And April 12, I had a birthday party dinner at Elia, after making these reservations for pa party pf 10 over a week before, I confirmed my reservations by email, and 6 phones calls from the restaurant. I was told I would be charged if I missied the reservation as well. Day of dinner, my party arrived at Elia 20 mins ealry and was still told they couldnt sit down. In that time the restaurant decided to let another party sit at my reserved table instead. Finally arriving myself ( still 5 mins to soare before reservation) I see my entire family standing in the middle of the restaurant. ( Only black family in the entire building of course) after questioning the fron door person she told me shes trying to get a table and wait at the bar?! 35 mins later my family was seated. Thinking I would have an apology for the miscommunication, I had to request my own birthday desert as they gave a lit candelr and song to guest around. And yes the restaurant knew it was my birthday they even had the menus changed. I go to this restaurant a lot so im still very upset how my family and I were treated and I bullied down to confirm my reservations multiple times. Overall. This is my last time at Elia. I hope this is reviewed and Elia updates their customer service. Thank you to the waiter who did her best with so many issuesz -Kiarra R. read more

If you want the authentic Greek experience, fly to Greece. But if you're craving delicious Greek food closer to home, head over to Elia in Walnut Creek, it might just save you the cost of a plane ticket while still amazing your taste buds. We started with the crispy zucchini appetizer, which was the perfect crunchy beginning to the meal. The salad was light and refreshing, and the burrata with figs was a sweet and surprisingly delicious combination, not something I would normally order, but absolutely worth trying. For our entrée, we shared the chicken skewers with rice and salad, and it was more than enough for two girls reminiscing about our fun college days. The atmosphere and décor were vibrant and inviting, especially sitting outside on a gorgeous sunny day. Parking was easy with a nearby garage, or if you're lucky, you can grab street parking. We skipped dessert only because we had our eyes set on bundt cakes down the street, but I'm sure the desserts here are just as wonderful. This is the perfect spot for fresh food, good vibes, and a relaxing afternoon or evening. There's even a theater nearby, making it a great dinner-and-a-movie destination all within walking distance. I loved the food, the customer service was excellent, and I cannot wait to return. Thank you, Elia! read more

ELIA - Chicken skewers - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

We had an amazing time here! The vibe is great--lively but still quiet enough to easily talk. We mentioned we were celebrating a special occasion in our reservation, and the staff paid so much attention to us and made it feel really special. The food was absolutely delicious. We ordered the coconut ceviche, calamari, and paella, and every single dish was a hit. The drinks were amazing, too! Highly recommend this spot, especially if you're celebrating something! read more

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Was in downtown Walnut Creek for lunch and decided to check out ELIA. They have a gorgeous interior that transports you to Greece. I love the wall of all the built in shelves. The food was good, we ordered the lamb chops and the seafood paella. Both were cooked well and had a lot of flavor. read more

Elia went above and beyond to ensure an excellent birthday dinner! Everyone that we interacted with was incredibly kind. We were seated and given personalized menus (that said happy birthday on them). I highly recommend the coconut ceviche (it even comes in a half coconut). We had the paella (the lobster on top was quite impressive) and the beef. The cocktails were delicious! We loved the tequila cocktails. The coconut cake was delicious! We will definitely be back! The restaurant was fun and nicely decorated! Food was excellent and service was also excellent! read more

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This meal was fantastic. Bread is really good 10/10 olive oil dip has whole olives. The pikilia sampler, god bless America. The review is for the tahini, that's a 30/10 tahini. Take my money please. Chicken souvlaki 10/10 skewers were cooked perfectly, seasoned well, more tahini (: couscous was good. Bucatini astakos 10/10 bucatini's my fav Italian noodle, the seafood stew/soup/sauce was extremely flavorful. Service is good, seated at rush hour with no reservation, host at the front was amazing! read more

ELIA - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I took a bunch of clients here for dinner the other day. I made a reservation for 6, and was very pleased with the location selected for the table. We ordered a host of appetizers, everything was prepared well and the appetizers came out at the appropriate time. Tried the - RIBLETS (ARNISIA PLEVRAKIA) $19.00 Slow-braised lamb riblets, lemon-garlic-oregano (4 out of 5 stars) - SPANAKOPITA $13.00 Spinach, feta, leeks wrapped in phyllo dough (4 out of 5) - SPICY HTIPITI $12.00 Roasted bell pepper, lemon juice, walnut, feta, pita (5 out of 5 stars) - DOLMATHES $15.00 Chilled grape leaves stuffed with rice, pine nuts, currant, fresh herbs (5 out of 5) For mains, I went with the lamb shank. The portion was medium, definitely not large. Ordered several bottles of wine, all of which were marked up about 100%. Service was OK, I was expecting a bit more, and since we had 6 people, 20% was automatically added to the tip. Wasn't thrilled by that automatic tip for average service. All in all, nice vibe, service lacked a little but, all things considered a solid 4 star restaurant. Not terribly cheap, but you are in Walnut Creek. read more

Came to Elia in Walnut Creek with a group of five to celebrate a birthday and had an amazing experience from start to finish. When I made the reservation on OpenTable, they actually reached out ahead of time asking for the birthday name and even printed it on the menu. Such a thoughtful touch! Service was outstanding all night, and the food absolutely delivered. The filet mignon souvlaki was tender and flavorful, and the sea bass was cooked to perfection super crispy! Later in the evening, the DJ even gave our table a birthday shout-out, which really elevated the whole night. Great service, great food, and a fun, energetic atmosphere. Highly recommend for birthdays or special occasions. read more

ELIA - Souvlaki - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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A really cute Greek restaurant with well-prepared Greek fare. The Pikilia appetizer dish, with its assortment of dips and pita bread, was a great way to start the menu. The lobster tail bucatini and filet mignon soulvaki were both delicious. I'd highly recommend trying both dishes. They've got some really fun cocktails, including an electric blue-colored one (a bit fruity) where they blow aromatic bubbles onto the surface. Playful presentation. read more

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My experience was severely tarnished by the extremely rude and condescending security personnel. The overall atmosphere felt profoundly unwelcoming, and I cannot recommend this establishment. read more

ELIA - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I heard Elia had a DJ on Friday nights & this restaurant had been on my to do list for a while now. The ambiance of this place is nice. The DJ played Greek music (not infused w/R&B). The vibes are definitely fun & would be great for a bday celebration (Beware you will get a lot of attention w/high bright spot light on you). The service was good but way too damn fast. The second they see you aren't touching your food or you look more than 50% done they will grab your plate lol blink twice and it will be gone lol. I had to say something the 3rd time. We laughed about it and everything was good. On the business side I get it (keep the place clean, tables clear, business flowing, kitchen doesn't fall behind, etc). The food was good and the drinks were amazing Downside - This place is a little too loud for me. All that noise non stop was too much for me especially after work on a Friday night. Will I return... Sure when? Idk but I do know it will before the DJ arrives that's for sure read more

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Met here for a business lunch and since it was a beautiful day, sat outside. We started with mock tails, both of which were pretty in looks and very tasty! We shared some fried olives and spanakopita. One had the mushroom risotto and one had the keftedes. We finished the meal with the mango mousse. The olives are crispy and salty and stuffed with peppers. The keftedes were flavorful but a bit dense. My colleague throughly enjoyed the risotto and we were both in love with the mango mousse! Service was fast and friendly and both the indoor and outdoor spaces felt bright and light. read more

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Beautiful modern Greek restaurant for a special night out. We went here for date night and it was a total hit! It's such a cute spot with very attentive service and the food was delicious and presented so beautifully, it was definitely picture perfect! They have a fun drink menu with a long list of mocktails, which I really appreciate. I got the "Nectar of the Gods" and it was a fun fruity, no -alcoholic drink. The decor was fresh, young, and very relaxing. I'd definitely recommend this spot for a fun night out with good food and good, upbeat vibes. read more

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The ambiance is vibrant and modern with a beautiful Mediterranean vibe. The energy in the room really sets the tone for a great evening. The food was fresh and full of flavor. read more

ELIA - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

No doubt this is the best Greek food in the area! Any item on the menu is a banger, and the staff is so friendly. It's great for large parties, where we have hosted celebration and birthday dinners. They also have an area upstairs that is more secluded for these type types of event events. The decor makes you feel like you are in a Greek oasis, with very unique cocktails, using Greek liquor, something you won't find at other Greek restaurants. On the weekends, the restaurant does turn into a club with live music, and it does get packed, though you could always head to the bar, but that gets packed too! Definitely recommend reservations during the weekends! read more

Came her for day after Valentines dinner to celebrate our love and hopefully closing on a house this week. We decided to go all out and treat ourselves to a lovely dinner. This is definitely more of a romantic or special occasion place. They had a cute balloon/valentines back drop near the entrance. Great photo spot. We each had a cocktail. They are around $20 or less. So not too expensive. I had an evil eye and he had a Manhattan. I almost felt like the evil eye had a little too many things in the mix.. But overall, you could taste the alcohol and you could taste some fruitiness. We had two appetizers, the flaming Greek cheese and the octopus. He really liked the octopus. It wasn't quite my taste. But, a lot of places don't have octopus so you might as well get it and try it while they have it. The flaming Greek cheese is a great show. For our main dishes, we had the lamb shank and the lobster paella. The meat dish was out of the world. A definite must. The lobster was good, but not overwhelmingly good. The service was fast and friendly. I will say that the bathroom that I entered was dirty, it was lacking toilet paper, it just looked like they didn't care. For how nice and expensive this restaurant is, they need to put more effort into their bathroom. Overall, I would definitely return again for another special occasion. read more

ELIA - Lamb shank and lobster paella - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Girls dinner at Elia! Teaching the twins the fine art of girl dinner! Fancy mocktails for them... a martini for me! We started with the fried olives- little balls of briny, crispy goodness! Could eat these all day! The flaming cheese is a must for any "1st- timer" at Elia. Not only is it a sight to see but delish too! Cheese in the most delicious sauce. The lamb meatballs let the lamb flavor come through balanced with the tomato sauce. The cauliflower is perfectly roasted ( not too firm... not too soft) with a delish topping that makes you want more! Desserts looked intriguing. read more

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Elia is one my favorite restaurants around downtown walnut creek, the food is amazing so delicious. The service is high level. I really want to point out about the Ambiance especially in the weekend yu won't regret it. I will high recommend this place especially on the weekends if you like party vibe. read more

ELIA - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Service 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 Food 5/5 Wow! So impressed by this place! Had my 30th bday/bachelorette party and the amazing staff customized the menu. The food was DELICIOUS. And we had such a fun time with the live DJ read more

ELIA - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Went there for my first visit and had a great overall experience. Every appetizer and dish we got was tasty and freshly cooked. Great flavor across all dishes. Service went above and beyond with a personalized experienced when we celebrated our anniversary. High level of service from the hostess. Would definitely return. read more

ELIA - Lemon cheesecake - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Enjoyed a late lunch Saturday April 25, with my uncle, husband and our youngest son. Zucchini cakes, Octopus were delicious, actually everything was delicious . The blue and white was so beautiful and I loved the throws on each chair makes the restaurant inviting. Can't wait to go back. read more

Finally got to try this place awhile ago and it was a bit...underwhelming? First, I came in on a Thursday night hoping it wouldn't be too loud. I figured their live bands would be more a weekend thing. Unfortunately I called it wrong. The performer was so loud my husband and I couldn't even have a proper conversation. Everyone was also really loud to drown out the music a bit. The food was alright, but just extremely pricey for what it is in my opinion. I got their lamb while my husband got their moussaka. We also had a fried olives appetizer. That was actually decent. But it wasn't really something to write home about. Also, the more important part about this review is a potential danger of the restaurant. Because my husband and I were a party of 2, we had a small table. With the plate size of our orders, there wasn't much room to shift things around. They also had a candle lit and placed it in the middle of the table. The candle wax was dripping all over the place and since ours was a short candle almost all burned down, when my husband reached for the appetizer in the middle of our table, he burned himself on the candle. Thankfully no actual burn mark, but it singed the hair off from his finger. I get the romantic aspect of having a candle, but I definitely wouldn't suggest an actual candle that melts wax all over the table either. It's also a danger in general if it gets knocked down onto the table cloth. read more

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We had a wonderful experience celebrating my birthday here. The service was attentive, the music created a great atmosphere, and every dish from the butter lettuce salad to the filet mignon souvlaki, kolokithokeftedes, and moussaka was absolutely delicious. They even surprised me with a sparkler for my birthday, which was such a thoughtful touch. Everything was fantastic, and we'll definitely be back! read more

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Surprisingly packed for Wednesday night dinner and realized later it was cause it's a super popular spot for birthdays- as by the non stop serenading of every single table. We shared some burrata and the three dip starters. The appetizers were all pretty good and they even gave us more pita for the dip. I got the lobster pasta which also came with prawn. This was pretty good but was already getting full after all the apps. We also ended up splitting the pear dessert which was nice read more

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What an amazing treasure! Fabulous Greek food, attentive service, a great wine list, and a beautiful setting. The olive oil dip is absolutely the best I have tasted. On my last two visits we ordered just from the appetizer selections, and every dish was superb. After seeing a flaming dish at an adjacent table, I knew I had to try it. It was Greek cheese lit on fire, then extinguished with lemon juice. Fantastic. The lamb meatballs and the grilled octopus were outstanding. Definitely one of my favorte places to go. read more

One of the best experiences I've had this year in a restaurant. Elia was my impromptu birthday dinner destination and baaaaaaaaaaby it did not disappoint. First, they were so accommodating. I was running late and called in for a last minute reservation change and they accommodated me without any hiccups. - started my night off right. And the top tier customer serviced didn't stop there. Despite being packed, they were on it. Attentive, knowledgeable and fast. The ambiance is one of the best I've seen and who knew (clearly someone did because it was turnt in there) that it turned into a bar/night club after 9pm? I had a time. The DJ was amazing. I got to swing my napkin to the beat. The mixology shows were amazing. The food presentations were cute, my drink was strong as hell (just how I like it) and my lamb.......... it was everything. Perfectly cooked, absolutely delicious and it didn't break the bank. I had a great birthday dinner with Elia and I'll definitely return. read more

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Elia makes you forget that you're in the Bay Area. Its Greek vibe is invigorating! Lively blue and white color themes all around the restaurant, accented with climbing red flowers at the front door! Spacious outdoor patio seatings and beautiful interior! We made a reservation for lunch here and highly recommend you do too as the restaurant is very popular. Service was kind, prompt and efficient. We were so impressed with the tableware here! Everything matches with the white and blue Greek vibe! Our dishes arrived quickly! We ordered the lamb chop, seafood paella, topped off with poached pear with pistachios and vanilla ice cream and the traditional Galaktoboureko phyllo dough rolled with semolina custard, antep pistachio, mix berry desserts. Overall, all the dishes were flavorful, of great portion and nicely decorated. Not the best food we ever tasted but the ambience of the restaurant made up for it. We liked the fragrant and well put-together poached pear but found the phyllo dough a bit dry. If you ever pass by Walnut Creek, give this restaurant a try :) read more

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The interior of the space is well done giving Greece vides right when you walk in. I highly recommend ordering your drinks floating and your food on fire. read more

ELIA - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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We had been a couple times before, although just to sit at the bar and enjoy drinks and share appetizers. A couple weeks ago, we made a reservation for a proper meal before a show at the Lesher. Bonus is that they are on the same block, so we parked at the large lot next to the theater and made the short walk to Elia. We were greeted and seated quickly and brought water. Our server was very nice and attentive throughout. We started with a round of cocktails/mocktails and a dozen oysters- delicious. We also split the greek salad which was also quite good. For my main dish, I got the halibut- perhaps a bit overcooked, although the flavors pretty much made up for that. The pesto was perfect. My honey got the short ribs, from the special menu, and was very happy. The meat was literally falling off the bone- as it should be. We passed on dessert and our server promptly brought our check. We then realized we still had some time to kill before our show so we asked for another round of drinks. She insisted "then you also need a bite of dessert!" and brought us a small piece of baklava. It looked the same as what they bring out for birthday celebrations, sans candle in our case. It was delicious and the perfect couple bites to end our meal. read more

We came to Elia for my birthday brunch celebration. The ambiance is very cute. It really takes you to what I imagine Santorini feels like with the blue topped buildings. At around 11am on a weekend it wasn't very busy. They have live music on the weekends. We ordered the grilled cheese, fried olives, octopus salad, seafood paella, and the seabass. For dessert we got the mango mousse. (They came out to sing happy birthday to me and even gave a free piece of baklava with a large sparkler candle!) Wonderful service! They kept our waters filled and the bread too. The bread is essential for enjoying the grilled cheese. The cheese was a bit of a show too! They bring out a torch and flame it right at your table. My personal favorites of the day were the seabass and the octopus. The flavors were balanced with a nice touch of acidity. The fried olives can be a bit salty/heavy. Finding parking is difficult but it's likely to be paid parking. Either metered street parking or a nearby parking garage. It was a lovely meal and I'm very happy to have celebrated my birthday at Elia. read more

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Elia was cute! we had the paella and bucatini pasta, I preferred the pasta which was really flavorful and perfectly cooked. Ambience is really pretty and they have two levels to seat people which is nice. Fair warning if you come here for dinner on a weekend, it is not a place to have a chat! The whole time there was a live Dj and plenty of birthday celebrations so it's definitely nice to vibe but if you're looking to have a conversation I wouldn't come here. My drink, the evil eye, was amazing and the most perfectly balanced cocktail I've had!! read more

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We have walked by here for years and recently we dropped in for drinks and some Greek appetizers. I also introduced my partner to the world of Metaxa, sort of a Greek brandy. I have a few Greek friends and have been drinking this for years. The service, food, and drinks are all good. Nothing to really scream about. Last night (Saturday) we dropped in again during nightclub night with DJ and programed spotlights and a packed crowd. We realized we were not going to get a drink anytime this year and bounced. Still cool though. We will be back again. read more

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I booked this restaurant about two months in advance for a party of ~20 people at 6 PM, including coordinating a cake cutting toward the end as well as welcome drinks for my guests. Unfortunately, the experience was very disappointing from the start. When we arrived, the staff seemed extremely frazzled and unorganized. Right away, they told one of my guests (who wasn't even handling the reservation) that we only had two hours and needed to be out by 8 PM. That should have been communicated clearly ahead of time--and directly to me, not randomly to a guest. For a party of that size, a time limit should have been communicated via email when reservation was made. Logistically, 2 hours is not enough time for large parties and slow service. Service was also lacking. We only had one server for the entire group, and several people were completely missed--they never had their orders taken and didn't receive drinks. It took a long time just to get basic service going. The people who were missed had to get the server's attention to order. The food itself was very average especially considering how overpriced it was, but it is WC, so to be expected. When it came time for the birthday celebration, they did provide complimentary candles, which I appreciated. However, when I asked to proceed with cutting the cake, we were told there was no time because they had double-booked the table for 8 PM and the next party had already arrived. We were rushed through what should have been a special moment, which felt really unwelcoming. Overall, the lack of organization and poor handling of a large, pre-planned party made for a frustrating experience. I would not recommend this restaurant, especially for group events. read more

My husband and I took both our parents to this restaurant to celebrate a belated Mother's Day since we were out of town on the actual day. Everyone left dinner happy and with a full stomach. Parking: no designated lot. Park on the street ($2/hr) or in one of the public parking garages (1st hour free then $1.25/hr) Ambiance: Greek style, Santorini atmosphere. As you walk in, you will be transported to Greece. They have an open kitchen and an open bar area. This is the spot for celebrations, for friends to catch up and for a nice date. Service: attentive. Our water glasses were constantly refilled for our party of 6. Our dirty plates were replaced when needed and between the courses. We were never forgotten even though the restaurant was packed with people that evening. Food: 4/5. Complimentary bread was offered and can be refilled by request. We ordered the grilled octopus, the coconut ceviche, the whole Mediterranean sea bass, the grilled Australian lamb chops and the lobster pasta. Everything was cooked perfectly. Each dish was plated nicely and was a work of art. The highlights were the lamp chops (cooked perfectly, just like our request, medium), the lobster pasta (we requested for light cream and they delivered) and the whole sea bass (skin was crispy and the meat was tender and juicy). Portion size was good for the entrees. Cost: $$$$ (expensive). The meal was pretty expensive. We didn't order any alcohol but with 4 appetizers and 6 entrees along with tax and 20% service charge, the bill was close to $500. However, the food, atmosphere and the service shined so the cost was worth it. We look forward to coming back. read more

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Elia has been in my recent rotations lately. Vibe is a 10/10 and food has actually broke the rating scale for me. I really enjoyed dining here and will always recommend it to anyone looking for a good place to eat. read more

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Elia is a small chain restaurant in downtown Walnut Creek, specializing in Mediterranean style cuisine. The restaurant is neat and clean and the service is great. They brought nice warm bread and water to the table right when we sat down. We got the beet salad which was delicious and fresh. The arugula had too much flavor but the beets were great. The chicken sandwich was also excellent. The chicken was well seasoned and cooked and the bread was delicious. The included fries were also perfect. I'll definitely go back. read more

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Elia is without a doubt my new favorite Greek Restaurant! The ambiance is great but the food is even better. They have great cocktails, a nice selection of wine and an amazingly creative menu. I'm sorry I didn't take pictures of the appetizers but they were delicious too! Their take on spanakopita was the best I've ever tasted. Their zucchini croquettes were delicious. I also Loved the avgolemono soup! The octopus is amazing. I am really eager to get back there to try more from the menu. And you have to try the flaming fried cheese! They even had a Mermellier walking around the restaurant offering fresh shucked oysters! We were already having a great experience but the entrees definitely made the evening perfect. My group shared and we all loved the beet salad, the coconut ceviche, the bucatini astakos, and the amazing seafood paella. They had a DJ playing live music and they brought out sparklers to celebrate birthdays. Know that it can be a bit loud but what a great experience! read more

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I've been to Elia for a friend's birthday party and went yesterday to have lunch with my mom. The location is beautiful! There is an upstairs option, lots of dining options inside the restaurant, as well as a street-facing outdoor seating area. The bathrooms are gender-neutral and offer touch-less soap dispensers and paper towels. They have really fun drinks (with bubbles!) and at night, there was a dj! We were seated quickly (it was in the later afternoon -- not quite lunch, not quite dinner). We asked if we could sit closer to the front of the restaurant and they moved us. There are blankets for you to use. The servers were all helpful and responsive. Everyone is dressed very nicely! The dishes are affordable, but a bit on the smaller side. Might need to order a couple of apps! They offer complimentary bread (so. delicious. and. warm) served with olive oil with olive bits! We ordered zucchini cakes to share ($13), the octopus app ($22), and the sea bass ($24). The zucchini cakes are made with feta, just fyi (it doesn't say it on the menu). They were really good paired with the garlic yogurt. The grilled octopus dish came with pickled potato (never even heard of this! So good!), a couple slides of oranges (so fresh!), arugula, Kalamata olives, and it said sun dried tomatoes, but I think they were fresh cherry/ grape tomatoes. The seabass piece was on the smaller/ flatter side, but the flavor was great and the zoodles on the side was delicious! Just wish there was more of it. We didn't order dessert-- but the menu looked good! The vibes transport you to Greece and I will be coming back to experience that again! read more

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Love this place. Cane here a few times and each time was amazing. The ambiance, the service, the vibe , the food all 10/10. Every item I have had were all delicious. They give you a free piece of baklava with a sparkler on top to sing happy birthday. The DJ shouts you out as well! read more

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Terrible experience. They messed up my reservation I had made 3 weeks in advance. They were unapologetic and did not care. I understand mistakes can happen, but the way this situation was handled and the lack of accountability was concerning. They also misspelled my friend's name on the menu after confirming the spelling over two separate phone calls, and yet after waiting 30 minutes for a correction, they misspelled it again! On top of that, the bathroom was so dirty and at 8 pm there was no toilet paper. This place has clearly gone downhill, dirty bathrooms, poor service, and not worth the price. We won't be back, there are plenty of better options with great service where we'd rather spend our money. read more