LTH North Lunch Group - Avli Estiatorio, THU 7/29, 12 noon

Hi all,

The July edition of the LTH North Lunch Group (is this a real group and are there really monthly editions? ) is going to take place at Avli Estiatorio in Winnetka on Thursday July 29 at noon. At this point, the exact plan is not determined. If we end up being a small group, we'll probably just order the entire lunch from the menu in real time. If the group grows a bit larger, we may pre-order (parts of the meal) or work with the restaurant to create a menu in advance. I'll update this thread on that element as it develops. I have spoken to the owner, Louie. He knows we're coming and he's looking forward to it. He's a big fan of LTHForum.

There's a comfortable outdoor patio at Avli, so if the weather is cooperative, we can lunch al fresco. If it's rainy or too hot, we can convene inside.

For more information about Avli, click here:

Avli Estiatorio in Winnetka (Greek)

I encourage everyone who's available to join us. Based on my several experiences at Avli, it should be a great meal. Based on my several experiences with the LTH North Lunch Group, it'll definitely be an enjoyable get-together.

=R=

Avli Estiatorio
566 Chestnut Street (in The Laundry Mall)
Winnetka, IL 60093-2228
(847) 446-9300

Hi,

Thanks for organizing. Please count Helen and I in.

Regards,

Wouldn't miss it! Thanks for setting this up Ronnie!

Ok, we're rolling . . .

Cathy2
Helen
boudreaulicious
stevez
Dave148
Jazzfood
Octarine
ronnie_suburban

So far, we're just ordering when we get there.

=R=

Count me in.

Me please.

In.

I'll be there.

I'm in, I've been wanting to try Avli Estiatorio, but it's a little north of my usual range.

mbh wrote:I'm in, I've been wanting to try Avli Estiatorio, but it's a little north of my usual range.

Ok, great!

New list:
Cathy2
Helen
boudreaulicious
stevez
Dave148
Jazzfood
Octarine
mbh
ronnie_suburban

Very steadily heading toward a pre-arranged lunch but we're not quite there yet.

=R=

Ronnie-

Sadly, I cant make it. Happily, I will be in NYC so I should be eating some decent food. See you next month.

Thanks, Will

Unfortunately, have to back out on this lunch as well--bummer!!

Good news and bad news:

Good news--my SO and son are proud district 2 little league champions!!!
Bad news--my SO and son and I will be heading to Ft. Wayne, IN for the state championships on Wed. night. which means I will miss our trip to Avli.
Good news--we're going to STATE!! Please send some good LTH karma our way!

Hope to see you all soon and enjoy the lunch!!

Jen

boudreaulicious wrote:Good news--we're going to STATE!! Please send some good LTH karma our way!

Maybe this will help.

stevez wrote:

boudreaulicious wrote:Good news--we're going to STATE!! Please send some good LTH karma our way!

Maybe this will help.

Thanks Steve--I was going to do some searching on here once I had a chance to get a few other details worked out. We'll be there for a long time (Wed. thru at least Sunday and as long as Tuesday if we go all the way!!). I think we've found a place with in room kitchens which should help considerably but a great hamburger joint will definitely come in handy with 12 eleven year olds and their siblings!!!

boudreaulicious wrote:

stevez wrote:

boudreaulicious wrote:Good news--we're going to STATE!! Please send some good LTH karma our way!

Maybe this will help.

Thanks Steve--I was going to do some searching on here once I had a chance to get a few other details worked out. We'll be there for a long time (Wed. thru at least Sunday and as long as Tuesday if we go all the way!!). I think we've found a place with in room kitchens which should help considerably but a great hamburger joint will definitely come in handy with 12 eleven year olds and their siblings!!!

Read a little further up in the thread and you'll see mention of a couple other places such a coney dog place and a little diner with forgettable food, but a cool old donut machine.

Anyone else?

Current list:
Cathy2
Helen
stevez
Dave148
Jazzfood
Octarine
mbh
ronnie_suburban

With only 8 in our group, I think we can just order for ourselves from the menu.

=R=

But what about 10? We will join you,
Robert and Catherine

chapulin wrote:But what about 10? We will join you,
Robert and Catherine

Wonderful!

Current list:
Cathy2
Helen
stevez
Dave148
Jazzfood
Octarine
mbh
Robert and Catherine
ronnie_suburban

I will ask Louie (the owner) for guidance on how to order.

=R=

Stuck on Kenned behind mulilti-car accident coming as quickly as I can.

Great food and company this afternoon. I even learned about the body temperature of poultry! Who knew LTH North could be so educational?

Wonderful lunch today. Fantastic company, great conversation and just about perfect weather for sitting on the massively umbrella'd patio. Food, I thought, was excellent across the board with highlights for me being the saganaki, taramosalata, melitzanosalata, grilled octopus, lentil salad, papoutsakia and whole-grilled Mediterranean sea bass. Flavors really pop at Avli and the freshness and quality of the ingredients truly shine through. It's so refreshing to eat these dishes, renditions of which can be pretty worn in this town. At Avli, they're familiar enough to scratch the itch yet so well done, that in many ways it feels like you're enjoying them for the first time. For example, the saganaki was textbook in flavor but it was a bit more pungent than other versions served around town and it was cooked expertly, so that it actually was runny when we cut into its light, exterior crust. Just perfect.

I did take a bunch of pictures but don't have time to post them now (but hope to later one). Still, almost everything we ate at our lunch today is already pictured in the main Avli thread, so for those who are interested, please click on the link I've provided here.

Thanks, everyone, for coming out. It was a real treat.

=R=

Hi,

I had long wanted to visit Avli, though I knew I needed a crowd. Today was the day and well worth the wait.

I took what left of the desserts. The ol'folks finished it off pronto. Thanks for allowing me to take it home.

Thanks Ron for arranging this!

Regards,

Let me chime in with a thank you to Ron who did a wonderful job ordering for a group of hungry LTHer's. One of the things I love about lunches like this is the ability to experience so much of the menu. Sitting out in the beautiful covered patio on a warm summer afternoon and enjoying good conversation rounded off the experience.

Highlights for me were the lentil salad with the wonderful taste of spearmint that built as you ate, the whole fish (I believe sea bass?) with olive oil and lemon, the grilled octopus, tender with a great smokey, charred flavor and the greens (Broccoli rabe?) that had the same great char taste complimented by just olive oil and lemon. I was less enamored with the spinach & rice which was overcooked for my taste, but I think that's a common problem in Greek restaurants. How come the French & Italians figured out how to cook vegetables while the in rest of Europe five to six hours was the ideal? And yes, I have many family members who need to answer for this.

Despite my late arrival a wonderful afternoon, Avli is a high step above other Greek restaurants, I'll definitely be back.

mbh wrote:. . . and the greens (Broccoli rabe?) that had the same great char taste complimented by just olive oil and lemon.

Yeah, I forgot about the rapini because we had it so late in the meal but it was great . . .


Sauteed Rapini
Garlicky, rich and full of flavor with a subtle, satisfyingly bitter finish.

A few more pics from yesterday's lunch . . .


Papoutsakia
Eggplant stuffed with onions and tomatoes and topped with cheese.



Saganaki
Just about the best rendition I can remember having.



Tableside fish preparation
2 servers prep our sea basses simultaneously.



Greek Cheesecake
Manouri cheese, fig and preserved orange. In the background are a chocolate baklava (aka Choclava) and some delectably moist bread pudding.



That's all folks

=R=

We lost both games and are officially eliminated from contention. And then I saw these posts and pics and knew what it meant to be depressed

Glad you all enjoyed.

I don't like the way that fish is sneering at me. Show some respect. I already ate you.