Again, it was cooked well and flavorful but it seemed to be lacking something. The portion size is a bit much but since the prices are a bit high I guess I would hope for more then less.
A big plus to Mythos for letting us stay near an hour after we ate (it wasn't crowded). We were just sipping on wine, chatting, and not once were we interrupted nor any mean faces were made.
Holy God, this was the best Greek food of my life.
I've had pasticho in other restaurants before but not like this. It was so good that I had to slow myself down so I could savor each bite. The flavors were just amazing. A perfect blend of textures, richness and spice. The dish is made to order and takes about 45 minutes but it is worth the wait. At $17, it was a little more than I would usually pay BUT its made from scratch and easily enough for two people, three if you are lighter eaters. I ate 1/4 for dinner, gave a 1/4 of it to my friends to try and then had it for lunch for the last two days. The chef told me not to reheat it, just eat it at room temp. Very tasty that way too!
I also tried a fried zucchini appetizer. It was OK but I found the center to be a little mushy but that may be the traditional way it comes. The bread and butter was so good. I really had to stop myself from eating the whole basket. Soft warm bread served with a whipped garlic butter. Yummy! I also tried the flaming cheese appetizer, delicious.
The service was excellent. I came in with a large group (I think we had 17 people) and the staff handled us well. Our waitress notified the table that a few dishes took about 45 minutes to cook and then asked if anyone wanted to order those dishes now so that she could time the foods arrival properly. Waters were refilled, food came out in a reasonable amount of time and the chef/owner even came out to check on us.
All in all, this was a great experience. I would recommend Mythos for a large group or romantic date spot. I am really looking forward to going back and trying some more items.
A solid 4 stars.
It turns out that good Greek food was in my neighborhood and I didn't have to traverse all the way to Greektown for it. Who knew?
A friend and I went here last night at her suggestion for a somewhat impromptu dinner out. She'd been here a couple of times and loved it. It was either Mythos or La Gondola, and as much as I love LG, it was time to try somewhere new.
We were one of the first tables to be seated at about 6:30 and we were given a lovely table by the window. The inside is split into two rooms and both looked to be equally charming.
We decided on splitting the fried zucchini for an appetizer. After about 20 minutes, we still hadn't gotten it, but once it arrived, the delay was forgotten. It was delicious and just lightly breaded and the fresh lemon was a great complement.
For our entrees, we both ordered the Chicken Regante, which came with a choice of rice pilaf or roasted potatoes and today's vegetable. The waitress advised us that the chicken took 45 minutes to prepare as it was cooked to order. That was just what I wanted to hear. You order something similar in Greektown and you get it in 10 minutes because it's all prepared in advance. Me no like that. I want fresh food.
Waiting all that time for our mains gave us the opportunity to catch up so we didn't mind the wait at all, especially once the food got to our table.
The half chicken was nice and crispy, and sitting in a pool of light sauce of olive oil, garlic, lemon and oregano. It was really juicy and flavorful and light years away from the cafeteria food one finds in Greektown. The potatoes were fantastic too, but I was hoping we'd get green beans with our meal as several others had raved about them; instead we got mixed vegetables, which I am not such a fan of. They just remind me of the nasty Swanson tv dinners I had to stomach growing up.
After a leisurely dinner, we were presented with the bill, and as others mentioned, we were given two totals: one at "regular" price and one with the 10% cash discount. I knew ahead of time that they offered this so I made sure I had cash on me. Who wouldn't want to save 10%?
I really enjoyed Mythos and will definitely be back.
Highly recommended for Greek food on the north side. No need to go all the way to Greektown!
Service=4 stars
Food=3 stars
Overall= 3.5 stars
There was 16 of us split into two tables. Â We participated in their prix fixe menu which should have included an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $30. Â We opted to share the food family style so that we could try more dishes. Â We had two different salads as an appetizer. Â For an entree we had seasoned chicken, pork, sausage link, beef patties, pasta and meat casserole, savory potatoes and peas, rice, potato pancakes, and spinach pie. Â The food was good but I think I like the food at Greektown more. Â Plus I was hoping for some dessert but it never came around.
Service was excellent! There was about 4 people assisting us and the restaurant owner came around to speak to us to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. The atmosphere here is definitely very comfortable.
Due to all the positive reviews on Yelp, I'm a bit nervous to post this review...but I'm gonna keep it real by sharing my honest opinion.
I was ultra excited to try Mythos Greek Taverna out for the first time. Â Vicky Zervas, the owner, boisterously greets each guest with enthusiasm once you step in the door (just like the aunts you see in My Big Fat Greek Wedding). Â She loves to take care of her patrons, and this is completely obvious. (If you don't believe me, read the other reviews. Â You're at home in the Taverna).
Â
Greek food is within my top favorite 3 cuisines and I couldn't be in a better U.S. city to experience the most authentic specialties...at least when it comes to Chicago's own, Saganaki "Flaming Cheese". Â I ordered the Saganaki here and unlike Katie's remarks, it was exceptionally crispy and tart with lemon juice. Â I even dare to say that it is better than Greektown's Parthenon's Saganaki where it is said to have originated. Â On the other hand, Greektown at least ignites the flame with a grand olde, "OPAA" which makes the customers gasp in awe. Â Mythos does not provide such a show, as noted on their menu. Â Still, the Saganaki along with their homemade bread that is served at every table is heaven.
As for the rest of the dinner, the entrees are pretty overpriced starting at $15+. Â The amount, quality and flavors of their food just aren't all there like Greek Isles and the Parthenon. Â I wanted to try the oven-baked Grecian-style Roasted Chicken Reganati rubbed with oregano and sea salts (which is tied as the taverna's best entree with the Pastichio, per Vicky) however I was steered away at the 40 minute cooking time. Â By the time my lukewarm, fatty Lamb Shank had arrived 35 minutes later, I determined that I should have just waited a few more minutes for the well-known chicken.
I'm wrestling with myself about whether to support a friendly family-owned restaurant versus the touristic, theme-based, yet more authentic tastes of Greektown. Â I doubt I'll go back to Mythos because it didn't blow me away (flame or not), especially for the price. Â Location, on the other hand, being located outside of Greektown on the northside is a plus. Â Keep in mind, although Mythos has a little bar inside, it sells no alcohol--BYOB.
I would have given this place 3 stars - the food was good, not great (the saganaki was not flamed and therefore wasn't as goey as at other places) and service was just okay - but then it was ruined at the end of the meal.
When our bill came, it has two totals. The actual total, and then a total that reflected a 10% discount for paying cash (hmm, think they report that income?). And it had a $10 corkage charge, $5 per bottle. No where was this listed on the menu though.
When the owner came over to ask how things were, I pointed out the charge and said that I was a bit concerned that it wasn't listed on the menu. Her response was that "it used to be, but we took it off because we aren't allowed to put it on the menu". Umm, what? Where the hell do you get off charging me for something you CANNOT list on the menu? I asked "why, because corkage fees are illegal?". She replied something about a "discrepancy" in the law and then said how many bottles they have to recycle at the end of the night. Fine, but $5 per bottle? And why not mention it when we sat down and handed over our two bottles? And again, HOW can you charge someone for something you are not allowed to list on the menu?
We should have stood our ground and said we wouldn't pay the $10, but at this point the server had already taken our cards. Instead, we'll just never return.
We came for an early dinner...maybe some heartache makes me shade things a little dimly, but it was just okay. We were the first customers for dinner and things didn't quite seem ready for patrons. Â The bread and garlic butter were delicious but came late...and overall things just seemed very slow.
Our waitress seemed indifferent, the food was okay but underwhelming for the price. The zucchini dish that the chef said was amazing was just okay and the spanikopita tasted over cooked.
There are many other places I would try again before Mythos.
My experience at this place was mediocre to bad.
It was fine to start off with, until the restaurant got a few more tables in the door. Â Everything went downhill from there. Â The service went from OK (VERY hard to understand the servers) to horrible within a matter of minutes. Â Everything from the wait staff to the kitchen was in disarray. Â The owner/hostess/cook/chef/waitress was too busy trying to do EVERYTHING which was very distracting not only to patrons, but apparantly the rest of the staff as well.
We had also asked for something on the menu (cannot quite recall what it was) and were told it would take an extra 30 minutes to prepare because it wasn't prepped earlier in the day. Â We said fine. Â We asked about it 45 minutes later and were told, "well... we're out of that."
In short, VERY overpriced and bland Greek food. Â Go on a quiet night, but be sure to keep asking for various things on the menu until they actually have something in the kitchen and/or willing to prepare.
I'm always on the lookout for a great BYOB and now I can add a Greek restaurant to my list. Â
First, and importantly, parking was very easy the Friday night I went. Â I had no problem finding free street parking on the residential street just to the west of the restaurant (and this, during a time when nothing is plowed).
We made reservations, which seemed unnecessary when we arrived but 25 minutes later when we looked up from our food the place was packed and people were waiting. Â They allow you to make reservations no matter your party size, so, why not?
We just got four appetizers to share between two of us. Â The saganaki (of course) was fabulous...but what can go wrong with deep fried cheese. Â The bread was very good (much better than many of the greek restaurants down on Halsted) and comes with garlic butter. Â The only thing I was not impressed with was the spanikopita, it just tasted dry to me. Â Oh well, can't have it all.
The best part? Â The bill. Â $40.00 for 2 of us. Â And we were both stuffed. Â I love a bargain.
Just a side note to the ladies regarding the restroom. Â Very clean and spacious but I had a VERY hard time finding the light. Â So hard in fact that I eventually gave up and went in the dark. Â Only when I exited the bathroom did I finally see the light switch which was on the outside of the bathroom (on the left side as you are walking out) is hidden behind the opened door. Â Using the restroom in pitch black...not that easy.
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