I love the vibe of this place! I have gone over the weekends and they have someone that plays a guitar and drums and people start dancing! It's awesome! So festive. Food is great - they have the flaming cheese, which is exquisite. People are so welcoming when you come to this place - they have 2 other restaurants on Ocean Ave and all 3 of them have incredible food. read more

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Live music on Saturday night! It's pretty loud for those that might be sound sensitive, and also very interactive. They really encourage you to get up and dance! For starters, our party of eight shared the fried calamari, dolmas, baba ghanoush, and fried cheese. The fried cheese is fired up table side and is quite a sight to see! It's also very tasty. Loved the extreme smoky flavor on the baba ghanoush too. My fiancé and I split the grilled roasted vegetable salad. We were surprised the spinach was lightly sautéed to a wilt, but actually really enjoyed it. We also ordered the special of the day the veal chops: 3 chops cooked medium rare as requested with au gratin potatoes and a big helping of veggies. I wasn't a fan of the sauce that came with the lamb. I did like the potatoes and the carrots and string beans were fresh and cooked perfectly al dente. The rest of the table got some variation of skewers or salad and the consensus was all the skewers (chicken and beef) were dry. My SIL did say the salmon on the Caesar salad was cooked very well though. The entree portions are very healthy! We didn't have room for dessert, but our server made sure we got a little sampler baklava which was a perfectly sweet way to end the meal. Pricy, but what you'd expect in Carmel. Reservations highly recommended! Tons of parties on the waitlist hanging out outside for a table. Street parking only. read more

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Food is really quite nice as well as the service. Usually busy but generally a table can be found. The thing that did irritate me was, they provide suggested tip amounts that are based on not only the food but also the almost 10% sales tax. And the 3% amount for credit card into the calculation. Just a pet peeve of mine when a restaurant sets their software up like this. read more

Came during a coast trip and I'm so sad that I don't live close to this place. The food was unbelievable! Everything was so delicious and the inside of the restaurant was so cute too. All the staff were very friendly and even brought my fiancé baklava for his birthday! All the seats are pretty close together, but it has a family-style comfort to it from the staff to the food. I'll be dreaming of the Spanakopita! read more

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Don't overthink it, get the Lamb Shank. They spend 6 hours braising it so you know it's a labor of love. I am not even really a "lamb guy" but the meat was tender and fell off the bone. Service was great. Ambiance was a nice little corner spot with ocean breezes and a lot of people watching. Feels very European. read more

Dametra Cafe - Greek Style Lamb Shank braised for 6 hours - Greek Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

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I came to Dametra Cafe for lunch with my family on a Saturday during Monterey Car Week. It was very busy, but we were seated immediately with our party of six. The restaurant had a very cool vibe and looked very interesting, although it was really crowded and the tables were very close together. The ambiance itself still felt pretty special. We started with the Demetra Royal combination appetizer, which included hummus, spanakopita, dolmas, and baba ganoush. It was a great way to try a nice variety of things. I especially liked the baba ganoush, which was very tasty, and the hummus was also great. For the main, we ordered the Greek chicken kebab. The rice was nothing special and tasted like standard Mediterranean rice, but it was a little too wet for my liking. The chicken itself was very dry, and for the price, it did not feel worth it. It was way too expensive for what we got, especially considering the quality. The service was really nice, and they gave us complimentary baklava that was very tasty. read more

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Went here on a Monday night after 9pm, it was lively and energetic with live music. Cozy dim vibe, food was absolutely amazing with a huge variety of Mediterranean options. They gave us a complimentary dessert to. Very reasonable prices think we only spent a little over 100$ on dinner. Would definitely come back here to try other dishes read more

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Great lunch spot Stopped by here for lunch after a drive down to Carmel. The place was pretty crowded for a weekend lunch but we were able to get seated at the bar right away. Unfortunately, they don't take reservations after noon. We tried their Chicken Shawarma Sandwich and Kofta Kebab Wrap. The meat was juicy and well sauced, wrapped in in toasty bread. The portion ended up being pretty hefty and was barely able to finish. Supposedly they have live music here at night (walked by here once in the evening), will probs come back and check it out. read more

Dametra Cafe - Greek Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

Dametra Cafe is a pan-Mediterranean restaurant right in the downtown area of Carmel. We passed by one evening and it was completely full with a line waiting outside. So we decided to stop by for lunch the next day after a nice hike along the beach so we were quite hungry, which is a good thing because the servings are quite hearty. The meal started with some very nice bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Along with a couple glasses of local sparkling wine. I ordered the lamb kebabs and my partner ordered a Greek salad. The lamb kebabs were served with s Greek salad, rice pilaf, Tzatziki sauce and warm pita bread, The Greek Salad was also served with Tzatziki sauce and pita bread. I have to say that all elements of the meal were over the top excellent, down to the wonderful Tzatziki sauce. It was a fabulous meal. We were too sated to order a dessert and were brought a couple of small pieces of baklava to finish the meal. Service was warm and professional. Highly recommended! read more

Dametra Cafe - Lamb Skewers - Greek Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

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This is my first visit to this Turkish/ Mediterranean restaurant. I am very impressed. It is highly recommended by friends . At the front entrance there was many awards from the Monterey county and The Carmel Pine Cone . The ambience is full of vibrant colors and pretty roof decorations and lamps . Bright yellow table clothed with light blue embroidery. Great serve with the waiter and the manager lady checked on every table during lunch. We were seated promptly with our reservation. Tried their Turkish coffee which was full of aroma of the spices and very rich . I absolutely love it ! The Gyro was filled with lots of meta with cream cheese and salad . It tastes excellent. Price wa $20.95 . We also ordered the Istanbul kabab with charcoal boiled ground beef skewers , served over rice pilaf with lavash bread . It was seasoned with tomato and Turkish spices with a side salad . Portion was big and we got a to go box for the left over. Food was absolutely delicious. We were too full to order the dessert and the manager gave us dessert on the house . Highly recommended this restaurant and would like to comeback to try their lamb shank and paella . The bar counter lights up in an old world mysterious way , filled with their many wine collections . read more

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We were in town for a wedding and staying at a hotel up the street. We walked around and decided to check out Dametra Cafe. It's a charming little place. We were seated after about a fifteen minute wait. Our server was very kind and helpful. We ordered a couple orders of Jerusalem Kofta Kebab Wraps, the Dametra Royal Combination, the Moroccan Mint Tea. Our lunch was very tasty. Perfect amount of herbs and spices in the grilled beef. The Baba Ghanouge was delicious. The bread and olive oil was tasty as well. Let's circle back to that Moroccan Mint Tea. It is a hot tea made with love!! There's a tea bag with lots of fresh mint leaves! OH MY!! It was AMAZING!! Overall, we enjoyed our meal. We would like to try other menu options the next time in town. This area of town is very charming. This is an off street parking. You might have to park a block away. read more

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Dametra Cafe is a Mediterranean restaurant in Carmel-By-The-Sea. There's street parking nearby and plenty of indoor seating. The ambiance inside is eclectic, charming, and comfortable, good for small groups of 2-4 people or a family. The service was a bit slow, but our waiter was kind. They brought out the bread first, which paired well with the oil/balsamic mixture. Then, we ordered the Dametra Royal Combination, the Greek Combination platter, and the chicken shawarma sandwich. The Royal combination platter was good for sharing and gave me the chance to try all the appetizers that I was craving. The tzatziki and hummus were my favorite thing on the table overall. However, the dolmas were a bit too salty and the spanakopita was a bit soggy. The combination platter had well cooked lamb and a salad with hummus and pita. The lamb was a bit bland, but had a tender texture and was a sizable portion. The chicken shawarma sandwich was also a bit bland and difficult to eat since the outside was too hard. However, the waiters gave us free baklava when they saw we didn't really finish our meals. Overall, the prices were expensive, but the portions and ambiance were good. If you're looking for a Mediterranean meal while at Carmel-By-the-Sea, Dametra is a good option. read more

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Everything we ordered here was AMAZING! Haven't had Greek food like this since I left NY. Great hummus, chicken shawarma, salads, falafel, and fresh pita. Service was fast and helpful. read more

Hands down the best dining experience I had during my California road trip up the coast. Stopped in here around 7:30 hoping to get a spot at the bar but they had a wait so I put my name down on the list and they texted me about a half hour later. I was seated at a corner spot at the bar, very cramped I will say. It was tough getting in and out of my bar stool without taking up the peoples space next to me. However that's really the only negative I have to say about this place. The restaurant itself was beautiful, like I said, small bar but big dining area. They had a mocktail menu which I loved, the drink was delicious. They started me off with bread and olive oil, it was so delicious. Their menu looked insane, true mediterranean cuisine. I ordered the grilled roasted vegetable salad with grilled chicken. It came with eggplant, zucchini, spinach, bell peppers, roasted pine nuts and feta cheese. I could not believe my eyes when the dish came out. Not only was it beautiful, it was enormous. The salad was not cheap it was about $37, which for a salad, I know, insane BUT we were in a prime tourist destination spot, the salad was the best thing I ate during my entire trip and the experience was seriously unbeatable and super special. The bartender was so nice, made conversation told me the whole story about the restaurant and how everyone is family. I loved that. A couple was celebrating their anniversary and some of the employees were singing to the table but then the singing turned into about 15 minutes of something that my words wouldn't come close to describing you would need to visit this restaurant and see for yourself. Instruments, singing, dancing, the workers broke out in song and dance, the bartender came over to me grabbed my hand and before I knew it, I was dancing, everyone was up out of their seats, mid dinner service, dancing, swaying, clapping to the music, it was unreal. It was the coolest experience, I felt like family and it was my first time dining here. It doesn't get better than this place. They also brought me out a complimentary dessert which was sensational. Just loved it, loved it all. read more

Seated right away, very warm atmosphere, great service... however the food was not good. Seriously SKIP THE CALAMARI . We were served dry, tough, chewy bland, deep fried... something. But it was not calamari. The spanakopita we were served was so dry it seemed mummified. The impromptu song and dance was fun. read more

We came on a Sunday late lunch and were seated pretty quickly after getting added to the waitlist. The staff are incredibly nice and attentive. Lamb shank: lamb was so tender, the meat easily fell off the bone. The potato side was delicious and creamy. The whole dish was just so yummy overall. Moussaka: this was one of our favorite dishes in Greece so we were very excited to see it offered here. The moussaka comes out a lot bigger than it looks in pictures, which is a pleasant surprise. The layers went together beautifully and the meat was so flavorful. Lamb kabobs: this was our favorite dish. We asked for the lamb cooked medium and it came out just as requested. the seasoning on the lamb was also delicious. The kabob size was also a generous portion of meat. Baklava: they gave us a complimentary mini baklava dessert per person. It was warm, flaky, and the perfect ending to our meal! We loved the vibes at this restaurant overall and would recommend it to our friends! The prices also felt pretty reasonable for Carmel, especially considering the portion sizes and how well executed everything was. read more

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The food is good, service is medium and the ambiance was good and after you eat here you will be healthy and happy read more

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Went in for dinner and a party happened! Great food. Awesome service and FUN FUN FUN with live music and dancing breaking out! read more

Our group of 4 ordered: Hummus + Pita bread, Greek salad (not pictured), Grilled chicken kebab, Grilled salmon, and Greek Yogurt with honey and walnuts for dessert! The owner was so kind and let us try the baklava!! It was soo delicious so it's a must get!!! Each entree is about $35-40, but definitely enough to share among 2 people (with an appetizer ;)) The waiters were kind enough to have us choose which window table to sit at. Our group entered about 10 minutes after lunch opening on a Friday so there was space but if you're planning on coming around peak times, it does get busier so I would get a reservation just in case. I can see weekends being much busier. read more

Dametra Cafe - Greek Chicken Kebab, Grilled Salmon - Greek Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

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We had such a wonderful dining experience at Dametra Café on our weekend trip to Carmel! The food was so delicious and the ambience was so lovely. It felt like a cozy intimate vibe and we even got up halfway through our meal to dance with everyone!!! Super fun memorable spot for when you're visiting Carmel! read more

Dametra Cafe - Greek Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

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My favorite Mediterranean spot in Carmel by the Sea, its super delicious, inviting, great customer service, and over the last decade, we have had it to go to enjoy by the beach or at the restaurant. Will definitely be back. read more

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My wife and I had an early dinner today at Dametra. We've been looking forward to trying this restaurant with the favorable Yelp reviews and the locals feedback we've heard since we moved to the area. Our experience was pretty good, with some highs and lows. Here are a few of my observations: We arrived to a restaurant half filled. We were greeted warmly and seated in the section where all the tables were filled to make it easier on the service team. Tables were pretty close together...a little too cozy for my taste. Our server took about 5 minutes to greet us. Since we had plenty of time to look over the menu, we went ahead and ordered our appetizer, main, and two glasses of local Folktale sparkling rose. The sparkling wine was not chilled properly. Hmmm...that's a poor start to our meal. Food: we started with the flaming halloumi (5/5). Great flambé service to the table. Crispy edges and salty mild cheese. Great start to the food. For our entree, we shared the Greek combination plate (4/5). The grilled chicken was moist and flavorful. The gyro meat was overcooked and dry...but had decent flavor. The taziki and hummus were very tasty, as well as the rice. All in all, the food was pretty darn good. Service: pretty disappointing to be honest. Besides never checking back with us after our appetizer and entree was delivered, I had to ask twice and flag our server down to get some red pepper flakes. There must have been a shift change, as a new server checked on us as we were finishing our meal. We appreciated our new attentive, proactive, and friendly server helping us at the end of our meal. The surprise and highlight of the meal was the complimentary bite of baklava (7/5). More cinnamon than I'm used to in a very good way. Loved it! Not sure I'll be back to Dametra anytime soon. However, I would absolutely stop in for a plate of that baklava! Amazing!! read more

We came here for dinner around 5pm or so. Was able to find street parking down the street for two hours, which gave us plenty of time to order and eat, given that when we went there was no wait time. We got the Prawn Pasta a la Cream and the Greek Style Lamb Shank with rice. I think the Prawn Pasta really outshone the Lamb. It was extremely creamy and flavorful and the Prawns were huge. They were tender and juicy at the same time and matched incredibly with the sauce and the little bits of sourness and tang from the tomatoes. We also liked the Lamb Shank, it was super flavorful with all the spices and tender, but unfortunately it tasted quite gamey even with all the sauce and the rice. read more

Dametra Cafe - Greek Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

I went to get a sandwich at the Deli. Unfortunately the hours here are area for the supermarket only. Therefore the deli wasn't open. I hope I can go back and try it again another time. read more

I went to Dametra Cafe for lunch. I had the Jerusalem Kofta Kebab Wrap $21.95. Seasoned ground beef grilled wrapped in Lavash bread and topped with tomatoes, lettuce, and a classic Tzatziki sauce. Served with Greek Salad. Food was fresh and tasty! Portion size was quite big. My hubby got a bowl of clam chowder $14.95. It was creamy and had lots of clams. Complimentary fresh warm bread was served with olive oil & balsamic vinegar. We were also treated to a complimentary small baklava with whipped cream for dessert. Restaurant was clean and service was quick. I would love to make Dametra Cafe a regular stop on my travels to Carmel. Note: Using credit card incurs an additional 3.5% charge. read more

Dametra Cafe - Jerusalem Kofta Kebab Wrap $21.95 - Greek Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

Such a great caf ! Delicious food, wonderful atmosphere, and very friendly service. If you're planning to come in the evening, definitely make a reservation in advance read more

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I just got back from an 8-night vacation to the Carmel/Monterey area and when friends ask me how the food was on the trip, I tell them about this place first! I grew up eating a lot of Greek food in the Detroit area and the food at Dametra was authentic and absolutely delicious! As a solo traveler, I got a seat at the bar right away in an otherwise very busy restaurant. The staff was so friendly and attentive. They really went above and beyond to make me feel welcome. The live music really added to the ambiance and it was great how the musicians had most of the patrons dancing in the aisles. I've never even experienced that in Detroit's "Greek Town" neighborhood. I ordered the Greek plate and everything on it was *chef's kiss*‍. I was full so I declined when asked if I'd like dessert, but to my surprise, they brought me a small piece of baklava on the house. It was a couple bites of some of the best baklava I've ever had. If you're in the area, definitely enjoy a meal at Dametra. They make you feel like family. read more

Dametra Cafe - Greek Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

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My husband and I came back after first visiting five years ago on our wedding day, and we had such an amazing experience! From the hostess at the front to our waiter, the Haitian cook in the back, Alex, and the Egyptian owner who actually remembered us from five years ago everyone was wonderful. My husband had the lamb, which was incredibly tender and juicy. I had the moussaka, which I would describe as a delicious Greek lasagna. Both dishes were flavorful and absolutely delicious. We would highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely be back again! read more

Dametra Cafe - Greek Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

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Overall a cute little spot in downtown Carmel by the Sea but I'm not sure if I'd recommend. We stopped in for an early dinner and the restaurant was semi busy. Upon sitting down I did a double take at the menu prices. I get it's a slightly pricier area but the $38 for a gyro plate made us consider whether or not the portions were huge so we should split it. After looking at photos online, we ordered the hummus to start and each ordered gyro plates. The hummus was ok but grittier than I prefer. The gyro plate was overall decent --the meat was tasty and tender but the rice fell flat. The salad and tzatziki were standard but didn't blow us away. There were tiny pieces of complimentary baklava for dessert. Overall, the food and service was fine but the prices were crazy for the quality and portions. I also understand there is live music sometimes but we didn't get to experience it. read more

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This restaurant lived up to its hype. I came on a Sunday lunch and was able to be seated quickly. I got the Istanbul kebab which was cooked well and flavorful. It came with a side of seasoned rice and salad. My family got the gyro which was equally delicious. We also got the Turkish coffee which was aromatic and brewed in the traditional way. Loved the decor of the entire restaurant and the area overall felt very clean. The waiters were super attentive and helpful and the manager stopped by every table to check on on the guests. I was very impressed and excited to return next time I am in Carmel by the sea. read more

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Had a really nice dinner here with friends. Very nice staff Grilled vegetables salad with chicken: 5/5. Delicious. The roasted bell peppers really made this dish. Triple chocolate fudge cake: 4.5/5. Very chocolately but not too sweet. Really well done. read more

Absolutely spectacular service and food. Some of the best Mediterranean food we have ever had. The vibes of the restaurant are also amazing- we got even luckier with live music and dancing. Highly recommend! read more

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Ambiance is top tier. The live music is so much fun and staff encourages everyone to get up to dance. Never seen that before. As for food, it was not super memorable as the music. Clam chowder was decent, but a bit watery. Lamb shank was okay..seasoning was mostly masked with a lamb sauce (which also wasn't noteworthy). The vegetables that come as a side were steamed and over salted. The potatoes au gratin was more enjoyable than the almond crusted halibut. I don't see us returning to order these items again because it's a hefty price for okay food. However, the staff and live music were memorable so at least it has that going for them. Probably the only nightlife vibe you'll get in Carmel! read more

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We came here on a weekend day in the early afternoon and were far from impressed. We ordered the hummus and pita, the spanakopita, the shrimp pasta, the halibut, and two mocktails. Honestly everything was disappointing except for the spanakopita, which was at least crispy and flaky as we are used to. But the mocktails were watered down and you're better off getting a soda -- my partners mango drink had no mango to be found while my orange drink was not really tangy at all. We felt the same about our entrees. The shrimp and pasta had little flavor and though my partner could barely finish most of it, he didn't want it for later either. The almond-crusted halibut had very little flavor and was also on the dry side. For some pretty pricy entrees, we would have expected more flavor. The hummus was also just standard and a little strong for my tastes. The meal also came with complimentary warm bread and bak lava, which was nice. What was annoying is that people kept coming to pick up our dishes while we were still eating. We had to tell them multiple times that we weren't finished and when I was too busy reviewing the receipt they actually took away our unfinished bak lava that we were still working on. It was not pleasant and very annoying. The tables are also small and cramped especially toward the front of the restaurant. They also charge a "credit card" price which is like an extra 3.5% as if the prices were not already high. We spent about $182 all told and were far from satisfied with our meal. We will not be returning. read more

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Came on a Sunday night and it was very lively with the live music and the dancing! If you go while there's live music, you will be forced to stand up and dance along so beware. I got the greek style lamb shank (4/5) and it was good! I wanted to try out lamb and this was well cooked and seasoned well. My boyfriend got the combination platter and he also thought it was good. Service was good and the ambience is nice. Nice place to try out :) read more

Dametra Cafe - Greek Style Lamb Shank - Greek Near Me - Carmel-By-The-Sea, California

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Well I'm Greek this is not a Greek restaurant it has several Greek dishes that are below average The attraction is, this guy comes out plays his guitar an other guys play these drums they get get everyone up clapping lots of energy fun .. food I rate a 3 the music isn't even Greek. I m first generation grew up going to Greece all my life parents from Greece mom a phenomenal cook. This food was not even close read more

I was in Carmel celebrating a friend's birthday and this is such a fun little spot with a vibe! Well we definitely helped make it more of a vibe! lol They play live music and we all got up to dance and even did a congo line through the restaurant. The only complaint I have is that it was soo hot! California had a heat wave while we were there, but oh my I wish we could have opened up a window or something as it felt very stuffy! We ordered family style and everything was so yummy. The mussels were really good. I was hesitant to order lamb because I always find it to be gamey at restaurants, but oh my it was definitely delicious and one of my favorite dishes of the night! The service was great, everyone was so nice and attentive! Even when we were leaving they tried to lure us back in with music! read more

Finally decided to stop by to give Dametra Cafe! Charming mediterranean restaurant with a wide varieties of large portion dishes! We order the Mediterranean combo and the Cioppino both was enjoyed ! Staff are attentive and thank you for the free baklava desserts ! Definetly coming back when we are in Carmel again read more

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The food here was genuinely disappointing. The seafood in my seafood pasta tasted like a frozen seafood mix that had just been cooked in a pan, and the "sauce" was basically watery seafood juice. Because of that, the pasta ended up really bland. The bread served with it was more like a cheesy flatbread--tasty enough, but not what I expected. We also tried the chicken skewers, but the chicken was extremely dry. We were drinking lots of water just to get through that plate, though the sauce that came with it was good. The calamari was one of the better dishes--fried well with large pieces of squid, but the batter could've used more seasoning. On the positive side, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with live music that adds a nice touch. Service was decent, and they even brought out complimentary pieces of baklava, which was thoughtful. That said, with entrées around $40 each, the quality and flavor of the food felt far below expectations. Given the high ratings, I left feeling very disappointed. read more

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Wow what a popular place! Every time we walked by it was packed!! We had a reservation for brunch and it was a great experience! We got a Dametra Royal Combination to share and it came with so much spread and bread to share! Would recommend as an app. I got the veggie plate and it was good! Came with many different elements so it was nice to taste a bit of everything. They also had a lot of wraps that looked yum! Our server was so nice too and got us a plate of baklava to try at the end which was the perfect amount to end the meal! read more

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