Salonica Restaurant

The ambience was so cozy, the service was excellent. Everyone was so kind and smiling. The breakfast was incredible and the coffee was AMAZING. It was a pleasant surprise since we found the restaurant by coincidence. I wanted to go back just for the coffee, but it didn't fit our travel schedule. Definitely coming back if I ever come to Chicago again!!

It was my 1st time ever dining in Salonica Restaurant. This restaurant is nestled in the well known area of Hyde Park in Chicago. It's quaint and it's clean. Closed on Monday, the restaurant offers daily specials of Greek eats and American comfort food. I was there for lunch and enjoyed the Gyros plate with a salad.

This little place specializes in Greek or Greek inspired dishes and was a great find after spending a day in the city. The prices are quite reasonable, especially for the location. We had the Avgolemono soup, Gyros Plate, Curry Chicken Salad, and the Salonica Omelette. Everything was fantastic, but our favorite dish was the Curry Chicken Salad.

A neighborhood, family restaurant that fits the bill for good food and convenience. Parking can be challenging, but it is perfect for those living nearby that can walk. It was busy the whole time I was there, which is a great sign.

Stopped by for lunch during the weekend and was very happy we made the choice! Easy walking distance from the science & industry museum, and the nearby bus stop. It’s a cute little diner with a lovely atmosphere. Staff is friendly and service is fast. Food is reasonably priced and generously sized. Everything you could ask for in casual Greek fare. Has a huge menu for breakfast and brunch items too! We tried Nick’s Delight and Souvlaki. Meat was tender and flavorful. They have soup specials each day of the week and the egg lemon soup was fabulous. Definitely check it out if you’re nearby!

I loved this place! Just tried it because was in walking distance from my Airbnb and food was amazing! Great service, staff was all very friendly. The Greek omelet was the best thing I have had in Chicago!

good breakfast, reasonable prices. ordered the number 3

Always a go to on a weekend morning. Great food given the prices. Huge variety in the menu. Servers are always so kind and great at refilling coffee! Love the chicken gumbo.

I grew up in Hyde Park and I used to frequent Salonica quite a bit. I haven't been there in 30's years so I decided to take my kids down memory lane. The ambiance is still the same so that made me smile. Cozy, old school restaurant. Not a lot of seating. The service was nice. Nothing to brag about. The disappointing part is the food. I had the corned beef hash breakfast. I posted a before and after photo. I couldn't finish my meal. I don't think my food was cooked thoroughly, especially the hash browns. The corned beef hash was mushy and I don't know what to say about the eggs, just horrible. The food was bland. I tried to power through because I was hungry but I couldn't. My kids said the pancakes were a 5 out of 10 and the french toast a 7 out of 10. Needless to say we will not be returning.

Salonica has grown on me from a "breakfast joint" to a breakfast destination!!!! Consistently good food, polite service in a clean restaurant!

The chicken pita wrap was pretty good! This diner is located pretty close to the museum of science and industry and the uchicago campus, so would recommend if you're planning on exploring the surrounding area as well. Service was quick and establishment itself was very homey and well kept

I have only come in here for takeout, but the staff is super nice and they are super quick. The soup is great and all of the prices are very affordable. You can see why this is a neighborhood gem. If you're looking for a solid breakfast or lunch place, with options for everyone, this is it!

I've dined there for decades. Before they dropped dinner hours I had a semi-regular patty melt after work. (Their business, their choice, I won't complain.) I walked in, the co-owner directed me to a table. I waited ten minutes. Waitstaff were mostly out of sight, or back turned for guests getting service. I gathered my belongings and headed for the door, past the cashier/partner. Nobody said a word. (Should I have tried to catch someone's attention? I wasn't in a mood to raise my voice and flag the back of someone 10 feet away.)

Been coming here for many years I always enjoy the food... I have been wanting pancakes for 3 months and finally chose to come here! The only downside was the bacon was cold cold made for a weird aftertaste. Overall food and service was great!

I love Salonica! It feels like such cozy family friendly restaurant. It's an old school, no frills type of place, but it is perfectly nestled within Hyde Park. The menu has a lot of variety to choose from and the items are fairly priced. The food is also very good! I've gone several times and haven't been disappointed yet! Each time I've gone in I've had the same waitress and see the same staff each time and they do a great job taking care of their customers. I would recommend this place to anyone, but be mindful of big groups. It's not large on the inside so groups of more than 4 might struggle.

It's pretty middling in terms of food. It's kinda greasy, and not super flavorful like you'd want Greek food to be. I'm big on value for money when I go to a place so I'm normally not bothered if the price reflects the fact that yeah it's not the tastiest food ever but it's cheap. This place is neither cheap nor flavorful so I personally think it's disappointing. You do get a huge portion though. I do really like the set up of the place. It's a cozy diner feel. Service is okay.

It was my 1st time ever dining in Salonica Restaurant. This restaurant is nestled in the well known area of Hyde Park in Chicago. It's quaint and it's clean. Closed on Monday, the restaurant offers daily specials of Greek eats and American comfort food. I was there for lunch and enjoyed the Gyros plate with a salad.

Food and service is immaculate! Also, the portions are so big for the price! The side of hash browns was massive and definitely good for multiple people to share. The French toast was also very filling and I couldn't finish it. The wrap was great too and we added avocados which elevated the dish even more! Overall, this place has great breakfast food for a great price. Only downside is that the place itself is very hot as there isn't any air conditioning and it also isn't very fancy. It's a tier below diner style. There's seating, but nothing more and nothing less. A bit of a homely ambiance, but it does feel a bit hot in there. Other than that, food wise it's great!

Have been going here for years. The food is great! Not good it's great. Have taken many people here to eat. What surprises me is they have all gone back multiple times.

The food came out cold and we were confused as to how we were supposed to seat ourselves. Other than that, the service was good and the hot chocolate was very delicious. Standard flavors.

TONS of food for the price and the service was quick. The bread and soup were really good, and the gyro was stuffed to the gills. The fries were super good, but my club was a little dry. Just needed some more mayo.

Ratings are relative to the expectations. Meaning you don't walk into an old neighborhood diner expecting the same experience you'd have at Bavette's. As far as neighborhood diners go, Salonica is really good. As usual, you can expect a really good breakfast, but lunch is good too. As you may have guessed, the owners are Greek, so they often have Greek foods on the menu: egg lemon soup, moussaka, etc. When I worked midnights and lived in Hyde Park, I'd get off the train Saturday morning and stop in here for breakfast. I loved that they had a counter with stools and they even had those mini cereal boxes. I don't order cereal at restaurants like Jerry Seinfeld or a 5-year-old, but it's nice to see places like this still exist. Just seeing those boxes is oddly calming and lets you know everything will be ok. Pancakes, waffles, eggs, sausage, toast... that's more my speed and you can't go wrong ordering those here. Sit at the counter and eavesdrop on the conversations around you and you'll feel like a real Chicagoan for sure.

My friend and I stopped by Salonica because we were desperately hungry and it was close by and we thought we'd check it out. The inside of the restaurant has a mix of mediterranean and American diner vibes. We were seated right away and the booths were super comfortable. The waitstaff was really attentive and kind as well! I ordered the 8oz sirloin basic burger and fries. The burger itself was kind of dry and the fries came unsalted. However, at each table are a myriad of sauces, condiments, salt, pepper and even olive oil. While the food was not too impressive, I did enjoy the quiet and friendly atmosphere. All in all, our two burgers and a coke came out to $30.

I've had mostly breakfast food at Salonica and can't recommend it enough. It's relatively affordable, compared to most food in Hyde Park. We've never had to wait for a table; there's usually always seating. Food doesn't take long to come out and service is generally attentive. For breakfast, I'd recommend one of the breakfast specials. I always get the one with french toast, eggs, and coffee. I've also gotten pancakes, and those are really good too. They do have chocolate pancakes, which are oddly not on the menu, but you can ask for them.

Walked in here on the coldest day of the year, limited sort of expensive menu. The food came out fast and I can see why. Bacon was old looks freezer burned, toast was old and cold, looks like it went through the toaster yesterday. No flavored creamer for the coffee, the food looked white, simply put I sent everything back. I also didn't like that a worker was heavily blowing his nose, wiping his hands on counters after, then hand sanitizing. If he's doing that in public, what are you doing in the back, things I can't see. Thereafter, he wasn't my server but here he comes dropping off my food, that's a recipe for disease; no thanks Go Home, close down. Plus they don't speak English. This venue is bad for business, not sure they even had heat, it was freezing in here, everybody bundled up, ugh. Do Not Come Here!!!

This quaint corner diner celebrated 40 years in 2019. It's been our ritual go-to feeding stop on the way to or from the Museum of Science & Industry, and we always manage to find parking nearby on side streets. BTW, Salonica is named for the second-largest city in Greece, more commonly spelled Thessalonica or Thessaloniki. Happily, Salonica's food is in better taste than their Jimmy Carter-era Formica® decor. The menu is loaded with familiar Greek-American diner classics plus some Mexican faves, and yes, you can order breakfast for dinner. On our most recent visit, we enjoyed chicken gumbo soup, a turkey club sandwich, Greek chicken, and tender beef short ribs. Entrees include a choice of soup or salad, potato, and veggies. Their coffee always tastes freshly brewed, even when the restaurant isn't busy. It may not be a blip on James Beard's radar, but we always enjoy the friendly staff and generous portions of fresh, tasty food for a small price.

Tried Gyros Plate, a very typical Greek dish. The meat loaves are a great match with yoghurt sauce. The potato soup is thick and creamy. The environment is cozy and casual, suitable for grabbing a bite of brunch and sandwiches while working, yet the dinner is also good.

Disappointing Salonica experience a while back. Ate there frequently. Never fussy. Tipped generously. The staff knew me well enough. My usual breakfast order was simple: steak & eggs. Time went on. And the portion of steak became inconsistent. It was a roll of the dice whether the plate would arrive with the 'adult' portion or the 'kid size'. This was troubling. First two times, I let it slide. The next three times became too much. What Am I Paying For? Who's Cutting The Meat In The Kitchen? Do They Need Glasses? So many questions in regards to a simple steak & egg breakfast. I wanted an answer - Why Me? I asked the server, an older female, why my portions of steak were consistently inconsistent? I asked with a smile. I asked knowing I'd always been a good tipper. I asked because I believed she would address the issue as it was clearly an oversight that NEVER should of happened. I asked expecting an apology. I got none of that. What I got was this response - I Can't Do Nothing About That. She then turned on her heels and walked away. I was left sitting stunned and silent. My stomach turned to stone. The plate went cold. Appetite gone. I left something resembling a tip and never returned. I swallowed my hurt feelings. And I started cooking at home. And made the same breakfast for a 1/3 of the price at the portion I desired. Life was good. The waitress did me a favor. Yes, ma'am, you chose not to 'do nothing about that'. But I did. Salonica chose not to treat me and my money with the respect they deserved. I chose to do something about that. I walked out. My money came with me. I left Salonica in my rear view mirror. And I never looked back. Life's never been better. *Moving on...**

Love the owners and the chicken gumbo. A little place hubby and I like to frequent. Friendly and family oriented.

This place is great! I don't know why some of the ratings were bad. I almost didn't come because of that but I'm so glad I did! I love the variety on the menu. all day breakfast is also a huge plus for me. The food was really good. It's nothing special but that's to be expected from a small diner. The prices align with the quality. Great portion sizes too. Really loved it here. Definitely worth a try if you haven't been.

Mother Nature often times dictates where Rosa J.'s "Foodie on Foot" venture will be. It happened to be a very pleasant Sunday, and of course, as expected, many restaurants were hopping. Salonica" was a Plan B since we saw a huge inside the popular diner destination on E. 53rd. Well, all I wanted to say was, "this place would always be an alternative option." The reason why I still rendered a four (4)-star rating was just to round it up from a 3.5. "Salonica" is a neighborhood, vintage diner in close proximity to the University of Chicago campus. Honestly, I felt I was back in college, enjoyed my Sunday brunch/lunch with friends, and then headed to a coffeeshop or one of the libraries to finish up a term paper or a lab report. Both hubby and I ordered from their Greek speciality menu. We were told that each entree came with either salad or soup (minestrone or lemon egg for Sundays). However, the soups were average at best. Hubby commented that there was hardly any beans in his minestrone soup; the taste of lemon wasn't really detectable or identified in any shape or form. The entrees appeared quite inspiring, but the chicken from "Kalamata" was over-cooked. I tasted a good many dry spots, and they did require some extra chews before swallowing them. "Pastitsio" is a Greek-version of lasagna, with ground beef and eggplants layered in between pasta. Hubby thought it was an interesting changeup from a known Italian lasagna most of us were familiar with, yet I knew he wasn't at all obsessed with the flavor of this dish. Unfortunately, we didn't think we would be returning here. We liked the friendly service, comfortable atmosphere, and reasonable prices, but the food here was definitely the weakest link.

I ordered a breakfast sandwich off menu... literally toast eggs and bacon and was charged $8.00 dollars. Shame on me for not asking the cost. The unscrupulous act of price gouging wouldn't have been tolerated if John was still alive . The guy that is the cashier is a thief!

Eaten here multiple times for breakfast as it's one of few breakfast diner places in Hyde Park and have overall been disappointed. It's classic breakfast diner fare (I'm rating based on repeated orders of two eggs breakfast with bacon hash toast and coffee) that would normally be maybe $5-8 anywhere else going for almost $15 here with tip. The staff always seems super stressed and chaotic. The host was clearly very sick last time we were there, unmasked and openly coughing. Always very rushed. Bummer because Hyde Park needs a good breakfast place. Note that most of the good reviews are from out of towners who think they're having a good value "Chicago experience" lol

nice little restaurant in Hyde park, we came on a Sunday for brunch, really enjoyed the moussaka, also liked the gyro plate, huge portions! the pancake is so so.

Nice, clean and great portions. This is the quintessential family diner. Got the omelette, which came with hash browns and choice of an English muffin. I definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a good meal to fill you up at a decent price.

If you want the typical diner food, this is the place to go in the Hyde Park area. It has the diner feel and environment inside with the booths and classic stools at the bar place. The prices are decent and affordable. The employees there are nice too. I ordered the chicken on the pita sandwich deluxe with fries on the side. It comes with a very small container of salsa. The pita sandwich is wrapped in foil which I thought was weird. The chicken was very dry so I needed the salsa to go with it. I asked for another container of salsa and they charged me an extra 50 cents without telling me. I was not happy with that and it's a rip off. The fries were okay, but very oily. The whole meal cost about $11.50 with tax and tip. It's not worth it. Save your money and go somewhere else better.

The friendly service is part of the reason I return to Salonica. This is a small, family neighborhood restaurant that's on the tired side with decor but always comes up with solid comfort food. Greek entrees anchor the menu but this diner has a variety of American sandwiches, salads, soups, sides and other entrees. And, all day breakfast standards. Today, I went light with s bowl of delicious lentil soup and slices of their freshly baked bread. A companion also enjoyed the soup, plus a greens salad topped with salmon.

We had decided to meet up here with family for lunch since we were exploring the museum of science and industry. The staff was so friendly and accommodating to our group of 9. Even with the diner pretty full we were seated immediately. Now this place had a huge variety from your basic soups and sandwiches to breakfast and a whole side dedicated to Greek food. Within our group we tried a little of everything. The pancakes were good- fell apart as you picked them up, the gyros meat had amazing flavor- really close to the gyros meat I grew up on and their blt was simple but good with home fries to accompany them. This is a true diner! Simple comfort foods, huge portions and cheap prices.

I guess I can't rely on others for their reviews because this selection was not a good 1. I am in Hyde Park and wanted to try a new spot so this place fit the bill. Hmmmm... the exterior seemed nice. Specials visible on board. Upon entering a lady from way at the bar greeted me & said to sit at booth at window. Kinda far to greet someone. That was the 1st error. 3 minutes later an elderly lady appeared with menus and a thick Mexican accent. I had to ask her several times to repeat herself. She took drink order. The place had no music and i heard everyone's conversation. The server came back with drinks. I ordered food for me & husband. I ordered the Thursday special but had a question about what 2 ingredients can u add and she didn't understand me so she pointed at another omelette option. Of course confused by how long this was taking my husband finally understood her...she was pointing at the options on another omelette. What?? Instead of saying green peppers, onions, tomatoes she pointed, error 2. The place seemed clean, contemporary. The food arrived 8 minutes later. Something i could have done at home & wayyyyyyyyy better. Frozen then thawed then fried turkey sausage links, semi-lukewarm flavorless hash browns(O'Brien's frozen seasoned potatoes taste better), coffee was good though no flavored creamer. I saved the pancakes for take out. $30 for below average food & a server who didn't come back to refill my coffee or asked if hubby wanted more orange juice....I lost count of the errors by this point. We paid with owner at station and she didn't say hello, how was food, how are u, I hate u came in and wasted your $$$, nothing. U guess how many errors is that. Will I return??? Every restaurant in Chicago would have to close before I return.

Nothing fancy but the dishes that are good are delicious. Rueben was delicious and fries just as good! Turkey club was yummy. Chicken Caesar wrap was an oil base dressing. Tasty but not what I was expecting. So much dressing challenging to eat. Staff was great and service was quick!

This place was empty when we got here but felt like a cozy corner diner. Was looking to try a new place and was NOT disappointed. Going to come back again to try other things off the menu.

This is a pretty basic diner. The service is always friendly. The food is diner quality, but it is ALWAYS consistent.

I actually went here for breakfast a few times with my girlfriend. This place is definitely a gem. This place feels very vintage and very family oriented. Alot of people come here and I can see why. The food and service is phenomenal. It's always packed here so it's good to plan ahead if you come here. The food takes a while none the less. They kind of try to rush you out of there too in a sense so the next customers can get in.

Loved Salonica, will definitely be back. It has a great diner atmosphere and good customer service.

Ordered the Mexican omelette and was satisfied with the quality. The service was good. The hash browns were good. Will go back again and try different dishes. The locale is in historic Hyde Park that adds to the enjoyment of dining.

Classic Greek cafe serving a solid breakfast and your favorites. This is a small restaurant with mostly booths and then a counter for those dining solo. Lemon Rice soup is satisfying and everything is fairly priced. Add a hot cup of coffee and you're morning is already looking better.

If paying $14.75 for a tuna salad sandwich you could've made at home and a cup of reheated soup sounds like a nice way to spend your weekend morning, head on down to Salonica! I am updating my review because, in the last few years, quality control at this formerly favorite diner of mine seems to have decreased while prices have done the reverse. The customer service has become particularly inattentive, if not outright surly: I've been asked to wait half an hour for my meal only to be told to leave as soon as our checks came; been told that splitting a bill 50-50 is simply not possible; and had my order forgotten multiple times. These bad experiences, combined with the middling and tiny-portioned food, have made me look elsewhere for brunch or lunch: either down the street (and for the same price point!) at the now-friendlier Med; at Daley's, where the portions are far more generous; at Roux, where you can dine in style; or at Valois, where you can get a full hot meal for $7 cash, just like in the old days. Salonica, friends: I want to love you, but you need to step up your game!

If you see people sitting in this restaurant, do not be fooled. They are either high or are completely deficient of taste buds/brain cells. The food is similar to something Satan himself would enjoy. Perhaps one quality about this establishment that differs from hell is that it was some of the most undercooked and ice cold, clammy pieces of meal I have ever had the displeasure of ingesting. In fact I consider it an insult for anyone to call this stuff food. At the very least, the owner/manager apologized when I told them how disgusting it was. But really though? I ordered eggs and hashbrowns. How hard is that to mess up? Please, you kind, sweet, sweet soul reading this - save yourself - Follow the light - Go anywhere but here. Avoid.

Cute location and they have these cool booth thingies to sit in. The food was fast and decent. Omelette was a little bland but everything else was food.

Fast service, good, fresh food -- American breakfast and lunch traditional fare plus some Greek specialties. I particularly like the spanakopita and the French fries. Pleasantly friendly neighborhood atmosphere, especially Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Absolutely terrible service. Called in an order and had to wait an additional 30 minutes for my food. Order taker forgot to put in my French toast order and neglected to hold himself accountable. After I inquired about a discount for my wasted time he proceeded to debate me on how his mistake was not in fact his mistake. Consequently, I was 20 minutes late to the hospital to return to my waiting and sick patient. Zero problem solving skills. Horrible customer service. Terrible communication. Food is ok. 2/10 my colleagues and I will not be returning.

We Love Salonica! All of the negative reviews are looking for something that this restaurant isn't and then getting mad when they're wrong. Come for the atmosphere of a real, working diner in historic Hyde Park and stay for the lemon egg soup (only available on weekends.)

This is one of our favorite diners. Especially for breakfast. Strongly recommend any omelette, especially the Salonica Omelette that has Gyro meat in it. The owner is incredibly friendly, and the service is quick. Give it a try.

Salonica is a solid neighborhood diner with reliable food and quick service. Frills are few, but the price is nice. The menu includes a full range of traditional Greek items as well as all-day breakfast (eggs, pancakes) and cafe fare such as sandwiches and soups. Nothing seems elaborate or expensive. A bread basket is served with the food. Seating is packed pretty close together, so it's not a place to tell secrets around the table. Clientele appears to be mostly neighborhood and U. of C. people -- students and professors. Service is efficient and no-nonsense. You won't feel rushed, but the staff knows you probably have a class to get to.

Great option for breakfast before walking to the museum! We tried the Monte Cristo Sandwich and the Salonica (Greek) Omelet. Coffee was great. Service was super fast. Barely more than $20. Great choice.

Food is good. Very good customer service. Clean environment. They provide a lot of vai

Came here for dinner with a friend. Not much on the menu for vegetarians - fine. Then, at least do what you do have well. I ordered a grilled cheese special. So, it was meant to come with a whole lot of vegetables in it and a side of fries for $6.50. Seems reasonably priced and fair. But when it got 2 table, it was literally two slices of white bread you get from a supermarket with a slice of kraft cheese in between. No grilling of the bread, no melting of the cheese nothing. I asked the waitress where the vegetables was and she said that they come in all the sandwiches except the grilled cheese. So, I spent $6.50 on a sandwich and some fries I could've easily made at home for less than $0.40. Essentially, vegetarians beware.