It happened to be one of the more SHOCKINGLY colder days of the season so far, when we decided to trek into the city and do another restaurant review for the Tastemade App. We were having a hard time breathing with the icy wind whipping our faces. But we made it to Greek Islands Restaurant located at 200 S Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60661.
But I must say, it was the perfect place to be at that time because they sat us right by the fireplace and we instantly felt warm and snuggly.
The music was fun and vibrant, and the decor made me feel like we went to Greece.
I was most happy that as soon as we sat down, we were welcomed with a bread basket and a friendly waiter.
We decided to order the grilled octopus appetizer. I don’t get to eat octopus that often, at least not prepared this way. The flavors are simple and straightforward, and that’s why I like it. It’s not covered in a thick sauce or marinated to death. It’s served warm in a light vinaigrette, which adds a nice hint of sharpness that works well with the tender yet meaty texture, and char-grilled taste.
I’ve been married to Joe for almost 7 years now and it was here that I found out that this was the first time he was trying grilled octopus! We shot an extended version of our Tastemade restaurant review of our experience for our own Youtube Channel. You can catch his reaction and hear the rest of our thoughts about Greek Islands Restaurant in our video below:
WATCH OUR RESTAURANT REVIEW VIDEO:
Along with the octopus appetizer, we ordered the combination plate. I asked the waiter if this was a good idea since it was our first time here. He thought it was since we’d be able to taste a little bit of everything. We weren’t sure of portion size, so we decided to share, but we probably could’ve gotten our own plates and tried more things. But at least because of all the bread and octopus we had beforehand, we were fine.
It came with lamb, Moussaka, Dolmades, potatoes, and some stewed veggies. Everything was seasoned well and tasted like it was made by somebody’s grandmother. Everything had that slow-cooked, home-cooked, “stewed” kind of taste. But in all honesty, the flavors started blending together a bit for us when they were all on the same plate. So next time, we might decide to focus on one main dish at a time.
If I had more time to research and prepare before we went, I could’ve seen that they put an emphasis on their fresh seafood and the specials of the day, which is written on a menu board when you walk into the restaurant. So if it’s your first time at this restaurant, I would suggest going by that board and ordering what’s being featured that day.
So if you’re ever in Chicago and in the mood for Greek food, happy music, and a warm atmosphere, you know where to go. On the flip side, if you are from Chicago, is this one of your go-to spots? If it is, let me know what you like to order when you’re there. I’d love to hear your suggestions for next time!
