Editor’s Note: Our columnist is not a trained or paid professional, nor does he get complimentary meals from the restaurants visited. He and his party arrive unannounced and do not reveal that they will be doing a review. Comments or questions may be sent to Sam Geati, greengeezer9@comcast.net.
This week, we ventured out and beyond Randall Road for dinner at Yanni’s Greek Restaurant. We were with Nick and Nancy, friends who now live in Michigan but were in town for their family picnic. We all love Greek food, and this turned out to be a great choice.
Yanni’s is very nicely staged with a water feature at the entrance and a Greek Island setting inside. We chose to stay inside, but could have dined outdoors also. Since it was a Saturday night, we made reservations and were seated immediately. Our waiter, Erwin, was very accommodating and attentive throughout the entire meal. He immediately served fresh bread with olive oil before taking our drink orders. I was able to have my salad customized to include grilled octopus, a real favorite of mine, for an extra charge. Nick raved about the house salad. Both salads were huge. Judy and Nancy opted for the Avgolemono (egg-lemon soup), which was delicious and very different.
For entrees, Nancy chose the Paidakia (grilled lamb chops), while Judy chose the combination plate that included Pastitsio (baked pasta), Moussaka (eggplant casserole), and roasted lamb. Nick and I chose one of our favorite Greek specialties: braised lamb shanks served in a sweet tomato sauce. All entrees included grilled vegetables and oven-baked potatoes that were perfectly cooked and seasoned. I asked for green beans instead of grilled vegetables, and Erwin said “no problem.” Everyone raved about their entrees and sides. There was even some to take home.
We topped off the meal by sharing two terrific Greek pastries for dessert: Baklava (phyllo pastry layers filled with nuts and drenched in a honey syrup) and Galactobouriko (custard between layers of phyllo with a light honey syrup topping).
Ratings (5 symbols being the highest):
Quality of food, service, ambiance – ****
Price range – $$$$
Comments: If you are looking for a first-rate dining experience, especially for those who love Greek food, this is the place. However, by our standards, it was also a pricey experience. We don’t normally dine at establishments that result in a bill of $85.00 per couple, including tax and tip.
Yanni’s Greek Restaurant is located at 10 E. Algonquin Rd. in Arlington Heights, on the corner of Algonquin and Arlington Heights roads, an easy 35-minute ride from Huntley on I – 90. Reservations are recommended. 847-952-1111.
