Our Reviews

Kouklas was a happening spot for a Tuesday night!Our server Bobby was great! Had some good recommendations & the had the food come out at a good pace.All the food was amazing! My favorite was the whipped feta with toasted bread.I would definitely recommend checking out.Can't wait to come back again soon!

Nice Greek addition to Niles, the food was fantastic. The staff was exceptional. Definitely coming back for more.

Dined here a couple of weeks ago and can’t stop thinking about the food! Our party of 6 shared a few appetizers including perfect calamari, the best pita bread and tzatziki, and some amazing whipped feta. Some of our main dishes included tender octopus, shrimp with a delicious sauce, tenderloin skewers you could cut with a fork, and a mouth watering lamb shank…all seasoned to perfection! Thankfully we said yes to the fried dough dessert, woah!! Service was fantastic too. Hats off to the owners, chefs, servers, bartenders and all those behind the scenes for bringing me to Greece!

Totally impressed with the mixture of flavors as well as this Greek fusion ideas built into each dish highly highly recommend!

Came here for dinner with one of my good friends. Food was amazing and Dina was a wonderful server. She made sure we were taken care of if we needed anything and very friendly.

The young people would call this place “dope” because every plate is traditional yet somehow new at the same time.

Had an incredible meal at Kouklas last night. Bustling, buzzing crowd, well-appointed dining area with killer bar, excellent wine list, helpful and cheery staff, but, oh my gosh that food! Spot on from start to finish. Designed for sharing, the plates are inventive, perfectly sized and each a stand-alone taste sensation. I don't know how many Michelin stars the Niles restaurant scene enjoys, but there will no doubt be another and soon. We *will* be back.

A most impressive dining experience; from the bar to our table. The ambiance is a most welcome fusion of urban and suburban. Every bite and sip was amazing. The service experience was professional all the way.

The experience was excellent from start to finish. The food was magnificent, full of flavor and beautifully presented. Every dish tasted fresh and carefully prepared. The service was attentive and the atmosphere was pleasant. Without a doubt, a place I would return to and highly recommend.

Fantastic food from the appetizers to the entree to the deserts! The creativity is incredible! The service was superb and we never waited, the new GO-TO spot!! Cant wait for the patio to open this summer!!

Great addition to the Niles area! Food and drinks were fantastic and flavorful. The staff were personable and we are excited to go back again and enjoy the patio.

Finally open.. I was there last week and we had lots of good stuff everything we had was great 👍👍 for sure

Dina was a great server and source of info. You can tell she enjoys the food as much as we did. Everything from the beets to the tenderloin skewer were well crafted. You can tell a lot of time and thought went into the menu. It’s a classy night out! I’d only knock the atmosphere because of the ‘cramped’ corridors. Then again, maybe this is conducive to an intimate and communal type restaurant.

Good and service, excellent as always

Our group ordered several items and we shared. Everything was spectacular, deliciously flavorful and unique. Dina was our server and she was great and helped to complete our experience

Kukla's Greek Eatery is a modern and upscale Greek restaurant in the heart of Niles Illinois. They went with a very modern feel when they updated this restaurant from the previous one. The food we had was outstanding! I love that they have small plates to share so it's easy to get a taste of everything on the menu. We had the whipped feta cheese with chopped cucumber, olive oil and wonderful toasted Greek sourdough bread. We also had the two skewer dinner and the chicken and pork was moist, flavorful and tender! Perhaps a few more potatoes would have been good on that plate, but I guess everybody is cutting down on carbs. Lol. We also could see that they have built a large outdoor patio area that wraps around the building and they put beautiful faux flowers to make it seem like a Greek garden. We definitely will be back!

We tried this new restaurant and it was a great experience! The food was amazing, the service was good, and the place was super clean with a great atmosphere. Reservations are recommended because it gets busy, and the free valet was a nice bonus. Definitely worth visiting!

3 visits. Food and service perfection! I had dinner at the bar with Hesner or Sarah serving. Chilled octopus is perfection, good wild greens,lamb ragu is comfort and sophistication! Good drinks: these bartenders are serious professionals. Nice wine list has attention to food pairing. The back waiters who serve the food are outstanding. OMG!pannacotta heaven![

Feast to the taste buds!

Fantastic new Greek spot in Niles. The cocktails (Koukla’s old fashioned) and food are outstanding. In particular, the mussels saganaki, tirokafteri, pork souvlaki, and Hilopites are all excellent. Great service in the bar and main dining area (Scott, Amy, and Dani). Will definitely be back.

Fantastic dinner at Kouklas Greek Eatery. Nieve was an excellent server—knowledgeable, attentive, and spot-on with recommendations. Highlights included the tableside saganaki (pure cheesy joy), rich house-made butternut squash gnocchi with generous chunks of Maine lobster, and an outstanding grilled octopus with perfect texture and a great celery crunch. Finished with Greek donuts and a glass of red wine recommended by Nieve—an ideal ending to a wonderful meal. Highly recommend!

Everything was top notch! Food was delicious, the waitress was so knowledgable and accommodating, and the atmosphere was fun and lively! I liked it so much, I went two days in a row!

Had a wonderful visit!! Delicious meal and really warm and friendly service! Can’t wait to go back!

Such a modern twist in Greek food. The bar is a great place to eat with friends. Excited to go back!!

The food is wonderful! The staff is very knowledgeable about the menu. So happy to have a restaurant that belongs in downtown but is actually in the suburbs. Love it!

Really delicious food that just keeps getting better! Some of my favorites are the branzino, skordalia and the eggplant spread! Can’t wait to go back.

The delicious flavors of Greece celebrated and reimagined in fresh ways. Highlights were the Melitzanosalata spread, the grilled seafood and oysters, the Greek Martini with feta-stuffed olives, and the loukoumades were so good! Enthusiastic wait staff, and warm hospitality. Loved it, can’t wait to come back!

Amazing Greek restaurant, checked it out for the first time tonight. Fabulous fresh food with a little bit of a different twist on traditional Greek dishes. Loved the lamb chops and the whitefish. Topped it off with Loukamades, and the orange cake. First class service from Dina, So courteous and very attentive.

This is my new go-to for Greek dining! I love the concept of ordering food for the table, allowing you to eat many different foods and try new things. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. This was easily the best tzatziki sauce I have ever had, and I highly recommend the show-stopping lamb chops. The mocktails were thoughtfully crafted and very refreshing. ​I can’t wait to come back and work my way through the menu!

Oh my God! Unbelievable, what a flabbergasting service and loved the food too, astonishing atmosphere, make sure to ask for Dina (astounding service btw), would definitely visit again!!!

Excellent food!!

Things to try - baked feta is amazing must try! And the whole branzino so so so good !!! Service was exceptional. Note there is only valet parking.

Everything was amazing! Excellent service. Delicious food. Can't say one bad thing.

Been there twice . Food was excellent. Service was great. Only negative is tables are very close and everyone is on top of each other.

The deserts are thee best!!!!

If you're on the hunt for the traditional Greek experience, you might want to look elsewhere. This isn’t your grandma’s taverna. I’ve sampled my fair share of “unique” Greek spots, and Koukla’s nailed it on every level. The menu is designed to share, and our waiter helped us on how to order. The flavors hit the mark, blending classic tradition with a clever twist that actually works. Sure, it’s loud and bustling. If you want a library, stay home and eat alone! I love a place with life and energy. Keep doing what you’re doing!

We have been eager to visit Kouklas, and the experience was wonderful. Beyond the beautifully decorated atmosphere, our server, Dina, provided exceptional service. She navigated the menu with confidence and her lively personality added so much to our evening. The pacing was perfect, and the chilled octopus was absolutely amazing. Thanks to Dina, we are already planning our return for another outing. Bravo!

Loved my experience at Kouklas! The food was full of flavor taking classic Greek dishes and giving them a special twist! Perfect spot for a date with great cocktails. The servers were very polite and the atmosphere of the restaurant was inviting!

We went for a birthday celebration, and had some appetizers, and a couple of entrees, a dessert. All delicious! Danielle was so much fun, and we had excellent service👍It is very well decorated as well.

An amazing place to eat. Food & servicr was awesome.

We loved everything about this place! Nothing else to be said, go enjoy your time!

Tried Kouklas Greek Eatery, newly opened in Niles, and it’s a great addition to the neighborhood. Some standouts were the spreads, the lamb chops , the pastas and chicken dish were all amazing. The Greek fries are a must-order. Don’t skip dessert—the doughnuts plus the olive oil Greek yogurt were excellent! Bobby the bartender was fantastic and added to the experience. Overall, a high-quality restaurant that Niles will be lucky to have.

My friend and I went to Kouklas for the first time, and I have to say this exceeded my expectations. I want to start off with customer service. It was 10 out of 10! Harold was very personable and Very professional! The Hilopites With shredded lamb shank was incredible and by far my favorite dish. To top it all off, we were given soft serve yogurt with drizzle of olive oil and lime salt, and that was heaven!!! I will definitely be back.

To say this place is a well oiled machine would be an understatement. This place is great if you’re looking to try all things Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. The service was excellent, food was phenomenal, but more importantly Bobby knows how to make any occasion feel special. He was so warm and kind and he made the visit feel more important and valuable. That’s how all occasions should be. Well done and I wish great success and future business.

After watching the long construction of this restaurant everyday for months, I thought I'd be disappointed !!! Well it was worth the wait, The food was outstanding only to be stolen by the impeccable service by our server, ADELE, WHO STOLE THE SHOW! She made my night, her witty personality, and knowledge of the menu were most appreciated and on the money!!! Adele deserves credit for our wonderful dining experience. Thank You Adele!!!! We shall return and we will notify the entire Contact list of 300 friends. Thank you Jimmy Banos, you knocked it out of the Park!!!

I cannot say enough good things about my recent visit to Koukla’s in Niles. This wasn't just a dinner; it was a total dining experience from start to finish. Needless to say, we have been hooked ever since eating at Chef Bannos restaurant "The Purple Pig" in Chicago... The Service From the moment we sat down, the hospitality was unmatched. A huge shoutout to Yohan and T, who were absolutely phenomenal. They were super friendly, incredibly attentive without being hovering, and truly made us feel like family. Their warmth set the tone for the entire evening. The menu here is spectacular, but a few things really stole the show. For starters, you must try the house marinated anchovies—they were fresh and flavorful. The taramosalata spread was creamy and perfectly seasoned, and the grilled oysters were absolutely first class. As for the mains, the lamb chops had mind-blowing flavor (perfectly char-grilled), and the Lamb Hilopites pasta were rich, warm, and delicious. The absolute best end to the meal, however, was the incredible hospitality shown by the culinary team. We were offered a chance to visit the kitchen to say thank you, which was a special treat. It was an honor to meet Chef Jimmy Bannos Jr., Chef Kevin Stack (AKA Chef Bigbird), and the grill master, Chef Eric Camargo. Seeing the passion these guys have for their craft explains why the food tastes so good. If you are in Niles and want incredible Greek food with a team that treats you like their own, run to Koukla’s! We will definitely be back.

Everything about Kouklas hit the spot. The food, the service, the experience. It was super busy but the service was quick and everyone was great- from the valet, to the bar and the table! We went nuts on the menu and each bite was better and better. Every spread was a hit (shout out to the giardiniera!), the anchovies were amazing (a must!).. The pasta with vodka sauce and lamb was incredible. We'll be back!!!

Chef Kevin is the best!! Always cooking up exciting, new dishes to keep things fresh

Fantastic Greek restaurant in Niles! The flavors in each dish were perfectly balanced, and the ingredients tasted incredibly fresh. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and offered great recommendations.

i think kouklas is going to be a staple in the chicago greek dining community. the food is elevated modern greek…so if you’re expecting psisteria or plateia type of menu or food that’s not what they have. the menu was a very good selection of classics with a modern twist and everything was sooooo good. the lamb chops were my favorite and the beet salad. our server John was excellent - very hospitable and knowledgeable about the menu. he was so talkative and good energy. one thing i hope kouklas improves on is the overall space. it felt like they were fitting too many tables and it made for some tight spaces and I think some more decor details are needed to bring everything together. i hope they also make the room we were in (not the main room) feel comfortable and match the overall aesthetic. the room felt like we were in a spillage room.

I’m so excited to finally have food at the level and quality of The Purple Pig right in my own backyard. This is the kind of restaurant you keep thinking about after you leave—and keep finding excuses to go back to. Every dish we had was delicious, and there are enough standout dishes to genuinely stay excited about repeat visits. I’ve never seen potatoes cut the way they were in one of the dishes we ordered—such a cool, thoughtful presentation. The octopus salad absolutely blew me away. I’ve had octopus before, but the consistency here was incredible and honestly had me second-guessing why it hasn’t been this good everywhere else. The whipped feta was such a fun, creative take, and the lemon on the saganaki had the perfect amount of pucker. On top of the food, the staff was beyond kind and attentive, and the atmosphere felt effortlessly cool. At moments, I genuinely forgot I was even in the Chicago suburbs. A total gem—can’t wait to come back.

We intended to have a couple bites and drinks at the bar right when they opened to avoid the crowd. Ended up staying until the Bears game was over. We loved everything! Chickpea spread, avgolemono, saganaki, octopus salad, beet salad, pork chops, smashed fried potatoes, loukoumades, portokalopita. The cocktails were fantastic as well. Bobby behind the bar was incredible and made our night that much better. We’ve been waiting for this spot to open for a while and look forward to returning many many times. The Bannos’ always kill it!

Beautiful new restaurant in the area! Definitely make a reservation; it’s a hot spot right now. Every dish was fresh, flavorful, and intentional. Mezze style share plates are great for a dinner for two. Drinks were spot-on as well. Our server, Roula, was fabulous! Will definitely be back over & over! A true gem!!

Very knowledgeable and kind waiting staff. The food was amazing, and I’ve been thinking about it for several days now. Can’t wait to go back!

Amazing food. Beautiful ambiance! We will definitely be back.

A wonderful dining experience! Delicious and cannot wait to go back again!!

Amazing experience! Had calamari, spicy feta, olives, and mussels to start, followed by Greek potatoes, Greek fries, and pork souvlaki, everything was fantastic! Great bar with a delicious old fashioned. Bobby our bartender and John our server were both great. Can't wait to go back to try the rest of the menu!

Great service and food

The opening of Kouklas far exceeded our hopes! The restaurant is beautiful, loved all the careful detail put into it. We were greeted by Bobby at the bar who acted as if we were old friends. We sat in Luiz's section and his 'experience' was awesome. We tried a little of everything & honestly can't say anything negative about any of it. The drinks were mixed perfectly👌. This was all the first week opened, we cannot wait to go back, it will be on our frequently visited list.

Beautiful restaurant!! Everyone is so professional and willing to make your dining experience the best it can be. The food is absolutely amazing!! I’ve tried almost everything on the menu and haven’t found anything I don’t like. This is definitely gonna be my go to restaurant when I’m in the area. Do yourself a favor and get there. You won’t be disappointed.