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    Karellas Cafe

    4.7 (44 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Karellas Cafe Photos

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    KARELLAS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Karellas Cafe

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    Mixed meats
    Tre S.

    We were greated with love. The hosted was so wonderful and very informative. We ordered the octopus, mix meats and fries. The octopus was fixed to perfection and the mixed meats were very savory. I see why they have a 4.8. Enjoy!

    Baklava
    Chiseko I.

    Great Greek foods with relaxing ambience! The staff was very attentive and the timing of serving was great. The octopus was crisp on the outside and tender inside. The staff told me that they steamed it before frying it. The chick pea salad was fresh and delicious. The strong Greek coffee went well with the sweet Baklava.

    Ahra J.

    Excellent spot! It is located in Greektown and sits in a quiet neighborhood. We were a party of 4 and arrived around 5 on a Saturday night. We also had a dog with us and initially we intended on sitting outside, but the owners were nice enough to let us sit inside since our dog was on the smaller side. They were prompt in greeting us and came over right away to make sure we didn't have any questions and took our order. We ordered the spicy feta, cheese balls, two souvlaki platters, octopus, baklava and coffee. Everything we ordered was delicious!! The octopus was probably my favorite. It is always a toss up when I order it because some places tend to overcook it. This was tender and very flavorful! The cheeseballs reminded me of the Brazillian cheese bread but cheesier! Their gyro souvlaki is pork based. The place is not that small and I did see several people coming in and out with one other table occupying the space. It has maybe a total of 7-8 small tables. There is street parking available but keeping in mind it is Baltimore and in a residential area, there are signs so just watch out and read them carefully before doing so!

    Shrimp gyro
    Jaleah S.

    As someone that has visited Greece, this gave me a smooth taste of the amazing food I had in Mykonos. When walking in they had on Greek television channels showing soccer games. There seemed to be regulars in there that added to the authentic Greektown ambiance. There is an open kitchen also so you can watch them prepare the food. Our server had great service, he checked in often and was very consistent. We ordered the fried cheese balls and friend shrimp to begin. 10/10.... 10/10... 10/10 for both. The hummus was top two. NOW two! The shrimp gyro was amazing only possible feedback or complaint other than perfect was more shrimp or meat for sure. Will definitely be back!

    HOT fries, Fresh Tzatziki!
    Edrika G.

    All I can say is everything here is so fresh! This is my local spot that I can walk to and pick up food. I love it!

    Kabir A.

    Dined in as a group of 4 towards end of December (holiday season) Sunday night . No other patrons. Clean and looked newly renovated. Greeted and welcomed. Waiter was nice, professional and helpful in guiding us to our ordered items. We had: Chicken Souvlaki - seasoned fries, salad, 3 chicken skewers. Fries had a nice aroma and tasted good. Salad was delicious! Skewers were on the dryer side, not as enjoyable as expected. Bifteki - juicy, lightly seasoned beef patties stuffed in soft, warm gyro pita w/vegetables and tasty tatziki sauce. Greek coffee - on the sweeter side , smoky and delicious. Galaktoboureko - not too sweet, and has a kick of lemon? Perfectly balanced w/cinnamon and thoroughly enjoyed. All items came rather quickly, tasted fresh & beyond satisfactory. Granted we did not enjoy the chicken skewers, but to each his own on defining "tendor & juicy". Waiter was always attentive to us and gave us 2 free water bottles for the road. We all had a great experience. Prices were fair and portions within standards. Reccomend!

    Octopus
    Brad R.

    TLDR: Unbelievable Greek food in a cozy cafe off the beaten path. Come for the amazing octopus, souvlaki and baklava. Vibe: 5/5. Tucked away on a narrow side street in Greektown, Karella's is a small restaurant that offers 2-4 person dining both indoors and out. Inside, the restaurant has a hand full of 2 top tables (can be pushed together for a 4 person group) making this a perfect date night spot. Outside there is 1 large 4 top that could squeeze up to 6 people if needed. When you walk inside, the sounds of Greek folk music paired with the Mediterranean decor are nice touches that add to the ambiance. The small kitchen is located at the rear of the restaurant which can be seen from the dining room. Karella's is setup as a counter service cafe, with a display case and beverage cooler at the main counter in the rear, but during our dinner we ordered/served at our table. Service: 5/5. The staff at Karella's was fantastic from start to finish. Days before our dinner, I reached out to the cafe to see if they still had outside dining, as we were bringing a dog and wanted to make sure we wouldn't have any issues. They assured me they could accommodate us and would have the outside table ready before we arrived. When we arrived for dinner, they were so kind to allow us to sit inside with the doggo since he was small and well behaved. As mentioned above, Karella's is setup as a counter service style restaurant, but on our visit we were serviced table side by what appeared to be the owner (only front of house staff present). He was very personable and did a fantastic job in explaining the menu and checking in on us throughout the meal. Beverages were kept full and when it was time to settle on the bill, it was a breeze making sure our Venmo went through (cash or Venmo only). Food: 5/5. Our group of 4 thoroughly enjoyed every dish we had at Karella's. We typically eat family style at restaurants, so we opted to try the cheese balls, crazy feta dip w/ pita, the octopus, the beef and pork gyro souvlaki platters (includes Greek salad and fries) and baklava for dessert. Again, everything was fantastic but the main winners of the night were the perfectly cooked octopus and the pork gyro souvlaki. The octopus was crispy on the outside, unbelievably tender on the inside and simply seasoned with lemon, olive oil and fresh herbs. The pork gyro souvlaki also had a nice crispy outside and perfectly tender on the inside. Paired with the homemade tzatziki sauce on pita, it was a match made in heaven. The homemade Greek cheese balls were also tasty. The owner told us that they are made with a blend of Gouda and several other cheeses to give it a nice nuttiness as well as gooey consistency. To round out a great meal, we had a fine example of baklava. Overall, we loved every aspect of our dinner at Karella's and will definitely look forward to dining with them again!

    Freshly made baklava!
    Abigail V.

    I have never wanted to recommend a place more than I have this one! Karellas is a MUST VISIT. I can honestly say this is some of the best Greek food I have had in Baltimore. This hole in the wall place is 100/10 on authenticity and service! If you are dining, the cheese balls for the table are an absolute must-- truly I did not have a bad dish! The service was incredible, Nick allowed us to try so many different spreads and dips, it was such a delightful experience. Not to mention all of the food tasted so fresh! Some things to know- this spot is cash only! there is an ATM nearby. There is no parking lot, but street parking was easy. The portions are great! I cannot wait to go back to this business, it is no question going to be my go to place for Greek!

    Ice cold  Peroni
    Cathy G.

    WOW!! We had dinner here last night and I'm still dreaming of it. I've never been to Greece, but I can imagine walking along a seaside village and finding a small family restaurant like this. We ordered so many dishes and they were all delicious. We drank icy cold beer while eating grilled octopus, pork souvlaki, lamb gyro and lamb chops. We also had gigante beans, chick pea salad and a Greek salad. I may be missing some other things we had but it couldn't have been tastier. They made us feel like family and by the time we left we were hugging the owners and promising to come back. I highly recommend this hidden gem. It's a culinary treat!!

    Chicken platter and keftedes
    Nikita D.

    Delicious food, everything tasted so fresh and authentic. Smaller place with good service

    Rachel E.

    JUST AMAZING!!! Some of the best Greek food I've had! Little cute spot in Greektown. I LOVED their octopus and dessert! Food was very fresh and tasty, people working here are very welcoming and super nice. Make sure you bring cash, they only accept cash.

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    Samos Restaurant - Chicken Cheesesteak

    Samos Restaurant

    4.6(620 reviews)
    0.1 miGreektown
    $$

    I couldn't wait to leave this review! My team and I stopped by on a Friday afternoon for lunch and…read morehad a blast. It's a very small restaurant but the vibes were perfect - the staff really made us feel like family. They don't have large tables but they put a few together just for us. My heart was so overjoyed by that because I've been to places that will just split you up when that happens. The food was IMMACULATE. First off, most of the menu is already dietary restriction friendly (for people who don't eat pork or gluten or have nut allergies) -- but I was really impressed by our waitresses knowledge and her intuitiveness. We didn't have to ask, she went over everything unprompted to make sure everyone ordered comfortably. Secondly, whoever is in the kitchen needs TEN THOUSAND KISSES. Don't you dare skip the salad! So fresh and so good. The homemade dressing was perfect. Foodie hack: Add a piece of feta to your pita and drizzle dressing over it, trust me. The branzino OMG - this dish alone deserves Michelin stars. You get the whole fish (bone included) and it's cooked to perfection. The sides were delicious but I didn't eat much because I was so focused on the fish. I love that they let you do half rice/half potatoes if you're indecisive like me. Both were so flavorful, I couldn't pick a favorite. The roasted veggies were also pretty fire, they put some kind of sauce on them that really turned them up, I finished these first btw if you wanted an indicator of how good it was. I had a bite of one of my team members moussaka - definitely will order this when I'm looking for a heartier belly-warming meal. It's like a Greek lasagna. Another 10/10. All the desserts are made in house and you can tell. I thought I hated baklava, turns out I never had good baklava until yesterday. It was so warm and sweet and full of spice. We loved the custard and rice pudding as well! Premiere entrees and dessert for 5 people for $150 is unheard of! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do yourself a favor and treat yourself (and loved ones) to this amazing authentic Greek spot.

    Came here with a friend for a casual lunch when visiting her, and the atmosphere was bright, clean,…read moreand inviting. We were greeted right away by super friendly staff who made us feel right at home. To start things off, we split an order of their Tzatziki served with pita. The Tzatziki was creamy and fresh, with just the right balance of garlic and dill, and the warm pita was perfectly soft. It's a must-get if you're a fan of Mediterranean appetizers; it really set the tone for the meal. For my main, I went with the Sliced Gyro pita wrap. Let me just say: this is a classic done right. The meat was tender and flavorful, with those crispy edges that make a gyro amazing. It came loaded with fresh veggies and a generous drizzle of more of that delicious Tzatziki. Everything was nicely wrapped up in a fresh, fluffy pita, making it super easy (and not too messy) to eat. Service was quick. Our food came out in what felt like no time at all, even though the place was comfortably busy. The staff checked in just enough without being overbearing, and the space was spotless. If you're looking for great Greek food in Baltimore in a relaxed setting, Samos Greek Island Grill is definitely worth a visit. Between the welcoming staff, fast service, and tasty food, I'll absolutely be back to try more from the menu. Highly recommend!

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    Samos Restaurant
    Samos Restaurant - Melitzanosalata

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    Konstantine’s Greek Taverna

    Konstantine’s Greek Taverna

    4.1(195 reviews)
    22.8 mi
    $$$

    This lovely house turned restaurant has been on my go-to list for a long time and it did not…read moredisappoint. We started with the calamari and hummus dip. The calamari was perfectly breaded and crispy. The hummus had a great blend of garlic, parsley, a bit of cayenne and red chili flakes with lemon and paprika. All these ingredients make a plain hummus extra tasty. Our two main entrees consisted of the broiled Atlantic salmon with asparagus and Greek potatoes and the Yero plate containing rotisserie beef and lamb slices serviced over pita, with tzatziki, and salad. The salmon was impressively at the perfect temperature. I thoroughly enjoyed my entire meal. The Yero plate had the best slices of beef and lamb. They were soft and absolutely well prepared. Our dinner was accompanied with two musicians who played lovely traditional Greek songs. The music was not too loud and we were able to have a nice conversation at our table. Service was a tad slow towards the end of our meal. We were seated in the basement and there was a time when not a single server was on the floor. Water service was lacking and odd -- we waited quite some time for a refill and when someone did come, only one of us got the refill when we both needed water! Still, I loved the food and atmosphere. Parking: Plenty in the back of the restaurant.

    Overall, we were disappointed with our experience…read more Pros: The restaurant jtself is nice--the location is convenient, the open air dining was lovely, and there was ample parking. Cons: The service was not great. They have lots of staff--someone to light the candles, someone to bring the water, someone to take our order, someone to bring out the appetizer, someone to bring out drinks, someone to bring out entrees, etc. But there was very little follow up along the way. Our waters never got filled again. Our server took our drink order right away, but took a long time to come back to take our food order. Despite that, we still got our drinks well after the appetizer came out. The next time we saw the server was when we were done eating. The food should have been better for the price as well. We shared the grilled halloumi cheese appetizer. The cheese was cold by the time it got to us, and the plate came with two small olives--just two. At that point, don't bother. I had the bronzini, which had a good flavor, but was mostly skin. There was very little fish attached to two filets. My wife had the scallops. The entree came with five or six (can't remember exactly) medium-sized scallops. My wife described them as "forgettable," with very little thought to presentation (some of the scallops were laying on their side on the plate. The asparagus was overcooked. Unfortunately we both left still kind of hungry, and definitely put off.

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    Konstantine’s Greek Taverna
    Konstantine’s Greek Taverna
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    Yia Yia's Kitchen - Gift card

    Yia Yia's Kitchen

    4.3(653 reviews)
    26.5 mi
    $$
    Catering service
    Family-owned & operated

    God I love Yia Yia's so much!! This is my first time back in maybe over a year. I have came here…read morefor lunches with my friends and coworkers and can't help but always get my favorite. I ordered the pastichio and spanakopita and omgggg it's so good. The pastichio came with pita and side salad. I am obsessed; it hits every single time. I love the crisp edges on the top of the pastichio and the way the pasta and bechamel melt into the meat - it's very satisfying. I ordered my food directly on their site for pickup. It was ready when it said it would be and everyone was kind in handing it off and letting me know where the utensil and napkins are if needed. The restaurant is cute. My friend and I have sat outside to eat once to enjoy our food and it was relatively calm and quiet. I love this place so much and maybe someday I'll stray from my usual but ehhh it's ok.

    Sincerely, the best gyros I have had. I prefer the pork one, yet the lamb and beef meatballs are…read morejust as good. They also offer grilled shrimp, but I haven't tried it. The nice crust on the pork, fries, and fresh chopped veggies separate this gyro for me. Definitely worth a stop next time you're not sure what to eat. The menu is very complete, something for everyone. The service is always prompt and friendly. The gyros, calamari, and other items are cooked to order, so you can call ahead if you don't want to wait. The sitting area is not very big, but I believe they have arranged the space to make it comfortable without being too crowded. Very cute Greek decorated with a beautiful picture of Greece for a complete Greek experience. 100/10 recommend

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    Yia Yia's Kitchen - Calamari!

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    Yia Yia's Kitchen
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    Smyrna Restaurant - Branzino in parchement. Baked branzino filet with sauteed veggies in paper. Served with baby potato, olive, cherry tomato & preserved lemon.

    Smyrna Restaurant

    4.7(190 reviews)
    48.4 mi
    $$

    We came here on Sunday afternoon before a wine festival and they were pretty busy but we were able…read moreto be sat for the 4 of us without a problem. This was in a shopping center so we didn't have any issues with parking. Everyone was so friendly when we walked in and even with it being busy, service was fairly quick. Cute decor inside. We started off with a couple of sangrias, the red one was really good. We ordered the Spread Sampler, the Double Cooked Octopus, and thr Grilled Sucuk. The spread was delicious and came with warm pita breads, we were also able to order more when we ran out. I definitely recommend getting the Sampler to try the different spreads as all of them were amazing. The octopus was incredibly tender and flavor as was the Sucuk. I wish we were hungrier when we came but we had a great time and would definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.

    It feels like you've stepped directly into Greece when you arrive at this restaurant! Apparently…read morethey have a pretty nice outdoor patio as well Large menu with tons of options including a very affordable tasting menu with 4-courses included for ~$40 I came here for dinner with my fiance and we tried a variety of dishes. While the hummus and our mocktails were disappointing, the rest of our food was tasty (especially the falafel - it was fantastic!). Service was very fast and people were very friendly

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    Smyrna Restaurant - Aegean bar

    Aegean bar

    Smyrna Restaurant - Greek potato has thyme and lemon zest marinated roasted baby potatoes, kalamata olives, and cherry tomatoes.

    Greek potato has thyme and lemon zest marinated roasted baby potatoes, kalamata olives, and cherry tomatoes.

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    Estiatorio Plaka - Pita Bread Side

    Estiatorio Plaka

    4.5(114 reviews)
    0.0 miGreektown
    $$

    As someone who just came back from Greece, this is about as delicious as you could get. Sure, some…read moreof the dishes are Americanized, but the food and ambiance feels straight out of a restaurant that you could get over there. Just like with Greece, the portions are incredibly generous. You get food, on top of food, on top of food, and then you are full, and then you get some more! It also helps the food tastes super fresh and is worth every penny. Get yourself plenty because it makes the experience even better. They also have a bakery in the front that also offers tasty options in addition to some local favorites. Their baklava is like the size of a small cake! It is definitely worth taking a piece or two home with you. I am happy I stopped here and look forward to eating here again.

    We came for the Greek Tasting Wine dinner. So much food. The tasting menu consist of three…read moreappetizers. Yes that's correct. I stated three. I have photographed the menu. It also included a salad. With two entrees one being the Spitroast Lamb, the other was the Lavraki (Branzino) filet fish. This was my favorite!! Seasoned perfectly with the lemon oil and capers. It also included two desserts. There was a wine sample that went with every meal. So a total of seven different wines. All pretty much on the dry side. With the exception of the wine that went with the desserts. It was called Paleokairiso,2023. That had a slight sweetness to it. I'm actually a semi sweet wine person. So everything paired well with the meals. I would have to pass on all dry wines but I'm always open to the possibilities. This was an enjoyable experience. We don't live in Baltimore but if you live or work nearby. I highly recommend checking them out. Parking was about a block away. For twenty five cents an hour. Also metered street parking available if you can find it. We would not hesitate to attend another event here. It was definitely worth it.

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    Estiatorio Plaka - Seating area

    Seating area

    Estiatorio Plaka - Easter eggs

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    Karellas Cafe - greek - Updated June 2026

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