Enoteca Athena

We hosted a reception at Enoteca Athena, and it was amazing from start to finish! The entire staff was so kind and on top of everything, making sure our guests were happy and the event ran smoothly (no one went without a full drink in their hand)! And the sommelier had an amazing wine selection and also helped us pick out some great signature cocktails. This entire event would not have been possible without Carla, the owner of Enoteca Athena. She was wonderful to work with—super responsive, flexible, and clearly cares about every detail. The food was incredible (everyone is still talking about it!) and the drinks were just as good (highly recommend the strawberry fields cocktail in the summer). Everything was spectacular, but my personal favorite was the halloumi! The atmosphere was perfect for our celebration: cozy, lively, and full of charm. It honestly felt like the whole team went above and beyond to make our afternoon special. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to celebrate and may have to do this again every summer!

Our server was professional and attentive, checking back often. The restaurant has a warm, homey feel. The food was spectacular! We started with the focaccia and compound butter, fried artichoke hearts and aioli and fish cakes. Everything was perfect! The fish cakes were fresh and delightful. The fried artichokes are a destination dish - must order! For dinner, we had the spaghetti de mare with pea puree, shrimp, scallops, lobster and monkfish and homemade lemon spaghetti. Tasted light and fresh - not heavy like American-made pasta dishes often are. Fabulous! Cacio e pepe was the special. We recently had the same dish in Las Vegas, but Chef Andy is the clear winner! We took Nonna's pistachio olive oil cake home for dessert. The cake was moist and full of flavor, but not too sweet. Delicious! We will definitely be back!

It’s our date night go-to! It’s my local answer to Cheers! Everyone is welcoming and service is really great. Sit at the bar and get mini lessons from the master sommelier/mixologist (scratch cocktails/mocktails) about the wine of the week! My favorites: chicken parm (take home copious!) and the bolognese (I could eat it every day!) lots of parking in back.

Fantastic meal. We went in on a whim and it was a busy Saturday night. Still got us in fairly quickly though. Worth the wait. Dinner was great. The desert was just as good. The drinks were better than anywhere else in town. Would highly recommend. Allie our server was a delight.

Truly a gem. I cannot wait to drive the 2 hrs to return here. What an amazing experience. We made reservations (highly recommended btw) and were seated at the bar. Cannot say enough about how amazing our service was from Russell. Best bartender ever. His recommendations and pairings were spot on. His help in accommodating my wifes allergies were on another level. Most places you’re lucky if they label. Here, he ensured every part of every couse and cocktail was safe for her. Ordered a special from the valentines menu as well as a few other dishes from the regular menu. Everything was exceptional. Even the individual ingredients and additions. The feta cheese was literally the best Ive ever had. This place is worth a visit from anywhere. And dont be shy to sit at the bar for your meal!!

Came here for cocktails & the kitchen was closed but they still had dessert. I really liked the build your own negroni! Get the olive oil/pistachio cake for dessert… it was unbelievably delicious!! Staff is super nice too.

We had a lovely time dining here last night. I was pleasantly surprised to get a same day reservation and we were asked if bar seating was ok. It turns out that was the best seat in the house thanks to Henry. It was fun to watch him create cocktails and he was so friendly. The food was delicious and the Alfredo was one of the best we have ever tried (and my boyfriend tries them all). I just realized that we dove into the Alfredo and I never got a picture). We didn’t have room for dessert but we plan to next time we visit!

I just enjoyed a lovely dinner at the bar. The bartender, Russell, was very attentive despite serving food to a full bar and provided wine and cocktails to the entire restaurant. I had the carciofini fritti (fried artichoke hearts), funghi con panna (mushroom pasta), joyful tidings cocktail and cannoli with pistachios. All were clearly fresh made and simply delicious. I've been working my way through the Brunswick restaurants since my son started college here last fall, and this was by far the best meal I've had so far. Fresh ingredients and a friendly staff--a perfect combination.

We went to this restaurant for my daughters birthday, 5' s all around! First we had the coolest table in a small private room. We had Jackson as a server, who was excellent! We ordered food and drinks all was great ! Restaurant was awesome and drinks were fire Dessert we split nonni cake so good!! THANKS JACKSON

This was our first visit to Enoteca Athena since the new owners took over and it really could not have been better. Outstanding service (thanks, Jackson!), great atmosphere and absolutely delicious food. A true gem of a place in the heart of Brunswick.

Delightful staff with a comfortable restaurant. Tables are well separated and there is a nice patio that we took advantage of. Wine list was varied and reasonably priced. The food we delicious. So happy to have a Mediterranean restaurant in Brunswick.

This restaurant is so cute and inviting as soon as you walk in. My daughter wanted us to eat as a family here after having a wonderful time here for her bday w friends. I had the Prosecco on tap to start and my husband and daughter tried mocktails . We began with the plate that had a variety of olives feta, and spreads it was delicious. I chose the GF pasta in a gf sauce, both my daughters had the mushroom cream sauce pasta and my husband the gyro. We all loved our meals! I highly recommend.

I just enjoyed a lovely dinner at the bar. The bartender, Russell, was very attentive despite serving food to a full bar and providing wine and cocktails to the entire restaurant. I had the carciofini fritti (fried artichoke hearts), funghi con panna (mushroom pasta), joyful tidings cocktail and cannoli with pistachios. All were clearly fresh made and simply delicious. I've been working my way through the Brunswick restaurants since my son started college here last fall, and this was by far the best meal I've had so far. Fresh ingredients and a friendly staff--a perfect combination.

Decided to order family style since we were having a rough time deciding what to order with so many great options to choose from. Got a special pasta dish with guanciale , carciofini fritti, cesare salad and tagliata di manzo. Everything was delicious but that carciofini with the lemon garlic aoli made me want to lick the plate. Steak was perfectly cooked and the salad was tasty. Service was great, cocktails tasty and wine list was a great accompaniment. I love this vibe here and every time I come the food is so good. Great place to enjoy!

I went on a date here the other night and was really very impressed with the food and the ambiance. The whole restaurant is really very beautiful and the menu is tantalizing - short, but every item called to me. It isn't a cheap restaurant, but compared to the prices you'll find at many places in Portland, this is a steal. I ordered a glass of rose, and the putanesca with the addition of sausage, which was an excellent choice and worked so well in the dish. The sauce was pleasantly spicy (mild), and just delightful. For dessert we ordered the cannoli with dark chocolate. It was good - I am not much for cannolis, myself, but then I'm not dating myself anymore. But it was good. There is parking on the street and at the back of the businesses on the block. I'm very glad I chose this place!

Great atmosphere, wonderful menu, open kitchen. Food was very good and the bartender/sommelier was so knowledgeable on the amazing wine list and the food menu. I would suggest a reservation, we really lucked out by getting there at opening and they had two bar seats available.

We had decided that we needed a night out - been a busy and crazy wet early summer! Enoteca was the choice - we started with yummy martinis - just right, dry and cold, and were perfect with the deep fried artichoke hearts - they were light and delish. We followed that with the caesar salad - aptly described on the menu as complete with real anchovies! We then moved to a lovely Piedmont Rose and a couple more small plates - Arancini and then the gyro special. I was full before the gyro, but it traveled well and was great the next day (according to Wayne!) Bonus - we didn't spend a ton, had great food, wonderful and attentive service. The dining room is also a treat - they have outside tables, which we may try next time!

Great food and service! Our salad was delicious, the arancini balls were yummy, and the pasta with a red sauce/pork was very good. The decor is farmhouse lovely. I'd eat here again.

I ate here twice during my week long stay in Brunswick. The first meal was good enough that I wanted to come back, but the second meal was a big disappointment. For the first meal I started with the Soup of day, onion leek. It was creamy and tasty The ashes to ashes specialty cocktail is scrumptious. Shout out to bartender Henry for a perfect rye cocktail Mediterranean pasta was good. Portion is quite small, but nice blend of flavors and I added guanciale which helps bring more flavor to the dish. Second meal. We started with the same cocktail, yum! We split a Greek salad which was very good. Unfortunately, we went with the waitresses recommendation and both had the Maccheroni allá chiatarra (Haddock over pasta). After two bites my dinner companion, a Brunswick local, looked at me and said "It's tuna casserole. And it needs salt." She was right. The dish looks and tastes like a regular tuna casserole you make at home. And it was under seasoned. $26 and not worth it. I wish I'd gone with my first choice and tried the risotto. Bread side was cold and just a few pieces for $5. We also tried the orange cake which was described as moist with oranges in it. It was a basic bundt cake with no fruit in it. Kind of dry and without much flavor. They do have a nice choice of digestives. Waitress was not very attentive. She never asked us how our meal was, etc. Best thing about the second meal was the cocktails.

Good experience, but have to say that the bruschetta was sad. (This was on Wed 7/24, in case the owner wants to track down who the chef was.) The mozz balls and cherries tomatoes were whole, so when you picked up the bread they rolled off. Come on, you're better than that! Still 4 stars as the entrees were good.s

This was our second time going to this restaurant. I was disappointed the first time, but I blamed myself for not reading the menu carefully. I had a meal that I always like, but here It was a hybrid , and I found it unpleasant. If you have a meal that surprises you since it is different from what you expect, it should be "wow, unusual but really good". Here I felt "this is unusual, but really not to my liking ". Tonight I was careful to read the details on the menu and avoided the hybrid Italian/Greek offerings. I went with a Gyro and it was good, a bit bland, but generally well prepared. My wife had a dish with Greek marinated chicken, and it was really tough and overcooked. Our waitress was good, the table was clean, and it was quiet enough to talk comfortably. The wine was a Nebbiolo blend, and was lacking any interesting subtleties, light and thin, but again not bad.

Total ripoff! My wife's meal chicken parm was tolerable. Didnt have anything on menu that I liked. Told waiter I just wanted some pasta with red sauce. Said they could make me that with sausage. Brought out a big bowl with a very small portion at the bottom. Tiny shells with specs of sausage in a sauce that tasted like Chef Boyardee. At 27 bucks despicable. When I complained he said he was sorry. Also charged 8 bucks for an order of bread. Wish we had kept driving.

I've come here 2 times when I have been in Brunswick, and both were thoroughly enjoyable. My favorite dish is definitely the halloumi in the Calabrian chili honey--it is so flavorful and I have to fight my fiance for the last bite! The arancini is also very good. The ambiance is befitting for a date night. Plenty of vegetarian options!

Food was disappointingly underseasoned and service was extremely slow. The only saving grace was the dessert. For being labeled as a wine bar the wine choices were limited in selection and variety. Disappointing overall.

Half the restaurant on a Wednesday evening was empty and walked in for dinner. Was turned away by maybe the bartender or owner saying they were at their capacity. However I was able to go on Resy and make a reservation for 15 minutes later, I wasn't going to bother completing the reservation since it just seemed rude. So I can't comment on the food, but service was really lacking and I wouldn't bother going back.

Wonderful service !!! Great Greek Italian restaurant. The other Greek restaurant in Brunswick has the worst customer service so go to this place !!! Food is amazing here !!

I was in town for an Alumni event and took myself out the first night in town. I sat at the bar. Great food. Superb martini. Cool vibe. Attentive bartender. I was quite pleased. Go visit!

My husband and I went to enoteca athena for dinner last night. I really liked the vibe, the bartender seemed affable, the space is cozy but also expansive. We had the fried artichoke appetizer. There were 6 artichokes for $10. It was delicious. We also split a bottle of the cheapest red wine ($30), which had a nice but not overpowering sweetness to it. I had the maccheroni with added prosciutto. I was pleasantly surprised by how many scallops were in the dish. The prosciutto made it a little salty but I'd get it again. My husband had the bolognese. He said it could have used a little more kick. The tiramisu and chocolate cake desserts were great as well. We'll definitely return.

Amazing place: such delicious food, great proportions. Lovely service and decor is so creative and fun! Great cocktails!

Walk in & was denied seating because of a new chef was limited & over 1/2 the tables were empty,,, no thanks to this place!!!! Can't handle 2 people on walk in, said!! Went to the Greek place Tavern Knonie,, who was half full in tables and full bar available , who told use to wait on the street to see if they have anything available,,, so ent to The Great Empasta who was full & was told only 5-10 mins & who did seat use very nicely!!!

I had a delicious dinner last night. I ordered the chicken Ragu and it was quite delicious. Henry, the bartender and part owner, was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant was busy, so he was busy as well. I would make a few suggestions for the ragu, however. The first suggestion would be to plate the Ragu on something other than a white bowl. The pasta was white and the sauce was a light color, so having a contrasting color for the plate or bowl would be attractive. I would also suggest parsley for a garnish and maybe cracked pepper as a garnish to add more color. Not to mention some freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino...However, over all, everything was delicious! We shared a loved custard-y dessert with hazelnuts that went down pretty easily!

Review for dinner on 5/30/2021: Interesting mix of Greek and Italian cuisine. We ordered the honed dates, gravlax salmon and torchio pasta with oyster mushrooms, and had the pistachio cake as dessert. All were very delicious. Would love to come again.

This place is very proudly gluten free-inclusive. Their web presence doesn't make that obvious, so I almost didn't come here. I'm so glad I called, because the person answering the phone was enthusiastic about their gluten free pasta. The menu also very clearly states what can be made GF and also lists *every* ingredient in each dish. Our server, Amy, even let us know that a different lettuce was being substituted for her dish when she ordered it, making sure that was okay with her. I feel much better about eating here knowing that servers are so educated about the ingredients of their dishes. I'll be back!

Enoteca Athena is one of the best restaurants in the area - delicious Italian food and wine with so much flavor. Each dish is expertly prepared and served - we've had things that weren't our favorite (but we're glad that we tried them) - but nothing has been badly prepared or low quality. The negroni bar is one of my favorite bars in greater Portland...so many combinations to what is normally a simple cocktail.

The staff at Enoteca went above and beyond to make our meal super enjoyable and personal! They had a seasonal cocktail with apple cider and bourbon (delicious) that I asked if I could have warmed up as opposed to iced... and they did it no problem. I came to find out that they actually put my mug in the oven, as opposed to zapping it in the microwave (which I assumed would be the way the did that). The server told me they don't even have a microwave, which is a great testament to the freshness of their food! The rotating seasonal menu is always fun to come in and sample - and especially right now with all the fall-inspired dishes. Loved the squash and sausage dish and the fall-flavored risotto. Arguably the best ambience on Maine Street in Brunswick!

Yes. Yes yes yes yes yes. I had no expectations coming into my dinner at Enoteca. Actually, I was expecting it to have more Greek food but it's an Italian Greek FUSION restaurant. So here I was, kinda disappointed I wasn't going to have a gyro or spanikopita, but then I start looking at teh menu and I hardly know what anything is because it's soooo Italian. Not Olive Garden Italian, or even good Italian restaurant in Portland Italian. No, this place is fresh off the olive truck hand me an Aperol Spritz and Cicchetti kind of Italian. We started off with the fried artichoke and lemon aioli app and HOLY SMOKES was that good. It had the consistency of tempura frying but soooo richly flavored and the sauce was a perfect companion. Next, I had the special which I can't even begin to remember what it was called but basically it was fresh made (all their pasta is made fresh in house) pasta infused with white truffle oil in a creamy cauliflower sauce, finely shaved brussels, roasted hazelnuts, and HUGE foraged mushrooms. I added chicken. It was amazing. My mom had the spaghetti and meatballs which were something you'd expect to eat in Rome from your old Italian Nona. We ended with the flour-less chocolate torte. Now, most flour-less torte dishes are punch you in the face rich and end with an OH MY GOD SUGAR RUSH type of feeling. But this torte was balanced out with a sea salted ganache, some kind of cherry liqueur infused into the cake, and an orange flavor that I couldn't quite pinpoint, as well as a caramel and cherry syrup of sorts and fresh. whipped cream. It was so good and decadent without leaning heavily on just being a rich chocolately dish. The atmosphere was also adorable, our server was attentive and they always made sure our water glasses were full. Can not wait to go back and try some of their negroni bar and the chicken parm. Ugh my mouth is watering already...

We are really hoping that it was just an off night at a place we've enjoyed in the past. So first the good things. Great wine list. Dessert was over the top. The pear in honey rum sauce, white chocolate strawberry zabaglione, and a flourless chocolate cake all were delicious and disappeared. The fried artichokes were their usual crispy selves. It is great when you can substitute eggplant or other items to make a dish suit individuals in a group. Even though they were not particularly crowded nor did the staff seem run off their feet, our service was cheerful, but inattentive. We had a 15 minute wait to make our orders. Our wait for food was very long-- maybe twenty minutes for the artichokes and another 25 for our main courses. We had to ask to have our water glasses refilled twice. When the food finally came (we were not in a hurry), it was very uneven. The meatballs were crispy and hot. The pasta that was underneath it was not even warm. The side of string beans was excellent. The side of eggplant was too. We'll probably try again, but it was an expensive disappointment.

Enjoyed dinner, last night, with a friend. The ambiance is perfect. The wine and food were delicious. Our waitress was personable- attentive but not over-bearing. Thank you for a fantastic evening that will be long remembered.

Stopped in as part of our date day, and were pleasantly surprised by this little gem. The food and atmosphere was great. My husband had the chicken parm, which was super yummy! I chose an appetizer of spanakopita, and was not disappointed.

We were very disappointed with the food here. I'd been here several times and it's always been excellent, which is why I made reservations to bring our out of town guests. We started great, they gave us a lovely private room and our waiter, Jackson, was excellent. We started with appetizers, the focaccia was dry and tasteless, the rice balls were ok, but not well seasoned and the salad while tasty was scant and not well presented. All of the main courses were small and had very little seasoning. I was so looking forward to a good meal and even tried something different, the polenta with the lamb, but it really had no flavor! My husband got the chicken parmigiana which was the best of the entrees, but even his was not like what we'd had in the past at this restaurant. I asked the waiter if the kitchen staff had changed, but he said no. I'd chalk it up to just a bad night, but I'd sent other friends here and they said it wasn't good for them either. Our guests commented on the limited menu but to me that usually means that the food they are serving should be exceptional, and it wasn't! So this restaurant now off our list! Sad!

Enoteca Athena is delightful. A mix of Italian and Greek foods, the menu is a pleasing amalgamation of both culinary traditions. In house hand made pasta, creamy whipped ricotta with honey and black pepper, bread crisp on the exterior, airy and pillowy interior, there is so much to say about this restaurant. An inviting, open space. It is tastefully decorated, simple yet evocative of the Mediterranean. The bar, a beautiful long, wooden bar, that looks aged to have spent a lifetime bathed by the warm mist and salt spray of the ocean, a patina soft and gentle, wise and aged. The barware is eclectic and original, antique barware holding the delightful cocktails in elegant silver rimmed coupes. Each drink has its own personality as the glass itself adds to the experience. True bartending is all encompassing, from the liquors on the shelf, to the appropriate mixing of ingredients, to final presentation. Enoteca Athena captures this, especially with Katie, their bar manager, slinging drinks behind the bar. The food is delicious. The Osso Bucco was a little tough last time, the only time I've had a negative critique of any food I've consumed there. The chicken parm was heaven. A warm, sweet red sauce, served over house-made creamy frascarelli pasta, the exterior breading of the chicken crisp yet yielding to the fork, the interior of the thighs soft and tender. A perfect balance between the often over dry, stringy, tough center or the undercooked chewy sponge that chicken can be. This hit the mark. Fried chicken skins was a special appetizer last time; called Chicken Chips. Fantastic taste, crisp, salty, and seasoned. Service. This restaurant is a restaurant. You should make a reservation ahead of time. The bar gets full quick, so get early if you want to belly-up. This is an enjoy your meal, sit down restaurant. Don't expect to dine quick and run. There are plenty of options around town for that. Come here to enjoy the meal and walk out sated.

My wife and I returned to this restaurant after a gap of six years. Last time we visited, the focus seemed more on Greek cuisine as I remember. The current menu seems to have more of an Italian bent. Regardless, we enjoyed the experience this time as much as we did years ago. The young woman who waited on us was delightfully charming and competent.... and it irritates me I can not remember her name, but she was wonderful. We started with the fried artichoke appetizer served with a lemon aioli which was fantastic. The honeyed dates we shared were very good, but almost too rich combined with the other dishes we ordered. For an entree, my wife ordered the risotto with roasted beets, etc. which she said was awesome. I followed the recommendations of fellow Yelpers and chose the chicken parm which was unconventionally made with thigh meat but turned out to be a clever twist. The coating was delightfully crispy and the meat moist and delicious, which paired very well with the soft homemade pasta underneath. We will definitely be back.

We've been going here for a number of years, even got their takeout while they were closed during the pandemic. Unfortunately, there has been a steady decline in the quality of their food in the past year or two. Last time we ate there several weeks ago, most everything was distinctly mediocre-the menu hasn't seen much of an upgrade lately either. I understand the original owner/chef, Tim O'brien, is not involved any more, which might account for the decline. Can't recommend it any more.

So, I found myself on Maine street in Brunswick, exhausted from some early holiday shopping and starving. I Yelped Enoteca Athena, which ended up being right across the street, and to my surprise and delight, noticed they opened at 3:30 on Saturday nights. It was 3:29. Score! I walked across the street, checked out the menu (which looked fantastic) and went right in to ask for a table. Once seated, I found out that from 3:30-5:30 they serve a very limited menu with wine and beer specials. Since I was starving, this was a pretty big let down, yet I decided to stay anyway. The table next to us, on the other hand, left once they realized they really couldn't get a meal. Anyway, my daughter and I settled on a Greek appetizer platter for $19. This platter included spanakopita triangles. I asked if we could get a separate order of triangles and really got the sense that this was not a request that was going to be an easy do. While we waited for our platter, another party of 2 came in and asked the bartender if they could order something off the regular appetizer menu. The bartender, seemed way more chill and said she would see what she could do, returned and told them the kitchen said ok!!! This left us in a uncomfortable situation. Our waitress did not seem like someone who would take the mention that the other table got special ordering privileges well. So...we just shut up and watched the other table eat delicious things that we were not allowed to order. Our greek platter came and while everything was really well prepared and very delicious, it was overall a very small serving for 2. There was a nice portion of marinated vegetables, a pretty good sized hunk of feta, 4 olives one pita cut into triangles a smear of hummus and three small (1 1/2 inch long) pita triangles on another smear of tzatsiki. We ordered an additional pita for $2. Has the high price for very small portions trend come to Brunswick?? Overall, I would be willing to try them again for real dinner. It is unlikely we would get the same server again. I thought the kitchen turned out great stuff, and would like to find out if the food off the menu is more reasonable portioned.

I always look forward to the sacred opportunities to walk through these doors. My friends consider me a pusher when it comes to this place. If they say,"hey let's go get an app", I'm talking this place up. A drink, I'm raving! Dinner, I'm drooling on myself as I try to make the easy sell on why we need to go. The ambiance is so chill, staff is attentive, and as I've already mentioned, the food and drinks are to die for. Plenty of vegetarian, gluten free, and pescatarian options which are clearly labeled throughout the menu. Their specials are always unique and ever changing to keep you enticed by new flavors. Their regular dining options are always top of the line. Many if not all their dishes feature local farmers, fishermen, cheese makers, growers, producers, roasters, and or purveyors. Also, the pasta is handmade in one of the dining rooms. Maybe you will catch someone rolling out some pasta dough! Their wine list is spot on. One of my friends ended up tracking down one of their wines to have on hand at his house. The beers are mostly Maine beers that are handpicked to satisfy all types of beer drinkers whether on tap or bottled. Overall, you just gotta go...now!

Came to this restaurant with a good friend and had an amazing time. This place definitely gives off a homey and positive environment, making it the perfect place to go with someone on a date! The customer service was very friendly, as our waiter helped my friend and I decide on what dish to order. The food was also extremely delicious, making me want to come back again to try more of their dishes. Overall awesome experience and definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Brunswick.

The appetizers we had were outstanding. Really enjoyed the fried artichokes. Wonderful ambiance and great service. My risotto was good but could have used a little more flavor. Wife and daughter enjoyed their chicken parm very much. Lovely place

We ordered takeout because they were too busy and couldn't get a table for us. I paid 16 dollars for a piece of grilled chicken (9 dollars... equivalent to a quarter of a breast!) and greekamole (2 tbs). Won't be going back.

Amazing food all so good! We had two bottles of wine each person had a meal and we had a ton of different appetizers and desserts...nothing let us down! Can be pricey but the quality of the food is definitely there.

I stopped here on a whim, so glad I did! The food, the cocktails, the service we're all excellent! They have a Negroni menu! Can't wait to come back.

Enoteca Athena. Just say it. Let the words roll out of your mouth. It's so pleasurable to say. It feels fancy, it feels worldly. E-no-tec-ahhhhhh-the-na. Yum. You know what else is delicious about this place? Everything. Making a reservation for a large party? Effortless. Having them split our bills into many (many) individual checks? Seamless. Our private room with the large, wooden square table (which, by the way, is such a refreshing change from the standard long rectangle ones - you can't see the people at the other end of them!), the fairy and globe lights, the bottles of wine tucked here and there on appropriate surfaces throughout the restaurant (which I found incredibly charming)? Just lovely. Think indie coffee shop meets romantic European cafe. Our server? Perfect. We've gone to restaurants all over the state as a group of twelve, and usually have three or four people waiting on us. I'm nearly positive that there was only one woman doing it all - and she was on point all night, never missing a beat. Everything from ordering to drinks to food recommendations to serving us... it couldn't have been more perfect. Our drinks? So satisfying. I had a refreshing - and very healthy pour of the - lambrusco that came in a poco grande glass. Friends around me had cocktails and the general remark was that "they were strong", but I'd rather pay $10 for a strong drink than $14 for a weak one any day. The food? Abundant and delicious. We had the: - Peloponnese Hummus ($5): Made from chickpeas, evoo, spices. This was good, but very as expected. So if you like hummus, you can't go wrong with this. Unfortunately, it's sister spreads were SO delicious, that it just didn't stand up as well against them. + Skorthalia spread ($5): Made from potato, garlic, olive oil, apple cider vinegar. Like a mashed potato spread with a tremendous amount of roasted garlic... which I loved and couldn't get enough of. Could easily eat this as a Thanksgiving side. + Htipiti spread ($5): Made with whipped feta, grilled hot pepper. If you like htipiti spread, you'll love this one. Not too hot, just cheesy enough, and delicious as a cold thick spread on a crusty piece of bread. Kind of reminded me a of a fiery pimento cream cheese. + Ricotta spread with honey and walnuts ($5): Where did you come from, manna from Heaven? We had to order more of this because it was just so delicious. It tasted like Italian ricotta pie and was an amazing addition with the other flavors we got. Digression: You ever eat something at a restaurant and think: "I so wish I could share this ____ (fill-in-the-blank)"? Throughout the spreads, I just kept wanting my loved ones to be with me, because I know they would have just loved them! The sign of a really good restaurant must be when you're preparing to come back and are still on the pre-app apps. - Tempura Fried Cardoons ($10ish): think vegetarian calamari. No, it wasn't seafoody, but the texture, the preparation, and the way in which it was served reminded me of calamari. Cardoons are a thistle-like plant (think: swiss chard stem, but the flavor of an artichoke). They weren't my favorite thing of the night, but I liked the opportunity to try something new. + Arancino ($4.25): A fried risotto ball with a mozzarella center (daily preparation). Ours was with pumpkin and cheese... and it couldn't have been more perfectly prepared or more seasonally appropriate. It was meaty, it was dense, it was hearty, it was flavorful. This is vegetarian? This is only $4.25? I could get two... and be blissfully, painfully full. Change nothing about this, Enoteca Athena (except - please keep it veg-friendly!). + Squash Blossom ($10ish): I believe it was phyllo dough wrapped around a squash blossom filled with cheese and butternut squash, then fried. No complaints here! Finally...The price? It was just right. This was one of those moments when I realized just how painfully expensive living in Portland is. The quality and quantity of food we got for the price we paid was mind-boggling (in a good way). I'll finish with this thought: I don't love going out to dinner. So when people ask me "Where's your favorite restaurant?" I just never really have an answer. I think I do now.

We went there last evening and the experience was incredible from the start. Excellent waitress, food was outstanding and nighttime atmosphere was delightful. Highly recommend this experience for everyone. Thank you for making our Brunswick experience even better!!!

Really, the only problem I have with Enoteca Athena is that it's all the way up in Brunswick. It's not thaaaat far away, but it's far enough away that don't usually feel like going that far for dinner. The things I like the most about Enoteca Athena are: Nice cocktail list, including a "make you own Negroni" section. Negronis are probably my favorite cocktail, and while technically I guess any bar that has multiple gins, vermouths and amari has a design your own Negroni option, it's cool that they list them all out for you. Evocative and original wine tasting notes. Arancini of the day! The only thing better than deep fried balls of risotto, is deep fried balls of risotto that change their flavor ever time you go! A nicely varied menu. Its a fairly small menu, appropriately so for a fairly small restaurant, but it gives a nice selection of options. You can get a simple gyro, or spaghetti and meatballs, or you can go with grilled octopus or crepes with pear and white truffle oil. The service has always been exceptionally friendly and helpful. Also, it's super cute inside and the prices are reasonable.

On that rarest of things, a business trip to Brunswick Maine, my colleagues and I reserved the back room of this delightful little restaurant and were treated to some of the most wonderful food and service I could imagine. The staff was so kind and gracious and welcoming to our drunkenly party of 30+ people, and the food was just fantastic. We had a fixed menu that had a fair amount of meat dishes on it, which I passed on, but the veggie-friendly dishes (a cheese-filled pasta; cucumbers with tzatziki) were outstanding. Then, for dessert, we got pistachio olive oil cake, and it was so good I could have wept. I'm not exaggerating: best cake I've ever had. Our table ordered a second round of it because it was so good. Lighter than air, lightly sweet and moist with delicate pistachio flavor and just a hint of sea salt to complement the sweetness. Apparently it's the restaurant owner's grandmother's recipe, and I will be eternally grateful that they're sharing it with the likes of me. Everything else was spot-on...great lighting and decor and ambience. Go here, frequently and often, if you're in the area.

Well prepared drinks & food- all creative & so delicious! Wait staff friendly & knowledgeable. Bit pricy tho. Will definitely go back! Many apps & main dishes we want to try

Three of us enjoyed dinner here on a Friday night. We had the Greek sampler platter, Greek nachos (house pita chips, kima (spiced Eastern River Cattle Co. beef & tomato), bechamel, scallions, olives, Greek yogurt) aarancinis to start. For our mains, we shared the Greek Salad and Caesar Salad. We had the cannoli for dessert. I would rate this 3.5* with the following to gain 2 more stars: 1. More variety of an authentic Greek Meze in a smorgasbord style. The traditional Greek restaurants have more platters with a variety of samples and these are often preferred over main courses. Our sampler had, feta, olives, hummus, pita bread, spanakopita roll, grilled & marinated spicy artichokes for $17. 2. Cocktails at $10 each- they were small enough and for a small Maine town, these were Boston or Ny prices 3. Connoli shell was overdone and too crunchy. Nearly fell off the cream filling

Great service! Best Chicken Parm ever! Excellent bread and spreads!