Irving Park's Mediterranean eats and beats

Katerina's evokes the quaintness and soul of a lost world. This is quite appropriate for the club/restaurant/bar, which showcases music and poetry from around the world, including its exotic and ancient places.

Just a hole-in-the-wall place near the Irving Park brown line stop, Katerina's is noticeable only by its classic neon blue bar sign hinting at the coziness just inside. Stepping through the door is where the magic begins: there are candlelit tables, old paintings on the walls and a simple, intimate stage in the corner. No matter where you sit, you'll be close enough to thoroughly enjoy the entertainment of the night.

Katerina's advertises its music entertainment as "the hippest jazz, funk, blues, boogie-woogie blues, R&B, classical and world music—from Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Greek, Flamenco and Japanese to all Gypsy Genres and then some!" 

This week's music menu consists of the jazzy Paul Marinaro Trio with Chicago legend Audrey Morris on Thursday, the lively Alfonso Ponticelli and his Gypsy-Jazz showcase on Friday (this happens once a month) and the sweet sounds of Petra Van Nuis and Andy Brown and the Latin jazz group Rio Bamba on Saturday.    

Although the live tunes are appeasing enough, Katerina's also boasts a mouthwatering Mediterranean-inspired menu. From a cheese and olive plate and meatballs (Katerina's family recipe) for appetizers to salads, burgers, oven roasted ambrosia and spanakópita for entrées to chocolate chip cheesecake and fresh pear-crusted cake drizzled with cinnamon for dessert, the food is also likely to keep you coming. Most appetizers and entrées run between $10 and $20, but a meal could easily be split. 

Although most of Katerina's patrons seem to know one another, they are welcoming to newcomers. You might even be greeted by Katerina herself! The friendliness and community in Katerina's is part of its charm.

As Katerina says, "Life is a dance; there is one symphony, and different ethnicities playing that symphony. This is what makes life interesting."

You must be 21 or older to enter Katerina's. There is a two-drink minimum (or you must order food off the menu), and there may be a cover charge (usually ranging from $5-12) depending on the entertainment of the night. Cover charge prices are available on katerinas.com. Katerina's is located at 1920 Irving Park Rd.