We finally made it to Samos Restaurant. Years ago we tried and couldn't get in, and it slipped off our radar. This time we were seated fast and had a wonderful dinner. A Greek restaurant that we depended on in Catonsville is gone for good so we were so happy to find one to take its place. My husband had moussaka and loved the béchamel sauce. We split saganaki, a delicious choice despite not being lit at the table. I had spanakopita which was excellent. Our waiter, Chef Paul, was filling in for missing waitstaff- he was personable, knowledgeable, and funny, too. All in all, a very good experience. We will be back! read more

My husband and I stumbled upon the gem after my check up at Bayview. It was our first time in the area and we were hungry so we asked the nurses where they suggest we go, they sent us to Samos. We were so hungry that we forgot to take photos, but it was an amazing meal! We ordered the trio dip for appetizer, which was so tasty! The pitas were made well. I had the grilled shrimp platter, while my husband ordered the lamb chops platter. They were both wonderfully seasoned and perfectly done. We had the best baklava we ever tasted! The staff were friendly and the service was prompt. An over all great experience! read more

OMG, amazing!!!!!! Food was delicious and the service was good too! We will most certainly be back! Delicious pitas, skewers, veggies, rice, & potatoes! Check this place out if you're interested and be sure to have cash as it's cash only!!!! This place is worth a visit! read more

Samos Restaurant - Souvlaki Platter with rice!! - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Visiting for the night and was looking for a great restaurant to go to. Asked around and came across this Greek goddess of lamb decadence. And let me tell you, Zeus just shit his toga! As soon as we got here we were informed it was BYOB. With coming empty handed we immediately asked where the nearest liquor store was. Not only did they have a liquor menu, they also had a wine/beer delivery service which was at cost, with no delivery fee. They showed up within 3 minutes from ordering... Awesome! The food was incredible. We had the grilled calamari to start and both had the lamb chops for our entrees. The calamari was immaculate! Grilled lightly and seasoned perfectly. The lamb was Cooked to perfection and accompanied with potatoes and vegetables. When I come back to Baltimore I will definitely be stopping here again for a great meal! read more

Samos Restaurant - Lamb Chops - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Had the shrimp gyro for dinner and while it was delicious, it only contained three shrimp and lots of tomatoes. I love tomatoes in general but it was not balanced as well as I would like. The shrimp would not be so bad if the chef would cut each piece of shrimp into three pieces. Having to do that myself and making a mess was not a desired situation. As a result of this, I did take one star off my review. read more

Samos Restaurant - Shrimp wrap - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

A group of us came because of the reviews I read on Yelp and the reviews did not fail :D Each of us ordered something different and we all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. I got the Greek salad and that dressing...that dressing still makes me drool. Unless it changed, we ordered our food up front then seated ourselves. The place has an easy going set up/atmosphere. The restaurant isn't the biggest place so time your visit right and avoid the crowds....they have a big fan base that likes to eat. I would go back to Samos in a heartbeat if I was in Baltimore. read more

Samos Restaurant - Samos' hummus - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

My coworkers decided to stop by for lunch after attending a conference nearby, since this is one of the highest rated restaurants in the area. I didn't know you could make pita bread special but Samos manages to do so. The pita has definitely been smothered in butter and then lightly pan fried or something, because they smell so good when they arrive on your table and you can't stop eating it once you've taken that first bite. Our table split the tzatziki plate, and I also got the lamb souvaki on a stick. The pita is top notch but everything else was pretty standard (and no you don't need to order it, literally every dish comes with some pita). This would definitely be my go-to spot if I were to dine again in the Baltimore area. read more

Samos Restaurant - Lamb souvlaki on a stick - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

We love Samos. We had a great meal there and their food never disappoints. The shrimp skewers, grilled octopus, cheese and shrimp pie, breaded calamari and Greek salad are amazing. Everything, including desserts is delicious. read more

Yum! This place is amazing! I was in Baltimore for work and did a quick yelp search for the neighborhood surrounding my hotel to find some good food and then a friend and I dropped in to place a pick up order for lunch. The restaurant is in a residential area so there's plenty of street parking. You might have to walk a block or two to get there, but it's worth it. I opted for the gyro pita with everything while my friend ordered the chicken pita with everything (and everything = tomato, onions, pickles, and tzatziki). Our order was ready in 5 minutes and we were out the door. Service was so friendly and fast. And now for the pitas. They were so amazing. The portions were seriously generous for the price and the food was really fresh and delicious. The pitas were really thick and crisp on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside. The gyro meat was well-seasoned and not too salty and I loved the toppings and sauce. I tried some of my friend's chicken pita and it was so good. The chicken had that barbecue-y grill taste to it, which made it extra yummy and it was moist and tender. A baby with no teeth could've bitten through the meat. I'd definitely recommend this place! read more

Samos Restaurant - gyro pita - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I am never disappointed when I visit here. Our server Joyce was warm and friendly and attentive, even though the restaurant was full. We ordered the trio dip plate for an appetizer: hummus, eggplant, and olive tapenade served w homemade pita and veggie stix. The hummus was creamy and light. The eggplant dip was lemony and full of roasted eggplant. I can never say anything negative about olives, so the tapenade was my fav. We shared a bowl of the seafood chowder which was out of this world delicious! Crab, clams, and shrimp in a tomato base w potatoes, corn and seasoning. Wow!! We split a gyro bc we knew these were generous size! Loaded w gyro meat, and so big ! Then when we thought we couldn't handle anything else, our lovely server joyce brought us coffee and a baklava. I asked her about it and she was accurate! Warm, flakey, sweet and a must have if you visit here! They only take cash, so be prepared! Still one of my all time fav places in Baltimore... a must on any visit! read more

Samos Restaurant - Seafood chowder w clams,crab, and shrimp! - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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MINI GREECE IN BALTIMORE! It was my anniversary and I have been wanting to go to Samos since a long time. I had heard a lot about this place and it definitely has very good reviews on Yelp. What could be a better day that this to give this restaurant a try? DECOR: The place is quite big with a very casual interior. FOOD: We ordered the grilled octopadi (appetizer), combination pekilia platter (entree) and baklava (dessert). The portion of the grilled octopadi was too small and sufficient for one person only. The combination platter was served with greek salad, rice pilaf, pita bread and roasted salad. The portion was large and we could barely finish it. Within the platter, the dolmades and souvlaki's were the best. Both the grilled octopadi and the combination platter very quite tasty. The baklava was very tasty with the right amount of sweetness. PRICE: Reasonably priced SERVICE: OMG! What a long wait. During peak time in the evenings, the wait time can be anywhere between 40 mins to an hour (even on weekdays). The restaurant is open till 9 pm. So if you want to avoid the long wait, go there by 8.50 pm or so. I would like to try the Calamari on my next visit to Samos. read more

Samos Restaurant - Fried Calamari - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

My friend wanted to come here and I'm glad I went along. it was close to closing but there were still a lot of people dining and hanging out. The staff seemed sweet, looks like a family owned and operated restaurant. Ambiance was ok seemed casual with paintings all around and old pots lining the top of the wall. The food, which is really the only part that matters, was great! We ordered the large Greek salad and the tzatziki appetizer. Both were delicious! I love the dressing for the salad too! For my main entrée I ordered the lamb gyro! it came out fully stuffed and hot! it was probably the best gyro I've had, ever! Also the sweet tea is pretty awesome too! The best part was it didn't cost an arm and a leg! It came to about $13 per person for 4 of us and that's including tip! You're probably wondering why I only gave 4 stars.... I deducted a star because even though the food was delicious. The table and condiment containers were sticky and unclean. Not a huge deal for most, but I have a thing about sticky surfaces.... read more

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Like your yia yia, but better!! The original Samos is hands down the best Greek food in Baltimore. Family run, they truly make you feel loved & well fed with big portions of flavorful best yet "open face" any of the pitas shrimp chicken sliced gyro lamb steak or even veggies!! Delicious read more

Shhhhhh.......Don't tell anyone else about Samos. Direct your friends and family to the fast casual Samos locations and let's keep this one a Greektown secret. I've wanted to go to the original Samos for years, but I never seem to have cash and this place is very upfront about being cash only. A fortuitous decision to get cash back at Walmart, a hidden $20 in my wallet, and the stars had finally aligned. We went around 8pm on a Saturday. They were busy but we were seated in the dining room quickly. It's very cozy and reminded me of a Yia Yia's dining room. We ordered drinks which I had to go up to the front and ask for, since our salad came before the beverages, but it's fine. They were busy and possibly understaffed. I'm not mad. The Greek salad was huge and really fresh. We split the sausage and peppers appetizer which was really nicely presented. Someone took their time to slice everything and arrange it *just so*. Quite good. I was pretty much full at this point so consider that. Still, the Gyro and Souvlaki platters we ordered arrived and we ate. You may balk at the $16.50 price tag, but it's two full meal's worth. Plus I got a nice helping of vegetables so there are major health benefits here! Total for two people's drinks, one app, and two huge entrees was $48 before tip. There is an ATM in the back but it seemed a little sketchy and I'm not sure I'd want to put my card in it. read more

Incredible food. This was the first time Ive had greek food and I am a total fan. Food is fresh and delicious. Cash only spot so make sure you have that when you visit. Very hearty portions. We will be back. read more

Samos Restaurant - Roasted Potatoes - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Best Greek food in Maryland, as far as I can tell. Everyone I tell about this place automatically says "Oh yeah, Samos is great!" I don't normally like Greek salad, and can take or leave feta, but Samos' is spectacular. Also, I had the pasticcio, and liked it so much I had to get it again next time, even though I'm mostly a fan of gyros. So I had to get gyros just to take home. If I lived closer, I'd go every week! read more

Samos is a family-owned restaurant in Greektown, and definitely does not disappoint. Do not confuse this with their second location in Canton Crossing, although it is owned by the same people, the original location is still superior. We tried a few items off their menu including the grilled octopodi (perfectly tender with simple flavorings that highlighted the octopus' flavor), the soulvaki platter with lamb and beef (deliciously tender and well seasoned, it also came with THE BEST potatoes in Baltimore), and let's not forget their gyro pita wrap (flavorful and juicy meat contrasted with crisp, fresh vegetables). Special mention goes to the delicious house-made salad dressing, which they actually sell separately in bottles. Take it home and you bring the bottle back for refills! Just writing about this place is making me want to go back, I think we'll have to visit again tonight and explore the rest of their menu! Other things to note: The restaurant is cash only, but there is an ATM in the back. It can be difficult to find parking in the area on busy nights, so give yourself an extra 10 minutes to find a spot when making plans. read more

Food was great, a super little place, had dolmades which were great, hummus fresh and warm pitas. Lamb rap was amazing, great grilled flavor and not overcooked. Bring cash no cc. read more

Staff was friendly and helpful in deciding what to order. The spanakopita was delicious, and the saganaki was so good with the pita! I got the grilled chicken pita which was very filling and good. Mom got lemon chicken oreganato which she enjoyed and said the chicken was juicy. For dessert we had the baklava which was also delicious. Will go back if in the area. read more

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Authentic Greek food. The pasticchio is the best I've ever had. One of my family's favorite places to go in Greektown.

Amazing Greek food! We stopped here on the way to DC since it was conveniently located off of 95. It was super busy during lunch but we were seated relatively quickly. Everything we ordered was excellent. I can honestly say that they have the best octopus dish I have ever had. Usually octopus can be overly chewy if not prepared well but it was excellent here. I would also highly recommend the Neptune salad and Gyro. Additionally, the fries were cooked to perfection; golden, hot, and crispy. I will definitely stop by this place again next time I am in town. read more

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I love Samos for when I was doing Keto and for when I was not! Their food is ridiculously good. There's a reason why they stayed busy even during a pandemic when the 2 big chain restaurants next door had to close down! I've never gotten a mediocre anything from Samos, they're a go to when you need a good Greek meal! read more

Samos might be the best Baltimore dining, certainly the best Greek restaurant. It's earthy and not fancy as it's Island Greek food, not Athens urban elite. The owner chef and servers are funny and nice. Cash only and byob but they have a wine delivery setup with the store on the corner. Lines fri and sat nights. read more

Samos Restaurant - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Samos food is awesome. I think I have had at least half of the menu. The whole establishment is great. read more

Baltimore Yelpers highly recommend this place in Greek town. Curious, we decided that it was worth a try! We tried the Greek salad (small), the souvlaki platter and had a galactobouruko (custard based pastry). Note that we went at 3:30 pm on a cold Saturday (which might explain why we did not wait long). Verdict: good Greek American food. I precise American because it's unlikely that you eat like this in Greece outside touristic areas: it's more on the cream side (Greek yogurt base) than on the olive oil side for what we tried. But it was a good solid experience for Baltimore. The lamb souvlaki was well grilled and the veggie accompaniment was very decent for the hungry one: small Greek salad (with only 1 olive, though), pita, potatoes, panned (or steamed?) veggies and a copious portion of tzatziki with cucumbers. Definitely a good place if you've lived some time in Baltimore. read more

Samos Restaurant - Souvlaki platter: lamb skewers (delicious!), roasted potatoes, veggies, tzatziki and pita bread. - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

A staple restaurant in Highland town near Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Campus. I've been going there for 15+ years now; the staff is extremely friendly! The food is amazing, very fresh and authentic Greek. It is BYOB, they do not sell alcoholic beverages. However, they do provide wine glasses. Cannot recommend enough! Love this place. read more

Samos has been around along time but it seems no matter how long u wait to go back there to eat if they ever have to change cooks they must pay there employees good because every cook they have had is awesome at there job read more

The best food I've had in a long time. Tour of Samos was amazing grilled octopus great and the Lamb chops the best I ever had . I will be back every time I'm in Baltimore read more

Great food always fresh service always nice Grill calamari excellent Lamb kebab chicken kebab was great Salad dressing loved it read more

Wonderful Greek food spot. Used to eat here literally 2-3 times a week when I work at Bayview Hospital nearby. The Neptune salad with anchovies, the gyro and souvlaki are highly recommended. I give them 4 stars because on this day and age they still do not accept credit cards. CASH ONLY. Smh Times are changing and they need to adjust. read more

Delicious Greek food. No wait, casual, no credit cards. Busy lunch hour crowd. Try the terama salata

For the first time in 20 years, I was disappointed with a meal from Samos. My sliced gyro had very little tzatziki on it (my friend's gyro had it glopped on one end and none on the other end). My Greek salad had obviously wilted cucumbers I had to pick out. Lastly their rice pudding which I love so much had the consistency of pudding with barely cooked Uncle Ben's rice dumped in as an afterthought. I hope that this experience was a fluke. I love Samos but they aren't going to survive these hard times if they don't keep up with the quality Greek food they've served in the past. read more

As a reward to myself for my successful back surgery, while near the Johns Hopkins Bayview campus I decided to go over to Greektown in Baltimore. I couldn't have found a nicer Greek restaurant, petite in size but very good in regards to their food. One of the best offerings is their Greek salads. Made with fresh lettuce, it had a ton of feta cheese. If you want to go where the locals go, discover this Greek gem. read more

Best Greek in Baltimore, if you haven't gone, get your ass here!!! Bring cash!!! Come hungry!! Been coming here since I was a little kid, always great, always bringing friends and family with me, go early!! You will love this gem!! read more

This is the best Greek spot in Baltimore! Dishes are bursting with flavor and come with enough food to satiate the hungriest of eaters. To top it off, the service is absolutely delightful. read more

Great Greek food in large portions and not expensive (so a good value). Not a great atmosphere, and BYOB (with per person corkage fee) and CASH only is a bummer. Ok for an everyday meal, but not for a business dinner or special occasion. read more

I will echo everyone's sentiments- this place is fantastic. I've been to both Zorba and Ikaros in Greektown and this beats both by a mile. To start, the atmosphere is not pretentious at all and feels homey. My parents who are originally from Greece love coming here for great grilled octopus, lamb chops, and whole grilled fish. The moussaka is impressively similar to homemade. On one particular occasion, the special was lamb shank with orzo and I still dream about it. To complete the meal, you can't leave here without having TWO orders of loukoumades (honey dumplings)! No, I don't have diabeetus... yet. read more

Remains the standard for Greek cuisine in Baltimore. From fresh pita and sauces to mind blowing gyros and lamb chops. Only knock i have is that I brought some family here this past weekend for their first time. I had raved about Samos and their grilled calamari many times to them. We placed it as an app order, but what was brought out didn't reflect anything I've had there before. What used to be a generous portion of calamari grilled on a flat top to perfection and lightly coated with olive oil was now a mixed bag of a small portion of charred-burnt calamari/tomatoes/onions... couldn't eat it. That is my single knock. Perhaps chef had a bad night, but seeing just how different the dish was, i fear the recipe has changed. read more

CASH ONLY (they have ATM on premises) Awesome !!! This place is so awesome ! We had the lamb shank, lamb chops, gyro platter and combination platter... all amazing !! The spanakopita is ok so you can skip that one. The saganaki is really good, however no flame show by table, they bring it ready from kitchen, still very delicious and worth ordering !! read more

Samos Restaurant - Spanakopita and saganaki - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Found this place by Googleing "five star restaurants in Baltimore". Most were expensive old line places that I'd visited before on special occasions but weren't places I'd choose over and over. The review said "No credit cards and BYOB". I thought that was refreshing. So my wife & i went for linner (yes, linner) and loved it. My wife asked about the crab cakes. Tammy (our waitress) said "You don't want that here". We asked Tammy what we wanted and she didn't steer us wrong. Ask for Tammy for the best advice, you will not be disappointed. The fried zucchini and the shrimp & cheese pie were great appetizers. My wife had the lamb chops and the string beans. She said the lamb chops could be cut with a spoon - so tender. She talked about them for days. I had the gyro pita - it was the best I'd ever had and I've had many. LOTS of meat with really fresh tomatoes and seasoned perfectly. We went back for dinner a week later. Ordered the assorted spreads and pita and (of course) the fried zucchini as appetizers. All were perfect. She reordered her lamb chops and I got the same great gyro pita. It was as good the second time as the first. Brought a bottle of generic red wine to complete the dinner. We'll go back again soon. read more