Greek Islands Restaurant   

Greektown's largest and most-established restaurant gets a makeover. Greek Islands, which seats almost 400 people (in several dining rooms), has been renovated to offer the authenticity of a small village with its tavernas. Guests will still get the signature treatments: the opportunity to watch the chefs cook in the open kitchen (you'll also walk out smelling like grilled meat) as well as the traditional menu of Greek cuisine. Longtime specialties include the Spartan Warrior Feast (pork tenderloin, garden vegetables, rice and potatoes), baked lamb fornou and the Shrimp Tourkolimano. Make sure you save room for the Baklavah and the strong Greek coffee. Greek Islands also attracts a lively after-work scene at the bar where area workers and residents come for appetizers of shish-kabobs and cocktails. There's another location in Lombard. -- Audarshia Townsend