Andros Taverna — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

Our visit to Andros Taverna for dinner on January 26, 2025, was nothing short of appalling. My wife and I were shocked by the way we were treated and have never felt so unwelcome at a restaurant before. We had an early reservation at 5 PM. As it was a cold winter night in Chicago, I dropped my wife off at the door while I parked the car. When she entered the restaurant, she was not allowed to sit at our table, even though the restaurant was nearly empty. Instead, she was made to wait in the corner without being offered a drink or even directed to the bar. The host that evening, a woman, displayed a level of rudeness I have rarely encountered in the restaurant industry. I have worked in and around restaurants my whole life, as my father was a consultant and owner of multiple establishments in the Chicago area. This host’s demeanor was entirely unacceptable—she was curt to customers in person and over the phone, unfriendly, and made no effort to greet guests warmly. When I arrived about 10 minutes later and asked my wife if she had been offered a seat, a drink, or even coat service, she told me that none of these courtesies were extended. She described the host as “colder than the polar vortex we just had.” When I approached the host stand to let her know our party was complete, she coldly reassigned us to a small two-top in the center of the dining room next to tables with children, despite plenty of other tables being available along the quieter outer edges. There was no greeting, no coat service offered, and no acknowledgment that we were celebrating my birthday. She dropped our menus without a word, told us we had the table for “an hour and 15 minutes,” and walked away with a smirk. The unwelcoming atmosphere continued throughout the meal. Our server took over five minutes to greet us, despite the restaurant being nearly empty. She did not explain the menu, the restaurant’s concept, or any specials. We ordered the Tsai Time cocktail, which was unpleasantly acidic. When my wife returned it, we were later told it was due to bad lime juice, but the replacement didn’t arrive until the end of our meal—at which point my wife no longer wanted it. We were still charged full price for the poorly executed drink. For dinner, we ordered the eggplant spread, halloumi, beet salad, moussaka, and lamb ribs. The eggplant spread was flavorless and gummy, with no spice, fat, or freshness—just cold, bland eggplant that tasted as though it had been prepared days ago. The halloumi was similarly disappointing, with an overly sweet and rosemary-heavy jelly that clashed with the dish’s savory elements. The beet salad was the one highlight, with good balance and vibrant colors. To our dismay, the mezze spreads did not include pita, which had to be ordered separately—a fact neither the menu nor the staff explained. The food arrived mere minutes after ordering, making us feel rushed. Our waitress checked on us multiple times, but it felt more like a tactic to turn the table rather than genuine care for our experience. The moussaka was enjoyable, with good balance and texture, but the lamb ribs were a disaster. The fat was unrendered, the meat was chewy, and the accompanying sauces were entirely flavorless. Again, we were asked twice whether we wanted our food packed to go—a clear signal that they were eager for us to leave, even though the dining room remained mostly empty. By the time dessert was offered, we had no interest in staying. Instead, we decided to visit Pretty Cool Ice Cream, a place where we knew we would be treated with kindness and respect. This was one of the worst dining experiences we have ever had. The combination of inhospitable service and underwhelming food left us stunned and deeply disappointed. Andros Taverna failed not only in creating a welcoming environment but also in delivering on basic hospitality and quality. We will not be returning, nor will we recommend this...

I'll start off by saying that food was very delicious. I have tried Greek food many times in my life, and this was really good. The lamb and the octopus were really cooked well, tender and juicy. The sea-bass a little less because in my opinion it was tasteless ( I come from the Mediterranean Sea and I have eaten lots of seafood in my life).

Anyway, here is why I gave two stars and would not go back for the moment. We made a reservations for 6 people online, then two more people joined so we called and asked, and we were told there were no problems for that. So we went at Andros, we were seated and when the manager came to bring us the menus he told us we could only order the "The best of Andros menu", a fixed price menu (68$).This because, starting from tables of 8 people, they only serve that menu or they could not guarantee the service if we ordered something off that menu. Never experienced such a thing in my life, in any kind of restaurant, either high-end or stand restaurants. If you can not guarantee the service, there is probably something wring. We were also told that at the time of the reservation for 7+ people, this policy was communicated which is not true. First, we reserved a table of 6 so this way that policy message does not show up at all. Second, when we called to add 2 more people, we were not told about this policy for group of 8. Then, I checked on the reservation app and even if I had to choose a table of 8, the message says something else, it does not tell you must stick to a fixed menu (see pics attached).

Beside this, It also looked like we were fooled. Basically, we all had to order this menu, yet, you would not get a course just for yourself. For each course, they bring only two plates to share for 8 people. It ends up you eat almost nothing (also they leverage on the fact they bring you lots of pita to full your belly). See the picture, that is what I got as lamb chopstick after we shared the plate. Also, the course included a sea-bass. That sea-bass was meant to be shared in 4 people (see pics) Unbelievable. Just a reminded, it was a 68$ per person menu, 6 course, including a salad and 2 appetizers (to share, obviously). I felt fooled because if I looked at smaller tables, getting the same fixed price menu, it looked like they were getting as much as food we had...but they were just 3 or 4. We ended up paying way more than 100$ just to eat "snacks', basically.

For now, I won't recommend any of my friends to go there especially for the fixed price menu but also for the current policy for larger tables. I have been to lots of high-end restaurants , very crowded, and never experienced...

A Delightful Greek Experience at Andros Taverna

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Andros Taverna, and I must say it was an absolutely amazing experience. From the moment I stepped foot into the restaurant, I was greeted with warm hospitality and a charming atmosphere that transported me straight to Greece.

The first thing that caught my attention was the authentic decor, which perfectly captured the essence of a traditional Greek taverna. The soft lighting, rustic wooden furniture, and beautiful artwork on the walls created a cozy and inviting ambiance that made me feel right at home.

Now, let's talk about the food. The menu at Andros Taverna is a true culinary masterpiece. Every dish we ordered was bursting with flavor and made with the freshest ingredients. From the mouthwatering gyros to the perfectly grilled seafood, each bite was a delightful explosion of Mediterranean goodness. And let's not forget about the heavenly desserts - the baklava and loukoumades were simply to die for!

The service at Andros Taverna was exceptional. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about Greek cuisine. They went above and beyond to ensure that we had a memorable dining experience. Our server was helpful in recommending dishes and even shared interesting stories about the origins of certain recipes, adding another layer of authenticity to our meal.

What sets Andros Taverna apart from other Greek restaurants is their commitment to quality and consistency. You can tell that the owners and chefs take great pride in their craft. The attention to detail in every aspect, from the presentation of the dishes to the impeccable service, is truly commendable.

I also want to mention the delightful live Greek music that played throughout the evening. It added a lively and festive atmosphere, making our dining experience even more enjoyable.

Overall, I cannot recommend Andros Taverna enough. Whether you're a lover of Greek cuisine or simply looking for a memorable dining experience, this restaurant is an absolute gem. The combination of outstanding food, warm hospitality, and authentic ambiance creates an experience that will transport you to Greece, even if just for a little while.

Thank you, Andros Taverna, for an unforgettable evening. I will definitely be returning soon to indulge in more of your delectable dishes and immerse myself in the Greek dining...