A wonderful example of a Greek tavern in Calgary is Santorini, where Brian and I enjoyed dinner without reservations and were still warmly accommodated. We were personally served by Louie, whose hospitality made the entire evening unforgettable. He recommended an exceptional Greek Cabernet Sauvignon wine, along with some of the most delicious Greek appetizers, main platters, and desserts we have ever had. The food was outstanding, the atmosphere welcoming, and the service truly amazing. We highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an authentic and memorable Greek dining experience in Calgary. read more

TL;DR: Don't go on a Friday night. The place is tiny and super loud, it's almost impossible to have a conversation. Tables are packed so close together you can practically share appetizers with strangers. If you're a fish lover, you'll probably be fine; but for those of us who don't eat fish (or just hate the smell), it's rough. The whole place reeks, and it's not pleasant. Food itself? Pretty good. Service? Brutally slow. We waited about 40 minutes for our dishes. When the pork souvlaki finally arrived, the server wasn't even sure if it was chicken or pork and just left it up to us to figure it out. Also, fair warning: they have a dish they flame up tableside with zero notice. Nearly singed my ears off. I get that when the restaurant is not packed is amazing. But tonight, they dropped the ball. Hard. That said, not coming back, ever, again. read more

Love Greek cuisine. Santorini's met my expectations. We ordered the platter for two, the Greek salad, Moussaka and spanakopita were excellent, The waitress was friendly and efficient. The only disappointment was the greeting - first time at this restaurant. The fellow looking after reservations and seating was neither friendly nor accommodating. He sat us at a tiny table by the door, when there were many great tables available & we even had a reservation. Probably would never come again, even though the food was great! read more

We first went to Santorini's for dinner in 2023. It was absolutely amazing food, service and ambiance. We took a small group back there last week and it was again absolutely on all levels. Santorini's prepares and serves the absolute best Greek food in the province of Alberta, outside of Greece! You will not be disappointed. Not expensive either. Great place! We will be going back again and again! read more

Always fantastic food and service. It was busy during the Christmas season for sure. Feels a little cramped and it's noisy, but it's worth it for the food. read more

Food exceptional. Service efficient, attentive & friendly. Ambiance quiet, nicely decorated and lots of room. Met at the door with welcoming smiles and enthusiasm. Seated quickly and comfortably. Seriously ... one of the best Greek restaurants we've visited in years! We don't live here in Calgary or we would be regulars for sure. read more

You. Have. To. Visit. It!!! A fantastic place. As soon as you go across the door you're entering Greece. Not only the place, that's is beaotiful, but the scents, the music, the absolutely kind service, the great owner...and the food is to experience a little part of Greece. There's no option? Yo have to visit it. read more

Great authentic Greeks food. Hummus and pita bread was great! The lamb chops and roast lambs melted in your mouth. Would definitely come again! read more

My wife and I brought our kids to this restaurant and had the best Greek dinner in Calgary, in fact, maybe anywhere we.ve ever had. We had the hot appetizer combo and pita to start. It all disappeared quickly. Even my eight-year-old enjoyed the appy. Then came the main course. My wife and I shared the combination platter for two, while the kids had chicken and beef souvlaki. The chicken, in particular, was fantastic. Beef was very good. Our combo platter had some of the most delicious moussaka, lamb, and chicken we've ever had. Their spanakopitas and dolmathes were excellent. There was absolutely no complaint from any of us, except that we were too full to finish everything, thanks to their generous portion sizes. So food came home, but it was gone very quickly! I fully recommend this place--maybe make a reservation, as they appeared pretty busy (always a good sign!) We'll be back. read more

So this was my first & last visit to this restaurant. It's an also-ran Greek Restaurant. It's the kind that "used to be good" but now it's a shadow of what it was. The meal started with a pretty decent Greek Salad. It wasn't the type of Greek Salad that I normally eat but the dressing was good. The main was a normal Chicken Souvlaki dinner. The issue was cold green beans that were well past their prime. It came with literally 3 potato wedges, cold white rice (butter wouldn't melt on the rice) & a small chicken skewer! All of this delight for a mere $27.00 for the main. Very disappointing for any restaurant that calls itself legit! Do yourself a favour...go to ANY other Greek Restaurant! read more

We loved Santorini's! We are from the U.S. and flew into Calgary, and found Santorini on Yelp. We are SO glad we went. It was very busy the first night, but they squeezed us in and we loved it so much! The staff was so nice and the atmosphere was great. We loved it so much, we went back a second time before we flew back home. read more

I had read the review on Avenue Calgary, so decided to suggest it to my husband for a place to try. He booked it for my birthday dinner, and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had. Service was spot on, the food was amazing, and the entire evening will be something I'll remember forever. We started with the Saganaki with Pita (mmmmm flaming cheese!), then had the combination platter, and finished with the Krema Karamelle, and everything was incredible. The Horiatiki salad that the platter starts with was amazing. It looks and sounds like a standard Greek salad, but it was so much more. The feta they use is soft and creamy, with a soft tang while the vegetables were served with a delicious olive oil drizzled over (yes, there was some left in the bottom of the bowl, but it was so good I could have eaten it by itself!). We were thrilled, as that was a very good omen we were to have an incredible evening, and Santorini did not disappoint. Everything was fantastic, and I have to thank the staff at Santorini's for the wonderful experience!! read more

Our favorite stop in Calgary! Food is always top notch, Greek home style cooking. Highly recommend the lamb chops!

Great food and service every time we go! Recommend you get the platter that includes everything!!!

We got the taverna special and it was AMAZING! service was great, and the food was so so good. Having multiple courses was so fun! We loved every single thing we got and we were full for hours after! read more

Best Greek salad I've ever had and authentic! Very good eggplant dip and hummus. Pita bread count have been better, wasn't bad but wasn't a little too toasted for my taste as I prefer it to be warm and soft. Shrimp and scallops dish was good. The potatoes were cooked perfectly. Very friendly staff and cute atmosphere. read more

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I had a late dinner with hubby. We ordered the seafood platter for two, which was presented on two plates: the seafood (grilled calamari, shrimp on top of scallops, one salmon and halibut steak) on one, and the sides(green beans, carrots, roasted potatoes and rice). The calamari was absolutely amazing--it was tender and cut like butter. Melt-in-your-mouth good!! The shrimp and scallops also delicious. Unfortunately, the salmon and halibut was overcooked (but after eating the halibut at River Cafe, that's a tough act to follow). There was a little too much lemon juice added to the cooked veggies... read more

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We used Yelp and Google and the review for this place was 4.5. Absolutely shocked at this rating. Pricing was so high for the quantity or quality of the food. We ordered the $30 appetizer to start and the octopus was from a jar I think and the appetizer size was for 2 max. From all the Greek restaurants I've been to in Toronto, there was always too much food to be eaten and souvlaki are large and juicy. The souvlaki were tiny and dry and the roast lamb was very disappointing. All the other Greek restaurants, the servings were always huge...not this place especially with such high pricing. Disappointing. But looks like they may have regulars as restaurant was packed when we arrived, hence, it looked promising when being seated. Oh well. read more

My girlfriend wanted to indulge in some Greek for her birthday celebrations, and thought Santorini was the perfect spot. Eight of us piled into the quaint restaurant, which was cutely covered in Greek décor. There were definitely a lot of options and being that our party had different tastes, everyone got to order something they were going to enjoy. I went with the saganaki to start (fried cheese is a must!), and the prawns & scallops as my main (served on rice palif with roasted potatoes and veggies). Other dishes that graced our table included the grilled sausage, seafood platters and skewers with a variety of different meats (chicken, lamb, and beef). Considering our party size, our food still came out relatively quickly. They are definitely not shy on portion size here and even though we tried to eat as much as well could, I think most of us ended up having to take food home. Although my dish was a big heavy on the lemon flavouring, I still really liked it. The prawns were charred nicely from being grilled and pan fried scallops were crisp and juicy - perfection! As always, you always make room for dessert even if you have to share! We ordered a few kreme karamele and tortes, and a few people had the drip coffees (very strong and served espresso style). The kreme was awesome - a light custard infused with intense caramel flavour, made me wish I had started with dessert! Food was great, and we never felt like we were being rushed out even with our larger dining group. I'd recommend checking Santorini out if you're ever craving some Greek. read more

Santorini Greek Taverna - Saganaki - Greek Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Great roast lamb and salmon entrees. Hummus and bread was delicious. Shrimp in a nice sauce but were overcooked. Dessert was so so, a hot cream something. Would go again for the entrees and hummus. read more

We started with the sagenaki (fried cheese) it was as good as we got in Athens last summer. My wife got the shrimp and I the pork both with the Greek salad it was delicious the atmosphere was quaint over all it was a great dinner for the price. read more

Very overpriced place. Small soulvaki plate was of $24 freaking price. The rice portion was so small and beans and carrots on the side was so mush like it was taken out from the canned container. It is an awful overpriced place. People don't go and waste money over there. I would advice Clypsos Greek restaurant instead!!! Hated Santorini!! No one should ever go there read more

Santorini Greek Taverna - It's an awful place and no one should go there. I would give 0star - Greek Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Friendliest and most accommodating staff around! My 2 year old daughter does very well here. Food is exceptional and the secret is out. Make sure to make a reservation. Stin ygeiá sas! read more

Food (GOOD)**Cost (EXPENSIVE)**Ambiance (POOR) Complimentary freshly baked bread. They are amazing. I ordered Moussaka. Good food, service & servings. But NOT the best. I personally think this place is bit EXPENSIVE. 41$ for a single person dinner...! This includes dinner+1 beer+tips. This place needs huge renovation. Menu was half tore and in very BAD condition. It is NOT worth for the bucks I paid. read more

Santorini Greek Taverna - Greek beer - Greek Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Best overall greek food in Calgary. My favorites are the Melitzanosalata (baba ganoush), Tastsiki, hommus, horiatiki (greek salad), avgolemono soup, moussaka and pastichio. The main dishes come with some delicious lemon potatoes and green beans in a tomato sauce. So. friggin. good. Dessert is great too, my favorite is the Bougatsa. Rolando is a great server, I would ask to sit in his section. They also sometimes have belly dancers which I would guess you can request for a special event for some added flair if desired. read more

Love this place! Every time I have guests in town this is my go to entertainment place. It's a great atmosphere and the food is always good I seem to eat way too much every time I go. read more

It's no secret that Greek food is one of my favourite types of food. Having discovered the food of the gods while traipsing around Greece one summer, I have a pretty good idea of what is authentic, and what is not. At Santorini's you can expect to be eating the same kind of Greek food you might eat if you were on a Greek island. As you enter the whitewashed restaurant you'll get the feeling that you're in Greece. Memorabilia and knick knacks from Greece dot the walls. The surroundings are simple, but comfortable. Feel confident ordering such favourites as moussaka, saganaki (flaming cheese!), lamb dishes and souvlaki. The menu offers a lot of choices - Greek salad, tzatziki with warm buttered pita, Greek meatballs, vine leaves... This is a family-run restaurant that has all of the charm and friendly service you might experience on a small Greek island. Ask for a shot of ouzo to get your evening started! read more

I enjoy Santorini. When I was planning my birthday, I knew that most restaurants would be full due to Christmas parties. I remembered attending a birthday dinner here a few years ago, and I figured it would be perfect since I've been meaning to come back since! Reservations went smoothly and they were very accommodating. The 8 of us were seated near the front door - I expected us to be at the back like last time, but it wasn't a big deal. Our waiter was polite, but quiet - nothing stood out for me as far as exceptional service goes, but we had what we needed and that was fine. We started with drinks - I didn't realize that the only wine by the glass was their house wine - but it ended up being fine. They don't have a huge cocktail menu so that's something to keep in mind. We also ordered some Saganaki, Spanikopita, Meatballs, and Calamari to start. Everything came out super quickly! The cheese was a HUGE hit...it was delicious...but REALLY lemony. I didn't mind, but I found a lot of the dishes to have just a tad too much lemon. Josh and I decided to share the Seafood Platter. It was huge! The shrimp was delicious and the fish was seasoned perfectly, however it was slightly overcooked. A little disappointing, but still tasted good nonetheless. Everyone seemed to really enjoy their food, and our sides/salad were very tasty. For dessert, we opted for the Creme Caramel and the Baklava, which was HUGE! I wasn't a huge fan of the Creme Caramel, as I don't really enjoy pudding, but the Baklava was delicious. I wished it was a bit crispier but otherwise no complaints. Our service wasn't amazing, but the food was quite good and it was a lovely evening. It would have been nice for them to acknowledge the birthday (some restaurants will put a candle on the dessert or something - minor but it adds a nice touch) and for the waiter to be a little more personable, but it didn't take away from our good experience. I'll likely be back in the future, at least for the delicious Saganaki! read more

Dear God, thank you for Santorini and their kleftiko. This is my all-time favourite place to go in Calgary. When friends are visiting, I take them here. When it's time for a special occasion, I want to go here. When I get hungry, I want to go here. The kleftiko, or roast lamb, was divine ... the meat practically melting in my mouth. I love the assortment of appetizers, from as simple as pita and hummus to Greek staples like saganaki and spanakopita. My best friend, who gets to dine on the most amazing Greek cuisine at Mino's in Kamloops, B.C., came to visit and had the moussaka. She said it was the best moussaka she'd ever had. Complement your dinner with a Boutari off the wine list. Service is typically excellent, the atmosphere is wonderfully Greek and there's belly dancing on Saturday nights. You won't regret a trip to Santorini. read more

This is a big deal. I could probably answer a 100 questions before I could answer, "what's your favourite restaurant?" Drumroll pleae, it's with great excitement that I yelp that THIS right here, Santorini, is hands down my favourite restaurant in yyc. It all started a few years ago, being new to Greek food, I dove right in and tried "moussaka" - also known as the Greek national dish. It was so unbelievably good!! It's a vegetarian dish - and as meat lover I fell in love with this dish. So much so I tried making it at home - not the same. It is such a hearty serving. And just overall delicious. The potatoes - mmmm. Who would have thought a simple item such as potatoes could be so perfected? Really, you could order any main course and be delighted. The food is so delicious and the service is always consistently great. I love the feel of this restaurant. You can tell its family owned and operated. They have this simple charm - but also extremely proud of the food and service they deliver. A perfect restaurant for winter or summer, date or family, small or large group. On the note of a large groups, Santorini is extremely accommodating of a large group. Just make reservations. They have a set menu at a VERY reasonable price with a TON of delicious food and many options - and lots of food. With so many picky eaters in a big group (25+) everyone was very happy. Must haves: moussaka, the lamb (drool), and this fried cheese appetiser (double drool) yes, fried cheese. read more

I was there for dinner last week after hearing some rave reviews from friends. Maybe I was there on a "off" night... but my experience was less than stellar. We had ordered calamari and the fried cheese(saganaki) as appetizers. The saganaki was quite good and the calamari was nice and crisp. Only problem with the calamari was that they didn't remove the cartilage properly and I was left to spit out cartilage bits. Not very pleasant to say the least! For an entree, I had the kleftiko (roast lamb). The lamb was great; it was fall-off-the-bone tender, juicy and flavourful. However, the sides were a COMPLETE miss. The rice pilaf was mushy as were the string beans. The string beans also came with a weird tangy sauce that certainly didn't enhance their mushy texture. The lemon roasted potatoes were ok... nothing to write home about. I don't plan on going out of my way to go back there any time soon. read more

I have not been here in over two decades, and I'm still satisfied as I was before I moved away from Calgary. Atmosphere: It has the traditional Greek restaurant decor as you would expect anywhere in Canada. Clean, comfortable, and pleasant. The dining area is not a large, rectangular room, but is divided into two levels, and sectioned off. The music in the background was loud enough for people to hear, in case there are awkward silences at the table, but not so loud which you can not hear your other companions at the table. Food: I had the lamb souvlaki. The seasonings were great. The lamb was a little too cooked for my taste, but it was not dry, so it was still very good. A sauce is provided, of course, for your meat. I did not need it, but was happily using it for my pita at the table. The vegetables were seasoned very well, no need to add extra salt or pepper onto them for extra flavour. Service: Our server was very attentive, checked on us to refill our water glasses, and to ask if we needed anything throughout the meal. The wait from the time we ordered to the time we had received our food was less than 20 minutes. This place is still great, after not coming in here in over 20 years. Did not disappoint in any way. Hopefully my next visit to this establishment will not be as long of a wait in between. read more

Santorini Greek Taverna - So flavourful. So good. - Greek Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

I just ate the best Greek lunch meal I've ever had. Succulent chicken souvlaki, flavorful and fluffy rice pilaf and super fresh salad filled my belly and I don't care that I'll smell for hours. Two friends shared the Taverna lunch special and they let me sample the pita bread, which was hot and also very fresh, with the amazing hummus. The prices are reasonable for this quality food. The restaurant is cozy and cute. I can't wait to go back! read more

I'm not sure why this restaurant gets such good reviews, but maybe it's a reflection of the lack of choice in Greek food in Calgary. After dining here several times and trying most of what's offered on the menu, I've never been particularly impressed. The souvlaki is always OK, the lamb fish dishes are quite good, but the sides are nothing special. The rice, lemon roasted potatoes and vegetables are on par with what you get from the local greek fast food chain, and at $25-37 per entree, I expect better. For a seemingly family run restaurant, I was also disappointed with the lack of flexibility they offer to their guests. My boss, who was treating a group of 20+ people to dinner there, was offered potatoes, rice and green beans as the only vegetarian option. On the pus side, the service is quite good. Food is always brought out fairly fast, despite the fact that I'm always there as part of a large group. We never feel like we're being rushed out, even though we notice on our way out that the other customers left long before us. read more

Greek food at its best at Santorini! We opted for the $36 / person dinner that encompasses 3 courses, served family-style. The dishes were: - warm triangle pita bread with hummus and tzatziki thrown in! - so delicious but don't fill up on bread as there's more to come! - saganaki - fried cheese with ouzo - interesting fried cheese in a skillet with a half lemon - greek meatballs - served hot and yet so soft and delicate with tzatziki sauce - greek salad - a great big bowl of chopped up tomato, cucumber, red onions, olives, green pepper and lots of good quality olive oil and seasoning - spanokopita - or spinach pie - hot from the oven and so tasty! - calamari with tzatziki sauce - very tender squid rings and tentacles; the batter is very light. - arni kleftiko - roasted lamb with roated potatoes with lemon wedges - deliciously cooked and tender. I had mentioned it was my birthday and was treated to a free dessert of baklava with a single green and white candle. That was a nice treat! Service was the best as the food came out in timed intervals. The servers were attentive. Parking is at the rear of the restaurant; you can enter just after Crystal Auto Glass if you're going north on Centre Street and go to the back to park. There is also a back entrance to the restaurant. I'd definitely come back to Santorini! read more

This place serves the best Greek food in Calgary and is decorated like a restaurant you would find in Fira. Just try the lamb chops. Until I find a better Greek joint in town, this restaurant is a five-star in my book. read more

Food was amazing! Great service, Good selection. Clean, lots of parking. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who loves Greek! read more

Food is really quite good they everything really well there. Worth trying the waiters are supper friendly. They will go over and beyond to make you happy. Great experience at the end. Service was excellent. Busy place better to have reservation. read more

Easily one of the best Greek restaurants in the city. Very busy, make sure you make reservations! Highly recommend the rack of lamb or the lamb souvlaki. Make sure you get a bottle of Tsantali Retsina! Parking is minimal so expect a tight squeeze or to park on the street. We got lucky both times! Wonderful atmosphere, very packed, but great none-the-less. read more

The roast lamb was incredible! I grew up on the farm and we raised our own lamb - it was a common dish on our table. This was the best lamb I've had since I left the farm! Wonderfully seasoned and perfectly cooked - could cut it with a fork. The portion size was exactly right. If I'd had the time, I would've had room for a coffee and desert. Also, not overly crowded at the lunch hour. This would be an excellent place to take clients for lunch meetings. read more