Parthenon Restaurant closed for failing health inspections

The Parthenon Restaurant in Greektown has been temporarily closed by the city after failing two health inspections last month for violations that include live roaches in the kitchen and rodent droppings in the basement.

The restaurant, located at 314 S. Halsted St., failed an inspection on March 22 and, although some violations had been corrected, the restaurant failed a re-inspection on March 29, according to Chicago Department of Public Health.

On its website, the 48-year-old restaurant bills itself as “the city’s oldest full-service, classic Greek restaurant.”

During the March 29 inspection, the health department cited the restaurant for “12 rodent droppings in the basement storage area,” and “approx. 30 live roaches in the kitchen, dishwashing area and in the employee restroom.” The company was instructed to “eliminate all roach activity and clean and sanitize all affected areas,” as well as “obtain the services of a licensed pest control company.”

On March 22, inspectors “observed no hot water in the rear women’s restroom” and, among other things, “food debris and garbage under the front gyro prep area.”

The restaurant has been closed for “a couple of weeks” while they’ve been remodeling the kitchen, according to co-owner Joanna Liakouras.

“As soon as we pass re-inspection, we’re opening up our doors,” Liakouras said, adding that she expects the health department to come out again either Thursday afternoon or Friday morning.

The Parthenon also failed inspection on Aug. 4, 2015, but passed re-inspection 10 days later.