The food at Sam's is fantastic. The service was impeccable…read more We have been going there since it was a one row house (70s). They took over the adjoining row house and creating a large dining room. The ambiance is fine, but you go there for the food

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.

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.

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.

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

I just want to preface this by saying this review was not written by AI. This is a heartfelt review…read morefrom a real human! My boyfriend and I went to Melina for the first time, and we both left with the exact same thought: this is the best restaurant we've ever been to. To begin, our server, Justin, was the absolute best server we've ever had. From the moment we sat down and were handed the menu, Justin immediately began to explain the starters and appetizers. He didn't just explain what was on the menu; he broke down the origins, the ingredients, where they were imported from, why they were named what they were, how they were cooked, and even how they would make us feel! We left that introduction knowing exactly what we wanted and why, with zero guessing. Neither of us is from Greece, yet we didn't feel like we had to look up a single thing on our phones to understand the menu. Everything we had was a perfect combination and an incredible experience. When it came to the main dishes, I chose the Portobello Mushrooms, which come with a hazelnut farro. Justin remembered that my boyfriend is allergic to nuts and thoughtfully had the farro served on the side so that my boyfriend could still try the rest of my plate safely. That level of care and thoughtfulness is something I've never encountered in all of our dates. Between the jokes, the perfect check-ins, his menu encyclopedia knowledge, and the overall vibes, my boyfriend and I left the restaurant overwhelmed with joy. Neither of us has ever left a restaurant review before, so that alone says a lot. Melina and Justin will definitely be a regular staple in our lives moving forward. Please go to this restaurant and get the Crab Croquettes (every single bite left me with a smile)!

What a beautiful restaurant with such a delicious menu!…read more I came here with my friend for brunch and was pretty blown away by how nice the atmosphere was just from entering the restaurant. Truly a lot of thought was put into the decor which I love to see for sure! Our table ordered the bread of the day with the spread and olives. I loved how there were different types of olives with this appetizer. The tuna and avocado toast, though? Amazing, fresh, so delicious. I would order this for every brunch visit! The service was also great! 10/10 Very courteous and kind. Thank you!

I was excited to see that they were back in Business coming from West St - after the devastating…read moretornado - ordered the gyro, both the chicken gyro and the traditional gyro , massive portions but was dry - the fries were overcooked - was disappointed- the food was better over at West St.... Just not the same... Hope they do well-

Let me start off with the appetizers. The grape leaves were the best I've ever had! The hummus and…read morepita were delicious and of course the mac & cheese bites were to die for! We all had the Gyro dinner platter, amazing portions for the price everything was absolutely perfect. The service was quick and friendly! I highly recommend this place! Loved their music that played in the background and all the great pictures of Greece...

It truly doesn't get any better than this! I mean, I felt a little underdressed although I wore…read morenice capris and blouse. Kidding, because my friend and I were treated as if we were royalty, wearing nothing but the finest of finery. We were there just before noon on a Tuesday, not the busiest lunch of the day in every restaurant I know. But this place is enormous, so I imagine they could have accommodated two very easily, regardless. Everything was absolutely spotless, gleaming and shining - there are photos of dining there, but even in daylight, it had a beauty seen in the finest restaurants. The service was absolutely perfection - as a former wait person, I'm picky ;) Richard was there when we needed anything and left us alone to gab when we didn't. And of course, the food. The FOOD! Seriously, best Greek food I've had in years and years. I chose the lunch gyro pita, which was overflowing with tender, perfectly spiced gyro meat, with just the right balance of tomatos, onions and feta cheese. Coulda been more tzatziki but I am kind of an addict to that stuff, so it was probably just the right amount. ;) I also ordered the fasolakia (green beans simmered in tomato sauce, but that doesn't begin to explain the complex mix of flavors and textures!) So delicious, with the beans still crispy tender, and a hint of cinnamon which I dont' recall having in this dish before. It was amazing! They serve every platter, sandwich and pita with a very hefty serving of giant steak fries. They had a nice seasoning but were more like house fries. In other places, "Greek fries" had a drizzle of oil and crumbled feta so I wasn't expecting these. But yum! Good enough to bring some home, because the air fryer will make them terrific again. In all, I was so delighted and really wish this wasn't such an out of the way place from home. I definitely will come back, despite that, because there are so many dishes I want to try. As others mentioned, lots of free parking but here's a quick word of caution if you use GPS to get here. When you exit from MD100 onto Executive Park, it will tell you to take the first left but DON'T DO IT! That's the M&T Bank parking lot. Go just a tad bit farther and don't be surprised by having to look a little because it's so like a business park.

Came here last Sunday for Father's Day! The restaurant is in a weird area, an office building with…read morea hotel nearby. I would say this is more of a 3.5, rather than a 4 star review, continue reading ... The restaurant is beautifully decorated inside and out, with blue lights throughout. We loved that! We sat outside and were happy that the patio area wasn't very hot and that the nice large umbrellas protected us from the sun and were lit up when it got dark. We started with Saganaki, which included pita. It was flambed table side and delicious, we all loved it. We also had Calamari, I don't eat it but husband and daughter really enjoyed it. For entrees, husband had the special (filet mignon w/crab cake and shrimp on top), that came with mash potatoes and veggies. The steak was good but undercooked, the crab cake was good. Daughter had the pasta, she didn't really love it. I had the lamb shank with orzo. I don't usually like lamb but it was very tender and didn't have the aftertaste that usually comes with lamb. The service was very good, waiter was very attentive, replenished waters often and made good suggestions. Although we liked the restaurant, we felt that as a Greek restaurant there should be more Greek styled pork, chicken dishes. We also felt that some items were overpriced, specialty dish was $75, rib eye was $68, lamb shank was $55, roasted chicken was $39, etc. We will not return for another dinner, but might consider going for lunch to get gyros and Saganaki.

Service was very friendly and resident Ambiance was…read moredefinitely like being transported across the waters. Food was delicious and freshly made Highly recommend the rice pudding!

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

I have been meaning to try this restaurant for over a year. I first noticed it when I was waiting…read moreat the nearby bus station to go to NYC. I can't remember what caught my eye but I knew I had to go eventually. I am so glad I did. The restaurant is one of the most visually appealing restaurants that I have ever been to. I literally felt like I had gone to Greece and the music playing helped create that atmosphere too! Our server was so kind. I was debating between the plaka mousaka and the shrimp linguini. He recommended the mousaka and said if I don't like it he would give me the shrimp linguini. No need to worry, I LOVED it! I'm so glad that he encouraged me to try something new and not go with the safe choice (which I'm sure would've been great too). I can't wait to come back!

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.