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Athenian Owl

4.5 (302 reviews)
Open 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago

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ATHENIAN OWL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Intimate
Romantic
Moderate noise

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Recommended Reviews - Athenian Owl

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Reviews With Photos - Athenian Owl

Erica B.

Delicious Greek food! Came in for the first time for a celebration in which our friends rented the back room. The staff treats everyone like family, is super attentive and the food was delicious. Super cute, cozy restaurant with an environment and staff that makes you want to become a regular. Would definitely recommend!

Gigantes
Caroline D.

Home cooking at its best. Family operated and pleasant. The Greek dips with puts are delicious. The moussaka like moms . The gigantes plaki was a vegetarians dream. ( large beans baked with tomato and onion) You will not be disappointed.

Pastichio Greek Lasagna
Angela D.

Such a wonderful restaurant! My dad and I stopped in for my birthday on a Friday night with no reservation. They were able to seat us fairly quickly although it did take about 5 minutes to be greeted. After we were sat it took a few minutes for someone to come over. A gentleman brought us some water but it took about 10 minutes to get a menu. Our server stopped by a little later and we tried to talk to her about the menu or get recommendations but she didn't really seem into it. Its fine though, I think she just wanted to get to business. The food though, oh my gosh! I love the lemon soup! It reminded me of a restaurant I went to in my childhood in Carlsbad. The dishes were amazing and the reason I would continue to return. I would like to keep that soup in the freezer for when I get sick. Oh, and the bread and butter were fantastic! I will be going again!

Sauvignon blanc
Ivi L.

Athenian Owl is the BEST Greek restaurant in Jacksonville!!! It's tucked away in a strip mall next to a bunch of Indian restaurants and grocery store. It has super cute decor with string lights, Greek paintings, a bunch of knick-knacks of owls, and Halloween stuff. The service was great. Steve was always available when I needed anything. He even gave me a free glass of wine because my to-go order took longer than expected. The food is absolutely delicious!! For the sandwiches, they come with fries, salad, or cup of soup. I chose the Avgolemono or chicken and rice soup and it was amazing. I don't usually like a lot of acid in my food, but the soup has a perfect hint of lemon and it's so creamy and scrumptious! The gyro sandwich could have had more meat, but it was perfectly seasoned and the pita bread was absolutely fabulous! It had the perfect springiness and almost tasted fried because it was so good. The kids moussaka was a good portion for my son, and the best moussaka outside of Greece!! A must try.

my catered menu for a small luncheon I hosted for neighbors
Marianne C.

I'm Greek. And I adored the matriarch and chef Georgia. And I'm reluctant to criticize a family business. But I'm a foodie. And eating out now is so expensive that the meal better be worth it.   Sadly, I'm not going back to the Athenian Owl. (Even though Georgia promised to set me up with a nice Greek man.) My biggest complaints were the TINY servings for mostly overpriced dishes (especially the Souvlaki and the grilled Octopus), and the comically bad service .... Especially maddening is that a steady Greek Chorus of customers have lodged similar complaints on Google and Yelp -- all seemingly to no avail. Georgia's son George, the otherwise friendly owner, responds to each critical review with only a sarcastic "Have a Blessed Day!"  The Athenian Owl offers a big variety of home-style, traditional Greek dishes. The family launched it about a decade ago -- after opening and running for years, then selling -- the still-popular Athens Cafe. I hosted a luncheon for four. I prepared a tasting menu of shared platters (see orange menu photo), and went to the restaurant days ahead to go over it with Georgia. I prepaid $292, no drinks, tax included. I left a $50 cash tip at the table (frankly, that was kind).   Greeks are huge on hospitality, and take pride in being generous hosts. And they eat big. Even an ordinary Greek meal feels like Thanksgiving, with loosened belts and emergency naps ....  So, when skimpy platters landed on the table, I was taken aback -- and upset. Days later, I'm still upset .... I've eaten hundreds of Greek meals (was even fed Greek baby food! lol), and I have Never, EVER, seen such skimpy servings! It was like that old TV ad: Where's the beef?   BEST: -- Hummus dip w/ pita -- Saganaki flambé: fried Kefalograviera cheese. Alas, instead of a dramatic fiery show, the waitress lit only a small flame that quickly extinguished. Still tasty, but disappointing. -- Spanakopita: Spinach & Feta w/ phyllo crust. Get the entree pie, not the appetizers' triangles. But $20/slice is too high -- Grilled Vegetable Souvlaki -- Sautéed Mushrooms w/Capers: not on the menu, but it's the Riganato dish, minus the lemon sauce -- Baklava: phyllo pastry of chopped nuts & syrup -- Galaktoboureko: custard pie w/phyllo crust & syrup JUST OK: -- Pastichio: Greek lasagna. Too little ground beef. And I couldn't detect any cheese or sauce. It was mostly just noodle, ridiculous at $21/portion. The bechamel rescued it for me, but my guests barely touched it. -- Dolmades: stuffed grape leaves. So-so, saved by the lemon sauce topping. Dolmades at the Whole Foods' buffet are tastier -- and they come from a can! -- Elliniki salad: good tomatoes and vinaigrette. Tasteless Feta chunks. Overrun w/ onion. HARD PASS: -- Souvlaki: each Kebob chunk was TINY. And the serving sizes were also galling. I ordered 3 skewers of chicken ($30) and 2 of lamb ($24), and we barely got half the meat that's typically served at other Greek venues -- at like twice the price! .... I was so irked that I called Georgia over. C'mon, chicken is cheap. I've had bigger and better for 10 bucks at street food trucks.  -- Grilled Octopus: a Greek specialty, and traditionally a signature dish. I complained to Georgia again: Not only was the serving not the customary entire tentacle, but it was also the world's thinnest. What, was this the last octopus in the ocean? At $24: another rip-off. -- Avgolemono: supposed to be thick and creamy soup, with a lemony egg broth. It was thin, as if watered-down. Almost no chicken or rice. -- Lemon Roasted Potatoes: lemon? undercooked  -- Orzo "Rice": the waitress delivered this pasta side after the meal was over. Literally a "leftover," so I took it home. Blah.  Speaking of the waitress: Other reviewers here have often cited woeful service. Our waitress was nice and well-meaning, but .... She forgot the Orzo. Ditto the Tzatziki yogurt dip and pita w/ the Souvlaki. She screwed up the Saganaki flambé. She delivered the meals in the wrong sequence. She even had to be reminded twice to bring the bread basket .... What's nuts: She didn't have to write down a single dish -- it was all pre-ordered! And, she had only a few other tables. Luckily, Georgia often checked-up and pitched-in. I bumped-up a Star here for her.

Baklava  KOK
Lauren H.

We went to Athenian Owl last week with a great group of friends and had such an amazing experience. Everything was so good -- the food, the wine, the atmosphere -- all of it. The food was delicious, but honestly the dessert stole the show for me. Absolutely incredible. The staff was incredibly kind, welcoming, and attentive, which made the whole night even better. The vibe of the restaurant was warm and fun, and it was the perfect spot for a group dinner. We had the best time and will 100% be back. Highly recommend!

Sue O.

We walked into a packed Athenian Owl tonight but, as always, Yiorgos Triantafillopoulos "George" made room for us. I tried something new, Chicken Riganato, which was delicious! And, of course, George cannot let us go home empty handed! .

Gladys L.

What a great place. We had a warm welcoming and the place is cozy but somehow also very unique. They adjusted to my gluten free needs without hesitations. Food was delicious, staff was friendly and on point. Def recommend Athenian Owl as place that you must dine when in town.

Paula D.

What a lovely and welcoming restaurant establishment! Three ladies enjoyed a birthday dinner and our service was outstanding. We asked for help selecting a Greek wine and the recommendation was spot on. My flounder was mouthwatering. Everyone enjoyed their meals.

Chicken Riganato
John H.

It's always nice to find great authentic Greek food. I loved the whole vibe of this place, quaint and charming. The staff were friendly and the food was excellent. What more can you ask for? I had the Moussaka and Chicken Riganato and both were outstanding. They serve you a lovely salad and some fresh bread with dinner entrees & the butter is blended with garlic, bell peppers and Greek yogurt; delicious.

Mark R.

I am not sure where to begin this review as there is so much to cover and five (5) stars is not nearly enough!!! First, when you walk into the reception area of this mother-son owned establishment, it's a very cozy home like feel! The family pictures and wing back chairs makes you feel you are where you are supposed to be The service, can sum that up in one word - WOW!!! I was created by a gentleman who was the co- owner - friendly and great humor quickly sat me to my seat. I was taken away by the lighting of this place - such a warm atmosphere!!! Our server, Kairo was beyond outstanding. I loved her approach of asking you to pronounce the name of the meal you are ordering, fully amercing you into the culture. Her positive attitude, smile, and knowledge of the menu is beyond reproach! The food - again one word WOW! The soup was great but the chicken was phenomenal!! Just look at my clean plate. This is my new favorite place for sure!!!

Amie S.

What a beautiful Greek restaurant! The staff was friendly and very helpful when suggesting their favorites. The beef souvlaki was delicious, with the meat being pretty tender. Chicken pita was a good dish as well. I really enjoyed trying each dish and tasting the variety of flavors. Would recommend!

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1 year ago

Amazing service and delicious food. A quaint, inviting restaurant. I'm glad I found them

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Fast Eddy's Quick Mideast

Fast Eddy's Quick Mideast

4.8
(437 reviews)
2.5 mi
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The food is always so flavorful here. The staff is so friendly and the place sm heavenl…read more Go check out this local family owned spot

My husband and I went to a special 6 Course meal event hosted by Fast Eddy's and Jacksonville…read moreRestaurant Reviews and we had such a great time exploring some of Fast Eddy's food. We started with Hummus and Tata Chips, which was crispy pita chips with a standard (but delicious) hummus. The Tata chips had great flavor, like Stacy's Pita Chips but better! The firat course was White Bean Fahsulia, which was a rich and hearty bean stew that packed huge flavor! Second course was Falafel with Tahini Sauce. These were a nice little bite between dishes. The center of the falafel was light, fluffy, and flavorful! Course 3 was Masaka-Ah served with Timan Asfur Rice. While this dish was good, it was my least favorite of the evening. I ate half of the stew and passed the rest off to my husband, who loved it! Course 4 brought us Dolma's served with Roasted Vegetables. I LOVE stuffed grape leaves and these were seriously on point! Tart and tangy up front followed by a whole lot of savory. Course 5, my favorite, was the Spicy Curry Chicken served with White Rice. This was the dish that made me fall in love with Fast Eddy's food and had me coming back for more. I took a couple bites and got a to-go container to enjoy this later at home. Finally, we reached the end of our dinner and Course 6, dessert, came out. Freshly made, sweet and decadent, traditional baklava. Filo dough, crushed walnuts, butter, and honey. This just melted away once it hit my mouth. I don't eat a whole lot of sweets but this had me closing my eyes and enjoying every bite. Every time I've visited Fast Eddy's the staff has been amazing, friendly, and hospitable. And of course, the place being completely decked out with rock and metal music memorabilia, i feel right at home here. Oh, and there's never a time where I leave that place without an order of the Pasta Anatoli to-go!

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If you love classic hard rock, you'll easily love this place.
If you love classic hard rock, you'll easily love this place.
Derby Fillies + Mac n' Cheese
Derby Fillies + Mac n' Cheese
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The French Pantry

The French Pantry

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(1.1k reviews)
4.3 mi
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We fortunately tried The French Pantry recently and came away knowing we had found one of THE…read morepremier sandwich shops/bakeries in the Jacksonville area. We arrived early and found that very quickly there was a line that was extending out the door. That was for good reason. This place is excellent. Great staff, impeccable food, fantastic service. Inside is clean, neat with hearty tables. The front features their baked goods as well. All fresh, all look delicious. I tried the Tiramisu for dessert. No pictures. It was that good that it made me forget. We dined in, and to do so, you order at the front, are seated and are served shortly after. When you order, keep in mind that they bring bread to the table. Two types of bread with a delicious mix of oil and balsamic that is ideal for dipping. Shortly after we received our food. We split the sandwiches between us and one order of truffle fries. The muffuletta was so meaty and flavorful. The bread fresh and the perfect accompaniment. The eggplant likewise was so delicious. I was expecting more of historical panini type bread but this bread was perfect and grilled. The truffle fries...crispy, bursting with flavor. Really generous portions here of next level sandwiches. If you're in the mood for a great sandwich or a huge salad, this is THE place for you. I highly encourage you to check them out. You'll be glad you did.

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June 13, 2024
June 13, 2024
Spinach and Portobello bruschetta
Spinach and Portobello bruschetta
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Bruschetta
Sapori Caffe

Sapori Caffe

4.9
(80 reviews)
6.9 mi

I have visited this amazing Italian cafe so many times, and they never disappoint me. The owners…read moreare actually from Italy, so you will hear them speaking Italian. The owner, Massi, is such a nice guy and loves to tell funny jokes. His wife, Sabrina, isn't always there, but she is the sweetest and always provides my family with the best customer service. Because I have been raving about this place so much, all my relatives love it and go there regularly (yes, they go every weekend). Please don't expect Starbucks drinks from there. They serve authentic Italian style coffee, so you will get a hot caffe latte in a tall glass. The macchiato will be in a small espresso cup. Try their hot cappuccino with whole milk so you can experience the authentic way of making cappuccino (they only use one shot of espresso, and they said that's the Italian way!). Italian hot chocolate is also a favorite among European customers. Sandwiches are always great, and my favorite is prosciutto, arugula, Parmesan cheese, and tomato. It's a perfect spot to gather with friends or family. This cafe is a must try. These pictures are from multiple visits within three years.

Sapori Authentic…read more Sapori Italian Restaurant is the kind of place you go when you're craving real, authentic Italian flavors instead of the usual chain-restaurant version. From the moment you walk in, the cozy atmosphere and the aroma of garlic, olive oil set the tone for a true Italian treat! The menu focuses on traditional recipes made with fresh ingredients. Dishes feel straight out of a family kitchen in Italy. Service is warm and welcoming, adding to the relaxed, family-style vibe. Sapori delivers comforting, classic Italian cuisine that feels both genuine and satisfying. The paninis steal the show with rich parm, aromatic olive oil, and prosciutto that I haven't found since I was in Italy. The coffee drinks are amazing Lavassa served, of course. Desserts from cannoli,custard filled pasteri3s, pistachio horns, and more

Photos
Hot Chocolate w/whipped cream
Hot Chocolate w/whipped cream
Prosciutto Crudo, Pomodoro, Rucola e Parmigiano  (Citterio Prosciutto, Tomatoes, Organic Arugula, Parmigiano, EVO Oil)
Prosciutto Crudo, Pomodoro, Rucola e Parmigiano (Citterio Prosciutto, Tomatoes, Organic Arugula, Parmigiano, EVO Oil)
Inside

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Inside

Athenian Owl - greek - Updated July 2026

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