Parthenon Greek Restaurant & Banquets - Chicago
This bustling eatery, opened July 5, 1968, is Greektown's oldest extant restaurant, with a long history of achievements. Founder Chris Liakouras was the first restaurateur to set saganaki, the celebrated melted-cheese dish, aflame, and the first to popularize gyros in the U.S. Today, you'll find these dishes at almost every Greek restaurant in America.
The Parthenon's celebrated gyros is still made in-house from meat cut off the bone. You'll also find such specialties as spit-roasted lamb, shish kebab and baked, stuffed eggplant.
Still managed by Liakouras and his children, The Parthenon celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2008 with the release of a cookbook.
—Leah A. Zeldes
