![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNv0pSexDQTvDEpT2XlqikjAL05GtmmzQQB8RgHSnD5_J27mwMXyYqO2maWRbv79IbL73FW2k1_GSZbN8I3AgCu4si9tIHwW_Ibu9qc6Gfs-xXZOTSzZzEO68K9lmQ1mKxMoZ6ci2t/s400/zboatbar.jpg)
On our first night in Chicago, my sister Marcia and I met with our friends Lauren, Jerry and Sophia at a Cypriot restaurant called
Venus, voted Chicago's best Mediterranean restaurant in 2007. The bar was previously a boat.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-gdHXam6xNvoT-j-VSj8jjmzDVvyXgj6rYAi7EG9za4CDQuKT_Ex4UEG41E3wMYp4XTa3f1qVL7lz1eYt0w8gRiihqIja1QQPfKHojOHt5_AoeOQV91dy_TadUJt4NGmsjRpYvPw/s400/zmeltycheese.jpg)
We started with
Saganaki Halloumi: baked Cypriot cheese.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfV3CcUyfKPziibMFDo_wSEwokZ7nCktTAmZijsfqMradqkprHjm99q51N35n6xeJcPdXQAeVE1rFbYsrvVlq4kvdBrsbxnpBM1QMRlQo-_aQyrWAckmlYTyG0_w7ElhJ2ni64pUgj/s400/zoctopussy.jpg)
We also had
Octapodi Sti Schara: Grilled octopus on a bed of red cabbage and balsamic vinegar.
Dakos Salad: A Cretan bread salad with large barley rusk topped with feta, tomatoes, onions, oregano, Greek olives and olive oil.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1Cz_0R-z4UmCCv2Ga9lZtC4XqB3u6cjk8NbmxEGRMtyhJS_NnKJHjXqJJc5qzbjXRaV6hiXu0jjlF3QX3FJLS7l_gQmax4zrDGq_K5QuRA9BbwzdNGpR6MQR4s332wMj1z97F_Zx/s400/zgreek+salad.jpg)
We also shared the
Horiatiki: the traditional Greek country salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, Greek olives and feta cheese.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Tv0UTVfFSyWsclrrS_7jXX2AFGcE7Qqj9O1ah61-XHaNcSBPGj9h49UQfDn9G6P3NGwAyx0k1tMrrPZCkWHELvTBjuMskWE1RpFSZPXhoI_oZHW2zQddqbMJBSR2-J86HSZLyI1x/s400/zfishy.jpg)
I'm not sure if this was swordfish or sea bass but it sure was delish. It was served with rice and sauteed spinach.
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When we ordered the lamb chops, our waiter really hammed it up...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7enOWMDz67LgVTIi9j11dKp6rO0gLkZ6ysaJ9iatOsqCjQlXNdFABlbbZrFNlwwVCpZcRMRg1ImqVlW6_sXyGC8Dumo3o6Cwc21LlD9tXPDqEKz0szgo2n-Ld757azRYV2nVQq1jX/s400/zwaiter1.jpg)
...or is it "lambed" it up?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcCMUZT7mjQA8-wytnMuiclwympLBfG1iN0fGx7x0XZh8TUbj2BU3zGoq6Dp9TdNfP5QbQIdemL9aktNSDgPh7xV_tg9oXAkpkySj5CusFMzkshZ9griRb2O9-u9U9Sae7SAN89Am/s400/zlambchops.jpg)
Okay, these were amazing...I'll post more of our food adventures tomorrow.