Vasili's Now Open In Downtown Naperville

NAPERVILLE, IL — Downtown Naperville has a new restaurant that offers health-conscious Mediterranean cuisine. Vasili's, which opened Jan. 1 at 135 Water St., is part of Francesca's Restaurant Group.

Vasili's is named for owner and Chef Scott Harris's father-in-law, Papou Vasili, which means Grandpa Bill in Greek. Chef and partner Jaysen Euler also married into a Greek family, so Vasili's brings beloved family recipes with a modern twist.

The restaurant's menu centers on hearth-fired cuisine that includes bone-in ribeye, lamb porterhouse and feta-brined chicken. Diners can also choose from a variety of cold eats, ranging from a traditional Greek village salad to mezze, which combines feta, kefalograviera cheese, grape leaves, pepperoncini, marinated olives, tzatziki sauce and pita bread.

Diners can pair their entrées with wines from an extensive list that features over 100 wines. Vasili's also offers a range of Greek-inspired craft cocktails, such as the Eleni, which blends Ketel One vodka, cucumber and mint, Fiorente, chamomile tea syrup and Dibon Brut Cava with lemon juice.

Vasili's features seating for 150 people in a dining area that centers around the open hearth fire. Decor includes a penny tile bar and a 20-foot light fixture that's shaped like a squid. An outdoor patio offers al fresco dining options in warmer weather.

Vasili's is open Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. for delivery or contact-free pickup.