Nisos Prime

"Chicago has plenty of steakhouses, so it takes a lot for a place to distinguish itself. And though Nisos Prime in the West Loop might be better than its short stint as a Greek restaurant, it’s still not particularly impressive. Sure, the large, dimly lit space with ubiquitous basket lights, club music, and roaming carts with prosciutto slicers can be fun. But when oversalted octopus shows up on mushy fava bean puree, or your undercooked ravioli is full of crab that tastes like old seawater, the fun doesn’t last. The steaks are actually fine and come with a nice beef tallow butter, but since nearby places like El Che, Swift and Sons, and Fioretta are a more complete restaurant experience, Nisos Prime is just another forgettable steakhouse." - John Ringor

"Parker brought Stapaki stateside in 2019 to open Nisos, a splashy modern Mediterranean restaurant and one of 2022’s most high-profile openings. But by May 2023, the group announced they’d closed Nisos for an overhaul — it’s now a steakhouse." - Naomi Waxman

"Opening: November We had strong feelings about Nisos, a short-lived Greek restaurant in the West Loop, which closed earlier this year. After (hopefully) doing some soul-searching, it’s making a comeback—albeit in stages and with a new concept. Nisos will become Nisos Prime, a Mediterranean steakhouse opening in November (with a more casual bar and a cocktail lounge already open for business)." - veda kilaru

"This gigantic, two-story Greek spot has the usual trendy suspects: giant hanging basket lights, infrared reptilian-house lighting, thumping electronic music, and tableside gimmicks. The menu is full of unexpected twists, like a deconstructed moussaka that involves smoky dry ice and aerated gruyere, and salt-baked fish set on fire before getting carved tableside. Unfortunately, the twists don't always work (the pile of freeze-dried honeycomb on top of the tiropita has the texture of Airheads candy and gets stuck in your teeth) and all that carving tableside means your food is cold by the time you get to eat it. This place is also very expensive, so unless you have money to waste watching your server take an uncomfortably long time deshelling Jurassic Park-sized langoustines in lighting that makes everyone look perfect, head somewhere else." - adrian kane

"After less than a year, Nisos, one of 2022’s most high-profile openings, has closed — at least temporarily. The shutter comes with the announcement that the restaurant’s chef has “mutually parted” ways with the West Loop venue. The Greek-leaning restaurant opened in July on Randolph Restaurant Row, where Bad Hunter, an impressive veggie-focused restaurant stood before the pandemic. Nisos represented a way Parker Hospitality could spread its wings, to show the public that the company most famous for beachy vibes of Hampton Social, was serious about dining." - Ashok Selvam