A new Greek restaurant concept from chef Jimmy Bannos Jr. is coming to Niles soon.
It was recently reported by Chicago Sun-Times that the James Beard Award-winning chef will be opening his restaurant Kouklas Greek Eatery following him leaving Purple Pig in Streeterville. The new restaurant is set to be at 7620 N Milwaukee Avenue. At this new location, he will be focusing on Greek hospitality dishes.
Chicago Gourmet wrote that Bannos is a fourth-generation restaurateur who went to the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. He later worked at a Mia Francesca restaurant, learning Mediterranean cuisine firsthand. He is most known for opening Purple Pig at 444 N Michigan Avenue.
Bannos’ restaurant will incorporate ingredients like tomatoes and grapevine trimmings. He will serve chickens and lambs as main dishes. He gives much credit to his father, Jimmy Bannos Sr., who he worked with from a young age to perfect his culinary craft.
The location he is picking up for Kouklas is the former Amici Ristorante, a long-standing Italian restaurant in Niles. As of now there is no set opening date, but it is expected to open later this summer.
What Now Chicago has reached out to the owner, and this article may be updated.
