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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One of my fave restaurant to go to. Love the food, service and ambience. My kids and I are always ordering the Pikilia, buccatini astakos, and seafood paella- all super yummy! Highly recommended! read more

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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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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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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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

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

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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I decided to stop by for happy hour, it ends at 6 pm. My first visit so we thought we would try it out. I caught up with a friend and we really enjoyed the clams. The light sauce with the crunchy bread, delightful. The meatballs and salad were both tasty and adding a little bit of cheese with the salad. We both thought the artichoke wasn't bad but not my favorite. They had a musician playing guitar, nice not overbearing where were couldn't talk. I will be back to try a few more items. read more

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Top notch !! 5 star!!! Love Elias Mediterranean food and ambiance and most of all customer service !! Love it . Hubby also loves this place too!! We always have an amazing time and are treated like royalty but the ownership! Our go to is the Seafood Paella and the Lamb Shank ! Also love the cocktails and the Greek Pilsner! Love their Bubble drink as well!! Can't wait to come back . We have also gotten complimentary dessert from our favorite manager there ! read more

ELIA - V Day Date Night - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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After reading a lot of the reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect as far as food and quality of service. It was nice to see that the restaurant offered great service and delicious food. Elia is located in a building that takes advantage of the narrow length of the space in the building. Upon entering Elia through the initial entry way, there was a very nice cozy outside area that was spacious and tables were set apart to give diners privacy to enjoy their meal. Going through another set of doors, you notice the narrow diningroom. The tables are set right against the wall with another set of tables set up against a barrier that separates the diners from the kitchen. The most striking feature is the wall that held little alcoves with various objects that represents the culture of Greece. We arrived at Elia at 11:30 so we chose entrees from the lunch menu. The waiter brought over bread rolls and a simple dip with Greek olives and olive oil. The bread appeared to be made in-house and was fresh and was so delicious on its own, but even more delicious when you dipped the bread into the oil with Greek olives . We stated the meal with a sample appetizer plate : Tzatziki , Melitzanosalata, Spicy Htipiti and Pikilia. All of these ingredients were very good! We could have made a meal of them Three of us ordered the Moussaka and the fourth person ordered a gyro sandwich with fries. Two of the individuals also ordered Greek beer. Moussaka: layers of eggplant, potatoes, spiced ground lamb, ground beef and béchamel sauce. We would definitely order this again. Gyro sandwich : sliced beef, pita, lettuce, onion, tomatoes, tzatziki and fries. The individual said he would definitely order this again. We ended the meal with Turkish coffee and on the plate, the waiter added a Turkish Delight candy. The Turkish Delight didn't include any types of nuts, but just the jellied version. It was such a wonderful way to end the meal. I need to mention that our waiter ARDA was such a delight to engage with as he made sure our meal was enjoyable and we had what we needed. He actually added to the positive experience we had at Elia. Overall, we plan on returning. We want to try more items on their menu. read more

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It was my first time at this location and wow it did not disappoint. The esthetic of the restaurant was similar to the other location. They had a dj and it was so fun! They had an oyster girl coming around shucking oyster for us to try. The food came out pretty quick! Although portion size was small. Food was okay. The lobster risotto was probably the star dish. It was packed with flavor! read more

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Food is amazing. Phenomenal. absolutely delicious. The service is outstanding. They are so friendly and professional. read more

ELIA - Bucatini Astakos. i had to start eating before i took the pic. - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

It's one of my fav restaurants in Walnut Creek the ambience is incredible the blue cups white background brings me back to Greece . The service is always great very friendly servers and the food is amazing the flavors are spot on you definitely can go wrong with anything here . My only issue if I may is the 2nd floor were they have small gatherings is very tight and was hot, hot that we were all sweating and was uncomfortable to truly enjoy our meal. And when we ask someone is they can bring a fan to help the server said we don't have any and the AC is already on. It's unfortunate . Would love to see if they fix this problem coz I'm sure we are not the only ones that said something about it . read more

ELIA - Steak with potatoes - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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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

There are only a handful of Greek restaurants I will go to, and I am so happy to add Elia to the list! Even better it's on the East Bay side close to home. We celebrated my sister's birthday and they were the friendliest, most accommodating, and helpful team. From cocktails, wines, sides, and the meals, everything was served perfectly with attention to flavor and service with a smile. Ismael was great, helpful in recommendations and always checking in. My favorite was the lamb shank. Coming here transports you to the calm and serene blue and white of Greece read more

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

So happy I got to finally try this place. I came with a friend around dinner time. It was packed, so I definitely recommend a reservation. We were lucky to have a spot to stand at the bar. We started with drinks, but then decided to order food. We started with the zucchini cakes, which were light. Our entree was the seabass. Tasted very fresh and light. The dessert took the cake for me. The poached pear is a must! We mostly came for the drinks, the fun, and experience. There was a live DJ, lots of entertainment, and even someone to shuck your oysters personally. It's such a fun atmosphere and perfect for celebrations. Staff is super nice, attentive, and fun. Shout out to our bartender and host Camilla for everything. We even ended buying a bottle the end of the night. Prices aren't too bad & honestly it's for the experience. read more

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Things started very uncomfortable. 1 star kind of uncomfortable. I take my mom to the city a couple times a month for treatments at UCSF but I never want her to focus on the negative so I am always looking for great places to eat to make those the memories she focuses on. The male server who waited on us was visibly annoyed with us when we sat down. He seemed like he was in a hurry even though we were the only table sat inside. My mom can't drink so I choose not to drink when I'm with her. I set the cocktail and wine lists on the table next to us- this annoyed him and he made a point to ask if we didn't need them anymore. Odd, obviously we don't need them. When my mom wanted to see a happy hour menu he rolled his eyes, sighed very loudly, and after a pause he said "that's fine. Normally happy hour is only served on the patio or in the bar." My mom and I looked at each other and the disappointment on her face almost made me get up right then. He begrudgingly brought over the HH menus and proceeded to try to remove our regular menus. I told him no, that we only wanted to SEE them and if we needed to move we would for HH, but first we'd like to look- he frustratedly let go and walked away. We decided to stay and weren't excited by HH so we ordered off the regular menu. The energy at that point was way off and it took him awhile to return to take our order. Things, thank god, only improved from there. I would just like to point out to anyone from the restaurant who might be reading this, just because we looked a little frumpy (my mother had surgery that morning in the city- it was a long day!), doesn't mean we are less deserving of decency and also doesn't mean that we are uncultured or poor. We eat at nice restaurants all the time in the bay and in Lodi where I live. And I don't think I've ever felt so judged as I did yesterday. You should really work on that because it could kill your business. Moving on, the service ended up being really great. There were a plethora of server assistants walking the floor to refill water glasses, bring more bread, and to make sure everyone was happy. Silverware and side plates were swapped before our entree was served. And our server's demeanor softened a great deal as our meal progressed. The food was amazing. We shared the escargot, it was SO herby and delicious with their house made rolls. For our entree we split the seafood pallea. For desert I had a Greek coffee and we shared the lemon cheesecake which was plated beautifully and tasted amazingly tart, sweet, and creamy. Our server assistant boxed and bagged our pallea leftovers and we left very satisfied. This would've been an easy 5 stars if it had started better, which makes me a little sad. Maybe I'm being too generous with my rating for how things started, but my mom was smiling so big when we left and that wins a lot of points from me. I don't think we will return, though. read more

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Bring your mama bring your wife and bring your girlfriend. Bring your family business partner whatever you want. This place is amazing. The food is just phenomenal, straight, cultural and very flavorful. The service was on point the gentleman and the young lady who served us the food just very polite. The ambience and decor is through the roof as if you're in Greece homeland beautiful colors, and lighting. I'm a turn read more

Our group of six went to Elia in Walnut Creek for our holiday celebration dinner. Service was great - not overbearing yet we weren't ignored. Everyone who helped us, from the hostess, to our beautiful server, bus boy and even the DJ were all fantastic. Vibes were happening with music later in the evening. The bar was poppin' so this would also be a great a place to come for a drink. Here is the food that we ordered: lamb chops: juicy and my fav dish escargot: juicy calamari: nice and lightly breadd lobster bucatini: huge serving of lobster seafood paella: huge serving of lobster octopus: tender smelt: perfect with wine greek desserts: AMAZING ELIA is in my Walnut Creek top 3! read more

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The ambience is killer! I felt like I was back in Santorini with the whole South Aegean island vibe. I attended one of their white parties where everybody was dressed up as sailors, and it was so much fun. The music was great and the servers were serving oysters! The drinks were great. I had ordered the Greek breakfast and it was alright. It was not what I was expecting and had very little flavor. I was advised that I should skip brunch and ahouls try their dinner menu next tim read more

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I love the place, felt like I was in Greece. The foods were delicious too. This made me want to really visit Greece. read more

ELIA - Elia restaurant - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I usually am disappointed going out to dinner. I'd rather cook, and we have excellent wine at home. However Elia exceeded expectations with food, paella in particular and our server, Lily. We sat upstairs and had a quiet table. Service by all was exceptional. Can't wait to return. read more

ELIA - Butter lettuce with gorganzola , avocado and candied walnuts - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

ELIA has two locations, one of which is located on Pleasanton's main street. For groups of 6+, there is a 20% service charge. Parking includes the big public garage next to the Lesher Center of Arts (has fees) and metered diagonal street parking. There are a few parking lots tucked in between the streets in this area, but most that are within immediate distance of ELIA will be reserved or have meters. Would ABSOLUTELY recommend getting reservations if you're going on a weekend night. This is one of the Walnut Creek restaurants you WILL NOT get into during that time, it'll be fully packed. We did go during weekend lunchtimes and, while we still had to wait a bit, it was much more manageable for walk-in parties. Otherwise, things to note include that they do brunch and have noted NO ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AFTER 11 PM. The dinner menu is more expensive with the same items (and portions) going for $4 to $10 more compared to lunchtime. If you order online, you'll find it's mainly the lunch menu with lunch menu prices. It doesn't look like you'll find dinner-specific options or alcohol, but they DO provide lunch mezethes as well as desserts! For specifically Greek restaurants in downtown Walnut Creek, this is the more upscale restaurant compared to Opa two streets over. Basically, ELIA is for tapas (mezethes), nice wine, nicer occasions, and more specifically Greek dishes and flavors. Opa for more casual occasions, a family-friendly atmosphere, and slightly more Americanized dishes. Both have bars, but it's business outings and dates versus hangouts and watching the game. Overall, I would recommend. It's a beautiful restaurant with a light, airy atmosphere and delicious fresh food. I appreciate how even their more American dishes have major, delicious twists to them. Last time, I came with a friend with high standards for Greek food, and she approved of their dolmathes. Very convenient, tasty option for before or after a show at Lesher. read more

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This is my second time here at night and it is always poppin. Theres a DJ and people are dancing around having fun. The crowd is on the older side I would say. You can also dine in but the music is so loud you probably cannot hear much. The drinks were so cute and the bartender let me switch the alcohol in the medusa for vodka. The place is so pretty and has some sort of a greek vibe to it. read more

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

I went here for Moussaka at lunch. Although it was on the menu, they said it wasn't available because they were still making it. This seemed very odd. I ordered Keftedes instead. It was supposed to come with eggplant chips, but I didnt get them. When I asked the server said they were still making them. This seemed to be a trend. The decor was very pretty. The wine prices were rather high. I don't plan to return. read more

The food was delicious as always. The service was good and interactive, especially since we got the fried cheese. It was a Monday night so it was quiet but still had a steady crowd. The restaurant is cute and has good food so it's a win! read more

ELIA - Spanikopita, dip trio - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Love this restaurant. One of my favorites in Walnut Creel for Mediterranean cuisine. Love the food and the ambiance. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. Been there four times within a year. read more

We went to ELIA to celebrate my husband's birthday and couldn't have picked a better spot. We chose a Sunday evening for a quieter night, and it was perfect. The service was excellent, the ambiance was beautiful, and the food was delicious. We ordered the lamb & beef meatballs, half a dozen oysters, and the egg lemon soup to share--everything was packed with flavor. For our mains, my husband had the lamb shank and I had the ling cod, and both were outstanding. Generous portions too--we were so full we skipped dessert. Beautiful restaurant, amazing food, and great overall experience. It is on the pricey side, but totally worth it for a special occasion. read more

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Wonderful Greek food in a beautiful, romantic setting. Beware the live music on the weekend evenings, it can get loud! We've sampled a wide range of food and loved it all. They do a nice job of helping to navigate the menu. The flambé cheese is a very fun dish, give it a try! Good support for gluten free diners, many choices and good care is taken to help navigate the menu. Excellent cocktails too! read more

We went to the one in Walnut Creek. Brunch time. Classy/casual vibe. Wonderful staff. Food was amazing, we enjoyed it so much. Will definitely come back again and try their other dishes. Overall, its a nice restaurant to have lunch when in the area. Do check it out. read more

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Foo was good but service was very slow on a Wednesday afternoon. It took almost an hour to get our orders.

Yelp, I think some places should get 10 stars to set them apart from the rest, this is one of those places. You are transported to Greece the minute you walk in! The decor, the ambiance and every single detail is intentional in this place! It adds to the senses of the trip you're about to take! First off Ismael was the most amazing server and the supporting cast too! From the bread rolls to his suggestions, every single plate was fresh, delicious and made with umami!! The chef even glanced at our table a time or two to enjoy our faces as we enjoyed the dishes he carefully prepared. I can't tell you what we ordered due to the names but I can tell you each dish was beyond delicious! We had a combo app, some spinach cakes, the meatballs, grilled octopus, the delicious cheese... you have to order the cheese app you won't be disappointed but have phones ready for table arrival and then the desserts... OMG!! But above all the staff was so attentive and patient I can't even begin to express how hospitable they were. Please support this gem and leave your passport at home! Opa! read more

ELIA - Our dessert trio - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Stepping into this cool, blue-toned restaurant is like entering a tranquil oasis. The calming atmosphere is perfect for a meaningful meal with family and friends. We tried the Crispy Smelt (a refreshing change from our usual calamari), Burrata, and Seafood Paella. The Crispy Smelt was lightly battered and paired perfectly with jalapeños for a spicy kick. The Burrata, with its unique grilled peach pairing, was a delightful surprise. The Seafood Paella was a lighter take on the classic dish, with a flavorful clam broth and just the right amount of rice. If you're looking for a hidden gem, this place is a must-try! read more

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Welcoming and attentive service, great food, cute Greek restaurant. The beet salad was nicely plated and very good, the greens could use a little more dressing. The chicken sandwich was flavorful and served nice and hot along with the fries. One of the best Greek restaurants in the area. read more

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Fantastic culinary experience! So glad they just brought me bread instead of asking because I would have said "no" and it was so good with wonderful olive oil with olive dipping sauce. Enjoyed the fried cheese and lamb riblets. Sat at the bar and the service was on point the entire time. Will be frequenting this place! read more

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Went there for happy hour to sample some dishes before committing to an entire meal and it was disappointing as one of our orders was smelt and they were out--so THEY suggested clams which we happily agreed to try as a substitute--until they came back out and told us they were also out.... Service was okay. The house happy hour white was clearly Kirkland $4.99/bottle Pinot Grigio, which is fine. The 1 app we were able to try was the lamb riblets which were very succulent. The bread was really good. Will most likely give it another try, however probably not soon as there are so many other choices. read more

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

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I LOVE the decor in this place. Recipes are original. Tasty too! My favorite was the beet salad, the fried olives were the only thing I didn't really like. The evil eye martini was inconsistent too, first round was sweet 2nd was super strong. Folks who worked here were all very kind and quick, they brought out something to replace the iffy fried olives (: I'd absolutely come back. Also DOG FRIENDLY! I bring my baby everywhere and they were so sweet to him, brought his water before anything else! read more

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ELIA is an excellent spot for a great meal or a special occasion. We came here to celebrate our anniversary and enjoyed our dinner and drinks. The restaurant is well decorated and captures the Greek vibe. It was very busy on a Saturday night, even for our early dinner starting before 6:30pm. Towards the end of our meal, they even had a live DJ. The food here is fantastic, and we liked our cocktails & mocktails as well. Here's what we got: -Pikilia (4.5/5) A great combo of the 3 pita dips - tzatziki, melitzanosalata, and htipiti, served with pita and veggies. I wanted try all of them, so I'm glad they offered this! The tzatziki was our favorite of the 3. -Kokkinisto (5/5) The slow braised lamb shank is PHENOMENAL. The orzo goes perfectly with it. A must try dish. -Seafood Paella (4/5) Points for including a whole lobster tail. This was tasty, but I've also had better paella. A little salty. -Baklava (4/5) Comes with two pieces. Good but a bit dry and unsatisfying on it's own, I'd suggest ordering a scoop of ice cream to go with it, to feel more like a complete dessert. Mocktails: -Mykonos (4/5) Good, but I think I'd prefer it with a bit more syrup or flavor. -Waters of Nedas (4.5/5) If you like watermelon (like I do), this is delicious. read more

ELIA - Waters of Nedas mocktail - lots of watermelon flavor, loved it - Greek Near Me - Walnut Creek, California