Greektown Chicago is home to a handful of incredible, long-standing Greek restaurants that many Chicagoans have loved for years. Those restaurants have stood the test of time because they have created a sense community, serve good food, and are loved for good reason.
I was very excited to see that a new restaurant, Ithaki Estiatorio, was coming in to shake up Greektown a bit. The restaurant has a beautiful interior, and makes you feel like you've been transported to a restaurant on one of the Grecian islands with the florals, beachy decoration, wrap around bar, warm lighting, and an open kitchen you can watch. I was equally excited to learn that they have a happy hour that runs Monday through Friday, 4-7pm. It was my first time at Ithaki, but we will definitely be back. Here is everything we ordered during their happy hour and from the regular menu:
Happy Hour Drink: Siren Song - $10: This was truly one of the best cocktails I have tried in a while. The Siren Song is described on the menu as having tequila ocho reposado, smoked pineapple, lime, and ginger hellfire. This drink was incredibly refreshing and smooth. I would definitely go back to the happy hour for this cocktail.
Happy Hour: $1 Oysters: These oysters were pretty big, but a great deal for $1 oysters. This paired with the white wine was a great combination.
Avgolemeno Soup: This size of the Avgolemeno Soup was a very good size, but I thought the lemon flavor could be just a little bit stronger.
Octopus: The Octopus flavoring was fantastic. The crispy charcoal flavor on the octopus was balanced by a squeeze of lemon juice. The octopus was just slightly too tender for how I personally like my octopus cooked, but still overall a great dish and I would definitely order this again.
Youvetsi: This was one of my favorite dishes we ordered. The Youvetsi is braised lamb, orzo, and mizithra cheese with an herbed oil. The lamb was incredibly tender and the dish was a great size. I'd definitely order this again.
