Ambeli Greek Taverna

A Taste of Greece, A Feast for the Soul! If you’re tired of overpriced, overhyped spots where the vibe is faker than the “extra virgin” olive oil they drizzle—STOP RIGHT NOW and run (don’t walk!) to this Greek gem that’s rewriting the rules on what dining out should be. From the moment you walk in, you’re not just greeted—you’re welcomed like family. The staff? Unbelievably warm, wildly attentive, and genuinely joyful. They don’t just serve food, they serve hospitality in its purest form. No fake smiles. No pretentious scripts. Just real people who love what they do, and it shows in every plate and every smile. Located in the perfect spot—convenient, vibrant, and just far enough from the tourist traps to feel like a local’s secret—the environment hits all the right notes: authentic, relaxed, inviting, and alive with the sights, smells, and sounds of a real Greek kitchen. It’s the kind of place you can laugh loud, eat more than you planned, and stay longer than you should—and no one’s rushing you out. Now, let’s talk FOOD. Holy Hera. This isn’t food. This is a culinary odyssey. Every bite is bold, fresh, and deeply satisfying. The quality? Impeccable. The quantity? Let’s just say: bring your appetite, or better yet, a second stomach. You want crisp, golden spanakopita? You got it. Tender, juicy souvlaki? Check. Creamy, garlicky tzatziki that dreams are made of? It’s here—and it’s glorious. And don’t even get me started on the moussaka—it’s the Zeus of comfort food. And the best part? There’s zero pretension. No trendy plating that sacrifices flavor for flair. No mysterious foam or microgreens. Just honest, out-of-this-world Greek food made with love and delivered with pride. If you’re looking for a place where the food is unforgettable, the people are incredible, and the experience is 100% real—this is YOUR Greek restaurant. A five-star experience without the five-star ego. OPA! 🥳🇬🇷

We walked in without a reservation on Saturday night and the staff was able to squeeze us in. The service was great and the food was excellent. They start you off with warm pita and dip which is delicious. From appetizer to dessert, everything was fresh and flavorful. Will be returning soon!

Great service and great food. Ordered the gyro platter and was not disappointed! Even the coffee was good. Will definitely make a return trip. The place is handicap accessible.

This place was packed on a Monday night and now we know why! The food was delicious and big portions. We ordered the meat platter which came with 4 large shish kebabs, 3 large meatballs, sausage, shaved meat, onions, on top of a bed of salad with tzatziki to go with it. You can tell the chefs really care about the presentation and taste. I felt like I was in Greece! Chris the owner and Erinie the waitress were amazing. Thank you so much we will be back!!!

All around an amazing dining experience! The owner is so hospitable and truly cares about making his guests feel at home. The staff is very attentive and the atmosphere is so inviting. This restaurant has the best Greek food I have ever had , I highly recommend making this your next dining spot. A true 10/10!

Wonderful food and huge portions. We didn't take a lot to go because we were staying in a hotel. While waiting to cross the street, the owner came out to make sure everything was ok. I assured him it was. That gesture made it clear the attention to detail this place has. Highly recommended!

What a wonderful experience! The food & service were phenomenal. They bring pita & hummus to the table which is a nice touch. The calamari, eggplant dip, octopus, souvlaki platter & dorado fish were excellent. The seafood with orzo was amazing. The seafood was fresh & the sauce had some heat. It was one of the best dishes I ever had. The owner is super nice & kept checking on us. You have to eat here-you will love it. We can’t wait to go back!

On our trip from Florida, our friends took us there. What an amazing restaurant. The food is delicious and the staff are wonderful. The owner comes to the tables to make sure the customers are enjoying. I'm telling you...old school appreciation to customers. We will be back upon our return.

All around an amazing dining experience! The owner is so hospitable and truly cares about his guests , the staff is very attentive and the whole restaurant makes you feel at home. It was truly the best Greek food I have ever had. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves great food, company & atmosphere.

Everything is great including the owner who is exceptionally hospitable. I highly recommend this byob Greek cuisine restaurant.

Loved it here! The owner was great! He greated us when we got there and checked on us all night. He even brought over people he knew and introduced us because we are from the same country. He seemed like a great guy who enjoys people and happy that you are trying his place. The food was great. We shared the Souvlakia chicken platter and the gyro platter. They were so good! Good portion of food- you won't leave hungry. The chicken was perfect, moist. The gyro meat was so good. We took a baklava dessert to go but it didn't taste good. Probably wasn't fresh. I wish we had eaten it there. I'm sure they would've fixed it and given us something else. It happens. So I recommend eating it there. But I would try the dessert again. I'm sure it's great when it's fresh. I will definitely be back. Loved eating outdoors. It was a nice night. It was busy but we were seated right away. Great location and nice area. Surrounded by other great restaurants. Can't wait to come back.

I have nothing negative to say about this restaurant. Great dining room. The manager broke my balls over the Rangers hoodie I was wearing. We got a three dips and pita and a combo souvlaki platter. They gave us extra pita at no charge. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. It's so close to us so we will definitely be back! 5.0 / 5.0

Well this easily the best Greek spot I've been too not that I've been to dozens but the pull I went with (girlfriend and brother both agree. My first time I got the dorado fish which I liked but girlfriend loved and I was more intrigued by her dish the Pastitsio. My brother had the the chicken breast lemonati which was also really good. The owner came down from his office personally to introduce himself and even sat down with use towards the end of the evening as it was whinning down. He makes you feel at home very rare and the portions are generous next time my girl and me came we embraced as if we known each other for years. Ps The baklava Greek yogurt are the best any of us have ever had can have both daily if possible. Just writing about them makes me want to check them out today can't stress the hospitality and service the restaurant brings as a collective with Chris at the helm ambiance

Delicious authentic Greek food in a casual eatery in busy downtown Cranford. It's worth the detour even if this isn't right in your backyard. Great service and attentive owner. The moussaka was clearly homemade and fresh and cooked in an individual crock, not sliced from a premade square pan. There's a liquor store a few steps away so you can BYO. I'd like to go back and try some other authentic Greek food like the pastitsio and branzino.

I've been back several times since my original review and until now did not realize that I should update it. It is definitely a five star experience all around. The food is extremely tasty, the portions are very large, the staff is terrific, and Christos is probably the friendliest and hardest working owner of a restaurant that I have experienced. He greets everyone like they are lifelong friends. That is an amazing touch.

5 stars isn't enough for this place. Everything was so flavorful. The dolmades were the all time best I've ever had. I got the appetizer Octapodi for my meal which was cooked so well. We also got saganaki and big Lima beans that I can't recall the name of. So much good food I love it here. The owner even came to talk to us. He had us laughing even after he left our table. BYOB too. Highly highly recommend

Sadly our local go to Greek restaurant let us down on a recent visit and we had been craving Greek food. On a random visit to Cranford, we stopped into Ambeli for lunch. Man, I wish this place was closer to us because it may have taken the reigns as my favorite Greek restaurant. The restaurant is small and simple. The serve is attentive. The food is fresh and you get plenty of it. That's all I need and they deliver on all fronts. Looking forward to paying them a future visit.

I tried out this place and it was a pleasure for the senses. Tasteful food , good service and nice atmosphere. Highly recommended

Not sure what took me so long to come here after hearing only great things for so long. From the minute you walk in, you're made to feel like family. Authentic Greek food with so many options to choose from. Some highlights were the dip trio, ambeli chips, souvlaki platter and desserts. A great spot for dinner with family, friends or date night!

One of the most personable greetings I've had entering a restaurant in a long time - the gentleman at the door (likely the owner?) immediately made us feel welcome with a warm handshake, eye contact, and a smile and sat us for an early dinner. Many of the customers showing up to dine in or take out were clearly regulars and shook hands or exchanged hugs with this man. He genuinely seems happy to greet you and checked in on us throughout the meal. I put this in the review first because it was memorable and made a strong first impression for quality customer service. All the other staff were also friendly and attentive as well. After being seated they dropped a basket of good olive bread with delicious hummus. All the food was fresh and flavorful. I loved their version of avgolemono soup - so simple, comforting and lemony. The salad and gyro platter were tasty with very generous portions, tzatsiki was *so good*. I wish I had ventured into more of the apps and dips, but we were traveling and wanted to be quick so we played it safe. The space itself is welcoming with a nice traditional Greek ambiance that feels cozy, clean, and unpretentious. Acoustically it was very easy to have a conversation even when the room was full. If I lived closer I would make this place part of my regular restaurant rotation!

Very good Greek food in a small charming restaurant. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The food is very good. I had the olive appetizer and a skewer of chicken. The appetizers are very large, definitely meant for sharing and not individual. The olive mix was a little salty for me (more salty than olives normally are), but the chicken was good quality and cooked well. I would like to go back and try more dishes here.

Girl's Night Out! I absolutely enjoyed every bite. Chris the owner is very welcoming and friendly. It's BYOB which is always a plus. The first thing that was brought out was olive bread and hummus. We ordered the grilled octopus and grilled vegetables with a side of Tzaziki as appetizers. The octopus was fresh and delicious. The grilled vegetables: zucchini, eggplant, onion, and carrots were grilled perfectly. For dinner I ordered the branzino with a side of Greek fries. The fish was flaky, seasoned well and a good size. We shared baklava for dessert. My friend ordered the chicken kabob platter. It came with fries, pita bread, lettuce and tomatoes. Will definitely come back. The restaurant is not too far from a lot. Street parking is also available.

Amazing food, service and atmosphere! We get the octopus salad every time and always enjoy it. The manager is always so grateful and welcoming as well. 5 stars!

Love this place My favorite Greek restaurant Owner is so friendly and welcoming I can say the bronzini is the best one that I have had here Definitely recommend

Met friends here on a Monday night and was happy to see the restaurant was busy on what is considered an off night for restaurants. The staff and owner were very welcoming and friendly. Bread on the table was served with hummus in what I originally thought was a butter cup. The salads are plentiful, delicious and easily shared. The dorado was perfectly cooked, they offered to debone but I enjoy eating from the whole fish, our friend had hers deboned. The fish normally comes Greek lemon potatoes but we offered choices, spinach, or rice with spinach. While finishing our dessert we were joined by the owner for some pleasant conversation

Get this food. All is delicious. Only ordered in. This is high end stuff. We have ordered many times.

Just came from dinner on a Saturday. When we arrived at ~5pm it was moderately busy and by the time we left at 7:15pm almost all tables were occupied. Service: excellent. courteous, kind and timely. It was nice to see the owner/manager come out to greet the patrons. Food: -complementary olive bread: delicious, and this from someone who is okay with but doesn't love olives. -tsaziki: tasty. thick and rich. recommend. -keftedakia: delicious, less oily than other greek restaurants and well flavored. -kreato-pikilia: grilled mixed meat appetizer platter. we ordered it as our main. good portion, well seasoned, everything was good - thalasso-pikilia: grilled octopus, calamari and shrimp appetizer platter. we also ordered this as a main. again good portion and good flavors. Of note, they are BYOB and there is a liquor store a couple doors down. We did not have a single complaint about this restaurant. We very much look forward to returning. Highly recommend.

I've been going to Ambelis since they've opened and they truly never disappoint. The food and music take you straight to Greece although you're in the heart of cranford. We recently went on a Saturday around 7:00 and were seated outdoors quickly. It's BYOB and there's a liquor store close by. The food came quickly when ordered, and all was hot and delicious. The spanakopita were my favorite and the filling was perfectly seasoned. I had my staple - the gyro platter- which always gives me enough food for a few meals. For the app and two gyro platters, the bill came to a little over $50 so reasonably priced!

Ambeli is a wonderful Greek restaurant serving some incredible eats. Haven't tried everything yet but the souvlaki and gyro were delicious. Plentiful, reasonably priced.

Always terrific food, terrific waitstaff, terrific ambiance- fun, friendly, relaxed but elite! The owner is simply the best!

Really great food. Server was very attentive and kind. We ordered a lot of stuff. The ambiance feels like a family style place. Highly recommend.

Great food, especially the octopus and the gyro platter. Simple, yet warm atmosphere. Great outdoor seating in good weather. Very good, quick and friendly staff.

This places makes me feel like I'm in Greece. The staff and owner Are awesome. It's byob so that's a place and everything

Super nice BYOB place with amazingly friendly service. The Feta Saganaki - Batter coated feta pan seared in olive oil, drizzled with honey was great. The Spanakopita - A mouthwatering layered pastry of fresh spinach & feta cheese filling was a little different than I would normally expect, but it was actually one of the better renditions as it was surprisingly light and had a great taste to it. The Marouli Salata - Romaine lettuce, dill, scallions, feta cheese, olive oil, and lemon wasn't my favorite, but that was probably because of the dill. For my main course, the Paidakia - Charcoal-grilled baby loin lamb chops, served with hand-cut fried potatoes and spinach was amazing. The chops were cooked to perfection and having it over fries was unusual, but the hand cut fries were great! Other people at the table had the Hirini Brizola - Charcoal-grilled tender pork loin chop, served with roasted lemon potatoes and the Moussaka - Layers of eggplant, potatoes, & seasoned ground beef, topped with bechamel, oven baked to order. All of which they were happy with. For dessert, which I do not normally have, the Baklava (my weakness) - Layers of rich sweet phyllo pastry filled with chopped walnuts and honey was wonderful. Yeah, it says it on the menu (the online one anyway) but it's true--it is the perfect ending to your Greek dinner!

This place has become one of our favorites! The owner is the NICEST guy ever and always makes sure everything is ok. The food is legit Fresh and delicious, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Love ambeli!!!!

I have eaten at a lot of Greek restaurants in my life, but this place definitely takes the cake! They give you fresh olive bread straight from the bakery in town is so soft and amazing in pairs so well with the hummus. We ordered a few appetizers to split and honestly it tasted just like food from Greece. We had grape leaves, fried feta drizzled with honey and sesame seeds, Yum the combination of salty and sweet was incredible. We also had the ambeli salad which was simple but yet packed with flavor. For my entrée I had a sizzling platter of shrimp melted with Greek cheeses, if you are in the Cranford area definitely stop by!

The week prior, we tried to get reservations and all booked. Made a reservation for 3 in advance! Our first visit and we were seated by the front door. It would get chilly when the door open! Friendly staff! Food was yummy! It's BYOB! Our wine was served and chilled! Served the salad with entree- I prefer to enjoy my salad before entree. Lots and lots of take out orders being picked up! And every table was filled with guests! Looking forward to the next visit!

Went with wife Friday after Thanksgiving, Had the lemon chicken soup out of this world. So we both chose two apps each. I choose octopus which is always so delicious and meatballs She picked shrimp that the sauce had a nice kick and also delicious And she picked a pastry with Regatta and yogurt and Greek cheese with honey drizzled over, so I may of mistakely added or miss what was inside but it was SO great. One bite each we saved it for last. Only downside the meatballs were so dry inside and over. Cooked? So I'm thinking maybe a Greek Meatball But no. The sauce on the side could of use Much more to help the meatballs So we use the deliciousness of the shrimp sauce. So love the food there the service is great. It was busy which is great to see. Meatballs huge disappointment

Outstanding food, warm attentive service in traditional Greek restaurant. Reasonable prices and generous portions. Our first time here and we'll certainly be back!

My wife and I visited for the first time on a quiet Sunday evening. Many of our friends had been here and loved it as had many people on Social Media websites. I have to ask...Seriously? We were so disappointed. It hurts to chop down a local restaurant but my disappointing review will not hurt their business. There is no atmosphere. They start you off with a complimentary basket of fresh pita and humus. Pita was fresh but the humus was average. My wife and I ordered the Ambelli chips. Portion size was very generous but they were bland and tasteless. We had to add salt and pepper to get them up to speed. Disappointed. Our main entrees consisted of the Souvlaki platter with chicken and the Brizola Mosharisia (steak). My wife stated the grilled chicken was bland but the tzatziki saved it. My steak was bland. A few diced tomatoes on top but extremely disappointing. Portion was generous. Both orders of French fries appeared to have been cooked a while ago and were greasy. We took an order of the baklava home with us. It was excellent. Very tasty. Overall the service was ok, and the prices were very reasonable. There are parking lots within walking distance and some street parking. Maybe we hit it on a bad night?

We did last minute reservation and they took us in. Service was great/excellent! Pareesa was lovely,full of energy and very efficient. Nice ambience and music playing in the background was just right. Everything we ordered, as recommended were delicious - the appetizers Octapodi, pita bread with Greek spreads, Ambeli chips, Moussaka, Thalassino Giouvetsi, pork skewers We were celebrating 2 birthdays and were given desserts by Thanasis, who put a candle in the dessert and joined in singing the "Happy Birthday" song. Had a great after work celebration hosted by our friends Thank you very much for the excellent service, very much appreciated

This soup was $9 dollars. Not even a cup worth and it tastes horrible. I was just in Staten Island at Greek Express and got a avolemeno soup for half that price and got more soup and it tasted like my Yia Yias soup traditional avolemeno soup. This soup tastes horrible and they have the nerve to charge 9 dollars on Uber for this small tiny terrible example of avolemeno soup. They need to revamp their prices and find a good cook that knows how to make the real deal. I will never order from here again. And the Greek salad that's 20 dollars is not that big for the money and looks bland. I'm really disappointed and dissatisfied and they should be ashamed to call themselves a Greek restaurant and this is coming from someone that is Greek that knows good Greek food, that's from Greece. I clearly know traditional Greek food and this is not it. You should go to Greek express and try their food at half the cost with actual authentic flavor. They should be ashamed at themselves between the prices and the bad quality it's absurd. You spend all this money to get crap.

Delicious food prepared and presented well. Service is excellent, courteous and attentive. Ambience is superb. With indoor and outdoor seating availability. We ordered Kria Pikilia, Laxanika Sharas, Moussaka, Tsipoura (Doral Fish) Souvlaki ( Chicken) platter and a few sides and every single item was superbly prepared. Enjoyed it thoroughly and will come again and recommend.

Extremely warm welcome at the door by the owner was the beginning of a wonderful dinner celebration for my Dad's birthday. The server was super helpful in suggesting which items to try and more importantly how much to order - the portions were very generous so we would've have over ordered like crazy had he not stepped in to mention the meat platter would easily feed 4 people...and he was right because we still had some leftover to take home. There were some items that were exceptional such as the breaded saganaki, the grilled octopus and a few of the meat platter items (Greek sausage, keftedakia etc.) The spanakopita was decent but not the best we've had & the vegetarian moussaka was missing something (most likely the meat, lol!!) After the food had been served it was a little challenging to get the server's attention for extra silverware, and even the check at the end of the meal but that may have been because they got super busy handling takeout orders in the kitchen. All in all though, a lovely experience and we will definitely be back.

The food was ok. Got the gyro platter but it was kinda dry and room temperature. It might have been an off service but not sure I'll go back for another try.

All the stars are not enough! Mr. Christos is a superb host. The food is authentic Greek food served in an exquisite fashion. Spanakopita is as good as "Yiayia's" (grandma's) recipe, Feta Saganaki is simply a must try when you go. Better go very hungry, so good and so much variety to choose from!

Another amazing meal here at Ambeli! We have not been for a bit due to distance we live but never disappoints! From our appetizers the BEST grilled octopus ever, to our Greek salads- yum!! To grilled eggplant and lemon chicken- decadent each and every dish! We so appreciate the owner Christo- and our server Chris for amazing customer service! Highly recommend as best Greek restaurant we know. Looking forward to returning soon!

The service and food were amazing! It was so good I only took a picture of the dessert. Highly recommend the chicken souvlaki, the portions were extremely generous.

Great service from the owner and staff. Makes you feel like at home and family. Food is tasty and fresh. Made my mother's bday extra special!!

Delicious Greek restaurant in Cranford. The Feta Saganaki is my favorite app EVER! All of the food is always fresh and delicious. The pork chop and salmon dishes are two of my favorites. A must try if you are in the union county area!

Came on a weeknight with a reservation. This is a BYOB restaurant so bring your best. The service was friendly and timely. There was plenty of seating indoors and outdoors. 1. Octopus - Tender, flavorful. Well cooked. 2. Branzino - Simple taste to it with good flavors. Had to add lemon to this! 3. Fries with feta - Could pass on this, soggy and not the best. 4. Dessert - Make sure you share with 2 or 3 people. These are huge desserts!

Ambeli Greek is an authentic greek tavern located at the heart of Cranford! It has a beautiful patio and indoor dining (now at full capacity). One thing that makes ambeli stand out from all other restaurants is the hospitality of the staff and the owners. They will visit each patron multiple times to ensure that everyone gets the best food and experience! We dined at ambeli on a Thursday evening and it was packed. Will highly recommend making an appointment. It has plenty of parking spots near by. We ordered a bunch of appetizers and thoroughly enjoyed each one of them. The ambeli chips, are a must have! These spinach and zucchini chips are crisp and juicy! Next was the spinach and feta filled spanakopitas, crisp and flaky. There was a lot of spinach and little feta, still a winner. The fried calamari is as fresh as it could be, it was golden brown and melted in mouth. Our kids enjoy the chicken souvlaki and greek fries! Lastly, we would highly recommend the pita and dip platter, we enjoyed all the 6 dips. Over to the desserts, and the baklava was absolutely epic, i could eat 2-3 of baklavas and still want more. It was filled with pistachios and the honey made it so lush. We also enjoyed the creamy custard based greek dessert called galaktobureko! Ambeli is a BYOB a must visit in our books for the food and the warmness that will be showered on you by the staff and the owners!

Seems like a popular place in Cranford nj. So we gave it a try. Good service but the food was not good. Nothing special move on.

Best (only?) Greek place around. This is mine and my wife's go to place. Their spanakopita is a must have. Only negative is parking but that doesnt take away from the great experience you will have.

Incredible food, great relaxing atmosphere, and fabulous service. If you love Greek food- this place is a MUST. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

I don't eat Greek cuisine very often but I absolutely love this place in downtown Cranford. Small dining area but amazing food, great selections. The salad was refreshing and the souvlaki dishes were delicious. The hummus and bread served at the beginning were a little salty but I really enjoyed my meal.

This is my go to Greek spot if I want some really good food. The owner is really nice. So all together we been here 3 times. Between the first and second time we visited it the owner remembered us. It was a few years between visits but somehow he remembered us. It makes you feel special when you go there. The food is always good and service is always go. We went this past Saturday the 17th and we decided to eat outside being that it was nice enough. I had the "Pastitsio." It's a layered Greek macaroni that seasoned with ground beef and topped with bechamel sauce