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On Yelp.com
02/22/2007
Thomas A.
I'm going all in for 5 stars on this GreekTown stand out. We eat in GreekTown a lot due to my extended family being Greek. The problem with many of the older restaurants is that they get complacent. Each family has its regular restaurant, and they always go there for family occasions regardless of whether or not the food is exceptional. This "loyalty" breeds complacency in the chefs and worse, occasional indifference by waitstaff. So I urge you, break away from the routine, and find Venus just around the corner, west of Halsted on Jackson.
There is no hint of complacency at Venus. After three visits, most recently tonight, it is clear that Venus is working hard to build its clientele and reputation. The food is excellent and the service is friendly and attentive.
Start your meal with the combo for a full selection of the spreads, all eaten with an endless supply of sesame bread. Skip the tourist show flaming cheese and go for the much better, creamy goat cheese version from Cyprus, Halloumi. For your entree, another much better than the others dish, choose the pastitsio. The afelia (pork) was flavorful with just the right amount of coriander. With all of the good stuff, from bread to start to the large portions, you will have to try hard to save room for dessert. But if you do, you will be rewarded with a big piece of flaky and scrumptious baklava.
Venus gets 5 stars for the food first, but also for the enthusiastic staff. Here's hoping that they get the attention they have earned.
10/17/2006
andrea w.
It's restaurants like this that makes me wish Yelp had ratings that went all the way up 10 stars. I tend to stick with Greek salad and entrees I know when dining out at Greek restaurants, but today I ate here with people who really know their Greek food. Wow- have I been missing out!
Venus doesn't look like anything special from outside the restaurant, but you'll find yourself in a very colorful atmosphere when you walk in. The bar was my favorite part of the entire restaurant (go figure) and it was made out of an actual ship!
They have a daily buffet, which they change up each day. We tried a few things from the buffet and ordered a few other recommendations from the menu. Not to be missed: Saganaki Halloumi (best cheese I've ever tasted- worth breaking the diet for!), philodough stuffed with cheese (can you tell I love cheese?), and Pastitsio Tsoukas (lasagna, but so much better!). Baklava is also a must for dessert...their baklava was especially good and tasted like it had apple in it. YUM!
Venus isn't in the most convenient location, but the good news is that they have complimentary valet parking. If you haven't tried Venus yet I highly suggest you do- it's worth the drive over there!
06/21/2006
ed j
"i live in greektown and ive been to all the greek restaurants..i say..im a credible source :P i think this is by far the BEST restaurant in greektown! i love lamb.i like it a lot. so when ppl serve me good lamb..mmmm....i love it! everybodys right..the lunch buffet is worth every penny even more! it has great lamb ofcourse...roasted chicken...and even fish...and salad..and even a dessert...and delicious potatoes......im definitely stopping by tomorrow. *drools*"
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06/06/2006
brennas s
"The Venus Cafe lunch buffet might be the best bargain in the city for lunch. At $9.95 you get unlimited trips to their wild selection of Cypriot appetizers and smaller entree portions. The lemon butter potatoes melt in your mouth. Spike your lunch with a caribbean sunset cocktail to make your afternoon more enjoyable.
The dinner menu serves you huge portions. I wish they'd trim the size of the portions and cut the price a little, but I'll settle for take home food if I leave any on the plate. The Mousakas Tsoukas and the Kleftiko are excellent dishes. The Mousakas Tsoukas is a sort of Cypriot lasagna. It comes in veg and carnivore. The Kleftiko is a lamb roast that is broasted inside tin foil for 30 minutes. The lamb rolls off the bone after they present the dish to you.
The staff is well educated on the menu. They're right there with your next drink or ready to take away an empty plate. Venus is my current Greektown favorite."
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