I'm Turkish. This place made the best eggplant, best beans, and best lamb I've ever had anywhere in the world. Will be coming again. read more

Athens Restaurant - Greek Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Wow.... good food here. This place doesn't look like much, I have to say. And it was a bit hot inside, I can imagine as the summer warms up, so will this place. The food did take a little while to come, and I didn't quite understand what our options were. When we were seated, the waitstaff asked us if we wanted a menu or if we wanted the daily specials we should speak to the chef. We didn't know what we wanted so we opted for the menu. Those more familiar with the place seemed to understand and ordered specials which came out much faster then our cooked to order requests. Lesson learned. I had the chicken souvlaki dinner which was HUGE. It came with an amazing greek salad to start and then I substituted cooked veggies for the potatoes. For $14 it was an amazing amount of food that you could easily have shared between two people. Loved it. Loved my leftovers. Would definitely return. read more

Athens Restaurant - Greek Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Fantastic place. Quiet and small. Best Greek food in town. Prices were reasonable and service was amazing. This is not your typical Greek restaurant. This is a small mom and pap'a kinda place with unique food Highly recommend read more

Unbelievable. Incredible. Awesome! Amazing! OMG!!! Best greek that I've EVER HAD. And I've eaten at most Greek restaurants on the Danforth!! And they really DO let you go to the kitchen to see the specials... I felt just like the prime minister!!! I had the Horiatiki salad. Never had it before. Incredible! You must try it! They have awesome bread, with olive oil AND GREEK balsamic vinegar... No idea that the Greeks MADE balsamic!! Well, I sure do now!! Village lamb was truly a STANDOUT! Comes with the yummy roast potatoes..... Red peppers. Yummy cheese on top. And a smokin hot waiter, who, frankly, looks like a freaking model! Oopa!!!! Lovely owner too! Where the heck is "you gotta eat here"??? Yum Tum Yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum. Yum yum..... Need I say more folks? Best Greek EVER read more

Athens Restaurant - Village Horiatiki salad, awesome! - Greek Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Pretty good small joint! Never really noticed this place but was looking for greek food late at night and saw this on yelp. Dont judge the place from outside, it's very cozy and nice inside. The food was great - grilled kalamari, pork tenderloin, greek salad- all standard greek fare but worth it to me. Big servings. Pork tenderloin nice and juicy, kalamari tender and tasty. Wpuld def come back for late night eats! Best part is the staff- very friendly, and the boss (I'm assuming, big man) is very friendly and outgoing! Environment makes this place. Also cool is that they have daily specials and they invite u to the kitchen to have a look ! Such cool idea. read more

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Seriously can I not give more than 5 stars !?! Amazing place, the food was incredible. It was really cool how we were allowed to go to the kitchen where the chef told us about his daily specials. Ordered chicken souvlaki (nice touch how the skewer was already removed) the chicken was very juicy and tender. It was cooked to perfection. The portion size is quite big. The potatoes melted in the mouth like butter, I'm still shocked the potatoes were able to keep a nice shape considering how soft they were. The Greek salad came on a side plate with a block of feta on top and had just the right amount of dressing. Tzatziki ... wow! Overall this place was so great, it had that authentic touch to it and it was obvious the chef took great pride in his work. Seems like a family run business which just makes it that much better. Will be stopping there prior to leaving the east coast one more time, it was just that good! read more

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I'd give this place 3.5 stars if I could, and this rating shows my confusion with it. Athens Restaurant is good, but it's almost like it should be better. Let me explain: You enter the restaurant and it's like you're transported to Greece. From the cheerfully loud and vibrant Greeks that run the place to the chairs and tables that looks exactly like the ones in the actual Athens, the mood and decor transport you to another world. On top of this, there's the "experience" of heading to the back kitchen to see what's available for the day - fun, unique, but above all, makes you feel like you're being welcomed into a Greek home. This place oozes with charm and, dare I say, even a touch of magic. And so when the food comes, your expectations are so high. And let me say this first: The food is good. The saganaki was fried well, the octopus had great texture/taste, the moussaka was full and hearty, etc. It's just that I was expecting something more. Or maybe more precisely, something different. For while Athens Restaurant is better than many of the Greek restaurants I've tried in Toronto, it's not a lot better, let alone truly different/outstanding. So 3.5 stars is a reflection of my confusion with this charming place/experience that raised my expectations, and the food that was good but not magical. read more

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The danforth obviously has lots amazing Greek restaurants and this is one. The value is there for sure. The come into the kitchen to see the specials is different. Had the roasted lamb special small village salad and a stuffed pepper. It was all shared and capped off with coffee dessert and a brandy. Service was good easy going vibe. I would have liked a bit more veggies with the main but overall it was a solid choice with an open late kitchen. read more

Darling daughter, handsome husband and little ol' me had just finished a side-splitting session of Laughter Yoga nearby and were in a happy but hungry mood. I turned on Yelp to see what good eats were in driving vicinity. Athens Restaurant came up on the radar. I've been to Athens (Greece!) twice and have some knowledge of Greek food. DD just visited this past summer and enjoyed her meals there. I must say that we were very pleased with the food quality and preparation! Loved the taramasalata, warm pita, Greek feta and grilled calamari. Also loved going to the kitchen to meet the chef and see his daily specials. We chose the stewed okra and stuffed peppers. At the adjacent table, a Greek family was chowing down on a pile of mouthwatering lamb chops. Next time, we'll get those plus some paidakia. read more

Honestly... Probably can't go to those franchise Greek restaurants anymore. Absolutely LOVED Athens Restaurant and Tavern! This was the first time some relatives and I dined at this restaurant, and we were not disappointed at all. The food was excellent - full of healthy and authentic flavours. (worth the cost) The atmosphere was simple and cozy. The service was great - the staff welcomed us the moment we entered, and guided us to the kitchen to view our options for the night. Did I mention that the food was AMAZING?! We ordered: Grilled octopus, Grilled calamari, Salad, Roasted vegetables, Veal, Chicken, and the Catfish. All were grilled perfectly (not too charred, not too underdone). A definite returning customer. :) read more

Athens Restaurant - Grilled Calamari - Greek Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This is one of the best Greek cuisine I have tried in town. Had a Greek salad witch was so delicious and their day special lamb -amazing! Place is cozy and clean, can't wait to be back to try other things on the menu ! read more

I absolutely love this place. It's one of the smaller Greek restaurants on Danforth and has a more authentic feel to it compared to its neighbours. You can either order off the menu or walk into the kitchen where the chef will walk you through the prepped specials for the day. These consists of very non-typical menu items that you don't usually see at most Greek restaurants. The service is great, the portions are huge and the prices are reasonable. read more

Waited for over an hour and a half worst experience of my life ending up leaving hungry and disappointed owner said 10 minutes 10 times

My first time eating in Danforth and it was great! Didn't try the moussaka which is my usual order for Greek, so I have something to come back for. We had the gyro platter, souvlaki, and special sun-dried tomatoes fish. It was all pretty great. The gyro is odd since it's served like steak instead of thinly sliced. Still good. Generally the food seemed to have oil drizzled on top but wasn't greasy. Not sure how they walked that line. They do have highchairs. read more

I have found the BEST LAMBCHOPS ever at Athens Restaurant. If you are a lambchop fan, it's worth a trip here for the chops. OMFG! Athens Restaurant is a family owned taverna style dining spot. The patrons here are pretty much all local old Greek dudes. Moro mu is friends with the owner, otherwise it's the type of place I never would have wandered into. Can't say much for the service as we were picking up food to go. The grilled lambchops are just ridiculous, what can I say! They are marinated in some kind of lemon and olive oil glaze, a bit salty and nice oregano taste too. We had them with a nice Greek salad and these insanely good sliced and roasted potato wedges sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. read more

My husband and I joined our friends (another couple who had raved about this restaurant) last night (Saturday) for our first (and last) visit to Athens Restaurant. Sadly, overall, our food was mediocre at best. The village salad and spicy feta appetizer were very good, but our main dishes were disappointing (the pork souvlaki dinner was dry and overcooked, and the highly acclaimed lamb chops were terrible....TINY, luke warm, and so NOT worth the $30 price for the dish)! When we addressed the issue with the waiter, he returned to say that "they sometimes are that size"...I interpreted this to mean, so sometimes the customers will get subpar lamb chops...unacceptable. The waiter did bring us 2 extra lamb chops to try to make up for the poor dish, but truthfully, the dish should have just been removed from the tab. The place was packed, so they obviously have some happy customers and maybe last night was an anomaly. Nevertheless, given the quality of the two dinners that we experienced, and the high cost for what we received, we will not be returning. Our friends, who had been regulars were also very disappointed. I have lived and eaten near the Danforth all of my life and there are so many better options for dinner, that we will not be returning to Athens Restaurant. read more

This is a great authentic Greek restaurant. It is not pretentious either in the locale or in the service, but the cooking shines. We invited to the kitchen, before ordering, to see that offering there were in addition to the items on the menu. The ladies each chose a fish (sea bream and sea bass), and I chose Stuffed Peppers the other gentleman chose Lamb stewed in tomatoes. We shared an appetizer of feta cheese and a couple of small plates of TREMENDOUS black and green olives. The bread was a high quality French type bread, not that wilted hastily toasted offering in other restaurants on the Danforth. I had a Fish Soup before my main course and it delicious. Great broth, plenty of nice fish chunks, and a light pleasant taste....a real find. The other gentleman had a green salad while the ladies shared a Horiatiki Salad. I taste both and found them both excellent. Finally a restaurant that does not bathe salad in oil. My dish, the stuffed peppers was succulent. The medley of rice and meat and the sweetest of the peppers really elevated this dish. The Sea Bass and Sea Bream were all exceptional, grilled and seasoned to perfection. Neither of the ladies eat fish heads it was a real bonus for me. The lamb was good but not great, and this started to provide a 'drag down' on a potential 5 star rating. The ladies ordered an espresso each, as this really genuine Greek establishment does not have Greek coffee. They had very few desserts, just Tiramisu and Flan. This combined with the lamb got me to 4 stars. The place is much as Lauren described it. Its very homey, local with a lot of Greek dudes. On leaving my wife said she would happily come here once a week for fish. From Mrs. G. this is high accolades indeed. read more

A little restaurant in Greek Town on a busy street with wonderfully friendly staff, chef and owner! The food is really great and plentiful! Tasty, tasty! We loved this little hole in the wall that seemed to host the local Greek population. Chicken Souvlaki, Gyro (yum), calamar and deal we're ALL delicious. Highly recommend! read more

This is the BEST Greek restaurant in town. The food is very authentic very delicious and very fresh!

I went to Greece for an hour this weekend and came back!! Mind you we went at around 12:30AM.. A friend of ours who is also Greek said I'm going to take you guys somewhere.... and if you can get passed the stare downs from the men, and the decor then you're ok. It turned out EXACTLY what he described but we didn't care we came to have some Greek Food .. I was waiting to get my hands on some saganaki and lamb. Upon arrival we were greeted like family, said hi to the pleasant owner who for some reason I just wanted to call him uncle... right off the bat I was liking this place even before sitting down. Attention all newbies to Athen's... if you're waiting for a menu to be presented to you don't really bother, I mean you can ask for one (I think) but what's the fun in that when you can go straight to the back and chit chat with the kitchen staff and the chef, you get to order straight to him!!! I thought that was awesome!.... as soon as we saw our friend walk to the kitchen we followed.. they spoke in Greek and we just stood there mesmerized and excited. HERE WE GO!!!! OPA! We all shared the dishes that were ordered for 4 people First dish- The Saganaki- Delicious simply delicious- I Don't know if you could really mess up flaming cheese. The Greek Village salad- I LOVED- Fresh ripe tomatoes with cucumbers, homemade feta, Greek oregano, onions and Greek olive oil... unlike any other Greek village salad, I especially enjoyed the veggies all being at semi room temp so you could really get the full taste of salad.. I personally hate super cold tomatoes or cucumbers in salads... find it takes the taste of the actual vegetable. Sliced deep fried Zucchini and potatoes- sliced thin coated with a bit of seasoned batter... the zucchini is a must try... a bit oily but it's really good.. and finally......... The Lambchops- Succulent pieces of chop grilled and perfectly seasoned, each piece was juicy and full of meat.. While we all enjoyed our delicious dishes... Fine Greek tunes played in the background and you would hear the opa's and the finger snaps... Made the meal and experience super fun. The food comes in big portions so they're all great for sharing- we each had 3 pieces of lamb and still with all the things we had in between I think 3-4 were left to take home. Will definitely be back and next time I'll take pictures before devouring the whole thing. read more

Absolutely delicious food! Unlike other restaurants in this area this place is very authentic and homey, and that's what I like about it. Yes, service could've been a little faster, but...This is such a small thing so it doesn't matter.Besides, the food is so good, I don't mind waiting a little. Yeah.. And the it really cheap) I just wish they were located closer to where I live so I can come more often) read more

Truly great Greek food. Excellent selection of entrees. Or if you like, they have "specials" that you can view in the kitchen. All are delicious. If you come in the evening, make a reservation, otherwise come early for lunch in order to get a table. Very friendly service from both the chef and waitress. Eat where the Greeks eat. (This restaurant is located in Toronto, Canada) read more

Athens Restaurant - Greek Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Very warm atmosphere, great music and food. They offered us free calamari which was delicious. Highly recommended.

Excellent service, food and portions. Make sure to take a tour of the kitchen and pick out your dishes!

Service was pretty bad, had to ask 3 times for a menu (a bit understandable since it was a busy night). Not sure why they ask you to check their daily specials in the back either. Food quality more than makes up for it, though. read more

Just ok. Reviews set high expectations...but found the food to be very average. Ordered the lamb dinner and it was tough, while the octopus was average. Wound up going to Libretto's for pizza and dessert . The evening ended well. Amen! read more

Firsttime here. Excellent! Warm and welcoming even when it's almost 4pm Roast lamb, lamb shank, the cows feet soup, spanakopita were all delicious! Great service. Reasonable Would love to come again. Happy Victoria's Day! read more

Family owned restaurant and you get treated like family. The food was delicious the calamari was perfect and the moussaka was the best I have ever tasted. Well done. If you are unfamiliar with the cuisine they will take you back to the kitchen and show you the food that is being cooked you can chose your dinner from the kitchen or the menu. We recommend this restaurant. read more

The cook was great, introduced himself, and took us into the kitchen to show us what he was offering that night! Some ordered off the menu, some ordered the meatball special. Everyone was very happy with the entrees, and the appetizers where even more delicious! Big servings, very authentic and lots of taste! Our server was above average, we were a group of 10, and I would say she did alright! The overall vibe was great, nothing pretentious, which was surprising because of the area. Very welcoming and very very friendly. Decent price, overall we all left very full, large take out bags and very happy. read more

Absolutely delicious lunch. We shared a Greek salad, gyro, and braised lamb. The land was a daily special. It fell apart as we served it - so tender. We left stuffed with another meals worth of leftovers. We will definitely be back. There are about 9 additional menu items that I'd like to try. read more

Hands down the best Greek food I have ever had. The restaurant was small and authentic, we truly felt like we were in a small family restaurant in Greece. Amazing service and unbelievable food. We started with the fried zucchini and grilled calamari, both were outstanding. Our mains were the lamb special and gyro plate and we loved them. Greek salad was unbelievable, so was the homemade tzatziki. The outside appearance keeps this gem nice and hidden, thank you for the amazing meal. read more

Athens Restaurant - Fried zucchini and grilled calamari. To die for. Make sure you ask for their homemade tzatziki. - Greek Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I've started coming here almost weekly now, the food is like just good old home cooked meals your mom or grandmother would make. You can even go into the kitchen and check out what the chef made that day and pick out your meal. This restaurant truly beats all the other Greek restaurants on Danforth between Broadview and Pape - that caters towards the non-Greeks. You want authentic Greek food, then you must come here. read more

I walked in knowing what I wanted and felt at their insistance, I had to look in the kitchen at what they had prepared....ok thank you very much. Back to the table and the menu: No spinach-cheese pie. No veggie mousaka. Ok, no moussaka. No bean soup. Ordered avgolemono soup and waited so long, I think they whipped it up. No galaktoboureko. They didn't have any classic Greek dishes on hand. Why don't they just do a blackboard of what they have prepared instead of torturing people with a menu of food they don't have. Wierd. read more

EXCELLENT!!!! I went here on a Saturday night and had one of the best services at Athens. (Make reservations it had about 15 tables) When you first arrive the hostess will invite you back to the kitchen to check out the specials. It looked very tasty. That night was stuffed peppers and lamb shanks. I got the pork Slovaki meal with an appetizer of calamari...first with the app. The squid was very good. I assume it was frozen but you would never know. It was top of the line....next was the dinner..wow...pork had a ton of flavour and the potion was more than average. rice and potatoes were slow cooked and were soft. Excellent!!!! Once the meal was done the owner (George) came by to other tables to check on the food/service. When he arrived to mine he offered and insisted to buy cake for me and my guest. I said no but he really wanted to offer...cake was fantastic!! I wasn't sure what kind it was but all food looked and tasted great. I will always recommend and go back here. Not far from the subway. read more

Authentic Greek food with decent sized portions. Had the 5 sampler,Salad, chicken souvlaki,saganaki and meat balls. Everything met or exceeded expectations. Nice touch to have guests see the specials of the day. Nice little gem. read more

Disgusting! I went based on Yelp reviews but arrived to find a run down, filthy restaurant. Not sure if reviews were set up. Would not even sit in there. Very disappointing. read more

Big WAW the grilled octopus, Greek Salad, Tarama and the cattle dish with spinach really un comparable must try

This is one of the interesting foodie excursions we've experienced in a while. From the outside looks like another small diner/bar. It is away from the area where many of its compatriot eateries are located. Anyways, when we step in we come across older Greek men hanging out, drinking, eating, and bantering with George- the proprietor- at the bar. Now George is the secret sauce of this establishment, he is the rotund cheerful and gregarious 2nd generation owner of this joint. He encourages us to head into the kitchen to check out the specials .....in we walk and the equally happy go lucky cook/chef gives us the low down on how to order. Everything looked good (calamari rice, stuffed pepper, veal stew, chicken cutlets, lamb chops). We failed to make a reservation, so did take out and decided to hang out at the bar, which is great for ppl watching. I think George knows all the patrons, everyone was exchanging kisses and greetings in Greek. Definitely had the feel of being in a neighbourhood bar in Europe. Noticing we were waiting for our food, George offered us complimentary drinks and takes the time to chat us up. Finally, we get our food so we head out. Despite being crazy busy, George catches up to us outside and thanks us for coming by! Sure this place is small, the waiters are not articulate, and service can be slow. But they do not detract from the food and ambience, which had a feel good homey feel to it. Definitely will return. It is one of the best Greek restaraunts we've eaten at. It lives upto its reputation as a hidden gem! If you care more about your Instagram feed you go to Mamakas, if you want to kickback with friends you come here. read more

From the reviews expected far better. Unpleasant staff - felt very rushed though the restaurant was empty. Food mediocre and expensive for what it was. read more

1/2 portion of lamb with rice and spinach really cost $18??