Chicago’s Elliniko Boîte

Just 15 minutes north of Downtown Chicago, there is a cozy little club that offers a veritable pikilia of entertainment.

In 1999, proprietor Katerina Carson opened “Katerina’s Odos Oneiron” – like her favorite Manolis Hatzidakis song. She modeled her club after boîtes she’d experienced in Greece and in other parts of the world, and designed it as a unique, intimate place to showcase the arts. The club features a wide range of entertainment, including movies, live music and more.

Club goers visit not just for great music, but also a full menu of Southern European specialties – predominantly Greek, Italian and French.

Many area Greeks know Katerina’s for Rembetika; the first Friday of every month features live Rembetika music. Other Greek entertainment and special events are presented throughout the year, such as the Proto Maia celebration and the Dionysian Wine Fest, as well as Greek movie nights. Also, on the last Saturday of every month, she features Chicago’s Greek Troubador, Vasilios Gaitanos – best known for his years performing at Chicago’s now-defunct Deni’s Deni – performing  selections from “The Classic Elliniko Songbook.” 

Katerina’s quaint and intimate room is the perfect spot to enjoy music or other performance art. There’s an ambience there that’s not matched in all of Chicago. Billed as an “eclectic club with its soul in the arts,” that’s precisely what you’ll find. In addition to Greek music, including rembetika, entexna (Greek rock) and more, Latin, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Japanese Miyo and Flamenco, jazz, funk, blues and soul music, there’s something here for everyone. The club presents eight live shows a week.

Tonight, Katerina’s presents a very special Elliniko Kalokairino Boîte, featuring Georgeos Ginis on guitar and vocals, Katerina on vocals and Andreas Georgas on piano. She’ll be serving special Kalokairina Orektika. Check out the Ionian Dream, Ouzo Rocks, and of course, her signature Visinada Martini. Do not miss the scrumptious tiropita that’s not of the everyday variety – it has hints of orange and cinnamon, and is drizzled with amaretto.

Katerina summed it up. “The patrons are not only Greeks, even on Greek music nights. This fusion of diverse music draws diverse crowds, who don’t necessarily know the language, but simply come to enjoy the music. The Greeks from Greece always comment, that this reminds them of those rare, but very special and often tucked away, small clubs you find in Greece.”