Right in his own backyard – make that courtyard – Chicago restaurateur Louie Alexakis is getting ready to open his second restaurant in the city, the Avli River North, after the success last year of Avli Taverna in Lincoln Park and Avli Estiatorio in suburban Winnetka.

The new Avli is scheduled to open sometime in September with the same successful theme of going beyond the traditional Greek diner fare found in Greektown to add more modern and creative flavors from other tastes and make them Greek-style, said Eater Chicago.

While Avli Taverna is a neighborhood restaurant with a bar program, burgers, and gyros, Avli River North will be more formal, story said, serving some dishes available in Lincoln Park — such as saganaki with honey and figs and prawns wrapped in filo dough — but will also have some dishes including stuffed mini eggplants, tomato fritters, and Greek egg noodles with braised short ribs.

Avli River North will also have a bar focus, with a selection of Greek wines living on the wine list and acclaimed barman Peter Vestinos designing a cocktail list that includes twists on classics using Greek liquors.