Ilios crafted greek — Restaurant in Charlotte

Future customers and Management team,

I rarely leave 1-star reviews—most of mine are 5 stars—but after visiting Ilios Crafted Greek today on Sunday, December 22 (around 4:00 p.m.), I feel it’s necessary to share just how disappointing my meal was. My wife and I dropped in on a friend’s recommendation for authentic Greek cuisine, but unfortunately, our experience was quite the opposite.

From the moment we walked in, the staff seemed more focused on their own tasks than welcoming us. Communication was challenging with the person behind the grill, and it set the tone for a less-than-pleasant meal. We spent $32 on two orders, expecting at least a decent portion and flavor for the price.

My Chicken Platter (Approx. $18): This was the biggest letdown. I received small, diced chicken pieces that turned out to be mostly fat and bristle, leaving very little actual meat. For the cost, I would expect at least one full, edible chicken breast portion. Instead, I ended up still feeling hungry afterward—which is unacceptable given the price point.

“Greek Style Potatoes”: Advertised as Greek Style potatoes, these were essentially French fries with a sprinkle of Parmesan. There was no lemon flavor whatsoever. Authentic Greek Style lemon potatoes are wedges marinated in lemon and herbs, so calling these “Greek Style potatoes” is misleading.

Seasoned Vegetables: Brussels sprouts and peppers soaked in an excessive amount of oil and grease, completely masking any fresh taste.

Positives: The pita bread and tzatziki sauce were genuinely good, but they couldn’t rescue the overall experience.

Given the $30–$40 we spent, the food quality and portion sizes just didn’t match up. It felt like a waste of money that could have been better spent elsewhere or on quality ingredients from the store. On top of that, the lack of a warm greeting or proactive service left us with a poor impression overall.

Suggestions for Management: 1 Reduce Excess Oil/Grease: It’s destroying the fresh flavor customers expect from authentic Greek dishes. 2 Provide Accurate Menu Descriptions: If it’s French fries, call it that—don’t advertise them as Greek Style potatoes. 3 Improve Customer Service: A simple, friendly welcome and straightforward communication can make all the difference in a diner’s experience. 4 Reevaluate Portion Sizes and Quality: Especially for higher-priced platters, customers should be getting real chicken meat, not mostly fat and leftover bits.

Note: I take no pleasure in leaving a one-star review, but I hope this feedback motivates some positive changes at Ilios Crafted Greek. If the owners or management would like to respond or discuss further, please feel free to...

Amazing authentic Greek food, terrific Greek coffee, and wonderful service! Whether you are doing quick takeout or sitting in and dining, if you like Greek food, this is a spot you'll want to check out! I've lived in Charlotte for 15 years and have tried many Greek restaurants in the area, and this is absolutely one of my top picks now!

The service was terrific with very attentive staff, prompt friendly service, and an additional element of knowledge and guidance around various Greek options if you are less familiar with Greek food (like my colleague). For those doing pickup, I absolutely loved the dedicated parking spot to ensure I'm not driving around the popular South End area to find parking.

The food is absolutely authentic Greek food with very healthy portions and some of th best quality ingredients & seasoning, even when comparing it to the quality of Greek from Manhattan and other places I have lived and had wonderful authentic Greek food.

I ordered the Lamb Gyro plate with a side of hummus and Greek fries. I also ordered an iced coffee and received a Chicken Avgolemono soup. With the plate, you have the choice of 4 sauces, of which I chose the Tzatziki, which is a favorite of mine. The lamb was perfectly seasoned and delicious, even without the Tzatziki - even my 4 year old loved it and ate almost half of mine! The hummus was well seasoned with the perfect texture and flavoring, especially when combined with the pita bread. And the Greek fries were even better than I expected. They were crunchy on the outside yet soft on the inside and the Greek seasoning and cheese made them addictive for everyone eating them, to the point I'll need to order a specific side of this for every person next time.

The iced coffee was absolutely delicious and something that will be a staple for me now with every order I make.

The soup was also incredible, even for someone who doesn't traditionally order soup. The chicken is tender and delicious and the seasoning of the soup makes it worth taking the spoon out and drinking it once you can't get any more out with your spoon😁.

I didn't try the Baklava yet, but I'll be going back this weekend for sure and will update my review once...

First time here. Wife's 1st generation Canadian-Greek so pressure was on. Since we have yet to find good, authentic Greek in the Charlotte-metro area, we had high hopes for Ilios, especially since their other restaurant is decent. Upon walking in, the menu's on the wall at the front entrance and has the typical US-Greek fare. The signage for ordering is high above your head and many looked confused on how to proceed around the cooking area. It's set up like a Subway, actually. As you walk over to order, you can see chicken on skewers cooking over flame. Real meat is a good sign! The lamb was on a spit and one of the cooks was slicing off some gyro meat. Ordering was a bit weird, as your talking to someone 3+ feet away and over glass in a room with poor acoustics. Both of us and the employee kept asking each other, "What??" Finally got the order in. Wifey had the gyro lamb pita Ilios and I had gyro lamb pita traditional. We both had Greek Fries. Both gyros were good on meat but lacking in extra items. They we're basically meat and pita. There was hardly a splash of tzatziki on mine and it was very thick; thus, my gyro was incredibly dry and bland. My wife said her kopanisti was incredibly salty and she couldn't even finish it. I agreed on the saltiness. Our fries were flavorful but only warm and also soggy and stale. You could tell they had been sitting for a while. The owner is very nice, going around the dining room talking with people and helping some with understanding the menu. We know it's a new establishment and will give them more chances to get things right. Give them a shot. By the time you get there, there's bound to have been some improvements. And if you like Carolina Craft Beer, join the FREE Carolina Breweries Club on Facebook Groups. Our VIP Members receive discounts from participating...