Inside Athenian Room: Why Tina Fey's Favorite Chicago Spot Still Draws Massive Crowds
Lincoln Park has changed dramatically since the Sohos family first opened their doors. Antique shops, hardware stores, and modest row houses have given way to multimillion-dollar single-family homes and upscale tasting menus. Yet Athenian Room remains resolutely itself.
Its staying power stems from economic discipline and recipe fidelity. In an inflationary dining market where modest entrees across Chicago routinely push past the $35 threshold, Athenian Room keeps price points grounded. You can still order a feast capable of feeding two adults without straining your weekly budget.
The dining room features the same warm exposed brick, simple wooden booths, and nostalgic Mediterranean murals that welcomed theater hopefuls thirty years ago. By refusing to chase fleeting culinary trends or expand into a diluted multi-unit chain, the restaurant protects the exact atmosphere that charmed Tina Fey decades ago. It serves honest food quickly, consistently, and without ego.
