This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Lost Oak Lawn: 'Go See the Little Greek Man for Some Beautiful Food'

Lost Oak Lawn pays a visit to Petey's Bungalow Lounge.

Although he may be small in stature, Petey Kattos, the Greek-born owner and head chef of Petey’s Bungalow Lounge, is big on personality. Between welcoming customers and chatting with his wife, Maria, the savvy restaurateur can always be seen toiling away in the kitchen.

Nestled across the street from Advocate Christ Medical Center, At the time, the unassuming brick bungalow blended in with the surrounding single-story homes. As Christ Community Hospital accepted its first patients, an energetic 25 year-old Kattos purchased the classic 1920s bungalow home that had recently been converted into a lounge.

After spending several years working at a popular Chicago eatery on Western Avenue, Kattos decided to put his cooking skills to the test with his own venture.

Find out what's happening in Oak Lawnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I originally started cooking Italian food, even though I knew nothing about it. But I just followed everyone else’s lead and I caught on quickly,” Kattos remarked.

Moving into the second floor of the restaurant, Kattos set to making Petey’s an Oak Lawn destination for good food and good company.  While business was slow at first, Kattos’s reputation for hard work spread through the community. 

Find out what's happening in Oak Lawnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When the small confines of the historic home became too constrictive, Kattos embarked on an ambitious expansion plan, constructing a new kitchen and dining room to accommodate more customers. And while Petey’s was growing in popularity, the now husband-and-wife team made sure to maintain their reputation for excellent customer service.

“One day after we had opened, I saw a returning customer pull up near the restaurant. I raced from the kitchen and greeted him by name as he left his car. He was flattered that I had not only remembered his name, but also how he liked his steak cooked,” Kattos reminisced.

Although much has changed in Oak Lawn since Kattos settled here back in the early 1960s, Petey and Maria are still committed to providing their patrons with a hearty and traditional dining experience.  Restaurants like Petey’s are a dying breed in today’s world, when customers would trade quality for convenience. Oak Lawn is lucky to have such a cherished piece of the past still in operation.

When asked what keeps him coming back into the kitchen every day, even after 50 years in the business, Kattos was ready with one of his trademark anecdotes.

“I used to have a customer that told all of his friends to 'go see the little Greek man for some beautiful food. He will treat you right.'”

After thinking for a moment, Kattos finished his thought.  “I’d like to think that what he said still rings true today”.

Petey’s Bungalow Lounge is located at 4401 West 95th Street, directly across from Advocate Christ Medical Center. Business hours are Tues-Sat, 4 to 10 p.m.  There is also a second location at 159th and La Grange Road in Orland Park, open Sun-Sat, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?