Evvia Estiatorio

I heard it's a fantastic restaurant, so we came specifically because of its reputation. Thankfully, we made an online reservation—otherwise, they wouldn’t let you in. Even though we had a 5 p.m. reservation, many tables were empty, but the staff told walk-in customers that the restaurant was fully booked for the night. We glanced at the menu and ordered the famous octopus leg. It looked very plain and unappetizing, and it had a weird smell—not sure if it was because of the seasoning or the quality of the octopus. We also tried the grilled cheese recommended by the server. Oh my, I regretted ordering it so much—it was extremely salty and felt too heavy as an appetizer. After eating the grilled cheese, I almost lost my appetite. My mouth felt so salty that I kept drinking water. Lastly, the lamb shank was also just average—bland and nothing special. I feel like I could’ve made something better at home. The service, however, was excellent. The staff refilled our water promptly and were very attentive. Maybe this restaurant really isn’t worried about lacking customers, or perhaps they’re genuinely too busy, which might explain why they weren’t very friendly toward walk-in guests. After the meal, my husband had diarrhea when we got home—all because of that grilled cheese. Maybe this place is more suitable for people who prefer heavy flavors. For me, it can be summed up in one word: salty. I won’t be coming back.

Have not eaten at Evvia for ages and happy we revisited! We did all appetizers and enjoyed everything we got: * Evvia salad * taramosalata with pita - good though I would've preferred a stronger fish roe taste similar to what we had in Mykonos * smelts - deep-fried goodness * grilled octopus - perfectly cooked Our next visit will be much sooner!

This place over the years has been steadily amazing! Their lamb chops are always very aromatic! I was told they were invited to cook for Obama during his second term. Their service is always very smooth and attentive. Great pace in serving appetizers and main courses. Both indoor and outdoor seatings are comfortable, pleasant. Just really love this place!

Extraordinary service very welcoming team, very accommodating and nice restaurant. It was my first time visiting Evvia. I met friends for cocktails and appetizers which were "ok". It wasn't bad just ok. Tinny portions even for appetizers at a large price for their tiny dishes. I can't stress enjoy what a lovely atmosphere and wonderful service. Their desserts options were very nice. I had the rice pudding with a pear. It was ok.

My favorite restaurant in Palo Alto! Came here for date night and enjoyed great food and service. We enjoyed the baked feta tomato and the lamb tremendously. Waiter was fantastic. They bring you treats on a birthday or anniversary. Authentic Greek wines. Cozy decor and delicious smells. Not too loud. Good for groups.

This is a decent place to have brunch. The food is good. The salmon I have is not crisp on the edges so I am a little disappointed. The sauce is a wrong sauce for this salmon. Improvement: It will be better with a dill lemon sauce, being Greek, you could mixed the fresh dill herbs with yogurt and that will make the dish better. Never pour the sauce on the fish as it will make it soggy. The sauce should always stay at the bottom at the base and the fish lay on it.

We celebrated a special occasion at Evvia Estiatorio and it was an unforgettable experience. The food, ambiance, and service all came together beautifully. We started with the crispy zucchini chips with tzatziki, which were light, crunchy, and perfectly paired with the refreshing dip. For mains, the grilled whole fish was cooked to perfection—flaky, tender, and full of flavor—accompanied by charred vegetables that added the right balance. The lamb chops were another highlight, juicy, tender, and infused with rich Mediterranean spices that made every bite melt in your mouth. The warm, elegant atmosphere made the night feel even more special, and the staff made sure everything went smoothly, adding thoughtful touches throughout the evening. If you’re looking for authentic Greek flavors in an upscale yet welcoming setting, Evvia is the place to go. Perfect for date nights, family celebrations, or any occasion you want to feel truly special.

This was so delicious. Sooo much better than Taverna, high quality and crazy flavorful!!! We ate lot of fish bones during this meal but it was worth. Walked in with no reservation at a cheeky 6pm and they still managed to squeeze us in, 10/10 service!

Food was awesome. We ordered the famous lamb chops which was delicious and over server for the evening Raffaele was a delight

Best Greek dining experience for us outside of Greece. The Lamb Moussaka had Indian garam masala type spices and the fresh fish (petrale sole) was insanely good, fried crisp on the outside and tender with Mediterranean spices on the inside. For the appetizer, special mention goes to the smelt fry and for dessert, the phyllo dough with semolina custard. Everything was cooked to perfection, the waiter was awesome and actually helped to calm our 3 year old down so we could enjoy a good anniversary meal. The ambience was spectacular, wide open spaces with skylights and a rustic Athenian vibe with pots and pans. The warmth of the staff was very European, and felt as authentic as mainland Greek food. Although its upscale, would urge everyone to give it a try!

The meal started with some delicious sourdough bread. Nice tang and chewiness/bounce. The beans came out piping hot. It was a pretty rich dish considering it was beans. Nice notes of pesto and cheese. For the fish, the lemon slice came in a little mesh bag which I've never seen before but is a nice touch to keep the seeds from popping out. The pan-fried sole had a nice crisp crust and came with a generous heap of sauteed chard. The fish is pretty large, you may not really need anything besides that and the bread.

Absolutely one of the best restaurants in the Bay Area! After dining here multiple times I can say they never fail. The food is always high quality and tasting great. They have the best starters and an amazing grilled Branzino!! Other than the food the staff is super nice and they have very high standards of service. The vibe is super chill and they have great music playing in the background. Definitely recommend and will go again soon:) Oh and their cigar filled dessert is the best!!

We visited Evvia Estiatorio on a Friday evening and had an overall good experience. Knowing how quickly it gets busy, we made reservations in advance, which I highly recommend. For starters, we ordered the Manitaria tou Fournou and Octapodaki tou Yiorgou, both of which were absolutely delicious. For our main course, we went with the moussaka and grilled lamb chops, and they did not disappoint. Lamb chops were perfectly cooked. The only downside to our evening was a mix-up with our appetizers. They brought the wrong dish, and while they corrected it and eventually served the right one, it took a lot and we waited a long time for our appetizer. This led to rushed dining experience for us, as the time between finishing the appetizers and receiving the main courses was practically nonexistent. Despite this hiccup, the food was very good, and the staff were polite.

The wait staff was attentive, and the food was good but perhaps a little underwhelming. I know, it's in Palo Alto, it's going to be pricey, but it just didn't have enough variety. The moussaka was decent, about as expected, but the lamb shank really did not impress. The menu mentioned that it was cooked with vegetables, but why were these deliciously tender vegetables absent from the dish? It was just lamb and rice, it would've been a lot better with more flavors and variety. The lamb itself was fall of the bone tender, but it was just so monotonous. It was decent, but I'm definitely still looking for my favorite greek spot outside of Greece!

The food was just not good enough to warrant the high prices. We got the octopus appetizer and while it tasted good, the texture was super one dimensional. Not sure if it was supposed to be crispy at all on the outside but the mouthfeel was boring and this dish was a letdown. When the Brussels sprouts arrived I took one look and knew something was wrong--zero crisp and completely soggy. It was also really bland, there was a lemon sauce on the bottom but not nearly enough to make the soggy Brussels sprouts enjoyable. Teleferic Barcelona does a MUCH better job. I ordered the sea bass which was not only overcooked and super dry, but had bones ALL throughout and was a labor to eat. It was super bland and I kept having to add more lemon. Very unremarkable and definitely not worth $50. We also got lamb skewers which were good, but not cooked medium rare like we asked, out came out rare. Also under seasoned and the greens that came on the side were flavorless and sad. The only good things about this restaurant were the amazing vibes and super friendly staff. But I definitely won't be coming here again.

Evvia Estiatorio is an absolute must-try for anyone who loves Greek cuisine! I had the lamb chops, and they were incredible--so tender they literally melt in your mouth. My better half recommended the fantastic wine pairing with the lamb and it complemented the lamb perfectly. The entire dining experience was top-notch, from the beautifully prepared dishes to the warm, inviting ambiance. This place is always packed, and for good reason! Be sure to book your reservation at least 2-3 weeks in advance to secure your spot. Whether it's a date night or a special occasion, Evvia Estiatorio is the perfect choice. I can't wait to come back!

It was pretty good and I understand the hype. It's the sister restaurant of Kokkari in San Francisco and I think the menus are pretty similar. We weren't able to get a reservation a few days before for 2 people for a weekday dinner around 6 pm but upon walking in, got a table pretty fast. We were just told there was a reservation later and so we had a time limit. I think things would have been a bit better if we didn't need to rush but they did a great job of still being very hospitable. Things we tried: - Octopus appetizer The cooking on the octopus and lamb chops was great. Probably the best octopus I've had (which isn't a lot but still) and they keep it simple with the seasoning but it highlighted the octopus perfectly and was delicious. There were some other interesting looking appetizer options that I would probably want to try in the future but this was a nice start to the meal and a recommendation of our waiter. - Lamb chops These lamb chops were good too and also cooked and seasoned well. Not the best lamb chops I've had and the price tag felt a tad high but definitely delicious. - Moussaka I will pretty much always order this if it's on the menu at a Greek restaurant and it was fine. I kind of wanted the components to work together a bit more, not sure if it was how the dish was layered or something else but it felt like I was eating a dish with 4 distinct components and the flavors did not create a sum that was greater than its parts. It's a nice restaurant without feeling too stuffy. Again, I think the ambience could have been enjoyed a lot more if we had not felt rushed by the minimal time we had for the table. Would definitely suggest reserving if possible. There are not a ton of Greek options in the Bay Area that I know off and this is a very solid one. I think they excel on cooking things well and seasoning but the dishes maybe felt like they lacked soul and/or creativity, I wanted a bit of a "wow" factor. 4ish stars after rounding up.

Went to Evvia a few days ago after not having gone for a couple years. The octopus appetizer is still spectacular but the chicken and lamb shank were both a bit dry. Willing to chalk it up to an off night as both dishes are normally really phenomenal. Service was fast and efficient. Haven't seen an update on corkage on Yelp, so PSA that corkage is $30 as of February 2025.

Came to Evvia for the first time recently for a Friday business lunch with clients. It was nice we could make a reservation since the restaurant gets busy. For 3, we ordered the pikilia board and crispy smelt starters, and we each got one of the whole fish entrees. Personally, it was more than enough food for me, and I took home leftovers. The owners and staff are incredibly warm and welcoming, very attentive. The only thing I'll say is that it was a busy lunch service, and we did have people check on us often (felt a bit like we were being moved along to clear the table). The food is really incredible and so flavorful - the sole lived up to how much our client talked it up having dined here previously (one of his regular spots). For me, the menu is pricey but worth it for a special occasion. I would certainly come back for a future occasion lunch or dinner. Also, downtown PA parking can get crazy, so allow time to get a metered spot and walk.

Was craving some some Greek food, so able to make it to Evvia in Palo Alto. High end Greek food in a great open kitchen environment. The whole fish was deboned and was moist and flavorful. The lamb shank was tender and flavorful with the orzo pasta. The lamb riblets were also tender and flavorful. The lamb chops were a little more cooked than I would have liked, but still tasted good. Octopus was tender and perfectly grilled. For dessert, the baklava ice cream was a winner for sure. All in all, great food, great service, and a cozy environment!

I've been to their sister restaurant Kokkari in SF a few times and always enjoyed it, so my expectations were high for a weekday lunch at Evvia. We started with the octopus appetizer - it was deliciously tender, and a squeeze of lemon took it the next level. For my entree, I ordered the grilled lamb chops, medium. They were super flavorful, without the typical gamey lamb flavor. The potato wedges were great too. Everything was excellent, can't wait to come back again!

Exceptional! Just had a my 1st class ticket to Greece. Everything was spot on. We had the smelts, the wood fire shrimp, so sweet! Ribeye is by far the best steak in the Bay Area. Forget Alexander's. Omg lamb chops, melted in our mouths. The potatoes are so crunchy and refined. Ambiance was fun, warm welcome. Service was excellent, friendly and knowledgeable.

We enjoyed a birthday lunch at Evvia and our experience was something special, which was thanks to the staff, especially Loukas. The team was very hospitable and genuinely seemed to enjoy serving the customers. Being creative in entertaining my 18 month (at the time) showed a level of fun that you don't always get at other establishments. Now, the food was excellent and well made. The octopus was delicious. The lamb ribs were well made. The casserole dish was excellent. The lemon soup was rather different (to me) and enjoyable. Overall, great experience.

Came here to celebrate my birthday because I had a great time at Kokkari, Evvia's sister restaurant in San Francisco. The food was great, but in my opinion, nothing really mind-blowing EXCEPT for the pita and taramosalata. The pita was delightfully fluffy and soft but had a bit of crisp from the grill. The salmon and lamb riblets were incredibly tender and seasoned well, but the salmon was honestly nothing very special-just felt like something I'd get at a very nice Italian restaurant. I really did like the dips, though. I'm a huge fiend for bread and dips, and they do their tzatziki and taramosalata REALLY WELL. Taramosalata was addictive, I loved the pickled veggies on the side as well! Service was good, so no complaints there. Our server did seem fairly busy, probably because there was a big party that arrived on the night I was there. All in all, I'd come again and definitely bring family members here. This was Greek food done pretty well!

MY FAVORITE!! Family-friendly and welcoming Greek restaurant located in the heart of downtown Palo Alto! The lamb chops were flavorful with hints of garlic and oregano! Grilled octopus was so tender and blended well with lemon juice and olive oil. Service was timely. Staff explained the menu and answered any questions that we had. I would definitely go back again!

Dinner at Evvia Estiatorio was a wonderful experience! Everything from the food to the service and ambiance were delightful. Our waiter checked in often, made delicious recommendations, always made sure our glasses were full, and did all the little things to make our dinner enjoyable. His genuine passion for his restaurant and Greek cuisine truly enhanced our meal. We ordered the Octapodaki tou Yiorgou octopus, watermelon feta salad, Avgolemono soup, Arni Souvlaki lamb skewers and Arnisia Paidakia lamb chops. Every dish was full of flavor. The highlight of the evening was the Arnisia Paidakia lamb chops. The lamb was seasoned with a delightful blend of herbs and spices, and certainly a special dish. One of the best lamb chops I have ever had. I'm looking forward to coming back!

I've been to their sister restaurant, Kokkari, in SF a couple times and my friend and I wanted to check out the Evvia. Evvia is just as awesome food wise, but with a more relaxed atmosphere than Kokkari: dare I say more Mediterranean? Anyway, we were greeted warmly by Panos, the manager, and he sat us at a lovely table. We looked over the lunch menu and started with the Evvia salad, which was fabulously fresh. We ordered the Saghanaki. Who knew fried cheese could be so delicious? That was a standout dish. Another great dish was the octopus. I am still amazed how they can prepare octopus with such a buttery texture. It is not chewy at all. The ravioli was good. The Lavraki (sea bass) was tender and delicious. For desserts, we had the Galaktoboureko, which was rich and decadent. The pistachio ice cream on the side was a wonderful addition. And we also Yiaouti Sorbet, which was light and refreshing. We also had the Greek coffee. That was one of the best Greek coffees I've had. Evvia is a treat for the tastebuds with elevated Greek fare and a relaxed vibe. I cannot wait to go back!

Had been meaning to try this place for a while and found some time on the Sunday before Christmas. We had a 5pm reservation which is right at the start of their dinner service, and there was already a line to get seated when we arrived. Our server was very kind and enthusiastically walked us through the menu. We started with the Kolokithokeftethes crispy zucchini cakes ($14.25, very nice texture, light and flavorful with the tzatziki) and the Evvia Flatbread ($18.25, tasted like a proper Greek dish with the Kalamata olives). For the main course we shared the Butternut Squash Ravioli with sage brown butter ($29.50, very good but a bit expensive for a vegetarian dish) which had more of a broth than a sauce that made it light and easy to finish the whole dish, and we appreciated how the squash was both in the filling and also as a topping. For dessert we had the Galaktoboureko vanilla bean semolina custard ($13, good although the pistachio ice cream tasted like vanilla). Overall, everything was very fresh and flavorful, and we would certainly return.

We really enjoyed this place for dinner. We came on a Tuesday night at 8 o'clock with reservations. The service was so personable! Our waiter was great. The food: Must try's: The sea bass was buttery, soft and perfectly charred. The lemon added a perfect tangy flavor and the flavors were balanced so well. The dessert was the BEST thing. We were full from dinner but up for dessert so the waiter offered to do a half order. The fried exterior was PERFECT and the ice cream with sprinkled nuts on top was heavenly. Best way to wrap up the night!! Octopus was recommended as an appetizer. I would definitely get this one, the octopus was flavored really well and they give you a good portion. Don't know if I need to reorder. Lamb chops were solid, the meat was tender and flavors were there. But it didn't feel extraordinary. The fried cheese appetizer was a slight miss-- it was too salty and greasy. Overall, immaculate dining experience and had a great time with spectacular food and service!

This is one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in the Bay Area. I had a very good one discovered in Portland (Mediterranean Exploration Company). I am so thrilled to find a comparable one in the Bay Area. Delicious food, great ambiance and excellent service. I will definitely come back again.

Great service, great vibe, and great food! What else could you ask for? Highly recommend ANY lamb dishes and their cheese appetizers are superb. Would recommend making reservations in advance for the weekend but walk ins are relatively easy on weekdays!

I cannot even put into words how much I enjoy my dining experience I come to this restaurant. The food, service, and dinning setting are all cohesive and make for a great restaurant. My family loves this restaurant but it is so hard to get a reservation yet alone a walking- but we got lucky coming in on a weekday. Even at 5PM, most of the tables were filled already showing just how popular this place is. The food is absolutely incredible. We started with the lamb riblets which were beyond my expectations. I don't know how they cook the lamb here but it was crispy on the outside and so smooth on the inside. I highly recommend trying it! My go to entree is the moussaka but I am sure all the other dishes taste just as good (maybe even better). We ended our night with baklava and a special greek yogurt cheesecake they had as a special for the night. I can't wait to return soon!!

I haven't been here for ages but I remembered it being excellent. I wanted my fiancé to experience this. Octopus appetizer -- oh so tender ! Nicely grilled with an awesome lemon oregano sauce. My fiancée whole normally does not eat seafood loved it! Prawns in a tomato and olive sauce -- prawns were fresh served either the head but the tail is completely shelled . Special arugula salad with creamy feta cheese , strawberries, and toasted pistachios. Very refreshing and the cheese was sooo creamy! Grilled rib eye -- oh my god, so juicy and grilled to perfection. Normally I order medium rare but here medium is perfectly pink throughout. Grilled lamb chops -- just as I remembered. Perfectly seasoned with herbs and olive oil. Both meat entrees came with crispy thick potato fries. Normally I don't like think fries but these were exceptional! Our server suggested we try their famous dessert Galaktoboureko which is a traditional phyllo wrapped vanilla bean semolina custard with pistachio ice cream. So delicious! He even put a candle on to celebrate that life is good! Overall an amazing meal!

Booked a dinner for 2. Be aware, for sitting inside, you need to make reservations ahead of time. I called on Monday to book dinner for Tuesday, the only time slot we were given was 5:15! What a fantastic place! Atmosphere, service and food are spot on. Really brought my memories to the time I spent in Greece. Authentic and plentiful food choice. The service was helpful. We ordered many dishes to share. Calamari, tomatoes salad, mushroom with cheese. a main course of seabass with a sweet ending berry cheese cake. everything was fantastic, good portion and good wine selection. I will be back!

Great food! Price right. Service is good. The only problem is parking. Took me 30 min circling around the area for parking, maybe because its the holidays.

Haiku: Evvia Estiatorio Craving crispy smelts We ordered family-style plates Top, superb service. --- Evvia checks all the boxes in terms of phenomenal food, superb service, and a casual, warm ambiance. It seems that every dish we ordered were crowd pleasers and satiated our bellies. Fabulous dishes we ordered: - Pikilia: all three Greek spreads with grilled pita and pickled vegetables. - Marithes Tiganites: Bite-size crispy smelts were tasty and easy to pop into our mouths. The garlic and potato dip sauce was crack. It's as if I had the garlic sauce with the little fried smelts. - Octapodaki tou Yiogou: traditional grilled octopus was tender and perfectly cooked. The lemon juice on the thick cuts of octopus made it fresh and light to eat. - Arnisia Paidakia: Rib-cut, mesquite-grilled lamb chops were tender and juicy. The taste of the lamb wasn't overpowering. Evvia sets the bar for supreme service. Their inviting hospitality and warm conversations made us feel at home. They spent the time to explain the menu and specials and even folded the napkins whenever we left the table. They're like mind readers--consistently checked up on us and topped off our drinks, cleared the tables when we finished dishes, and gave us new plates when they noticed ours were dirty.

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a world class experience. Evvia is a Palo Alto staple known for their lamb chops, octopus, and galaktoboureko dessert. The restaurant is featured in the Michelin guide. Dining is available indoors with a view of the open kitchen or outdoors in the covered and heated patio. Checked in with the host upon arrival and our reserved table was ready for seating at our specified slot. Staff are cordial wearing their own white dress shirt and an Evvia vest for warmth. Started off with the Manitaria tou Fournou featuring field mushrooms, Kefalograviera, thyme & Evvia dressing and they were world class. These came out of the oven hot and the server even helped served some of these on our plate. Flavoring and textures were excellent! Moved on to the spanakotiropita featuring phyllo stuffed with spinach, leeks, feta, dill & herbs and these were super light and fluffy! Excellent! These also came out hot out of the oven super fresh! The saghanaki with pan fried Kefalograviera with oregano & lemon was great as it was a sharp cheese on a hot grill plate. The kolokithokeftethes with crispy zucchini cakes with cucumber & mint yogurt were lightly fried and filled with tasty zucchini! The Arnisia Plevrakia were also tasty! The grilled lamb riblets with lemon & oregano were perfectly grilled and they were super soft and tender topped with Evvia sauce. Ended the meal with their famous galaktoboureko featuring traditional phyllo wrapped vanilla bean semolina custard with pistachio ice cream and it was a light and fluffy way to finish off dinner. ~$60/head after tax and gratuity for dinner.

Saghanaki 4 fried cheese, lemon flavor Kolokithokeftethes 3 deep fried zucchini balls, plain yogurt, light, not flavorful, no strong zucchini taste Octapodaki tou Yiorgou 4 octopus, lemon flavor, juicy Moussaka 4 baked, eggplant, minced lamb, mashed potatoe mixed with yogurt on top Kotopoulo Souvlas 2 roasted half chicken, too dry, lemon flavor Arnisia Plevrakia 4 lamb riblet, oregano flavor, tender Lavraki 4 roasted whole sea bass, juicy, soft eggplant, medium flavorful Galaktoboureko 5 thin-skinned deep fried spring roll, vanilla custard inside, pistachio ice-cream

Evvia consistently has never disappointed! Service was friendly, attentive and food timed very well. We had the grilled sea bass and the lamb chops with the octopus appetizer (not pictured). Everything was delicious and so flavorful. We ended the night with the dessert- not sure what it was but it was a phyllo wrapped in a cream puff with ice cream... definitely going to get that again!

Very fun, fancier, Palo Alto restaurant. We came here for our anniversary and were very pleased. I may be biased but felt like we ordered perfectly - we started with the Classic Greek Salad, got the Crispy Zucchini Cakes, Prawns, Braised Lamb and finished with the Baklava. Every item was perfectly cooked, plated to perfection and had delicious flavor. If I had to choose one to not order again it would be the Greek salad - very good but not the most special. The yogurt dip that comes with it is unique and delicious. The lamb is a classic and very well done. The prawns did have a little bit of a kick to them but we loved it. Delicious with the roasted tomatoes. Whatever you do don't leave without getting the baklava. Fantastic and the perfect way to finish off the meal! Smaller portions than most places so I would recommend ordering multiple items. We liked ordering 1 main entree with the two "mezethes" (small plates style) for the two of us. Can't go wrong, everything looked fantastic. Don't let yourself fill up on too much of the yummy bread.

Second time visiting Evvia and I had a great experience. Ordered zucchini cake and octopus as an appetizer and chicken breast as main course. The food was excellent as always and the service was good as well. I took a table outside but they had the heather on, which made my dinner very pleasant. Today I brought my parents and we tried the mushroom appetizer, which was amazing. Great spot and great food/service

Must Visit Restaurant in Palo Alto, everything tastes amazing here!! I am not a fish / lamb fan because when these foods are not prepared in the right way, it can be very fishy / gamey. However, the grilled fish here is exceptional and same for the lamb. The way they cooked it was perfect and the seasoning was on point for both dishes. Once we ordered, the food came in a timely manner, and in the right order. We loved everything we ordered, which is really rare. Usually there are some things we do not like, but not here. This place is a great date night spot, or with any special occasion. I will definitely come back for more!

Good green food. Is it worth the price? I'm not sure anything is on university Ave, but it's definitely one of the better restaurants. You won't have a bad meal, you just have to remember not to look at the receipt.

A great and busy spot. It's busy for a reason for the quality and service. Took a friend out for a birthday and it didn't disappoint. Nice dim light and a good feel to the restaurant. The food was good. We both got the salmon plate and shared a Greek salad, which was delicious. The portion imo was big so I had leftovers. A great date night/birthday dinner spot

Love this place so much, haven't had anything here I haven't liked. The menu changes seasonally so check it out before you go. I personally love the breaded zucchini appetizer and the hot cheese appetizer that arrives on a cast iron skillet. These two are standout dishes and totally worth trying. The service is very friendly and knowledgeable about the various offerings. The ambiance is upscale and classy. Reservations are a must and should be made as early as possible, ideally weeks ahead of time to get your preferred time slot. The place is always very very busy. There is no bar to hang out/walk in to grab a drink/food so keep that in mind. Overall, a must visit place in the Bay Area. Truly worth all the hype and great reviews.

The food is delicious, the service is amazing, and the ambiance is great! This is my go-to when I'm in the mood for delicious Greek food! Never disappoints! That's why getting a reservation is so hard because everyone else agrees with me!

The food and certain staff members were the highlight of my dining experience. I went to visit on what I believed was a slow lunch time & day. I was immediately seated but it took a while for me to get a menu, water, and the complimentary bread w/ oil. The team was definitely not understaffed, as there was an ample amount of staff idling by/standing around chit-chatting about non-work topics (i.e a recent sports game). After I put in my 1st order of an appetizer, I decided to head to the bathroom. Unfortunately, it looked like the establishment only had 1 gentleman's room and 1 woman's room with a singular stall/toilet in each. It took a couple of minutes for me to use the restroom as a staff member took a good amount of time to occupy it. Luckily for me, there was a staff member at a bar station area who was hospitable and gracious enough to answer my questions on the restaurant itself along with food recommendations. Shout out to Mr. Freddie Mercury/Charlie Day for keeping me entertained and uplifting my mood. I returned to my seat and was pleasantly greeted by the Saganaki (fried cheese appetizer). One bite and I was in savory cheesy heaven. Forkful after forkful of fried cheese proceeded to be self-shoveled into my mouth. It was a very good appetizer to start. Next, I had to wait a while and give non-verbal queues with body language to hint that I was ready for another order. This time it was for the lamb riblets. This came out after an okay wait time. The lamb riblets were cooked to perfection with a slight outer char to give a satisfying texture to compliment the tenderness of the lamb meat. Best part about this dish is that the lamb fragrance was non-existent. Aka no gamey-ness at all! This is THE dish that made me love lamb again. The meat was also fall off the bottom after a slight shake when picking up a riblet piece. I just wish that my water glass was kept full at all times and that someone would have offered me at least 1 refill.... I appreciate Evita for giving me the recs for these two items. I hope to visit again when Uncle Pano is around to say, Yassou! Overall, I'll come here for the food but be cautious of the inconsistent service/behaviors of certain staff members. It did seem like some were new hires, so I'll let them be off the hook.

Great food, amazing! Came here with my Greek fiancé who told me that she loved the food as well. It was a lovely time and the waiter was also extremely kind. The restaurant, had a nice decor and I highly recommend for a romantic date or for anyone looking for a warm vibe

Came here with some friends and I must say this place has some good lamb riblets. Definitely a must get we had to get a second order of it. Service was good. Just a little dark inside especially if you are in the corner. But other than that I'd keep coming back just for the lamb.

After an amazing honeymoon in Greece (5 years ago) - we fell in love with Greek food & have been searching for a FAVE Greek place, nonstop and still to this day. We heard great things about this place and when we were finally able to get reservations (3 weeks prior) - of course, we then had high expectations (maybe too high). Now let's be real, we were DEF. not expecting anything comparable to actually being in Greece, but just had high expectations on food in general due to the reviews and ravings from our friends. Granted we only came here once and it may have been an off day, so perhaps would pop by again if around the area. The restaurant itself was super cute, lively and pretty spacious. We were seated right away with our reservations, and sat outside which was a nice atmosphere and vibe since it was also a sunny day. Service was great, super friendly and efficient, as our waiter also made suggestions of popular dishes. Food Talk: (1) Wild Mushrooms - this was good overall, the mushrooms were cooked well and loved the crispy cheese pcs. Would order again! (2) Artichoke Souvlaki - this was a hard pass for me, the dish came out lukewarm and despite the drizzle of red sauce over the yogurt...it def. needed something more like olive oil/salt/pepper to top it off. Textures and flavors were just all off for me here. (3) Octopus - this was OK, it was tender and the flavor was very light. Also, I usually love my octopus really charred which brings a nice smokiness and this was nowhere near there. (4) Moussaka - such a highly anticipated dish bc it was one of my FAVES in Greece, and ultimately - it was OK here, not bad - but not the best. The dish was super hot which was great and the layers were all there, but flavor was just a bit light & def. needed more seasoning to it. (5) Branzino - this was also OK, I've def. had better at a few other places around the bay. The sauces and seasoning were simple, side veggies were a bit sad and not necessary - while the fish itself was tender/cooked perfectly inside but def. missing the crispy/crunchy skin that we got at other places.

I have been wanting to try Evvia ever since going to their sister restaurant in SF. The service, ambiance, and food were nothing short of exceptional. Our server was super attentive and made sure to cater to every person's preference. So many dishes were ordered and all of them were so good. My favorite dishes- Octapodaki (octopus): So delicious and tender, perfectly seasoned! We cleared both plates so fast. Ravioli: The mushrooms were so unique and paired perfect with the sweet butternut squash filling of the ravioli. This dish didn't feel heavy at all despite all the toppings and flavors. Psari Pstio: We got the sea bass, and wow was this a perfectly cooked fish. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Keep an eye out for the small bones, but overall one of the best fish dishes I've tried. Galaktobureko: The BEST dessert out of all the choices. The filling wasn't too sweet and the contrast of textures with the creamy pistachio ice cream was to die for. I'd order this time and time again. We got the CHEV 2019 Pinot Noir and it was the perfect pairing with our meal. Such a delicious red. I loved dining here and this place has made it to the top of my list for Greek restaurants.

A beautiful restaurant with delicious food and great service to celebrate my mom's birthday! Our group of nine had a wonderful evening. We started with many appetizers, shared entrees and finished with dessert. Everything was perfect from beginning to end. Entrees were generously sized and we had leftovers to enjoy for another day too. Evvia's food is well seasoned. I love the citrus and herb along with all the Greek yogurt in many of the dishes. Some standouts include- Sardines-fresh, salty and perfect with bread Prawns-these roasted prawns were delicious and we couldn't get enough of the sauce. Crispy Zucchini Cakes-really crispy! I find many zucchini cakes to be heavy and disappointing but these were perfect. Grilled Eggplant and Artichokes-I could have had an order to myself. Loved the tender eggplant! Grilled whole fish-this was perfectly cooked and served with fresh sautéed vegetables. Lamb Chops-well seasoned, full of flavor, perfectly cooked and so tender!! We finished our meal with a variety of desserts. Many thanks to our waiter for making my mom's birthday special. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and evening at Evvia!!

The entire dining experience was memorable. Looking forward to next time. C. Bedford Palo Alto,CA

Nice food, great service and ambiance. Went here with a party of 4, sampled few dishes and enjoyed most of them. 1. Karpouzi me feta - rating 4.5/5 Fresh water melon drizzled with olive oil, pine nuts, feta cheese and basic microgreens . Refreshing on a summer day! 2. Spanakopita- rating 4/5 Filo pastry filled with cheese/spinach combo. Much better than many other places I have eaten these at 3. Evvia flatbread - rating 3/5 Least liked by the entire group. Mainly due to overpowering sweet layer of caramelized onions 4. Lamb riblets - rating 4/5 Nice lamb riblets, little greasy for my taste and the flesh itself was a hit or a miss on some pieces it was chewy vs some were not 5. Lamb chops - rating 4.6/5 Medium rare lamb chops. Very well made and seasoned 6. Chicken souvlaki - rating 3.9/5 Grilled chicken, red capsicum and onion skewer with side of salad, tzatziki and potatoes Well made mostly except chicken was a little dry 7. Galaktoboreko - rating 4/5 Filo pastry filled with semolina custard, served with ice cream and crumble. Really nice desert. Ice cream was too sweet as well as the custard for me, but not for couple others on the table. Liked the idea of semolina custard inside the filo pastry.

After our 5th or 6th visit the quality went slightly down. Unfortunately I cannot say our party of 10 enjoyed the place as we used to. The ravioli was 0 stars Dolmas 0 stars Ribeye steak good as always Fish good as always Service wasn't as friendly at all and forgot to place the order for 3-4 dishes we originally ordered. It will be a while before we are back.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING CUISINE. This is literally the BEST lamb chops (aka) I've ever had in my life. Highly recommend! My bf and I randomly stumbled upon Elvia Estiatorio while doing a video shoot in Palo Alto. We researched highly rated restaurants nearby and found this gem! We called ahead to confirm if casual attire is acceptable or not. We were very politely invited to come dressed anyway we like and the man on the phone informed us that this restaurant is "reservation only" but he said he could fit us in just let him know when we arrive. What a nice man! We were pleasantly surprised with how beautiful and romantic the inside of the restaurant is. It is very elegantly designed in a classic yet elevated way. Sadly we were seated outside since we had no prior reservation. Highly recommend getting a reservation! (for inside the atmosphere is beautiful inside.) I wouldn't recommend the seating outdoor as it has a slightly dusty covering and is split between the sidewalk so people casually walk past regularly. (Really hated that btw, for the price you pay it should really be a private patio.) but that's neither here nor there. The restaurant is a bit on the pricey side but the food here is ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. We started with the appetizer of Garides tou Fournou which features wood oven roasted prawns, Calabrian chili butter, tomatoes & scallions. It was beautifully put together and the swirl of flavors was impeccable! I noticed the sauce had a lovely tomato flavor and my bf noticed a buttery hint to it all. Lovely. My bf ordered the Kokinisto me Manestra which features lamb shank braised in "aromatic spices" with orzo & myzithra cheese. HE LOVED IT. The lamb shank was beautifully marinated, smooth, and falls right off the bone. I especially appreciated the beautifully seasoned rice pasta (orzo) it was a great combination! The star of the show was the . I kid you not, this is the absolute BEST lamb chops I've ever had in my life! &I get lamb quite often when we eat out. The Arnisia Paidakia features rib-cut, mesquite-grilled lamb chops with olive oil lemon roasted potatoes and OMG! It was packed with so much DELICIOUS, DELECTABLE FLAVORS. &The portion size was very plentiful! My bf and I were sooo IMPRESSED. Absolutely LOVE IT. (Some places like the Versace Mansion have quite tiny lamb chops but this place doesn't!). The one food item I would say was a bit awful was the bread and oil they serve at the start of the meal. Our bread was cold, chewy, and bit stale on the edges. We both expected fresh, hot or even warm bread but sadly it was not. The oil pairs well but butter would've been nice as well. Another thing that wasn't great is our waiter was soooo serious and he would make random weird jokes with a straight face and we weren't sure if we should laugh or not (because honestly they were WEIRD and not funny at all.) For example when we wanted dessert we waited quite a long time for him to come back, when he checked back I looked at the menu and knew right away that I wanted the Baklava because I love Baklava! We told him we would like the Baklava and he said, "NO. You can come back and get baklava another day, choose something else." "Order a different dessert with me" he said with a serious straight face. UMM WEIRD BRO. Anyways I'm Latina so that wasn't going to work for me! lol. I said insistently, "No I want the Baklava. We're getting Baklava." and he insisted one more time to which I said, "No we're getting the baklava." So he agreed disappointedly and left.. It was super weird!! LOL. I think he realized we were weirded out because we only ordered one but it came with two (YET we were only charged for one Baklava) So that's cool I guess unless it's two for one price? Not sure. Anyway I strongly dislike his jokes because they were SUPER WEIRD and made us uncomfortable. I can see a more calm, passive person accepting this behavior but I wasn't having it and for the money you pay (it is quite expensive honestly) we would have liked to have a polite waiter or at least someone who smiles and doesn't make awful/strange jokes for goodness sake! lol Overall this restaurant has AMAZING FOOD for sure, but the service and outside seating needs major improvements. Still highly recommend! I took one star off because of the weird waiter and the patio that needs cleaning. Will definitely come back for an inside reservation next time. :)

Love this place! Nice sit-down restaurant with an upscale and inviting interior. Food is on point. Loved their Octapodaki appetizer. Perfectly soft and not overdone. It was beautiful in its simplicity; marinated lightly yet so tasty. Their Mediterranean sea bass was perfectly seasoned. Amazing texture; skin slightly crisp yet hiding its scrumptious meat inside. Eating a whole fish is a delicate process if you want to avoid accidental swallowing of fish bones, but this dish was incredibly delicious so take your time. They even offered to debone the fish and remove the main skeleton running through the middle...now that's service! The waiter, who should win a trophy for his world class customer service, was very attentive towards all guests. He even offered to have the bar craft a special cocktail for me and it was delicious! I may have drank it too quickly, not realizing the alcohol content, but it was definitely one of the tastiest cocktails I've had. Eating here was a very nice experience and I would love to return for special occasions. Although a little pricier than most restaurants, the service and ambiance reflects that and this restaurant deserves its high ratings on Yelp.