It was only supposed to be dinner with friends — not a night out to do a review. But when an experience is memorable, pleasing and fun, it is almost impossible for me to refrain from writing about it. Such was the case last night when Lauren and I headed to Chicago’s Greek Town with close friends Daniel and Jennifer Cabretta. (now there’s one for the books: four Italians heading out for Greek food!).
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The Train Ride From Geneva
The train ride from Geneva seemed short as the conversation — and it always does when we get together — flowed freely. Due to circumstances, we had arrived quite early and Pegasus was fairly empty. Not a problem as we simply took seats at the bar and ordered a beverage. From this point forward, the frivolity began in earnest and laughter didn’t stop until the train arrived back in Geneva almost eight hours later!
The most striking aspect of the restaurant was that everyone at Pegasus — from bartender to host to server — was dressed in a genuine smile that lasted the entire evening. It was a comfortable place to be and it felt good. When we were escorted to the table, we were almost immediately greeted by our waiter: a tall, slender Greek by the name of Theos (and pardon me if didn’t get the name exactly right). The accent was heavy, the personality warm and friendly and the level of professionalism obvious. I could tell that it was going to be a great evening.
Appetizer Choices
We started by sharing several appetizers. Firstly, one simply cannot go to a Greek restaurant without ordering Saganaki. The flash of flame, followed by a spirited OPAH! is something that, for some reason, I never tire of. This version of Saginaki was tart, salty and full of flavor. That was followed by a salad — Octapodaki Skaras: Tender Octopus on Charcoal with Olive Oil, Lemon and Oregano. It was another excellent choice — tender but solid flesh and plenty for the four of us to share. We also ordered Loukaneko: Greek Sausage, spiced and splashed with a hint of citrus. It was flamed as well, followed with another exuberant OPAH! We had not tried this particular appetizer before, but I believe we would all recommend it highly.
Authentic Entrees
We ordered our own entrée choice, all getting something different so that we could share. Jennifer ordered Arni Psito: Slices of prime roasted leg of lamb in natural au jus; served with potato riganatti and braised green beans. Lauren got Mousakas: Layered eggplant, zucchini with ground beef and lamb, seasoned with spices and grated cheese, topped with Béchamel sauce. Danny tried the Pastitsio: Baked macaroni mixed with ground beef and lamb, seasoned with spices and grated cheese, topped with Béchamel sauce. I decided on the Dolmades: Seasoned ground beef and lamb mixed with rice, wrapped in grape vine leaves, served with egg-lemon sauce.
Al four dishes we unimaginably good and, accompanied by a great bottle of Greek red wine, we couldn’t have asked for anything better. Or enjoyed it any more than we did. It was only appropriate that we finished the meal with a rich and nutty Baklavas: Layers of fillo dough with walnuts, cinnamon and honey; a Greek traditional favorite — and ours as well.
Truly an Asset
I was personally impressed by the server — not only for his tableside manner, but for his timing, too. This requires not only monitoring one’s tables closely, but also requires good rapport with the kitchen and the ability to anticipate diners’ needs and be timely about it all. As the dining room filled and Theos got more tables, there was no change in his ability to handle all those aspects in a smooth and unbothered fashion. He is truly an asset to Pegasus.
The food, too, gets high marks; it was well-plated, always (temperature) hot and spiced correctly. If you forced me to pick a favorite, I’d be hard-pressed to do it. The Loukaneko and Dolmades (especially with an excellent egg-lemon sauce) though, were certainly highlights of the evening.
It was definitely a very fun and enjoyable experience; I can recommend it easily and would return tomorrow. If you’re looking for some great food — great Greek food — than I suggest Pegasus. My only regret is that we were all too busy to even think about pictures… although I’m not sure they would have done justice to food or the evening. To Pegasus and Theos, a hearty σας ευχαριστώ (pronounced as best as I can print it: as-af-gat-is-tor)!! And Four zins for the evening!!
Your Table is Waiting
Ralph
Pegasus Taverna & Restaurant is located at 130 S. Halsted in Chicago’s Greektown. Greektown is walking distance from Chicago’s historic Union Station where Metra and Amtrak trains operate daily schedules.
Additional Resources, Links & Products
- Greektown Chicago It’s History – It’s Recipes by Alexa Ganakos
- Greek Seasoning Gift Set – Tastes of Greece – Artisanal Spice Blends Six Pack
- Cooking Greek: A Classic Greek Cookbook for the At-Home Chef by Pemi Kanavos
