Greek Restaurant

Goal: Increase patronage from groups.

Letter that appears on web site and is sent to selected neighborhoods within the city and surrounding areas.

Stuck for a place to eat that will please everybody? Facing another no-win situation like one of these?

• The relatives are heading into town and, for once, you’d like things to go well. But Uncle Fred doesn’t trust any cuisine that isn’t served in a sesame seed bun. And Aunt Violet insists on sampling everything but ordering nothing.

• Or maybe the office wants to celebrate Simpson’s retirement but war is about to break out between the Vegans in Accounting and the crowd in Engineering that’s chanting Give-Me-Meat- or-Give-Me-Death.

• Or maybe you’ve got something simple to deal with like the boss wants you to impress those important clients flying in from San Francisco. “Don’t screw this up…” the boss said, “or else.”

What do you do? Where do you go? How can you possibly please everybody? It’s enough to give you nightmares…

Stay calm. There’s actually an easy solution. Do this and you can stop worrying about being the goat and start being the hero – finally.

It’s simple. Just bring your crowd to Patros Greek Taverna. Making Groups Happy is what we do. It’s our Specialty of the House.

Why Groups Love Us and Why Your Group Will Too…

Here are just a few of the ways we make sure everybody’s happy when you bring your group to Patros:

• Family style meals mean everyone gets as much or as little as they want to eat. No one worries if the dish will be enough or too much. It’s the Greek tradition to share!

• Our amazingly complete wine cellar and spirits cabinet make ordering a delight for the most discriminating connoisseur. But we don’t forget the casual sippers either. We’ve designed a short list of wine and spirits just for them. We make it easy to order and remove any discomfort they may feel. Note that our specialty is warm and hearty Greek wine but we also offer a fine selection of both European and California wines.

• Big round tables for groups keep everyone involved in the animated conversations and let all share in the stories and fun. We won’t seat you boarding-school style at long narrow tables like most restaurants do. (We do offer seating just for couples though, in our quieter, romantic Grotto section.)

• Décor that puts everyone in your group in the mood to relax. What’s more inviting than the friendly atmosphere of a sun-splashed fishing village sitting high above the sparkling Mediterranean Sea? You’ll swear you can hear the cry of the gulls as they circle out over the fishing boats bobbing on the swells.

A Menu with “Lots of Somethings” for Everyone

Patros features wonderful Greek International cuisine. But we make sure everyone will find a dish to delight their particular tastes. We always provide several vegetable-only entrees as well as non-dairy.

Here are a few of the mouth watering selections from our dinner menu…

…When Greeks go to the neighborhood restaurant, most often they start with a plate filled with exquisite little treats called Mezedes, a word meaning "something small and delicate." At Patros you’ll love starting your meal with our Mezedes: Pita or Flatbread Crisp and one or more of our wonderful spreads…
• Tzatziki Cucumber sauce with our homemade yogurt. This is a classic!
• Htipiti Feta cheese, roasted peppers, chili oil, extra virgin olive oil.
• Skordalia Potatoes, fresh garlic, fresh lemon and extra virgin olive oil

… For thousands of years, the people of Greece have feasted on the freshest meats, seafood and vegetables grilled over seasoned hardwood fires. Our Shish-Kabobs celebrate this tradition. Try Chicken Breast or Shrimp, skewered with crispy vegetables and served with your choice of herb rice or Greek roasted potatoes.

… At Patros we are most proud of our Fresh Char-Grilled Fish. In keeping with Greek tradition, our fresh fish is cooked whole on the bone to maximize natural flavors and juices. Have it served either whole or we’ll de-bone it for you tableside. Order Mediterranean Sea Bass for a European favorite –this is lean meat with a moderately sweet flavor. Marvelous too are our Snapper and Black Sea Bass.

… Our regulars find our Greek Platters a favorite. They love the Classic with roasted chicken, potatoes and Dolmades - Grape leaves stuffed with ground beef, lamb, rice, and lemon cream sauce. The Traditional Platter is always a hit too with roast leg of lamb, herb rice, and braised green beans. Both platters feature regional side dishes of Spanakopita - baked spinach, leeks, feta cheese in phyllo dough, and Moussaka - layered seasoned ground lamb and beef, eggplant, potato, and zucchini topped with Bechamel – our creamy, white sauce.
… Your guests can always feast on our dinners of Lamb, Steak and Chops. Try Braised Lamb Rosa Marina, a slowly cooked lamb shoulder chop with a light tomato sauce and yummy orzo pasta. Or enjoy Metaxa Filet Mignon, served with a grilled portabella mushroom, Metaxa-shallot sauce, and mashed potatoes.

… You’ll even find Homemade Gyros, and Traditional Sandwiches (including, yes, hamburgers for Uncle Fred).

There’s Just No Place like Patros Greek Taverna

When you bring your group to Patros, you should know that something else sets Patros apart. It’s something you and your friends will love about Patros even more than the wonderful atmosphere, more even than the fantastic food and wine. It’s something called “kalosorizo.”

In Greek, this special word means “welcome, welcome home”. When you bring your family or your coworkers or your clients, the moment you walk through the door, you feel it - the warm embrace of kalosorizo. It’s in the smiles that greet your arrival, the graciousness of the guide who escorts you to your table, in the heart of your servers who share the magic of our menus. Nowhere else will you ever feel so welcome, so at home. Nowhere else but Patros Greek Taverna.

Reviewers and Patrons Agree…

If you listen to the critics, you’d think they were on the payroll. They’re not, of course, but frankly all the praise gets a little embarrassing when you’re just trying to feed people and treat them the way you want to be treated.

Here’s what a few of the critics say…

“Mount Olympus for mortals… no better place to eat Greek in Chicago…” Windy Wasserstein, Sun Tribune

“The best meal and more fun than I’ve had in a long time…” Bill Riley, Chicagonian

“I didn’t want to leave and you won’t either…” Chester Akers, USA Today

We appreciate the kind words of these professionals but, honestly, we care more about what our patrons say. It’s people like you who count the most to people like us. We have a whole wall where we proudly display guest comments. You’ll see them when you come in but here are a few…

“Thank you for a wonderful, wonderful evening. My mother is 84 today. She said it was the finest dinner she’d had in all her years, and the very best birthday.” Gladys Winston, Evanston

And David Hachette of Schaumberg wrote…
“Are you guys crazy? How can you make meals like you make and charge what you charge and stay in business? Please! Raise your prices. I want you here so I can come back again and again.”

“Our family never felt so welcome – like we belonged.” Benny White, Oak Park

We hope you and those you bring with you will feel the same way once you’ve dined with us. We’ll be doing everything in our power to make your meal and experience unforgettable. We know how important it is to you.

Isn’t It Nice to Think You Can Finally Make Everybody Happy?

So. Are you ready to make everybody happy?

… Are you ready to recommend shrimp kabobs so delectable your family will devour them right off the skewer?

… Ready to relax and enjoy the company of your friends and coworkers in an atmosphere as welcoming as a friendly Greek fishing village?

… Ready to impress those California clients with a wine list as good as any they’ll find in San Francisco?

Are you ready to finally be recognized as the hero?

Good. We’re glad we can help.

All you need to do is reserve your party’s table. Better do it now and not delay. We fill up fast. Call 555-1212 now to reserve your night of well-deserved recognition.

“Kalosorizo – Welcome, Welcome Home”

Alexios Patros
Owner and Manager, Patros Greek Taverna

P.S. Did I mention? Our desserts are a delight - from the exotic secret ingredients in our baked figs to our magical mousse. They’ll be the jewels in the crown on your night of victory. To help you celebrate, just tell us you saw this letter when you come in and dessert will be on us. That’s right - free dessert for the whole gang!

But hurry. This dessert offer is only good through the end of the month.