I don't come here often, but when I do with a small group of friends and/or family it's a great experience! This place is Byob, so we typically bring a bottle of wine with company. The appetizers are delicious and pretty large (without jeoparding quality). My favorite are the horiatiki salad (a refreshing salad with feta) and the midia axnista (steamed mussels with broth). If you're a pita bread kinda person, you can't go wrong with their pita and dips! For entrees, you cant go wrong with their grilled fishes (I liked the lavraki branzino the most). Their hirini brizola (grilled pork chop) was delicious too! The service is good here and the wait staff is friendly. One time, we were running late for our reservation, but the staff was very accommodating and still sat us down. read more

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Wonderful meal here. Did the Horiatiki salad added gyro. A delish dish!! Complimentary pita and hummus were served when we sat down. And the owner was outside sitting with a few people he knew, just a good sign when the owner is present at their own restaurant!! The staff was sweet and tentative and I overall really enjoyed the meal. read more

Ambeli Greek Taverna - Spanakopitakia Horiatiki Salata Marouli Salata - Greek Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

What a lovely experience dining at Ambeli last night! Our waiter was so lovely and patient, as we'd never been before and wanted some help ordering. The restaurant was warm and inviting and we enjoyed sitting and waiting for our food. We received pita and hummus while we waited, which was delicious! For appetizers, we ordered the skordalia, which was a wonderful potato and garlic spread, and the keftedakia meatballs. We shared the chicken souvlaki platter for dinner and were completely stuffed by the end! I regret not having room for the dessert, so next time I'll make sure to save some. read more

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This place truly knocks it out of the park for me. The most authentic Greek food you can find outside of Greece. Got the same meal as last time, the Octapodi which was incredible. We also got the grilled calamari as an appetizer and that did not disappoint either. Service was great. Can't wait to come back read more

Ambeli Greek Taverna - Greek Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

upon arriving, you get bread with hummus that needed a little bit more garlic. The salad was very delicious and the moussaka.(they do have a vegetarian option, but that's not the one I got.) my girlfriend, and I both got the moussaka. it was very good. It had melted béchamel on top. Mine was very good. My girlfriends was very good as well, but cold in the middle. The owner welcomes us and also thanked us for coming in. The service was very good. Although when we asked for more water, he took our glasses with him instead of bringing a picture of water no big deal. Cute little place very easy to find on the main street but parking is a whole different ball game it's paid parking and a lot of of the parking is taken. read more

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While the food was very good. I was very disappointed with the size of the soup, see picture. They gave me about 4oz of soup for $9. I would have never ordered it for that price. Really felt I got cheated on that. read more

Ambeli Greek Taverna - Size of the soup for $9 very expensive - Greek Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

Loved it here! The owner was great! He greated us when we got there and checked on us all night. He even brought over people he knew and introduced us because we are from the same country. He seemed like a great guy who enjoys people and happy that you are trying his place. The food was great. We shared the Souvlakia chicken platter and the gyro platter. They were so good! Good portion of food- you won't leave hungry. The chicken was perfect, moist. The gyro meat was so good. We took a baklava dessert to go but it didn't taste good. Probably wasn't fresh. I wish we had eaten it there. I'm sure they would've fixed it and given us something else. It happens. So I recommend eating it there. But I would try the dessert again. I'm sure it's great when it's fresh. I will definitely be back. Loved eating outdoors. It was a nice night. It was busy but we were seated right away. Great location and nice area. Surrounded by other great restaurants. Can't wait to come back. read more

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The Greek food here was absolutely delicious and authentic. Very flavorful and large portion sizes. From the moment you enter into the restaurant you greeted by the owner and his hospitality is amazing. You feel like you're arriving in his home dining room. Every bite was delicious and the presentation was beautiful. We enjoyed the dining experience as well as the meal. read more

I tried out this place and it was a pleasure for the senses. Tasteful food , good service and nice atmosphere. Highly recommended read more

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Delicious authentic Greek food in a casual eatery in busy downtown Cranford. It's worth the detour even if this isn't right in your backyard. Great service and attentive owner. The moussaka was clearly homemade and fresh and cooked in an individual crock, not sliced from a premade square pan. There's a liquor store a few steps away so you can BYO. I'd like to go back and try some other authentic Greek food like the pastitsio and branzino. read more

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I'm writing this as I'm sitting in the car having just left Ambeli. If I could give a 6th star, I would-- this restaurant deserves it. If you have read a single review, you know Chris goes above and beyond (though he will argue it should be the standard) to make every guest's experience the best it can be. This was our first time dining in and yet, upon leaving, I feel like I've been a regular for years. The food is traditional Greek, recipes sourced directly from Chris's mother. His standards for quality, for ensuring every ingredient is of the highest standard, are evident in every dish. From the spanakopita to the souvlaki to the lemon butter potatoes, everything shines on its own. I cannot wait to come back and bring some friends to share in this community we found! read more

Ambeli Greek Taverna - Greek Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

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I have nothing negative to say about this restaurant. Great dining room. The manager broke my balls over the Rangers hoodie I was wearing. We got a three dips and pita and a combo souvlaki platter. They gave us extra pita at no charge. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. It's so close to us so we will definitely be back! 5.0 / 5.0 read more

Ambeli Greek Taverna - Three Dips - Greek Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

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Great restaurant been several times . It's my go to Greek restaurant. Starting with the owner a class act and treats everyone like family . Food is always go and so is the service . My go to dish is the Chicken dish in this picture . The spenakopa is outstanding . Can't wait to go back . read more

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One of the most personable greetings I've had entering a restaurant in a long time - the gentleman at the door (likely the owner?) immediately made us feel welcome with a warm handshake, eye contact, and a smile and sat us for an early dinner. Many of the customers showing up to dine in or take out were clearly regulars and shook hands or exchanged hugs with this man. He genuinely seems happy to greet you and checked in on us throughout the meal. I put this in the review first because it was memorable and made a strong first impression for quality customer service. All the other staff were also friendly and attentive as well. After being seated they dropped a basket of good olive bread with delicious hummus. All the food was fresh and flavorful. I loved their version of avgolemono soup - so simple, comforting and lemony. The salad and gyro platter were tasty with very generous portions, tzatsiki was *so good*. I wish I had ventured into more of the apps and dips, but we were traveling and wanted to be quick so we played it safe. The space itself is welcoming with a nice traditional Greek ambiance that feels cozy, clean, and unpretentious. Acoustically it was very easy to have a conversation even when the room was full. If I lived closer I would make this place part of my regular restaurant rotation! read more

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Sadly our local go to Greek restaurant let us down on a recent visit and we had been craving Greek food. On a random visit to Cranford, we stopped into Ambeli for lunch. Man, I wish this place was closer to us because it may have taken the reigns as my favorite Greek restaurant. The restaurant is small and simple. The serve is attentive. The food is fresh and you get plenty of it. That's all I need and they deliver on all fronts. Looking forward to paying them a future visit. read more

Ambeli Greek Taverna - Chicken Souvlaki Platter - Greek Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

Loved Ambeliii!!! Traditional Greek food and was very impressed with how well it was made and served! Staff go beyond to make sure customers are satisfied and pleased!! Sitting outside on weather allowing days are extra special and so happy they had that option! Reminded me of our Motherland, Greece! Nice location and easy parking to find. Definitely recommend and a must try!! read more

Not sure what took me so long to come here after hearing only great things for so long. From the minute you walk in, you're made to feel like family. Authentic Greek food with so many options to choose from. Some highlights were the dip trio, ambeli chips, souvlaki platter and desserts. A great spot for dinner with family, friends or date night! read more

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This is my second trip to Ambeli. It's so good. Shoutout to my friend Wil for the recommendation. It's BYOB, which is nice. The food, service, and atmosphere are top-notch. The attention to detail is noticeable. I would highly recommend it. read more

Ambeli Greek Taverna - Hirini Brizola - Greek Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

Just came from dinner on a Saturday. When we arrived at ~5pm it was moderately busy and by the time we left at 7:15pm almost all tables were occupied. Service: excellent. courteous, kind and timely. It was nice to see the owner/manager come out to greet the patrons. Food: -complementary olive bread: delicious, and this from someone who is okay with but doesn't love olives. -tsaziki: tasty. thick and rich. recommend. -keftedakia: delicious, less oily than other greek restaurants and well flavored. -kreato-pikilia: grilled mixed meat appetizer platter. we ordered it as our main. good portion, well seasoned, everything was good - thalasso-pikilia: grilled octopus, calamari and shrimp appetizer platter. we also ordered this as a main. again good portion and good flavors. Of note, they are BYOB and there is a liquor store a couple doors down. We did not have a single complaint about this restaurant. We very much look forward to returning. Highly recommend. read more

Ambeli Greek Taverna - Kreato-Pikilia: delicious - Greek Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

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Very good Greek food in a small charming restaurant. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The food is very good. I had the olive appetizer and a skewer of chicken. The appetizers are very large, definitely meant for sharing and not individual. The olive mix was a little salty for me (more salty than olives normally are), but the chicken was good quality and cooked well. I would like to go back and try more dishes here. read more

Girl's Night Out! I absolutely enjoyed every bite. Chris the owner is very welcoming and friendly. It's BYOB which is always a plus. The first thing that was brought out was olive bread and hummus. We ordered the grilled octopus and grilled vegetables with a side of Tzaziki as appetizers. The octopus was fresh and delicious. The grilled vegetables: zucchini, eggplant, onion, and carrots were grilled perfectly. For dinner I ordered the branzino with a side of Greek fries. The fish was flaky, seasoned well and a good size. We shared baklava for dessert. My friend ordered the chicken kabob platter. It came with fries, pita bread, lettuce and tomatoes. Will definitely come back. The restaurant is not too far from a lot. Street parking is also available. read more

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Ambeli provides traditional Greek cuisine - it's the best in the area - service is very good - Chris has a great team with Ambeli. I often do takeout and it's always great as well. You will definitely enjoy your meal! read more

Amazing food, service and atmosphere! We get the octopus salad every time and always enjoy it. The manager is always so grateful and welcoming as well. 5 stars! read more

Ambeli Greek Taverna - Octopadi - Greek Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

I've been back several times since my original review and until now did not realize that I should update it. It is definitely a five star experience all around. The food is extremely tasty, the portions are very large, the staff is terrific, and Christos is probably the friendliest and hardest working owner of a restaurant that I have experienced. He greets everyone like they are lifelong friends. That is an amazing touch. read more

Love this place My favorite Greek restaurant Owner is so friendly and welcoming I can say the bronzini is the best one that I have had here Definitely recommend read more

Ambeli Greek Taverna - Greek Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

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Met friends here on a Monday night and was happy to see the restaurant was busy on what is considered an off night for restaurants. The staff and owner were very welcoming and friendly. Bread on the table was served with hummus in what I originally thought was a butter cup. The salads are plentiful, delicious and easily shared. The dorado was perfectly cooked, they offered to debone but I enjoy eating from the whole fish, our friend had hers deboned. The fish normally comes Greek lemon potatoes but we offered choices, spinach, or rice with spinach. While finishing our dessert we were joined by the owner for some pleasant conversation read more

We have eaten or taken out food from this place several times since it is in my daughter's neighborhood. Always fresh ingredients, this has become one of the two take out places that we order from when we are over my daughter's house. Can't wait for the next time. read more

Ambiance and energy very good but service strained our experience. Constantly flagging down anyone for water. Tzatziki spilled on the table during appetizers. I asked the waitress if she could wipe it up: "No, I can't ". My friend made a surprised sound. Waitress added "I can bring you napkins." Kind of affects your feeling of hospitality. read more

I've been going to Ambelis since they've opened and they truly never disappoint. The food and music take you straight to Greece although you're in the heart of cranford. We recently went on a Saturday around 7:00 and were seated outdoors quickly. It's BYOB and there's a liquor store close by. The food came quickly when ordered, and all was hot and delicious. The spanakopita were my favorite and the filling was perfectly seasoned. I had my staple - the gyro platter- which always gives me enough food for a few meals. For the app and two gyro platters, the bill came to a little over $50 so reasonably priced! read more

Ambeli Greek Taverna - Gyro Platter - Greek Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

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Get this food. All is delicious. Only ordered in. This is high end stuff. We have ordered many times.

Ambeli is a wonderful Greek restaurant serving some incredible eats. Haven't tried everything yet but the souvlaki and gyro were delicious. Plentiful, reasonably priced. read more

Super nice BYOB place with amazingly friendly service. The Feta Saganaki - Batter coated feta pan seared in olive oil, drizzled with honey was great. The Spanakopita - A mouthwatering layered pastry of fresh spinach & feta cheese filling was a little different than I would normally expect, but it was actually one of the better renditions as it was surprisingly light and had a great taste to it. The Marouli Salata - Romaine lettuce, dill, scallions, feta cheese, olive oil, and lemon wasn't my favorite, but that was probably because of the dill. For my main course, the Paidakia - Charcoal-grilled baby loin lamb chops, served with hand-cut fried potatoes and spinach was amazing. The chops were cooked to perfection and having it over fries was unusual, but the hand cut fries were great! Other people at the table had the Hirini Brizola - Charcoal-grilled tender pork loin chop, served with roasted lemon potatoes and the Moussaka - Layers of eggplant, potatoes, & seasoned ground beef, topped with bechamel, oven baked to order. All of which they were happy with. For dessert, which I do not normally have, the Baklava (my weakness) - Layers of rich sweet phyllo pastry filled with chopped walnuts and honey was wonderful. Yeah, it says it on the menu (the online one anyway) but it's true--it is the perfect ending to your Greek dinner! read more

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Always terrific food, terrific waitstaff, terrific ambiance- fun, friendly, relaxed but elite! The owner is simply the best! read more

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Really great food. Server was very attentive and kind. We ordered a lot of stuff. The ambiance feels like a family style place. Highly recommend. read more

Ambeli Greek Taverna - Fried Feta, Fried Calamari, Jumbo Shrimp Pasta - Greek Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

I have eaten at a lot of Greek restaurants in my life, but this place definitely takes the cake! They give you fresh olive bread straight from the bakery in town is so soft and amazing in pairs so well with the hummus. We ordered a few appetizers to split and honestly it tasted just like food from Greece. We had grape leaves, fried feta drizzled with honey and sesame seeds, Yum the combination of salty and sweet was incredible. We also had the ambeli salad which was simple but yet packed with flavor. For my entrée I had a sizzling platter of shrimp melted with Greek cheeses, if you are in the Cranford area definitely stop by! read more

Ambeli Greek Taverna - Bread - Greek Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

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The week prior, we tried to get reservations and all booked. Made a reservation for 3 in advance! Our first visit and we were seated by the front door. It would get chilly when the door open! Friendly staff! Food was yummy! It's BYOB! Our wine was served and chilled! Served the salad with entree- I prefer to enjoy my salad before entree. Lots and lots of take out orders being picked up! And every table was filled with guests! Looking forward to the next visit! read more

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Well this easily the best Greek spot I've been too not that I've been to dozens but the pull I went with (girlfriend and brother both agree. My first time I got the dorado fish which I liked but girlfriend loved and I was more intrigued by her dish the Pastitsio. My brother had the the chicken breast lemonati which was also really good. The owner came down from his office personally to introduce himself and even sat down with use towards the end of the evening as it was whinning down. He makes you feel at home very rare and the portions are generous next time my girl and me came we embraced as if we known each other for years. Ps The baklava Greek yogurt are the best any of us have ever had can have both daily if possible. Just writing about them makes me want to check them out today can't stress the hospitality and service the restaurant brings as a collective with Chris at the helm ambiance read more

Great food, especially the octopus and the gyro platter. Simple, yet warm atmosphere. Great outdoor seating in good weather. Very good, quick and friendly staff. read more

This places makes me feel like I'm in Greece. The staff and owner Are awesome. It's byob so that's a place and everything

Amazing food and exceptional service. Greeted by owner who was very warm and friendly