Ha, reading my old review and now it's scary that I DO live within a 10 mile radius of the Works!!
All is still excellent on the Works homefront. Fresh made pitas, and still the same amazing gyro meat that is to DIE for and I have not found anything else like it anywhere!! A MUST to try the gyros if you're in the area!!!
WOW all of these 4 and 5 star reviews are puzzling me. Went to The Works today because we were near by and we were thoroughly disappointed. This place is not good.
First of all the service was pretty bad. The guy insisted we pay in cash, when we didn't have enough and had to pay with a card we got major ATTITUDE from the creepy guy working the register. After our order I went out to my car for my phone while my girlfriend ordered a coke. The guy was calling my girlfriend "baby" and being overly creepy. Not cool and I didn't find out about this until we left.
The place is a dump in a really sketchy old strip mall. There are tacky paintings inside
And on to the SUBPAR gyros. We got the 1lb which was $13 not $9 like other reviews mentioned. The gyros themselves were average and seemed greasier than most gyros I eat. The onions were NOT FRESH and the tomatoes were cut so thick they'd fall out of the gyro. Also, maybe the WORST cucumber sauce i've ever tried. The pitas were the only good part of the meal.
Sorry, Yelp, but you failed me this time. If you want a real, delicious gyro do yourself the favor and take an extra 5 minute drive to WALLY'S in Park Ridge where you won't be disappointed.
Best place to eat in town for quick, cheap yet always fresh and delicious food!
My husband and I split one Gyros plate and have dinner for two for about $7! But we always leave a tip! $10 out the door! And their chicken is SO good.... Hamburgers, hotdogs, fries, onion rings (all made to order!)
Best PITAS around! Best tzatziki sauce EVER!
All the people working behind the counter, cashiers, owners, cooks are all really cool, get along, and love food- it shows.
There is no tip jar but leave a few bucks on the counter for them and they will be stoked! You are always getting a great deal there anyway!
I grew up with the works and I think it is about high time that I reviewed it. Ever since I moved out of town, whenever I visit my folks, I make it a point to go here. I always get a gyros and a side order of a hotdog with everything on it. I think my parents get mad at me because I inhale my meal whenever I go. I recommend eating here and have been every time I go. I have to say, I am kinda glad I moved because if i didn't, I probably would spend all my money herr. Here is my review:
Food = 10/10
I have been to places where they only give you about 4 slices of the meat they use in the gyros. This place stuff the gyros with meat. if you look at the pictures they have for "are these photos helpful?" area, I think they should double the meat on those pictures and I think that is what a normal order is. also for the hotdog, you get that nice snap when biting into the dog. I think the food it great here and I really can't see it getting any better unless they give it away for free.
note: I usually eat with my dad and he gets the Italian Beef, which he loves. he states that "it is not greasy like other Italian beefs he has tried".
Price = 10/10
You definitely get what you pay for. The quality of the food and the amount is definitely worth the price.
Service = 9/10
It's fast. you walk up, order in a line fashion, pay and sit down/wait for your food. I don't ever remember waiting for a long time for the food to get ready. of course, i usually eat their on their off time (3-4 or later that 7), so I don't really know how it is during when it is at the peak feeding times.
Settings = 9/10
Place seems clean and lighting is good. I would say about the same cleanliness as about the newer McDonald joints. there is a small television there and the noise around is not annoyingly loud where you can not hear what other people (your company, I don't encourage listening in on other people's conversations) are saying. there are a few paintings on the wall and some pictures of celebrities on the wall.
Overall:
I love coming here. The staff seem friendly and the food is great and worth the price you pay. Like i said before, I make it a point to come here every time i visit my folks. I even crave it at times which sucks since I am out of town... I even have an uncle that craves the gyros here. Â I really enjoy this place and I think I might be beating a dead horse seeing as there is about 82 other reviews on this place.
note: this review is based on the gyros and hotdogs I eat here. I don't really recall getting anything else so I can't really comment on them other than word of mouth. I know they have ice cream, but I haven't tried them...
My family has been coming here for years. My grandparents started coming when they were first married, and now over 70 years later, we are still regulars. I refuse to get a gyro from anywhere else. Friendly staff, family owned, and amazing food. They're homemade gyro sauce is to die for, as is their homemade ice cream!
Review Source:I've never had a better gyro. The Works is the yardstick by which I measure all other gyro places. I've never had anything here besides gyros and fries, and I always take it to go. Like everyone else says, this place is definitely cash only. Do yourself a favor and get the gyro before trying anything else. It will knock your socks off.
Review Source:Great burger and coleslaw.
Burger was done perfectly, slightly pink, and with ample toppings! Slaw was tasty and a good amount was served.
Service was polite, though the person at the cash register didn't listen to my questions, just gave me what I was asking about. "How much is that drink?" - pulls one out and rings it up.
Overall, great place to come and will try the Gyros next time!
Solid cheap eat in Glenview.
My lady friends and I always order the $9 pound of gyros which is a perfect amount for the 3 of us. Gyros are juicy, pitas are fluffy and warm, and the cucumber sauce is goood.
Gyros aroma for dayzzzz. Even if i pick up food and wait for less than 10 minutes, my clothes always smell of fried oil and grease when I leave here.... I don't mind! It's a true greasy joint.
Recently revisted this place after 30 years, they were great then and they are holding the greatness title 30 yrs later!
Gyros were amazing as well as the cheese fries! My son was doing flip flops for the bacon cheese burger!
Glad we moved back to the area, a no brainer, this place will be revisited!
I've been going here since I was a kid, and when I'm in Chicago I usually refuse to have a gyro from anywhere else.
I still recognize the same workers from when I was a kid at Washington Elementary across the street. Â However, I don't think their recipe has been as consistent. Â I'm pretty sure they changed up where they get the ingredients from 3-4 years ago, because the gyro's went from "out of this world good" to "amazing" (terrible, I know).
Luckily their cheese fries are still as delicious as ever (need to eat with a fork, not the type you dip in a cup of cheese.).
Overall their menu has been great whenever I dare venture away from their all-mighty gyro. Â As a kid I had their shrimp platter all the time (still delicious, especially for a hole in the wall fast food shop). Â A decent veggie pita my dad gets all the time. Â Good fried mushrooms.
I would not recommend this place for Chicago style dogs though. Â They're always falling apart and just don't seem that well done. Â Same goes for the burgers - always a bit burnt and everything is falling out of the bun. Â
Regardless, if you live in the area and still haven't had this diamond in the rough you ought to get on fixing that immediately.
Also, two warnings: closes a little early in my opinion, and they only take cash (there is an ATM inside though).
Long ago a friend and I were on a missions trip to Dominican Republic. Â Every night while setting up our mosquito nets over our mattresses we would inevitably talk about going to the Works the second we got back. Â I've gotta say, what was true then is true now. Â This place serves up some terrific gyros. Â And though I may have it up high on an untouchable pedestal forged in my youth, the works dog puts a smile on my face whenever I order it.
Cash only, ample parking, be sure to wear stretchy pants.
Even after 15 years, The Works still stands as my favorite place for gyros. I was in the area and had to make a stop. The owner and the employees are still there and surprisingly haven't aged a bit. It was almost like stepping back in time. The gyros must be the new fountain of youth.
It had been several years since I had been here so I bought two pounds of gyros. It's not often that you can buy gyros by the pound. An order came with pita, vegetables, and sauce. For only $11.50 a pound, this was an awesome deal and it tasted just as good as I remembered.
Get The Works - eat gyros and live long.
The Works has been open as long as I can remember! It was always a hot spot for my family, one uncle in particular makes it a point to stop here with his family when in town from South Carolina. I used to walk here many times a week after school when I went to Springman Jr High! When I was in junior high and came all the time with my friends, the workers all knew us and we all knew them. I also came here many a times throughout the years for their yummyness!
I'm sad to admit I've never tried their Gyros----ever! Blasphemy I know, but everyone who tries them falls in love. I would always go for a hot dog, cheese fries and pop. Their hot dogs are sooooo good! I might even think they are the best in Chicagoland! And their cheese fries are much better than anywhere else I've tried, too! Delicious!
Cash only! Leave your plastic at home, folks.
I was smelling my fingers while driving home from this place. Is that gross? Or was the food really that good? The food was really that good.
Nestled in an unassuming strip mall on Golf Road, it feels like one of those places you've driven past a hundred times but never bothered to stop in. But once you do, you'll realize that this place has been around for a while, and for good reason--the food and service are both GREAT. There are definitely regulars who lunch here in this divey-looking place.
I have yet to explore their extensive menu, but from the looks of it, the gyro plate (which is enormous!) and the double char cheeseburgers are the big winners here. Warning, though: prepare to get messy. The burgers are heavy, juicy, and dripping with cheese, so arm yourself with napkins from the counter while you wait. And bring a designated driver or eating buddy, because the food coma will most definitely hit you on the drive home. Oof. So much deliciousness.
I've been going to The Works since I can remember. Â My grandfather used to own a business that was right next door to the works and because my brother and I would constantly be with my grandparents, The Works would be a hangout spot for us. Â I remember getting their cheese fries and their vanilla ice cream and having the only woman who was ever behind the counter take a bite of it before giving it to me.
Now after 18 years, I still go back every now and then for their gyros and their cheese fries. Â The gyros are carved off the spit as soon as you order it and then put on the grill for a couple of minutes or so, giving the pieces a nice crisp edge. Â With their tzatziki sauce, tomatoes and wrapped in a warm pita, it is the perfect lunch or dinner. Â Their cheese fries taste the way I always remembered them tasting. Â The fries are nice and crisp while not overly greasy and the cheese sauce they use is my absolute favorite to this day.
The restaurant is still owned by the same Greek family and the employees are still the same people I remember when I was younger. Â Whenever I go with my brother, they still refer to him as "BJ's grandson." Â Sadly, they don't remember who I am, but they are still as friendly as they were.
The decor of the restaurant hasn't changed and is a bit dated, but for someone who's been going there since she was 5, it's as good as home to me.
I think The Works has one of the best gyros in Chicago (as much as I love Dengeo's and grew up eating it) there's something about The Works that knows how to work a gyros. Its perfectly crisp on the one side of the meat and tender on the other. The tzatziki sauce is the best by far its garlicky, tangy from the red wine vinegar, a crunchiness from the shaved cucumbers and the yogurt is just as fresh.
I don't get the gyros that often because of the calories so don't feel hesitant to go because its your typical "fast food" place. I get the grilled chicken sandwich on a pita with lettuce, tomato, onion and tzatziki sauce on the side. You can't beat that I would say its about a 600 calorie sandwich and compared to a gyros that's a healthier choice. The chicken sandwich is char-grilled so it taste like its homemade.
The place is sort of a dive and only accepts cash. Be prepared, come hungry and leave satisfied.
First, I'll start by acknowledging some of the , uh, "quirks" of this place that could possibly be construed as negatives: The decor hasn't changed in thirty years; the bathroom is, well, uh, not the place you want to spend too much time hanging out in; and sometimes watching people wipe away tzatziki sauce off their chins can be less than appetizing.
But, for over thirty years, this place has been serving up the best gyros in Chicagoland. Yes, it's as good as-if not better than-gyros I've eaten at many other places including different places in Greek Town. Aside from the gyros, they also serve up a perfect Chicago-style hot dog, an awesome Polish, and a tasty char-broiled burger, among other tasty menu items. Finish it off with a chocolate shake, and you're good to go.
The Works holds a TON of sentimental value for me as well. Â It is the ultimate "where time stood still" place from my childhood, and as life's milestones come & go, the Works has always been there, one of the few constants. While I no longer live in the neighborhood, I make a point to stop in at least every once in a while to experience fond memories as well as killer fast food.
Gyro heaven, oh my!
Since I take the Metra to work, I have to rely on the kindness of my coworkers to get out of the office for lunch. Â Lucky for me, they invited me out to the Works the other day.
If you're looking for ambience, head elsewhere. Â If you're looking for a fantastic gyro, you've come to the right place. Â Since I'm cutting out gluten for awhile, I had the gyro plate, which is basically just a big plate of gyro meat with tzatki (sp?) sauce and veggies. Â And man, the meat was delicious. Â Tender, flavorful, juicy, you name it. Â I ordered extra meat and was still ready to nom some more when I was done. Â
Hopefully my coworkers will continue to come here. Â It's almost enough to make a girl consider driving to work.....
The gyros here are amazing. They load it up with so much meat, you can't even hold it at first. You'll slowly pick away at the meat until you can finally eat it like a sandwich. The pita bread is perfectly toasted and the Tzatziki sauce is very fresh.
They sell it at a very reasonable price and you'll be full after one gyro and some fries.
Personal Recommendation: Gyro with grilled onions
I moved to Glenview from Milwaukee and in Milwaukee it's all about Oakland Gyros on Oakland & Locust for a gyro fix. Â Boy was I lucky to end up near this place. Â The gyros are fantastic, the pitas are delicious, and the gyro platter is a good value. Â You get a ton of gyro goodness for under $10. Â My only complaint is they're stingy on some essential components to the gyro: Â Feta is extra and they don't sell it in a single-person portion, you have to bug them for extra cucumber sauce, and sometimes they're stingy with the vegetables. Â (I need lots of onion on my gyro so I'll have excellent make-out breath. Â The ladies always thank me.)
I honestly have only ever ordered their gyros, and sometimes onion rings to go with it. Â Frankly, I don't think I need to order anything else.
I had a solid cheeseburger here. Â After reading all the reviews, maybe I should have had the gyros...actually that gyros salad sounds good.
Their bathroom is much cleaner than expected for a fast food establishment. Â Tiny, but immaculate. Â I dare you to say I'm wrong on that matter. Â I DARE YOU.
This place is as basic as you can get. Old decor, cash only. It doesn't look like much, and then you actually eat. It's awesome! Service is super fast, and I always like places that have an established clientele.
I'm not very fond of gyro meat, but I tried some of what my husband ordered, and it was really good. I had a double hot dog, probably the best one I've had in the Greater Chicago Area. Love exploring!
Portions are big, prices are very decent, and the atmosphere gives the place its special touch.
juicy tender beautiful lamb/beef fusion with grilled juicy onions, with a perfectly light pita bread that is grilled to a crisp (the secret is they dip the pita in the oil of the gyro meat) that gives it that rich taste. Â All this with fresh pickle and tomatoes makes this absolutely THE BEST GYRO EVER! Â They claim it and there's no denying it. Â So try it for yourself! Â And yes I have had gyros in greek town (Mr. Greeks and across the street and yes it puts these to shame), kostas, and hot dog richies.
Do yourself a favor and get the gyro plate (double the meat) and get an extra pita on the side. Â You will thank me later and possibly send me a money for this tip, if so please look at my profile and email me and we'll figure something out.
I hadn't eaten here for quite a while - not since High School. But we stopped by here on the way back to my Parent's today, and now I remember why I used to go here in High School - THE GYROS ARE FANTASTIC. Yeah, it's not something you should eat often, and it's good I live a few thousand miles away, so I can't, but if you're going to eat gyros, you'd be hard pressed to find a place that does it better. I like to get the tzatziki on the side -it's delicious, but I like to meter it out to my own choosing.
A piece of advice - eat the gyro as you would a San Francisco burrito - leave it in the foil and peel the foil down as you eat. Otherwise, just like with the burrito, you'll have a big mess on your hand. A big delicious mess.
If this place was in the way of where we usually go, I fear it would  displace my favorite local eatery: Papa Chris on Touhy. Luckily, it's somewhat northeast of where I usually travel, straddling the Niles-Glenview border, so it is rare I stop by here for lunch.
We came here on a Sunday for lunch with the kids. The Works is located in a spacious strip mall, just off of Golf & Washington, with an oversized parking lot in front of it.
Inside, the scent of burgers on the grill gets you right away as you walk in. This is your classic family-run Greek burger & gyros joint right down to the Vienna Beef signs on display. The walls have these huge paintings all around the dining area, all done by the same artist from the look of their style.
I always go for the flame-grilled cheeseburger here and my wife had a Maxwell-style Polish. Excellent is all I can say. Fast service too. The dining area can use a bit of updating, but the place "works" - simple as that. Not pricy either. The 4 of us were well-fed for under $15.
And I have a story to share about this restaurant from a number of years ago, when we only had my older son and he was not quite 3 years old at the time (the Stunt Baby wasn't born yet). We were here for lunch once and he was running around the place after his meal till he ran into a column and whacked his head. He started crying. The owner, an older gentleman in a white dress shirt behind an apron, came out and told us he has something that will make it go away and he presented my son with a kid-sized ice cream cone. And sure enough, no more tears. He forgot about his bump and had the ice cream.
The personal touch at this place makes me appreciate them even more.
A serviceable hot dog/gyros joint. Â Just the quality, prices, atmosphere, cleanliness, clientele, etc that you would expect. Â You will wait 3-5 minutes for your food, as they cook most of it to order, even at lunchtime. Â Grilled onions are available as a topping. Â The register guy is a likeable comedian. Â It's dingy but not dirty. Â No "meal deals" but a sandwich, fries, and soda will run about $7-8. Â They also sell soup, Greek chicken, and Homer's ice cream. Â Oh--and NO credit cards....Um, that's all that I can think of.
Polish: Â B+, good crust, almost overdone
Hot Dog: Â B-, just your regular Vienna Beef; my roll was stale when I tried this one
Fries: Â C, a bit mealy, medium-thickness
Onion rings: Â C+, thankfully not the minced variety but fried hard and nothing special
Fried mushrooms: Â B, again fried hard but pretty darn good
I've been going to The Works since high school. Whenever I come back to the area after high school, I'd always make sure that I stop by to get my fill of gyro sandwich. Now that I've moved back, I definitely go there at least once a month.
Here are a few of the stuff I love from their menu:
1. Gyro Sandwich or Platter. I love the cucumber yogurt sauce! They heat the pita on the grill and I love the crispiness of the pita with the sandwich.
2. Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich. Again, it's served on that delicious grilled pita...
3. Pizza Puff. I have it when I am nostalgic ...
4. Fried Chicken Wings. It's recently added to their menu. Initially, I was skeptical... but it was actually delicious! I like the red sauce that comes with it...
Service is generally great. It does get crowded and busy during lunch so be prepared to wait for your food.
Mmmmm....cheese fries....
I don't know what it is about The Works, but their cheese fries are fabulous. And these are real cheese fries, none of the "sliced cheese melted on fries" crap that the East Coast is so fond of. Then again, the East Coast thinks that gyros are pronounced like "gyro" in gyroscope. Silly East Coasters.
The gyros here are also worthy of praise for being so delicious. The guys behind the counter are kind of intimidating but they know how to make a tasty gyros & cheese fries. Mmmmm...this stuff is heart-healthy in the way that you give your heart a workout to continue beating after eating too much of this stuff.
The five stars is for the gyros sandwich. Â I've spent what could be considered community college tuition at the Works so I feel I should get some sort of recognition for eating here as often as I have. Â The spinning gyros is no different than any other joint that has those rottisserie broilers. Â But they seem to have perfected a cooking system in which one is spinning with full fire, another at half fire and another in defrost mode. Â You'd think I'd have asked one of the owner operators, but yes, they're pretty intimidating. Â
The cucumber sauce is perfect. Â It's cool, it's tangy and it complements the lamb perfectly. Â Tomatoes and onions are always fresh. Â First off, they carve the meat off with a sword, unlike some places that use something to the effect of a men's hair clipper. Â They load up the gyros sandwich with so much meat that I usually take off a third of it to eat with a fork. Â But most importantly, the pita is unsurpassed in its flavor and texture. Â They dip the pita in some vegetable oil or some oil from the drip pan of the spinning gyros and grill it to perfect crispness. Â Basically it's what makes the gyros meat say to the pita, "You complete me."
Other notables here are the Italian beef with hot peppers, Chicago style hot dogs, cheddar fries and Homer's ice cream. Â Yes, I know. Â I'm a healthy person. Â I've never been so much a fan of their hamburgers as they use shredded lettuce, relish and put the condiments and toppings underneath the patty. Â But now I'm just being picky. Â
I'm glad they've kept the place pretty much the same. Â It's basically the only survivor in the strip mall since I was a kid. Â I remember it when there was a auto store and a crappy Euro trash club on either side of it.
I've been coming to The Works since my high school days, which were longer ago than I care to admit. In all that time, the staff, the menu, and the furniture have not changed. They even still have the same old poster on the wall--the Three Stooges "Golf with your freinds". Every time I see that poster, I get a mad gyros craving.
If you eat here, you'll feel a sandbag weight in your stomach for at least half a day, and you'll notice that the pressure on your spare tire has been increased. But all the good things in life come at a price.
Do what I do:
Skip breakfast before coming.
Order the gyros. It is hands-down the best in Chicagoland. They grill the pita to a golden crispiness. The meat is roasted perfectly (and also sliced perfectly--slicing gyros is a skill). Don't remove it from the foil wrapper, or you'll be wearing tzatziki sauce.
Order the cheese fries. Squirt ketchup on them and mix them up with two plastic forks until they're swimming in an amber/brownish colored sauce. Eat them with a fork.
Grease, big portions and angry greek men in a mini-mall restuarant...what's not to love! Once in a while, I yern for food from the motherland (grandma's land). The Works makes a a great huge gyros. It's enough to feed me "I'll eat you out of house and home" and my mother "she eats like a tiny bird."
I'd like to say the menu is extensive and filled with fast food fare, but  I dare not compare it to McDonald's or Burger King. They can offer you everything except the kitchen sink. Beef, sausage, hot dogs, fries, chicken and pizza puff items...all for a cheap price.
Next time I go, I must try the spinach pie.
Smallish, family owned joint, serving typical fast food faire. Their grilled chicken sandwich on pita is tasty. The rib eye steak sandwich is very good and I also enjoy their Gyros. However, their hot dogs are Vienna skinless--not the preferred natural casing franks found in most Chicago stands. Surprisingly, the hamburgers are not great. The decor is dated and the air is stuffy. It's not my favorite bathroom either.
Victor, one of the cooks, is always smiling and has a great attitude.
Honestly, folks, they have the best Gyros in Chicago. I've even made the effort of driving my friends from the city out to the 'burbs so they can eat here.
They make the pitas fresh which makes a huge difference. HUGE. They also have the best cheese fries. My dad started bringing me here when I was a kid and I havent stopped going. When I came home from college I made sure I stopped by here at least once (more than once would require a trip to a cardiologist).
You HAVE to try this place if you like Gyros. If you want something else to do while you're out here, head west to Golf Center and hit some balls.
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