tonirogerspark wrote:Like time had stood still. Good gyros, good fries. Opa!

Toni,

I was going to comment favorably on Central Gyros house-made gyros, but held off as it's been 5-6 years since I've been. Happy to hear it's still the same, I see a trip to the 3100 block of Central Ave in my near future.

Enjoy,
Gary

Central Gyros
3129 N Central Ave
Chicago, IL 60634
773-545-1276

Ann Fisher wrote:

jellobee wrote:any distinctions... any favorites?

Nicky's formerly Kings and Queens, 7025 Roosevelt Road in Berwyn. More here.

Really, if anyone new just passed this by, please check the link and rec. I've been eating gyros nigh three decades and Nicky's done grecian style is a revelation that spoiled run of the mill gyros for me forever.

This is not the best pic, but since I hunted it down:



-ramon

Ramon wrote: Nicky's done grecian style is a revelation that spoiled run of the mill gyros for me forever.

Me too, except the first gyros I ever had were Nicky's greek village.

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:...I had a really good gyros at Charcoal Delight at Foster and Kedzie one day, though the rest of our experience there wasn't that great. (Indifferent service, incorrect orders) GreaseFreak.com liked the gyros too
...
Charcoal Delight
3149 W Foster
Chicago

I believe it's 3139 W. Foster (yeah, I'm a nitpicker ), but I agree that the gyros at Charcoal Delights are quite good, possibly some of the best I've ever had (especially on the north side of the city).

BrendanR wrote:

seebee wrote:One place I hear people screaming about gyros is called "The Works."
Either on Golf rd or Dempster -think it's Golf Rd though. West of the city - might be in Niles.

I've been there after hearing people rave about the gyros. I'd rate it 'good not great'. It's on the north side of Golf. Metromix puts it in Glenview.

The Works
2676 Golf Rd.
Glenview 60025-4744
847-724-0616

I felt that the gyros from The Works were of a similar standing with Charcoal Delights, so they were -- in my humble opinion -- excellent. Of course, you might have a different standard for juiciness, texture, and flavoring, so you might prefer Cross-Rhodes, Backyard Grill, or Dengeo's instead. I think they're all fine, but I personally prefer the meat 'n' pita creations from CD and TW. Your preference might vary depending on your location as well, but I just had to say my piece.

What can I say... I'm a North Sider,
Dan

Another good place for gyros for you south suburbanites is Perros Bros. There are two locations -- one in South Chicago Heights and the other in Matteson. This is probably my favorite gyros sandwich in the area, although I like the sandwich from the one in da Heights a little better than the Matteson store.

Perros Bros. Gyros
2601 Chicago Road
South Chicago Heights, IL
(708) 755-5055

Suzy

Made the trek over the weekend to Edgewater and had the gyros meal at Hellas. Might be the best I've ever had. The sport pepper was an unexpecte touch, but the meat was delicious and the pita was nice and warm. Fries and a soda all for $6. Charming decor too.

Psistaria on Touhy has house made gyros, which I quite enjoy, though the accompanying tzatziki is oddly herbal and tastes more of sour cream than yogurt.

Psistaria is a full-on Greek restaurant, bar, spacious dining room, the owners mom at the front desk and old-school waiters.

Enjoy,
Gary

Psistaria
4711 W Touhy
Lincolnwood Il, 60712
847-606-9400

For me, the best Gyro's are at the Partheneon (sorry not spelled right) in Greektown. They make their own meat and it's always tender, a bit crispy on the edges and has the most flavor. The downside is that I don't like thier yogurt spread, it's too tangy and sour and thus I often get the gyro's platter from Greek Islands due to their imo, perfect gyro spread. If only I could combine the two instead of having to choose!

I've been to Psistaria, Nicky's, and Central in the past month. Psistaria was awesome. Nicky's and Central sucked like Hoovers. Nicky's meat was barely cooked, and Central's was very greasy.

In the city, I'd say Greek Islands...

but if you're in Indiana, you gotta get Munster Gyros!

fastfoodsnob wrote:

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:...I had a really good gyros at Charcoal Delight at Foster and Kedzie one day, though the rest of our experience there wasn't that great. (Indifferent service, incorrect orders) GreaseFreak.com liked the gyros too
...
Charcoal Delight
3149 W Foster
Chicago

I believe it's 3139 W. Foster (yeah, I'm a nitpicker ), but I agree that the gyros at Charcoal Delights are quite good, possibly some of the best I've ever had (especially on the north side of the city).

Speaking of Charcoal Delight, I drove by last night intending to grab some dinner for the kids on the way home, but the sign was off and half-disassembled, the lights were off, and there was a big dumpster in the parking lot. Does anyone know if it's closing down, reopening as something else, or if this is just a remodel?

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:Speaking of Charcoal Delight, I drove by last night intending to grab some dinner for the kids on the way home, but the sign was off and half-disassembled, the lights were off, and there was a big dumpster in the parking lot. Does anyone know if it's closing down, reopening as something else, or if this is just a remodel?

Grabbed some gyros from Charcoal Delights last Saturday and along with my change, I was handed a little note that said they'd be closed for remodeling starting on Monday (19th)...and they'd be open again a week later.

That seems like a pretty ambitious time frame for any sort of remodeling...

I work in Morton Grove and live in Palatine.

I agree with The Works in Niles on Dempster.

I'd also like to nopminate Chiggy's in Palatine. A previous poster mentioned Kosta's but I have to say Chiggy's is better. Their sauce is much more flavorful. I believe there's another Chiggy's in Irving Park Road in the Hanover park area.

John

Just got done with one of the best suburban Gyros I've had in a long time. I don't get them a lot, so I may not be the best judge, but I know what I like. Sauce was the real stuff - with cucumber. Meat was very thin sliced. Pita was not slathered with grease, but barely coated, and nicely pliable after being warmed on the griddle. Pretty sure the meat was not house-made, but less salty than most others (a plus for my tastes.) Few co-workers ordered it too -all were VERY impressed. Not very greasy - don't feel like I just ate a mack truck full of mazola.

PJ's Moondoggies
Milwaukee at Lake (Euclid)
Glenview, Il 60025

tonirogerspark wrote:I grew up on the gyros from Central Gyros (you know, around the corner from the Will Rogers) just south of Belmont on Central. Twenty years later, I went back to sample again. The food was still pretty good, but the place had not changed an inkling. Same plastic flowers, same paper menus with the map of Greece. It seemed that even the waitresses were the same. Like time had stood still. Good gyros, good fries. Opa!

I also grew up on Central Gyros food. It was where Greeks went to eat Greek food. Very funny how you describe the restaurant. I'm going to have to get over there soon. Wonder if the avgolemono is still incredible. Nothing like gyros and soup.

ahh yes... moondoggies.

not being able to get past their mighty skirt steak sandwich, i've never tried their gyros.

papagus (former state st location) served up a great 'housemade' gyros along with homemade chips.

Yes, it seemed there were still many greek people eating there. I always loved the Diplas (forgive the spelling,) It was a tender pastry rolled honey - so good. They still have them in the case at the door.

tonirogerspark wrote:I always loved the Diplas (forgive the spelling,) It was a tender pastry rolled honey - so good.

You got that right. Those things are great.

Round the Clock gives you a ton of gyros on the pita rounds. Huge portions. I can never eat half. They give you raw onions, tomatoes, wine soaked olives, tzaziki with the cucumber in it, fries on the side, a bowl of lemon rice soup is really good to start out the meal. They have huge bowls of home made soup at that place. Sometimes I ask for extra lemons. Depends, on who made the soup that day, and how lemony it is. They do get the slabs of Kronos gyros, and you can get it grilled or charred extra crispy, if you tell the server. So good, but so much, and definitely ask for the extra pita round, you'll need it! And included with the meal is a slice of pie, so you may as well make it lemon meringue.

The best 2 are Schererville, and Highland IN locations.

G Wiv wrote:Psistaria on Touhy has house made gyros, which I quite enjoy...

Me too. I joined my uncle and grandmother at Psistaria last night. The gyros appetizer was a highlight for me. Really tasty meat with crispy edges.

The rest of the food was run-of-the-mill Greek restaurant food, except for the special that my uncle ordered: Baby goat with spaghetti. He was served a healthy portion of a succulent roast baby goat which seemed to include a portion of the loin and connected ribs.

I'll be back for the gyros for sure.

Best,
Michael

Hi,

Psistaria also does sauteed Dandelion greens that can really hit the spot. I learned of it via a Monica Eng article years ago.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Psistaria also does sauteed Dandelion greens that can really hit the spot. I learned of it via a Monica Eng article years ago.

I actually had those too, in the form of "beets and greens". The beets were delicious. The greens were overcooked (for my taste) and under-seasoned.

eatchicago wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:Psistaria also does sauteed Dandelion greens that can really hit the spot. I learned of it via a Monica Eng article years ago.

I actually had those too, in the form of "beets and greens". The beets were delicious. The greens were overcooked (for my taste) and under-seasoned.

I've found the food at Psistaria to be very uneven, to say the least. Despite some very good meals there 4 - 5 years ago, we have stopped going there despite the fact that Psistaria is the closest Greek restaurant to our house.

nick's drive in on harlem and touhy makes their own gyros and their own tzaziki... if you're into that homemade stuff.

MBK wrote:nick's drive in on harlem and touhy makes their own gyros and their own tzaziki... if you're into that homemade stuff.

Is that place related to Nick's on Nagle near Foster? If so, they do serve good Gyros. I believe Nick's has the same owners as the Backyard Grill mentioned by fastfoodsnob above (at least Backyard used to be called Nick's II).

Nick's Gyros,
5238 N Nagle Ave
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 631-0233

Nicks Drive in
7216 N Harlem Ave
Chicago, IL 60631
(773) 631-5045

Backyard Grill
6355 N Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60646
(773) 478-8802

i think its the same gyro. if you're looking for a more authentic gyro and yogurt based sauce, nicks is the place; i myself prefer the greaser processed cut and sour cream based sauce, but this place is good if you want the more true gyro

I LOVe gyros but my favorite is Skippers in wheeling and JK in wheeling.....but if you want something NEW and esiting try Pita In:

http://www.ylunch.com/wheeling/pita-inn/pita-inn.html

G Wiv wrote: I was going to comment favorably on Central Gyros house-made gyros, but held off as it's been 5-6 years since I've been. Happy to hear it's still the same. I see a trip to the 3100 block of Central Ave in my near future.
Central Gyros
3129 N Central Ave
Chicago, IL. 60634
773-545-1276

I decided to post this reply in this thread. Particularly since I opted to carry-out a gyros sandwich from Central Gyros after shopping at the Tony's @ 5630 W. Belmont Ave. one evening. {Did I buy something I should not have because I was hungry? I believe not.}
But no photos of this trip; nonetheless, waitstaff for carryout pronounced it "JY-ROWZ" . Thankfully, the gyros were pretty good, and I have no compunctions about recommending them.
The venue I especially want to recommend, and I have a photo of it, is Papa Chris' Place, on the Chicago side of the avenue, at
6235 W. Touhy Ave.
Chicago, IL. 60646-1106
773-631-4322
Its gyros were very good, very plentiful, and when I stopped in, on special.

If you do visit here, and are on foot or bicycle, you are staggering distance from Une Année | Hubbard's Cave Brwy.
6343 Gross Point Rd.
Niles, IL. 60714
It is staggering distance because, if you walk north past the Leaning Tower YMCA, the parking lot to its west seems to be fenced in. It is, if you are driving an automobile. On foot or bicycle, you can just continue walking west until the fence ends. At which point you walk around its side, and here is Une Année directly ahead.
I submit the foodstuffs you can have at Papa Chris' Place are better (and less expensive) than those at Une Année.
You will have to access wifi to order anything at Une Année now. There are no printed menus of either food or beverage. Look up the SSiD and password when you check in with the host.

Been loving the pork belly gyro at It's Greek 2 U Grill on Clark in the old Sunshine spot, plus great greek style (herb and feta) fries and a great quiet patio.

AlekH wrote:Been loving the pork belly gyro at It's Greek 2 U Grill on Clark in the old Sunshine spot, plus great greek style (herb and feta) fries and a great quiet patio.

I forgot about It's Greek 2 U, been there once, liked the food, loved the feisty owner. She was a whirlwind, chattered with us, took us in the kitchen to look around, told her life story, probably somewhat edited, and was a fun experience with good food. No idea why it promptly dropped off my radar.