Chicago Classics - The Parthenon
By Anthony Todd in Food on Sep 22, 2008 4:30PM
Full disclosure: We have a somewhat intense connection to the Parthenon restaurant. We’ve been going there since we were a wee lad, and our parents had their first date there in 1973. So, as we see it, if the Parthenon didn’t exist, we wouldn’t have been born!
For the last 40 years, the Parthenon has been host to a nearly constant party. We’ve never been in the restaurant when it was empty, and the atmosphere is loud, raucous and cheerful. The air is filled with the sounds of happily chattering guests, plates and silverware clattering, and the constant shouts of “oopa” as waiters set five platters of Saganaki on fire simultaneously. If you’ve never seen this, it is a truly remarkable sight to behold – the pyrotechnics contained within this restaurant rival Navy Pier on a night of fireworks.
The food is standard Greek fare, executed simply but flawlessly. On our most recent visit we stuck to standards. Tstaziki with grilled pita, saganaki, braised octopus with tomatoes, herbs and wine. They have an excellent Greek salad, with an addictive dressing – we always end up ordering the salad for three people and eating it all solo!! They have an excellent gyro platter, with pita and lots of onions. If you’re looking for something more substantial, they serve excellent roast suckling pig, or try the “Flambé Combination,” scallops and shrimp flamed tableside. Order a bottle of Roditis (Greek rosé wine served out of unmarked, refilled bottles) and settle in for a feast.
A few tips for a better Parthenon experience. The restaurant has free valet parking, so if you can drive, do so. The place is packed solid on weekends, and they don’t take reservations for small parties, so be prepared to wait. We usually go on Thursday nights, and we’ve never had to wait more than fifteen minutes. Lastly, the Parthenon is expert at through-put – if you let them, they’ll have you in and out, stuffed to the gills, in 45 minutes flat. If you want to have a slower dinner, order one course at a time. You’ll want to savor this meal as long as you can. In Chicago’s constantly evolving restaurant scene, this forty-year classic is still the one fixed point in our changing universe.
The Parthenon is located at 314 S. Halsted St. Its hours are 11AM to midnight. We’re always looking for places to feature on “Chicago Classics” – anything that’s been around for more than twenty years qualifies. Comment with suggestions!