Kouzina Greek Taverna and Bar

Kouzina Taverna is an exceptional place to go in downtown Stamford. The food and the service is great. The menu is full of traditional Greek choices as well as a few items that have some traditional Greek names but are much more subtle than they sound. However, every single item on their menu is flavorful, ripe and cooked to perfection. Jumping right to the entrees, the octopus and the lamb shank were incredible. We shared our entrees and while eating I almost forgot where I was and wanted to devour the lamb shank which was not what I had ordered. I don't know how, but their salad was so flavorful and everything was so ripe and seasoned perfectly. They did seem to want to push having a drink from the bar as they did ask us twice and neither of us opted for a drink but the great food and great service more than made up for it. I can't believe that I have never eaten here before as I really enjoyed myself. The people, place and food will be a top recommendation going forward. I know that in the warmer months, the area isn't always easy to park. I really can't wait to go back as I am thinking about their calamari with lemon and the Spanikopita. Don't miss a great experience here. I feel very lucky as if it weren't for the suggestion by the diner across the street, I would have never tried this place.

Ate so quickly because it was so good that I ended not having full plate pictures. But nothing speaks louder than empty plates at a restaurant :D. We had the paella which was well cooked with soft rice pasta and mussels with shrimp and squid. Mussels were easy to separate from shell and nothing was overcooked. The Athenian salad was delicious as well with halloumi. Lastly we had a few souvlaki kebabs of pork which was perfectly seasoned and fell easily off the skewer. Would highly recommend as a restaurant to visit and server was kind enough to give our mini golden-doodle some water.

I took my motorcycle for a short ride from NYC to Stamford, CT yesterday. I got to Stamford super hungry, and felt like having food that I'm familiar with, so Greek cuisine was chosen, and I'm so happy I chose this spot. The restaurant is really beautiful with authentic vibe of Grace. Not just tacky blue and white colors, but they were able to capture the Greek vibe. The sr The service was impeccable, the server had wide knowledge of the food and the culture. He was professional and friendly. I would recommend to check it out.

The service was great and the ambiance was nice, but unfortunately the food was very disappointing. The octopus dish came with beans, which was an odd pairing and didn’t work at all. The saganaki was also a huge letdown, if you’ve ever had it at Cava (the restaurant), this version will disappoint you tremendously. Even the pita bread tasted store-bought rather than fresh. We were visiting from out of town and had high hopes, but sadly the food just wasn’t good.

Service was outstanding! Anthony was exceptional - attentive, friendly, and very helpful. The food was decent, but his service stood out.

Whether ordering in or dining in, Kouzina never disappoints. Great lunch specials and delicious greek food

The service was amazing and the place is beautiful inside and out. Unfortunately, the food is extremely mid. I got the chicken skewers and the chicken was so chewy it took forever to eat and honestly grossed me out. The rice was nothing special. The fries were bomb but you don’t go to a place like this for just the fries. There was a fun plate smashing event with music and cheers. That was a great and unique experience! The food was also very affordable. Maybe come here for drinks and a fun time, but I wouldn’t recommend it for the food.

Came in with friends for a late lunch. Restaurant wasn’t busy, just a few tables. Food was very very good. Dips sampler, zucchini balls with cheese, pita with chicken souvlaki and bifteki. Service left us a little disappointed. We came in with a cake, it was a birthday which we notified one of the greeting staff members. There were 3 people taking our order - one seating and offering menus, second giving us a few more minutes and a third one taking our order. However, there was no one doing a 2 minute check for both courses, no one stopping by and asking whether we are done and they could clear plates after our entree and the servers who were around after our entrees didn’t know that we had birthday cake. I had to flag someone down to settle the bill. There was always there in the dining room (waitstaff) but we felt that no one was present at the table providing the service the entire time. I’m sure we will be back. Just feeling a little disappointed since it was my friend’s birthday who happened to be Greek (born and raised) and we wanted her to feel special on her birthday.

A nice cozy spot with a beautiful Decor. The staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Half of the items on the menu we couldn't pronounce, so we asked for help. We came here to enjoy their half price specialty drinks. The drinks were well prepared and had a nice mixture. I love an old fashion especially if it is prepared correctly. I must admit this drink was made very precise, everything was measured to perfection to make the perfect drink. The food complemented the drinks. We ordered the Pan-Fried Zucchini & Melted Feta Balls served with Tzatziki and it was delicious. Then we had a couple of pita sandwiches, which was also pretty good. The meat was very tender and went well with all of the additional toppings. Overall we were extremely pleased with the service, food and drinks and will come back to try other items

The ambiance was definitely fun and makes for a great restaurant if you're looking for a good time on the weekend. However, it gets super busy, which impacts the quality of service. The weekend crowds led to slow service, but the staff remained kind and hardworking throughout. Over the months, I've seen many videos of friends dining here and partaking in the smashing of plates, and I was intrigued by the excitement. The restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Stamford, and upon entering, you'll feel like you've stepped into a picturesque seaside taverna. Shades of blue and white decorate the space, with a bright pink tree that doubles as the perfect backdrop for Pictures. The meal was hit or miss- I ordered the salmon with white bean salad and the salmon was dry. However, the appetizers and Greek Paella were delicious.

Great Greek cuisine located in Downtown Stamford. The greek spread sampler was very good. We thought the eggplant one was the best. Wish their pita chips were fried like Maria's in Bayside! Overall, their portion size is pretty big and the chicken didn't feel dry at all. Would recommend this place if you're craving for greek food and are in the area.

Would go back 1000 times!!! This place is sooooo beautiful, cant imagine how pretty it is during the summer And outside seating!! The service was a bit slow for the amount of people who were in the restaurant at the time. We had a Work-Lunch, and the time spent there was a bit more than we expected, but was worth the wait!! And the waitress was really nice and friendly!! The food, ohhh the food! IT WAS ALL AMAZIIIIIIINGGGG!! It was my first time trying Greek~food and cant wait already to go back!! My boss ordered the Saganaki and the Spanakopita for appetizers and were DELISHHHHHH! Then majority of us ordered the Kale Salad with Chicken Souvlaki as the main dish! Couldnt have picked anything better it was very fresh, savory but not salty or anything! Right on point, and the olive oil tasted great! Then for dessert we tried Baklavas with Nutella and nuts, it was the first time trying this time of baklava, for me it was probably sweeter than I'd like, but the rest of my team devoured it lol It was an amazing experience and time!! Would give the place 10/10

Wow! I have been here twice and it is amazing! Both times sat at the bar. Bartender has been fabulous both times. We split 3 of the spreads, and the shrimp with feta (amazing) and the shared meat plate with lamb so much food! And great wine! Can't wait to go back! It can get loud, and this last time was a Sunday night.... I wouldn't come with a big group if you want to talk

I really enjoyed my experience at Kouzina. The atmosphere is beautiful and very reminiscent of Greece! The service here is also top notch. Our server was friendly and made some great recommendations. I ordered the salmon salad which was cooked perfectly. I also enjoyed the Stamtorini drink which I recommend! Overall really love spot -- great for date night or large groups!

So this was a top meal of 2024. But unfortunately I returned one year later - in March- and none of our meals .. or dessert were too good. The moussaka was very dry and had an off flavor. Luckily there was a bottle of olio on the table to help. The salad was mostly romaine and tasted like way too strong vinegar! The pita bread tasted stale. The eggplant dip was not at all the same- it mostly tasted of balsamic. The chicken skewers were dry and not a good flavor and the pastitccio-- too mushy. The Greek dessert was way too sweet, too mushy inside and the flaky crust outside was burned. The chocolate mousse cake that was so delicious last year was also not the same! Sorry, I don't know what happened here but as my quote I wrote when I started Yelping 16 years ago -- consistency is key! (and hard to find).

Wonderful restaurant. Great menu. Great service. Fun evening. . We will be back. Clean and friendly thank you

Kouzina is one of our favorite restaurants in Stamford both for delivery and dining at the restaurant. We ordered dinner for the first time in a while and ordered our standard Greek American salads. We are hugely disappointed at how TINY the salads are. It's almost like they forgot the lettuce. They used to be large salads and we would each have one for dinner. The price is the same. So sad. Kouzina please fix this.

Went today, excellent meat platter and fun atmosphere. Also would recommend the dips: hummus, eggplant. Good service too.

Great, simple food! Atmosphere and ambiance give a great fun vibe, really something you'd want to bring friends with on a Friday night dinner. Every hour or so when it's busy, the restaurant goes out of their way to give every patron a shot. How fun! Portions are decent as well. We ordered some appetizers and halloumi, some simple entrees and everything was tasty. A little pricy, but that's what you get for being in downtown I guess.

Great ambience and service. Food came out quick and was flavorful. The gyro meat was a bit dry, so maybe needed more sauce. Seasoning on fries were great

One of the best Greek restaurants in CT! Absolutely loved the atmosphere with the simplistic decor and bright white/blues. Their menu is classic and you really can't go wrong with the food. Dishes were served in good time and the food is delicious!

Had a lovely lunch and in just one meal this has definitely become one of our favorite Greek restaurants in New England area. The service is lovely and so is the food. The interior is amazing and instantly transported us to a Mediterranean island. It is very clear that a lot of thought went into the decor of the restaurant. The outdoor space is great as well and that is where we ate our lunch. We shared Kolokithokeftedes (Pan-Fried Zucchini & Melted Feta Balls) and they were so GOOD!!! They literally melted in our mouth. The spinach pies were also very tasty and so were the pita, Greek fries and spicy feta dip. My husband loved their gyro. The meat was tender and juicy. They were very generous with their sauces in the gyro which is amazing since we both love our sauces and always have to ask for more. I cannot wait to eat here again when we are in the area next time. Highly highly recommend!!

This is just a review based on my takeout experience (waiting for my food at the moment). I placed an order directly through their website before they opened on a Sunday. I arrived at the time they said it would be ready and the restaurant is empty. But I'm still having to wait 15-20 minutes for my order. I even tipped on the takeout order, something I rarely do. But the rave reviews made me feel confident the extra $ would be worth the gratuity. In addition, I work in customer service. I think it's a really poor business practice to keep someone waiting for an order and NOT invite them to sit down or offer a glass of water. At the bare minimum, that would've made me feel better about having to wait. Why take preorders if I'll have to wait for it? Very frustrating! I hope the food more than makes up for my first ever (and lackluster) takeout experience.

Nice basic greek restaurant in the heart of Stamford offering all the usuals. Lunch menu is a good value. Service excellent

Best restaurant in Stamford that I've tried. Went during Stamford Restaurant Week and tried the Spanakopita, saganaki, chicken kalamakia, baklava, and loukoumades. Of these id definitely recommend the saganaki (if you dine in) and chicken kalamakia. The saganaki was sizzling hot which made it delicious. The rest was as expected. The baklava had Nutella, which was unique, but I would personally prefer a classic. The loukoumades were also slightly drier than preferred. I also ordered a frappetini, which tasted pretty similar to a regular espresso martini.The atmosphere was also really nice -- this was in the fall so we had a table outside, and the restaurant decor is Greek-inspired which was cool as well. The service was great, best I've seen in a while. Since then, I've tried their paidakia entree as well, and would definitely recommend this over everything else. I order it every time I go to Kouzina.

This vibes of this place were great! I loved when they did the napkin twirling and shots lol, so fun. Definitely a little noisy but in a good way. Service was great and food was pretty good.

Amazing atmosphere, food was great and authentic!! Service was amazing! The drinks were amazing!

Great food, service and ambiance ! My new favorite Greek restaurant !!! I decided to give it a try and we're glad we did !!

Worst service!!! They pause Uber deliveries and don't tell you. We waited over 2 hours and still have not received our food. NEVER order from Kouzina in Stamford

Make your reservation! Kouzina Greek Taverna is fabulous. Fun atmosphere, welcoming staff, delicious food. We ate at the bar where B recommended the perfect wine to compliment our dinner. Kouzina is now our "go-to" for a perfect date night.

Came here to meet some family for lunch. Food was absolutely delicious. Service was friendly and attentive. Ambiance was nice. Definitely would come here again.

If you like kebabs, hummus and pita it's a great place to go. They have other food that is delicious too like their lemon potatoes. Restaurant is a cute place and service was good

the room is absolutely charming... the food is incredible... and the staff is gracious beyond compare.

This place was excellent. Every dish I had was tasty. The ambiance is a modern Greek vibe , if that makes sense. The restaurant was a little small, but comfortable. The service was great and attentive. I had the Greek Spread Sampler and the hummus, Garlic spread and Eggplant spread were all fantastic. I also had the Pastitsio and it was incredible. It was HUGE. This place gives you very generous portions, so bring your appetite. I would for sure come back here again. There was a few dishes I would love to try.

This was really great Greek food. The inside was beautiful, the booths were wooden and there was nice decor throughout. Our waitress was friendly and attentive to our table. They had great cocktails and the appetizers and entrees were also plentiful and delicious looking. Slightly expensive but I'd say defiantly worth it. The spicy feta spread and oktapodi were my favs!

When the food finally arrived it was delicious but the home delivery (order made over 24 hours ahead of time) was abysmal at 50 minutes late.

If you're looking for Greek, then look no further! We went with a larger group and did a couple of dishes family style. The portions were huge and everything was delicious. Their tzatziki was incredible too! Such a great atmosphere for a night out with friends!

Service is amazing! Food is delicious! Wine reasonable and good! What's not to love???

Not only is this a very fun place with its lively ambiance.....it's decorated in the fresh, whites and blues that make you feel like you're on a great vacation. It is a cheerful, happy place to go. There is also outside seating for an option. Nikkie was our waitress and she was so fun and friendly. They play upbeat music and walk around with shots randomly. We ordered the lamb chops and the burgers and a multi selection of an app sampler. So fun and yummy. Great place for positive vibes on a Monday night!

Just moving here from Miami, this is are go to for drinks, tapas, or a meal. The food is perfect and big portions to share. The cocktail menu and bar tenders are amazing. The servers and the rest of the staff complement the experience, and are always going above and beyond.

REALLY BAD MANAGER - if you don't care how long you have to wait for the food, then it's fine. Good food, good vibe. Servers are friendly - but there are not enough of them. The system is off and/ or they are understaffed. 30 minutes for water. 50 minutes for food and the main courses came out at same time as apps. Even then we were missing my son's dinner. We waited another 30 minutes and it didn't show. Ended up leaving half our sangria and other food because we had enough. Ruined our night. Reluctantly tipped the waiter because it wasn't his fault. All the staff were running nonstop. Can't write more - making my son dinner now. Evening ruined. Don't be cheap! Hire more people. You will make more money by getting people in and out faster. And happier!!! Only a handful of servers on a summer Saturday night working inside and outside tables?!?!! And a bar that can't keep up with drink orders. It's management. Photo of my bill included so you know who I am.

Great wonderful server Dee. Food was outstanding. Lively energetic loud fun. Who would've known that downtown Stamford is so happening don't bring your 91-year-old father, who has hearing issues because he's going to say it's too loud. But if you're looking for a place that has great food and lots of fun, this is a good choice. $$$

We chose to try out this Greek restaurant for lunch during Stamford Winter 2023 restaurant week. $20 per person for an appetizer and entree. Parking available in a small circular off street parking area close to many other restaurants, or park on street. Bright, blue and white interior decor is both calming and uplifting and sets the stage well. For appetizers we choose the pan fried zucchini and melted ricotta balls and the gyro egg rolls, both with tzatziki. Amazing flavors and textures and definitely the tzatziki sauce was one of the best I have ever had. Pastistio and moussaka were huge portions! Both had nice flavors, but we're a tad on the dry side. We also would have liked a little more spacing between apps and entree. We could not finish our entrees we were so stuffed. Service was friendly and overall good, but it did take what seemed a considerable time before we were asked if we wanted anything else or wanted to take our leftovers to go. I would definitely visit again to try some of the other menu items.

Pretty good food. I've had their gyros, fried calamari, kina rolls, pikilia, and moussaka. The meat from the pikilia didn't have much seasoning so that was my least favorite dish. Drinks are really good though, especially their margaritas. Service has always been attentive and fast. Staff is always welcoming and looking to make your experience better. Ambiance is really fun for birthdays, brunch, and celebrations.

Super tasty! Came here for brunch with a few friends, and we all really enjoyed our meal! The grilled meats were delicious and not overcooked. I loved the appetizers and would recommend them. The spritz drink was super good and strong(even though it doesn't seem strong at all), so I recommend drinking it slowly. The waitress was super sweet and helpful, and the restaurant is very clean and comfortable.

The ambiance is incredible and the food is delicious. Must try the tzatziki ! Service is very fast, almost too fast. For that reason, we waited to order our entrees until we were done with apps.

The feta balls were absolutely banging holy shit best greek food I've ever had I'm not from stamford or anywhere really that close but if given the opportunity I would 100% come back and try everything on their menu

Authentic Greek food, great service and fun ambiance. Chicken kebab with rice was great!

A real treat on restaurant row in Stamford. The food and wine and ambiance are excellent - but double extra appreciation for the staff, who went above and beyond to accommodate my 80-something parents, even keeping the kitchen open late and then getting drenched in an unexpected rainstorm to rig an umbrella and help my mom and me get my mobility-limited dad to the car after dinner. Will definitely be back - thank you!

We chose to try Kouzina for lunch during the last Stamford restaurant week. First, upon entering, the space is simply stunning. Beautifully decorated and a great Taverna vibe. We especially loved the raised booths. The dining staff immediately greeted us upon entering and arrived as we were seated with tap water. We both ordered the Anana Martini, made with pineapple infused stoli and it was scrumptious. Upon shaking the mix, it adds a lovely frothy head to the martini. It's refreshing and perfectly sweet. For our appetizers we ordered the Kina Roll - Homemade Gyro Egg Rolls served with Tzatziki, and the Kolokithokeftedes - Pan-Fried Zucchini & Melted Feta Balls served with Tzatziki. Both were crispy and delicious. We especially loved the Tzatziki. For our entrees, we had the Pastitsio - Layers of Pasta, Seasoned Ground Beef, Cheese, Bechamel Sauce, and the Kafteri Pita with Gyro, Tomato, Onion, Fries, Tyrokafteri (Spicy Feta) Spread. Both were delicious. Overall we enjoyed a lovely meal and will absolutely be back to Kouzina!

Some of the best Greek food in the area and the staff are very welcoming. Highly recommended!

I was really hoping this place would be good but the food is a bit bland and the chicken was very dry both times we ordered from here. Very disappointing

Excellent food, atmosphere and staff. I tried their gyro - I felt a little guilty because it's kind of basic compared to the rest of the menu. There were so many options I have never heard of which makes this a great restaurant for someone wanting to try something new. I am happy to say that I at least got the grilled Greek sausage on my gyro, which I've never had before. Despite the simplicity of the dish it was extremely good. I had no regret whatsoever. The gyro came with fries on the inside as well as on the side. These are very tasty natural cut fries, especially great when combined with tzatziki sauce. Speaking of... the tzatziki was the best I've ever had. Again, a simple food but so delicious when perfected. Our server offered great service and was extra generous with drink sampling and customization. We also did a sampling of four desserts. They all greatly exceeded my expectations. One thing I didn't like was the Greek coffee. It's probably a preference issue but it didn't taste very good and there was such a small quantity. One third of the small coffee glass was filled with fine, solidified coffee grounds. My friend made the mistake of agitating the grounds and trying to drink them! I fully acknowledge this is probably a taste/preference issue but I would recommend the standard coffee instead. Overall it was a great experience and I look forward to going back and trying new Greek flavors.

There was many outdoor seating but we chose to eat inside. We had to wait a long time for the waitress to take our order. It took forever for the food to be served, no dinner roll. Food was good (we were hungry) but the wait was too long.

Fun place to go with friends for dinner, and their stuffed pitas are also good for takeout. Restaurant is festive without being too loud. Once an hour or so, they play Greek music and hand out Ouzo shots, so that keeps it lively without being overbearing. I wish more restaurants in the area would do something like this, as other restaurants seem to rely on trying to blast deafening music constantly to create a "fun" atmosphere and that doesn't work. The drinks are good and food is good, but on the food, for entrees, it seems like the choices are primarily between stuffed pitas (with meat and fries), or larger more specialized and more expensive entrees. I wish they had some other platter options or more balanced dishes. Overall, am glad that this fun restaurant is in Stamford.

Authentic Greek taverna feel. Food decent-disappointed- didn't even use olive oil on Greek salad. For $18 you'd think they would use the real thing. And menu says " hand cut French fries". They were frozen.

Stopped by for a late lunch. Staff seemed to half ignore us for a bit but we had comfortable seating and the menu had lots of good choices for lunch. We all chose salads. I went boring with the Greek American salad with gyro meat. I enjoyed it with lots of fresh salad veggies and good gyro meat. But I come back to the service. It just felt cold and disinterested. Which is frustrating because the food was pretty good. I'd definitely go back. Maybe just bad timing but something I'll remember the next time I go back.