We met a friend I worked with in the Silicon Valley from 2015 but now lives in Jacksonville and he suggested Athena Restaurant, which is his go-to Greek place. The downtown was packed(!!) due to the Xmas "Nights of Lights" but we were fortunate enough to get a good table all the way in the back, very spacious yet cozy. Our server was such a sweet heart! She was checking up on us until our friend showed up to join us. We ordered the fried calamari and saganaki as a starter. Both were good and came out hot and enough portion for four. For our main dishes we ordered the Mousaka plate which came with salad, the Greek combo which included a medium size piece of Pastichio, Mousaka and Spanakopita w/salad, the Lamb Combo and the Roasted Lamb and a side of fries. I'm not going to go through everything one by one but this place is very good!! Flavorful, fresh, cooked perfectly and exactly how Greek food should be, enjoyed with friends!! Well done Athena Restaurant!! read more

The staff is very friendly. We started by ordering their Fried Cheese Sticks (7pc), it was served nice and crispy. Our food was served extremely fast!!! My burger was perfectly cooked to medium well and the onion rings were also crispy. Our server Maddy brought us extra onion rings because she thought we didn't have enough, awesomeee!!! However, the onion ring portion that you can add to your burger meal is very very good, I never got to finish all of them, there was no way. The Lamb Souvlaki was probably our favorite. The flavor was 10/10, the lamb was a bit to peppery for my taste. Now, the BAKLAVA CHEESCAKE is AMAZING!!!! You cannot leave without trying it!! It is also a very good potion, two can eat easily!! Our server Maddy was superb!!! Very attentive and ready to assist and/or make suggestions from the menu. Thank you Maddy for your outstanding service!! read more

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Service was really good and professional, however, the food was very bland. The Greek potatoes tasted more like boiled potatoes and chicken was likewise bland. I had the quail and it was tasty but not enough to make the meal great. We are very fond of Greek food but this was disappointing. The ambiance is nice. read more

Foodie Tour guide brought us here as one of our stops. The establishment is casual, the walls adorned with interesting murals, and despite being small they were able to accommodate our table of 12. They must've been short staffed bc I heard them turn another party away bc they said they were too busy. The staff was nice though. We didn't have full meals since we were just there for a tasting tour. We had the Saganaki (flaming cheese), a sampling of lamb gyro, and Agiorgitiki Wine. The flaming cheese was an exciting presentation. I recommend it, it's fun and hello! Cheese! I couldn't tell you if everything is authentic, but from my perspective the food was good. It was great experience. read more

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The server and the chef are very responsive to dietary restrictions. She server asked the chef about the ingredients and made recommendations based on a gluten sensitivity and a yeast allergy. Very knowledgeable and helpful. The chef even used fresh herbs from his garden "out back" to create a lucious salad dressing. Love this place! read more

Down one of the main streets tucked away is this restaurant. From the outside you may not even notice it there, but you should be on the look out for it because this place is fantastic. The inside isn't very big but the murals on the wall help transport you out of the busy life of Florida. Obviously when trying Mediterranean/Greek food you have to try the Gyro because that's my go to. The pita was fantastic, super fresh, light weight and filling at the same time. The lamb gyro was great as well, well cooked, great flavor and super tender, one my favorite I've had so far. The best part was the tzatziki sauce, may be one my favorite I've had. Super creamy and had this wonderful burst of garlic that gave it a slightly spicy taste to it. Overall, if you are in the area and you have time, make sure you stop in and give it a try! read more

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Let me be your gyro ... delicious...you can thank me later. Come to Athena's and you will not be disappointed. read more

Athena Restaurant - This cheese was on fiiiiire... - Greek Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

I am in love with Greek food and all I can say is wow this place just wow they have so many different options with the food. But like had to get the lamb gyro. And it was the most amazing gyro I have ever had. The meat perfection. The toppings just as amazing and the sauce was so strong yet so good. It didn't come with anything else but you honestly don't need any sides I heard the bread it comes in gets imported from Greece and now I want more. I also got the Calimari and the flavor was so good and salty but so perfect I can't wait to come back here again once I visit. But I won't turn back now. I'm sure everything thing on the menu is amazing . The staff was funny and so nice as well read more

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Having visited Greece for many years and my love for Greek food, I'm always thrilled if a local Greek restaurant serves authentic Greek dishes. I had chicken lemon soup and moussaka dish last night and it was wonderful. However, my friend's lamb chops were rather disappointing. The lamb meat itself was thin. It should be thicker. Asked for med rare and got well done instead. The waiter was kind to take it back to the kitchen and brought out new ones. But three of the lamb chops out of 5 were well done. We went ahead and ate it. It was still delicious. I took home their Greek custard and it was disappointing. It had too much cinnamon on it and was rather a bit hard. I will try their baklava next time I'm there. The restaurant is located in St. Augustine downtown. Taking a stroll around the shops after dinner was just a perfect way to end the night. I plan to pay another visit there. If the other dishes aren't up to par, there's always moussaka which is very delicious. I would come back just for that alone. read more

Visiting St Augustine so decided to stop for a late breakfast. Waitress: super friendly and made an effort to learn our names so that she could address us by name. Ambience: lots of murals of local historical scenes plus the de rigueur painting of the Acropolis while 40's music plays in the background. Food: that's where it's just ok. Chicken fried steak was alright, seemed prefab and not fresh. Grits had no flavor so tried to add gravy which unfortunately was also pretty bland. The eggs I ordered scrambled with cheese were fluffy but almost like they were overcooked..? Anyway, hubby thought his omelette was ok. Same complaint about grits. Friend had baklava which he states had a good flavor but seemed stale and was hard to cut even with a knife. Ok for breakfast.... some of the other Greek menu looks promising so may be back to try lunch... read more

Athena Restaurant - Bacon omelette with grits - Greek Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

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Came here for a late lunch. We enjoyed our meal. Started with the hummus platter and fried calamari. Not enough vegetables; just a few cucumbers and a full tomato. I tried a pepper but was not a fan, and no to the olives. I don't know if the hummus was homemade but it did taste fine. The calamari was lightly breaded with some very tasty marinara. These went quickly. Staff was nice enough to check and agree to substitute a Greek salad for a Caesar with our Gyros. The salads were a decent salad plate size and the dressing was not overdone. Our Gyros has plenty of lamb and then had the tomato, onion, lettuce, and tzatkizi sauce. What was too big was the almost too fluffy pita bread. A good amount of the bread was left uneaten. I ended up cutting mine on the plate; I couldn't make it to pick it up like a sandwich. Still, we liked our meals. This lunch was a bit expensive because we got the two appetizers and one soda. It was $72 without tip. Overall, this was a nice Greek restaurant worth a return trip. Staff was friendly and attentive. read more

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Stopped here for lunch with my husband on a Saturday. The food was delicious, portions were generous and Tania, our server, was great! She asked our names and even told us what their meaning was! They also own Geogie's diner - another great place. This was real Greek food! Stop by and support local businesses like this and you will not regret. read more

Athena Restaurant - Classic Greek combo: spinach pie, moussaka and pastitsio - Greek Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

Had lunch here on a Sunday while walking around a hot St Augustine. Thankfully their AC worked great. The restaurant is on the small side and decorated as if you're in beautiful Greece. 2 of our party of four are Greek descendants and they come from Chicago, as you can imagine they're particular of the their Greek food and they as well as the other 2 of us really enjoyed our lunches. I had the chicken slouvaki which was really good, even came with a dolmade which is my favorite Greek food. We also had the stuffed Chicken which he said was very good also. We also had the baked chicken which was tasty as well. Overall everyone was pleasantly surprised with the taste and quality of the food. The portions are also pretty generous. They have a few non Greek items, ie. hamburgers etc for those of you that don't care for Greek food. The service was really good, the young lady was fairly new but tried very hard to please and did a nice job at it. This is a nice Greek gem right in the middle of St. Augustine. Give them a try! read more

Loved the intimate close vibe inside of the restaurant. Had great service and the food was delicious. Didn't have to wait!

We accidentally came in last minute, but the staff was super nice and told us not to rush or anything! My boyfriend and I both got the gyros with Mythos beer - the gyros were DELICIOUS! The bread was just right, the meat was crispy on outside, soft and tender inside, and the tzatziki sauce was extremely tasty. Worth trying out! Super delicious and filling! read more

Athena Restaurant - Mythos beer - Greek Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

Good food good prices had the Greek salad with chicken it was amazing my wife had the Greek chicken BLT with fries and really enjoyed it great experience we always try and come here when ever we are in town read more

Came here last Friday with my daughter and had a blast!!! Food and service were AMAZING!!! Ashley and Chloe were AWESOME!!! Lemon chicken soup was better than my mom makes! Gyros were the best I ever had. Then we topped it off with with baklava cheesecake... OMG! I wish I could give it more than 5 stars! read more

I used to really like this place when I visit St Augustine. Went there last night and the prices have skyrocketed at the same time as the quality has tanked. I can't believe that they are so arrogant that they think they can charge Disney prices and deliver such poor quality food. Maybe they figure tourists are stupid and they can get away with it. read more

Service was very friendly and food was gas. Served us a Pepsi refill in a really cool blue pint/jug. Chiller vibes

Let me be clear, we came here on the night of the annual Christmas Boat Parade at 6pm. We only had to wait three minutes before being seated in a packed to the brim dining hall. We had drink orders and beverages within ten minutes, our food orders were out in twenty-five. This place is tight just as all eateries in the area but man are their staff efficient. The the food is incredible. Great taste, quality, and portion for the price. I would definitely eat here a million times over. I recommend this location to anyone who has a hankering for great quality Greek food in a sit down venue! read more

Just had lunch there yesterday. My gyro was okay. My wife's platter was swimming in oil and food was not appetizing. Service was very poor. We were clearly displeased, and the waiter was gruff and did not care. Another restaurant that does not have to try that hard because main clientele is tourists. read more

THE TIP IS INCLUDED IN THE BILL! I'm a retired year-round resident of St. Augustine and eat out often in old town. I've dined at Athena a few times previously and thought that the food as well as the experience was authentic Greek. Unfortunately, my visit on 6/07/24 did not go as well. At first, I felt that my party was received with a rather ingenuine greeting by our server (Ashley). This is someone subjective on my part and therefore, might not be a consideration for this review. The food, as expected, was very good. The main reason for my negative review is that this restaurant now charges a 20% service charge (tip) included into the bill with no notice given to the patron unless the bill is reviewed well by the patron. If you aren't aware of this, it will likely cost you an additional tip on the inflated bill. I won't be dining here again. BEWARE!! read more

What a wonderful spot to have found for dinner while in St. Augustine. Our food arrived quickly and was all hot and fresh. We tried the Saganaki (Flaming cheese) for the very first time and this did not disappoint in the least. You must squeeze the lemon over it as it is steaming, it's essential. The simple ingredients yield a complex flavor profile that is sweet, bright, nutty, and so savory all at the same time. We all had the gyros afterwards and they were perfect! The service was excellent and the comfort of our table was as well. I don't think you can go wrong here! read more

Spent an afternoon waiting for friends at the Athena. It was hot and humid outside and I needed a AC break some ice water and a place to chill. My children were walking their young legs off in downtown St Augustine after a trolley tour. I ordered ice water and an order of hummus with pita bread. Both were excellent and the house olive oil was delightful . The staff were outstanding and the murals that adorned the walls calmed my mind. If you need a break while visiting the Ancient City give this Greek sanctuary a try. read more

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* Food was just okay. Lamb was overcooked; Greek salad was overdressed, so the lettuce was dripping; pitabread was cold and not toasted. Meal didn't include the usual Greek potatoes or rice that you would get at any other authentic Greek restaurant. * Overpriced for what you get * Manager is very rude read more

Food was very good! Service was also very good! I'm not fond of greek food but i'm impressed.

My family spent the evening in St. Augustine for Nights of Lights and wanted to grab some dinner in town. We're all super fans of gyros, so to Athena we went. I called ahead and asked if they took reservations and was told no. Luckily, despite it being a busy night, our group of 5 didn't have to wait and was seated almost immediately. We mad some killer timing! Four of us ordered gyros and our lone outlier went with the greek chicken. Food came out and we realized one of the gyros was actually lamb souvlaki. But it was still good and the person chose to keep their food instead of getting a replacement. That said, the sandwiches were good and everyone ate it all. The greek chicken was seasoned great and very tender. I saw a slice of baklava cheesecake walk by and ordered one for us to split. We were all full, but could squeeze in a couple bites of dessert. The cheesecake was thick and creamy and has some honey and nuts sprinkled in with a layer of crispy phyllo dough on top. It was a great combo and I'm glad we tried it. Athena is a great little place and I'll definitely be back against when in St. Augustine. read more

We were hungry for lunch and had looked at athena before arriving in St. Augustine. The menu looked good so we went in and were pleased to be seated in 5 minutes, despite the restaurant being full. With the holiday season just about everywhere was packed. They were definitely understaffed but still managed to deliver us good quality food in a timely manner. Our waitress was super friendly and we had fun when she brought the saganaki as she lit it on fire and we all said "Opa!" The food was good value (portions are quite large) and very flavorful, would recommend. read more

Athena Restaurant - Side greek salad - Greek Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

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Oh dear... I really wanted to like this restaurant. I was looking forward to a nice meal on my Birthday but was quite disappointed. I do not like to leave reviews like this but feel people should know about the food. I am Greek. I can tell you the seasoning and flavor of the food is lacking. In my opinion It is not very fresh either. Also, the prices are outrageous for what you get. $14 for saganaki and it was a tiny flavorless piece of cheese that mostly stuck to the pan it was on. The spinach pie appetizer was $14 as well. It was pretty much reheated, presumably in a microwave. The phillo dough was very soggy. My husband says reheated spinach pie in a microwave is a crime against the phillo dough lol. He just could not eat it and sent it back. I ordered the gyro sandwich and fries. The seasoning was completely off and it didn't taste fresh. I am not one to return meals, but after one bite I just couldn't eat it. The meat was dry and it tasted awful. We also ordered a Horiatiki salad. The tomatoes and cucumbers were not fresh. No crunch to the cucumbers and tomatoes were mushy. Still ate it though. The cheese was good, but the dressing that was used had sweetness to it which ruined the salad. Horiatiki salad should be prepared with a red wine vinaigrette dressing. The bread is not a traditional cut loaf bread. It is oily dry pita. The kids managed with their meals. Their entrees were very pricey though. Especially since they didn't finish them all either. Maybe I am being bias because I am Greek. However, I read other patrons reviews that had similar complaints. Our bill was $100 even though we had an entree and appetizer comped. That is very steep. Had the food been good, I wouldn't have minded since it was a special occasion. The cook is on the right path, just needs to tweak the seasoning a bit more. Also please provide fresher ingredients. I'm willing to give you guys another try if in the area again. Maybe it was just an off day. read more

First off... Shout out to the oldest city in the new world what up! In town visiting family for the holidays. Plenty of seating when we walked in not busy at all as to be expected in the main part of Saint Augustine a.k.a. the tourist trap. Hostess seated us super quick and super friendly. Waiter came soon after. Ordered drinks, which came out fairly quick. Then the dreaded crickets!!! Our drinks kept getting lower and lower and lower. The waiter never came back. We had to seek the waiter out to order appetizers and get refills. Always fun when you know the restaurant is somewhat expensive due to the tourist trap as mentioned before. Sidenote: I love to tap. I absolutely love to take care of people that take care of me. This is your job. This is what you signed up for this is how you make your room. Through Tips. And again I love to tip very well. It's times like these I put a tear in my eye. Having said all of that back to the review at hand. Food came out finally and was very good. Just make sure you're aware that the olives are not pitted and do you have seeds. Don't want you to break a tooth! I would definitely come back again because my girlfriend loves this place. Because you know what they say. Happy girlfriend l, happy life! Just a question. Is it common culture in Greece to avoid your customers? Well in closing I do have to admit the baklava was amazing and we ordered two. read more

Athena Restaurant - Greek Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

We dined October 6, about 12 noon. There was a garrulous bunch right in the middle of the room, descending into shrieks of ear-piercing laughter. They were done eating and left after ten minutes or so, thank you Lord! We had Peter for server, & ordered two Mythos lagers, one of the best of that style. We had the flaming saganaki for an appetizer, mozzarella (invented by the Greeks, as you well know) melted in a salamander with a bit of a religueuse-like crust on top, flamed at the table for show if not flavor. Served with nice pita. We ordered the Gyro Greek combo & the Classic Greek Combo, both were delicious. The included salad had great dressing. The dolma were kind of cold but tasted nice. The Gyro was pretty good for beef, we would choose lamb/beef gyros if available. The Classic Greek combo was moussaka, a half-slice of spanikopita, and pastitsio. The moussaka & pastitsio taste approximately the same, but both are good with both dishes consisting of spiced ground beef (cinnamon, nutmeg, oregano & mint) & Greek tomato sauce, so those are the dominant flavors. The moussaka is a bit richer with layers of potato & eggplant topped with thick, creamy bechamel. Pastitsio is much the same but with Greek pasta (like penne, but better) subbing for the potato-eggplant layers. The spanikopita was a half slice of the famous Greek spinach pastry, very good. It was all very fresh tasting, but I ordered, & ate, too much, and didn't leave room for a slice of baklava & coffee. read more

Athena Restaurant - Entry & cashier station. - Greek Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

We went here while visiting St. Augustine. Two of us had lived in Greece, so we have high expectations. Athena did not disappoint. We had the baked saganaki cheese for an appetizer. It was fantastic! I had the roasted Greek chicken dinner with vegetables and Greek roasted potatoes. It was delicious. My friends both had the moussaka, and they both enjoyed it very much. For dessert, I had the baklava, and it was sooooo yummy! read more

Athena Restaurant - Baked saganaki being delivered to the table. - Greek Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

The service was great and very clean but the food was not it this was my first time eating Greek I hate it it really bad

You might walk past this restaurant and miss it if you blink. We initially tried to dine at another restaurant, but the 90-minute wait turned us off. So we tried this small Greek restaurant. Glad we did. The food was good and the service was very attentive. Give them a try if you are in the area. read more

We recently visited St. Augustine and had dinner at Athena Greek Cuisine. My wife and I enjoyed our meals. My wife had the spinach pie and I had the gyro platter. The food was very fresh and tasty. The service was prompt and helpful. I mentioned it was my wife's birthday and the waitress brought us a complimentary baklava after dinner. If you are in the downtown St. Augustine area and hungry this is the place to go. read more

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Watch Out! They include gratuity in the bill, then suggest that you add additional gratuity. A very sleazy practice that is common to take advantage of tourists. The lamb souvlaki was tough and flavor was awful. The grape leaves and hummus were both dissapointing. My advice: Walk past this place. There are so many good restaurants close by. read more

My wife and I enjoyed our meals here, authentic Greek food, with authentic Greek desserts. The food and service were superb!

For many years this has been an ideal stop for lunch in the midst of a day of shopping and strolling downtown. Cool, quiet and calm between the cathedral and the maddening avenue, Athena is a welcome respite. The wraps - veggie, hummus and fish - are the attraction for us, the hummus especially piquant. The Greek pizza provides generous doses of spinach and feta brought alive by a sweet tomato sauce. Quiet, understated, unhurried and kind, this spot keeps us loyal. read more

Athena Restaurant - Greek pizza ... fusillade of feta - Greek Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

We stopped at Athena for a quick bite after arriving to St. Augustine. I wasn't super hungry so I just got the cheese appetizer with pita bread which was tasty and entertaining as the waitress lit it on fire. read more

My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary in Saint Augustine for several days, and we needed something light to eat for lunch. We were just walking around by the Cathedral Plaza and I remembered there was a Greek restaurant near the Cathedral. We walked up to it and noticed that they served a Greek salad. We entered, were promptly seated, and handed menus. Typical Greek fair, but we were interested in the Greek salad. My wife and I ordered a small Greek salad, and let me tell you it was absolutely delicious. While we were eating our salad we noticed on the dessert menu a baklava cheesecake. Who in their right mind does a desert in the form of another dessert. These folks do. We tried one to share. It was absolutely amazing. They actually put a little bit of the baklava pastry on top of the slice of cheesecake. So next time you're in Saint Augustine, give this place a try. You will not be disappointed. I know that next time my wife and I are going to come here again. read more

Athena Restaurant - Baklava cheesecake. 1/13/19 - Greek Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

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