Whenever we visit family in Albany coming from Seattle, a meal at Athos is a must. It's hard to find fine dining in the city, especially if you want to treat family for special occasions, but this place hits all the marks. The ambiance is upscale for Albany but welcoming, the food fresh, great variety of dishes and the service impeccable and friendly (with a kid's menu, too!). The mezze platter, eggplant with spinach, and baklava were fantastic. Even with a crying 2-year old the staff made us feel welcome and put a smile on her face. We look forward to coming back again next time we visit! read more

Moussaka, Lamb Shank lacked flavor and even the salad was tasteless or perhaps not seasoned. The check was incorrect as it had upcharges for my martinis that I did not request or receive. We were promised a table in the main dining room and instead were seated in a small unattractive room off the main dining room. No bread or relish on the table even after we had our drinks for a half hour. I spoke with the manager re the drink up charges and he said he said something about a free drink the next time I come in. I wonder how that works? read more

WOWOWOWOWOW!!!!! This place is amazing!!! Felt like I was in a different country as soon as the complimentary I don't even know what it's called (some tomato chili something w the softest warm fluffy pita slices) came out! Then came my appetizer- the lollipop lambchops! Sooooo tender! Sooooo juicy! Fulll rich lamb flavor explosion without the gaminess! The light greens and lemon it comes w makes a greattt compliment! Anddd trying it was the pita and tomato chili thingy brings a whole new experience! Ahhhh! AND THEN! THE FRIGGIN BRONZINO FILET! Comes w a special chef sauce and it is indeed special. Fish was crispy and light and good juicy firmness! Like HOW?! And the flavor! WOWWW! And the salad, again a perfect compliment! And I swapped out the mashed potato for the lemon potatoes and those were so simple yet magical! The ambiance - also wow! Color scheme and music and even the see through flor wine cellar as you walk in- gave Greece Santorini vibes. The service! Prolly one of the most professional and welcoming experiences I've ever had! RYAN IS THE BEST!!! Knows his menu! All his recommendations (which is what I ordered above) were SPOT ON!! Man did not miss! A MUST TRY PLACE IF YOURE IN ALBANY NY! I'll be coming back if I'm ever in this city again. read more

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I'm always looking for good food options when traveling. Last week we discovered Athos in our Capital City, Albany. We had an OpenTable reservation and I am glad we did as I noticed all the tables in the main dining room were taken. It was an exhausting day for us so we went straight to ordering dinner - grilled branzino and leg of lamb in a house demi-glace. This restaurant has a full bar and I took the liberty of ordering a French 75 which was not on the cocktail menu. After two attempts, the bartender got it perfect. The PROS: -Our dishes were delicious. -Service was beyond superb and this was demonstrated with getting the right balance in the French 75. -There's a wine cellar in the basement - once you enter the restaurant, you will notice the glass flooring gives a view of it. read more

Athos - View of the wine cellar - Greek Near Me - Albany, New York

Came here as part of a large group of 30, as a result we only had a choice of three entrees as the main course. They have an extensive drink list but I was going to do beers and enjoyed Bob Cat Pilsner and Gluten Reduced Lager, I'd say they were creative and on point, 5 stars Service was great and attentive for such a large party. The only downside was the long wait for all our food, understandably given the 25 of us on two tables. Nice they brought them all at once, the waitress and waiters were great, 5 stars! Greek salad done family style was sold with really nice piece of cheese, Yum! 5 stars I had the Chicken Saganaki, tender chicken but a bid bland, beans were crispy and tasty, rice was MEH, overall 4 stars My neighbor had the Egg Plant Rola and Tomato Yamista they all said "good" assume 4 stars, nobody said amazing.... assume ~ 4 stars LOL loukoumades was amazing and I could have ate three or more with my coffee, but stopped at two, couldn't be too gluttonous, 5 stars Would I come again, yup! read more

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Another great dinner, this time with asyrtiko wine, avgolemono soup (divine), and a shrimp dish cooked with ouzo and feta. Fabulous. I finished with a glass of mavrodaphne and a wedge of galactiburico big enough for 3 or 4! Highly recommended. read more

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We were there for lunch and ordered off the Taverna menu (light lunches.) We each ordered a gyro sandwich and since the menu didn't indicate that French Fries were included, we ordered the $6.00 side of Oregano Fries. Lo and behold when the food was served, we found that the sandwiches do come with fries and of course the "side order" was superfluous. When we ordered the side of fries, waiter did not mention that the dishes already had fries so we were stuck with way too many fries. And speaking of the fries, they were nothing special; just regular frozen Sysco fries with a very minor sprinkling of oregano which added nothing to the taste. Shame on our waiter. read more

The food here is so good! This is the best restaurant in Albany by far. The mezze platter, chicken souvlaki, backlava, etc. Everything we tried was excellent. read more

My sister chose this place to celebrate my bday, pretty comfy, very attentive service and excellent food read more

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The best dining experience I've had in Albany. We called and got our name on the list and then showed up early to sit at the bar and wait. The bar staff was very friendly and before we knew it we were learning all about Greek wine and even were treated to a mini tasting! Before we knew it we were being seated. The service from beginning to end was impeccable. Our waiter was so friendly from the start and eager to help us narrow down between menu items. We ate tapas style and tried several appetizers. We started with the feta plate. The best quality feta I've had since being abroad and perfectly paired with fresh cherry tomatoes. Then came the grilled halloumi. Probably my favorite of the night and that is saying something. Literally couldn't stop praising it with every bite I took. Just have to see for yourself! Next was the octopus. The amount of meat you get is incredible and it was delicious. The paired salad was a bit strong with the acidic flavors and I preferred the octopus by itself. The spanakopita came next and HOLY. Blew me away and then found out that even the phyllo dough is homemade in house!! Wow. We ended with the lamb sliders. Yum. Perfect amount of lamb flavor with a little bit of spice topped with cheese, caramelized onion, some lettuce, and a yogurt/tzatziki sauce. A toasted bun would have been even better, but that's the only criticism I had! Of course we had to try dessert. I had the cheesecake and let me say, I am a TOUGH cheesecake critic. It was delicious and SO rich and creamy - how it should be! The crumbled baklava added that extra something! My mom got the galaktoboureko and WOW. I'm getting that next time! Don't forget the Greek coffee! All of this to say I can't believe I only just now made it to this gem. Several staff members stopped by our table throughout to compliment our menu choices, offer help, explain more about the food and restaurant, and rave about how the restaurant treats the staff. Visit Athos and you won't be disappointed. This is going to be where I take my family and any visitors every time. I think I need to become a regular too! read more

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Was in the mood for some Greek food and stumbled across this place. The food was very good and seemed very authentic. Everything was cooked perfectly. Nothing was over or under cooked. The braised beef was to die for as well as the tres leches dessert. The octopus was perfectly tender and delicious. The ambiance was very casual and a great place for a first date. The waiters and waitresses were also very kind and helpful. Just remember to let your waiter know if you can to pay with your phone. Cause if they don't know you paid they might run after you haha. At the end of the day I would definitely come back if I'm in the are. read more

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Love the sit down restaurant. Food and service are both impeccable. We bought the take out meals for four one night at home. Very small portions. More like food for 2. read more

A coworker from Albany suggested Athos, and loving Greek food I decided to try it out. While I am not a huge stickler for COVID protocols, it was evident the management takes it seriously. Social distancing, masked and gloved servers, and a well maintained and clean dining area was well appreciated. The menu had so many good things but I had a hankering for grilled octopus and dolmathas, so I began with an order of each, accompanied by a Santorini tonic. The octopus was spot on and each bite reminded me of summer. The accompanying pickled salad was bright, sharp, and was a great pairing. The dolmathas were four, tightly wrapped, little Mediterranean presents. They were lounging in a buttery lemon sauce that was so decadent AND cut the acid from the octopus salad perfectly. Combined with my gin tonic, this was so well balanced and flavorful. I finished my visit with baklava and a coffee. Both were spot on and a perfect ending to a very nice meal. read more

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I tried this place when I first moved to town and although many restaurants had been a stunning disappointment I had high hopes for this place. Now I lived in Astoria, NY for 20 yrs so I know what Greek food should taste like and I've been to Greece. I ordered a couple of dishes on two different occasions but both sucked. One of the dishes, the salmon was dry and the sides were boring. This place is close to my home but I won't bother to eat there, which is sad because I love Greek food. However, what they serve doesn't bring Greece to mind but it does give an after taste of disappointment. Not sure what wine goes with that. Luckily I needn't worry since I'll never eat there again. read more

I love the new restaurant. The food was good, and the staff was friendly. I enjoyed it very much.

I am happy to have returned to Athos for a dinner with a gal pal of mine to celebrate her birthday. Reservation was for 6 pm; we were seated the moment we walked in the door a few minutes early. Staff were efficient and knowledgeable of the menu. We started with a well known flaming greek cheese (Saganaki). My only complaint is that the waiter who delivered the dish did not shout "opa" as was my prior experience with this dish. It is spread on warm pita which had arrived with an olive spread. After extensive discussion between us, we both decided on the Veal Corfu. OMG. tender, tasty, delectable veal stewed in a red wine tomato sauce with garlic, spinach and leeks. There was a small accompaniment of rice. Beautiful presentation of a very delectable dish. My personal favorite, however, is the previously chosen Lamb Youvestsi. Both are well worth the trip to Athos. Do make a reservation. When we left, the parking lot had people double parked waiting for a spot. read more

Athos - Veal Corfu - Greek Near Me - Albany, New York

My mother and I heard that Athos had new owners and we were curious to see if there were any menu changes. We ordered the Mezze Platter and everything was fresh and tasty. For entrees we got the lamb souvlaki and short ribs. Both meals were delicious. The service was great from our waiter Ali. The side dishes served the entrees have been improved, the lamb was served with a house salad and tasted like it had a lemon dressing, and my mother said the rice was better then she's ever had it at Athos previously. The only downside was that they are still not serving alcohol. read more

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Save time and money SKIP THIS PLACE- I miss the original owners!!! The food is tasteless or just bad. I had the chicken souvlaki. 6 small over cooked tasteless nuggets a 1/4 of a pepper and a slice of onion. Some rice and a salad that was just plain YUCK (I eat a TON of salads and never have I disliked one until now) this plate is over $30 because THERE ISNT A LUNCH MENU???? I was there at 12. The host... owner left us standing as he talked on the phone for a while... saying sorry? Then handed us off to a waiter to seat us anyway (we were the ONLY people in the restaurant all of lunch on a friday) so why did it matter where we sat and who did it??? So many questions but the only answer is DO NOT GO HERE! $47 later (tip and an ice tea included in that. Because no lunch menu and no refill on drink) I can not stress enough Stay Away. read more

I'm updating my prior review after a much less positive experience at Athos. As people who read my reviews know, it takes a truly Herculean effort (or absolutely no effort at all) to get anything less than five stars from me. Unfortunately, Athos recently entered that rarified air. Lowlights include: (1) the staff constantly hovering over the thermostat next to our table to lament that the dining room was a balmy 78-80 degrees; (2) my (admittedly poor) choice of the vegetarian sampler entree being no better than a hodgepodge of Trader Joe's appetizers on top of raw veggies; (3) waiting about 30 minutes for (the wrong) dessert; and (4) paying about $140 for this unpleasant and equally unfilling meal. read more

Usually both the service and the food at Athos is excellent. My fiancé and I were there on Friday and had an experience that if it were our first time, we would probably not go back. We made reservations which was easy and went well. We arrived at the restaurant and were seated immediately. The waiter came over fairly quickly and made some drink suggestions - we each got a cocktail which were very good. We placed our appetizer (Grilled Halloumi - very good and came out quick) and dinner orders - my fiancé ordered the Red Snapper and I ordered the whole Bronzino served filleted. We waited about an hour for our dinners until my fiancé's appeared and then it was over cooked. My entree took another 20 minutes before it came out. I have ordered the whole bronzino before and it is filleted after being cooked (which is what I was looking forward to). The 2 fillets of bronzino had grill marks meaning it was not cooked whole. Also, the 2 fillets were not even the same size so it likely did not even come from the same fish. It was very nicely cooked and tasted very good. It took so long to receive our orders that food came out for people who arrived after we ordered long before we were served. No one ever came by to ask if the food was to our satisfaction. The waiter did say that he would comp us dessert and we expected some choice. Instead he just brought us each a tiny piece of pistachio baklava. We ordered coffee to go with the baklava. The baklava and coffee were very good but the baklava was tiny - 1 bite. In short, I would hesitate before going there again. read more

Nice cozy and elegant dining room. The lamb was exquisite and Efe provided excellent service!

I was shopping in Albany and was looking for an authentic Greek restaurant. I found the restaurant Athos online and based off the pictures I saw, it was exactly what I was looking for. I got the chicken souvlaki entree, Penne alla Vodka, and the feta plate appetizer for $77. It was very pretty inside and more of a fancy restaurant if that's what you're looking for, they also offer takeout. I made a reservation prior so when I arrived I was seated immediately and the waiter gave good service. For the pasta dish the serving was a good size for $26. The serving for the chicken souvlaki dish was on the smaller side for $29, however, the food was fresh and delicious. If you were looking for an authentic Greek lunch or dinner this is definitely the place! read more

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I was looking for a good Greek restaurant in the area and one of my friends suggested Athos. As I drove up to the restaurant I was very impressed by the design and the blue lights, it looks really fancy from the outside. A host greets you as you walk in. There's a bar area (casual) and a separate dining area- which is much fancier. I like how they have these two options. The menu is a good size with some great appetizer options, Greeks specialties, soups, salads and some great seafood options as well. They bring out warm pita bread and some type of crushed olive spread. Not a fan of olives, but the pita was good. We got the grape leaves (meat and rice mixed) for an appetizer. I wasn't impressed. There wasn't much seasoning to the meat. I got the Shrimp Grekolimano which is jumbo shrimp simmered in a tomato, garlic, herb, and ouzo sauce with feta cheese. It comes with rice and veggies on the side. My food was great. He got the moussaka, again not much seasoning. We were a bit disappointed. I would come back to try some other dishes for sure. The service was also phenomenal. read more

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Service was excellent. Wine list was special and unique. Food was beautifully presented and oh so delicious. So generous in proportion that we had a second yummy meal at home. Perfect setting for a special evening out. read more

Excellent experience from unique cocktails served in beautiful tea cups, marvelous entrees, to delightful desserts. Varied and large selection of hot and cold appetizers, including the mezze platter, which included 5 yummy appetizers, pita bread, and a phenomenal tomato sauce on the side. Two companions raved about the lamb chops, the other was impressed with the freshness and flavor of the sea bass, and I enjoyed the best moussaka I've ever had. Truly fresh ingredients (most places boast freshness, but this was the first restaurant I finally tasted it--and without the boast!). Pistachio baklava, and complimentary desserts along with great conversation from the owner Ari were an unexpected delight, especially the cheese flambe. Service was fantastic throughout the evening. Very attentive and personable. The ambiance was pleasant with perfect lighting, music and interesting decor. Looking forward to visiting again, trying more of their phenomenal food and service. Worth the drive from Saratoga. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Albany, Athos is going to be one of the few things that I will miss when I have to leave. I discovered their DELICIOUS greek food during the pandemic, when takeout was a must - their "dinner for four" mixed beef/lamb gyro platters were a weekly must. Their pickup/takeout is SO EASY. While we are trapped inside no longer, the amazing service, fantastic food, and lovely space make me so happy that we're back to dining in person. I don't think I've ever ordered something I didn't absolutely love from here (and believe me, I've ordered a lot!). I love their spreads, especially the tirokafteri (spicy feta and red pepper), but the hummus and tzatziki also go well on anything and everything. Veggies always taste fresh. Portions are LARGE, and it's always a challenge not to fill up on the warm pita bread that comes with the spreads before diving into your meals. The gyros for me are the perfect blend of fresh veggies, spreads, PILES of meat (lamb is my fave!), all wrapped in the warm embrace fo the pita, but I've also fully enjoyed the Dolmathakia, the Moussaka (kind of like lasagna but with eggplants instead of noddles), and any of the pastas. Don't forget the baklava! Bonus Fun fact: Athos is owned by a badass Greek lady doctor who works in the Albany Med ICU. Happy belated women's day! read more

Food was amazing and very filling. The flavors were exceptional. The waiter, it was his first night waiting tables, he did an amazing job. He was very attentive even with how busy it was. The ambiance was very calm with touches of greek heritage and the see through floor into the wine cellar was a wonderful touch. I would highly recommend. read more

I had a wonderful experience, the food was amazing. They have the best pistachio baklava. Also can't get over the fig punch, it's a must try cocktail!! read more

New ownership has cut corners on food quality and increased prices. Not a fan anymore.

Highly recommend this place if you're looking for a fun place to go out with friends or on a date. They have an awesome menu of food and drinks. I wanted to try it all. Great tasting, authentic Greek food with very friendly service. Lamb chops, zucchini chips, and octopus were a must try!! read more

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To start let me say that my boyfriend and I went to this restaurant a few years ago and haven't stopped thinking about it since. We came in for this wonderful meal on Valentines Day 2022, and will again be leaving daydreaming of Athos restaurant. Our appetizers -pikilia & lamb lollipops- were absolutely delicious. The Sampler tray of dips gave a variety of cool lemony flavor in the tzatziki to spicy and rich flavor in the tirokafteri, and the lamb lollipops were perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. Our main dishes were equally as delicious, and provided a distinct fresh taste (especially in the seafood pasta). On one of the busiest nights of the year, Athos left no room to disappoint, the service was fast, friendly and satisfying. We look forward to our next visit tremendously. read more

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Food was great, service was not! Soy sauce chicken was flavorful and excellent. It's spendy and no refills on drinks read more

The staff seemed frantic and very unorganized. we had a reservation and ended up being looked over until we reminded them we were still there 25 minutes later. The seating was way too close, could not have a conservation without interrupting others dinners or vice versa. very uncomfortable. Food was well presented but undercooked and tasteless. read more

The appetizers were my favorite part of the meal in my opinion. Calamari was nicely portion of crunchy batter and squid. The mussels were plentiful to share between 6 people, well cooked and seasoned. The 3 lamb lollipops were huge but $38, large portion, delicious, not worth the price though. The market price fish was not worth $32 at all. It didn't taste anything special, my mom can cook the same so I wasn't happy with the cost for restaurant grilled fish. I was a fan of the sides of potatoes, green beans, red bell pepper that came with the meat entree. read more

My husband and I love Mediterranean food. That being said, we are no strangers to it. We were excited to try this place since we visit the area for military training once a month. We ordered the chicken souvlaki, beef souvlaki, side of hummus. For starters, I will say this, my husband and I both agree that although the steak and chicken were cooked perfectly, the flavor was missing. No marinade would say, more like salt and a few dry seasoning. We were given rice although I asked for the lemon potatoes instead. The rice tasted like pure butter or grease which completely over powered it. I couldn't eat it. The lemon potatoes tasted like someone just squeezed a lemon over them and no other flavor. I make Greek/Mediterranean lemon potatoes all the time from scratch and I promise you, they taste a million times better. The hummus was ok. Just ok. It tasted like it had waaay too much cumin or coriander in it. The pitas were just ok nothing special. They did taste a little greasy like butter or oil was put on them. The salad would have been ok if the dressing wasn't absolutely horrible. No flavor just pure oil. Couldn't eat the salad. Either someone just poured the top of the dressing where the oil rests on top into my container or the dressing is just purely oil. So basically for 2 souvlakis chicken & beef, with a side of hummus came to $80. We both agree not worth the price. I wouldn't order again. We're petty loyal customers when we love the food or even just "like" the food. I was hoping we found our spot for Mediterranean food in the albany area however, not the case. Bummer. read more

This is a fine Greek family restaurant which I have patronized several times, including most recently to celebrate my girlfriend's mom's 75th birthday. The food is delicious, healthy Mediterranean, fresh from the fields and the ocean, and the ambiance is both elegant and comfortable. We had a marinated roasted beet and cherry tomato salad and bread with a spicy pepper sauce for appetizers, with their Frassasas cocktail (bourbon, fig purée, sassafras bitters). If you prefer a gin cocktail, I have enjoyed their Santorini tonic(Greek gin, soursop purée, tonic). Our main entrees included Fish Plaki (baked red snapper), Moussaka, and grilled pork chop. And since it was a birthday celebration, we were treated to traditional laukoumathes (also known as honey balls) on the house for dessert. read more

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Loved our supper at Athos. Delicious authentic greek food that came out very fast! The appetizers lamb and octopus were very good, then the main dish moussaka was sooooo yummy and comforting. Finally the dessert was just was wonderful as all the rest of the food! We tried the kunefe and it was soo original...we never had it before. On the bonus side, Ali (waiter) gave free loukoumathe for my husband's birthday. read more

Athos - Kunefe - Greek Near Me - Albany, New York

I don't know what's happened to this place but it's gone way downhill. The food is subpar at best and incredibly overpriced. Their drink menu and wine options have dwindled to practically nothing worthwhile. We expected it to be incredibly busy on one of the first finally warm nights of the season and were met with an almost empty dining room. There was no ambiance and somehow nothing we ordered came out as expected. Its as if nothing is made in house anymore. Won't be back. read more

Excellent clean food! Great service with a smile. This is a monthly staple for us, if not more often. We are working our way around the menu. You can't go wrong with all the fish entree's! read more

NOTE: This is a review of our visit in October. Even under the new management, we had a wonderful dinner on Christmas Night, so we stand by everything we said here! We had a "do over anniversary dinner" at Athos when our originally chosen restaurant was, first to last, an unmitigated disaster. It was a very busy evening, but the coffered ceilings and strategically placed screens kept the noise level very tolerable. Our table was again tucked in a corner, but this was completely different from The Other Place -- tablecloth as opposed to bare table, and fully set. Service was impeccable. Our waiter was "cheerfully conspiratorial" in terms of what mysterious ingredient I was tasting in a dish (I'm a cook, and discussing the ins and outs of a presentation is part of the fun of a restaurant for me). He had thoughtful suggestions on how to make the most of our meal choices, and managed to find the sweet spot in being both attentive and unobtrusive, assuring that we were happy and well looked after. The meal -- from my husband's amazing potato and caramelized red onion soup to the thin-as-a-whisper marinated zucchini chips we shared (not a bit greasy and still full of juicy zucchini flavor), his moussaka and my vegetarian plate (with an eggplant rola, brilliant stuffed grape leaves that were NOT like your usual soggy mess but cigar-length crispy delights, and fabulous spaknikopita) were just glorious. The tiniest downside was that they were OUT of the desserts that we'd been hoping for. But the place was full, so it was understandable. read more