Samos Restaurant

This is the place around town that everyone recommends, and I can see why. Amazing portions, low prices, and service so good it’s almost shocking. Everyone eating the food still talks about how good the Greek food here is. Yes, I’m coming back here. So is everyone else. And so should you.

Wow.. just wow... lamb shank, grilled octopus, mousakka, rice pudding, skewers.. all amazing. Definitely on the must eat at.

This is my goto spot for Greek food in Baltimore and how fitting it's in Greek town. There's no reason to ask around as bang for your buck this is best place to go to eat great Greek dishes and not break the bank. You can also bring your own wine and the corking fee is cheap at 250 per person. Not shabby at all. I have also catered from here, and that's always a hit as well. No party size too big or small for Samos!!!!

Update 9/19/25 My wife and I were in the neighborhood again so we had lunch at Samos. We planned a light lunch. My wife had Avgolemono soup, a Greek specialty. She loves that soup. I had Lentil soup, one of the best Lentil soups I've ever tasted. Then we split the grilled calamari appetizer. It was excellent. I've uploaded a short video to give you an idea of the noise level in Samos when it's busy. Noisy, but you can still converse. ----- My wife and I were in the neighborhood, and it was just after lunchtime. Since the neighborhood we were in was Greektown, we opted for a Greek restaurant. We were fortunate to arrive slightly after lunchtime so we had our pick of tables. On arrival, we were greeted and allowed to sit anywhere. The kitchen is wide open to view from the dining area. We saw a neat, clean, well organized kitchen and dining area, and we noted the delicious aromas of Greek cuisine. The menu was extensive, and service was prompt. My wife ordered a traditional Greek egg based soup to start. It was delicious. I had split pea soup, also delicious. Next we ordered 2 appetizers. I ordered the calamari, grilled, not fried or breaded. This was an amazing calamari experience. It's not available in most restaurants, and it's worth a trip to Greektown just to have grilled calamari at Samos. My wife ordered a melted cheese appetizer. We split both. Once we finished the appetizer course, we were pretty much filled up so we requested our check. You pay at the cash register. This makes checking out much more efficient. The menu is extensive. I'm sure we'll return to try other options. Samos is on a little street, but Google Maps will take you to it. There's free street parking. The restaurant is on the ground floor. It's modestly but nicely decorated. I highly recommend Samos.

Went on a Friday night at 5:00. Parking was a little difficult, because it's all street parking, and at the time there was also construction. The food was amazing! And the price is really good for huge portion sizes! We will definitely be back!

Food is amazing! We got the grilled octopus (absolutely perfect), the souvlaki platter with one chicken and one lamb skewer (the lamb was wonderful), and the Maryland crab cakes. It was a feast! Definitely coming back! Ordered the baklava to go but it is probably going to be amazing too!

Samos is absolutely fantastic. The fresh, warm pita with creamy tzatziki was the perfect start to the meal. The octopus was easily one of the best I’ve had, tender, smoky, and packed with flavor. The gyro was also excellent, generously portioned and delicious in every bite. The salad came in a big portion, fresh and crisp, which made the meal even more satisfying. Between the quality of the food, the hearty portions, and the welcoming service, this place truly stands out. Highly recommended.

PERFECTION! Our server, Tammy, was unbelievable. She helped us try as many things as possible. Everything tasted fantastic. As close to Greece as you can get. Pictured is the grilled octopus, calamari, and cheese pie. Not pictured is the Roasted Chicken Oreganato which was also delicious, and ridiculously affordable. The atmosphere was nice and made even better by the amazing staff. This was my first time here but I will be coming back until I’ve tried everything on the menu.

Still my favorite spot to come to when I'm visiting home for the holidays. I always order the Melitzanosalata. It's so delicious and the pita is warm and soft! My favorite thing to order for my meal is the Shrimp Haloumi. It's an appetizer but perfect for me with my meal. So many fantastic flavors. Will definitely always recommend and come back!

We like the place and come often. Large and tasty portions... Ambience also cosy. Place is always busy... You can try everything on the menu. We always order, mezzes, gyro or chops sticks. Today I tried Bronzino and I like it too.

Love love love this place !!! Grilled Octopus, Trio dip App w/ pita, and Lamb Gyro. So good. So fresh. As always, Thank you

Such a nice and cozy spot! The ladies who work here are very sweet and will know your order if you're a regular. The parking around here is street parking and we've never had an issue finding a spot! The food always hits the spot. I get a gyro pita with everything on it -- delicious!

This is what "community in service" and "loved by the community" looks like in a restaurant. People in and outside the restaurant talk about this place like a hidden gem and I can see why. Rich flavors, great serving times, and the meats are grilled excellently. I especially appreciated the service.

An exquisite hole in the wall of Greek Town. The food was amazing and customer service as expected. Limited seating and BYOB. Brought Mami here for Mother's Day Saturday evening and the experience was wonderful. 20 minutes wait wasn't bad, and I can only imagine Sundays crowd. Ordered the following: Grilled octopus: 10/10 charred beautifully, nice sauce Shrimp and feta pie: 9/10 never tried before but very good Build your own pizza - mushroom bacon olives 8 Kids pita pizza - regular cheese pizza Side Greek salad: 10 most meals come with salad. Bigger portion than expected, dressing is phenomenal. Grilled Branzino: 8.5 well seasoned and delicious. Wish it had no bone, but so worth the price. Combination platter 8/10 a lot of food, very good Add lamb skewer: 10/10 Best lamb I've had at a restaurant. Homemade lemonade: 8.5/10 refreshing and not too sweet

The food and location are authentic. The service also feels authentically Greek. No fakeness and no frills, just tell the servers what you want and they will bring you a tasty meal. Simple and convenient.

OMG this is a TRUE hidden GEM! I haven't lived in highland town too long but I have discovered what makes it "Greek town" to me. The staff are amazing and so hospitable CASH ONLY I never eat octopus. Partly because of the texture but mostly because of their emotional intelligence. But I tried the grilled octopus here and it was the best I've ever had. My wife and I split the souvlaki platter and added 2 extra lamb skewers. We remembered from last time the lamb was delish! I only wish I hadn't forgotten a rice pudding this time! Also also, Eating the Greek salad in huge chunky veggies was a great way to consume it! So many flavors to have a bite of it felt healthy and satisfying to eat my salad. No dressing needed.

First time visiting Samoa today in Baltimore City. Parking was pretty easy. The restaurant easy to find, it's on the corner. Once you're in, you have to wait to be seated. The service that we received was phenomenal. I went with about 5 other people and I didn't see the server write anything down and they got everything right. You can tell when someone 1.loves their job and 2.knows what they're doing. I love to see it. The food was amazing. We have a different assortment of things from the spread platter to the souvlaki to the garlic pasta with chicken. Everything was seasoned and cooked correctly. I had the lemonade and it was a perfect mix of both sour and sweet. You can also ask for extra lemons - the lemons were JUICY and tasted great. Will be coming back!

One of the best casual Greek spots in the city. The grilled octopus was tender with just the right char, and the pita bread is warm and fluffy. Portions are generous, and prices are very reasonable for the quality. The space is small, and they don't take reservations, so expect a wait -- but once you're in, it feels like you've discovered a neighborhood secret.

My husband wanted Samos for Father's Day. A strange request but I was happy obliged because Samos is so good. We had just attended the Greek Orthodox Annual Festival not too long ago and I'm always down for Greek food. Their Spanakopita ( spinach pie) is unmatched and comes out perfectly every single time I order it. To me it tastes just as good as any authentic pie. I love the Greek salad and even the grilled octopus is one of my favorite dishes. The restaurant is small yet popular and always super clean. They sell their own Greek salad dressing which is super yummy. Highly recommended location.

Heaven restaurant. I love Mediterranean food. This is the best of the bunch. Neighborhood was sick. You walk through Greektown which is sick. We tried some spreads as an appetizer. Holy moly. Gas. Hummus and two I couldn't pronounce. Then we got the lamb pita. Gas. So good. Wish they served wine. Whatever. Byob. Neighborhood + Food = Heaven.

I'm happy this old establishment is still alive and well. Roasted eggplant spread: 5/5. Light and delicious. Grilled Octopus: 5/5. Octopus was tender on the inside with a slight crust on the outside. 100% delicious. Vegekabob: 5/5. This dish is so big it can feed 2 adults or 3 kids. The rice and veggies had phenomenal flavors. Shrimp Souvlaki: 5/5. Perfectly grilled and tasty. Lamb Souvlaki: 3/5. Good texture, but lacked seasoning. Service was excellent.

Came in on recent weeknight. Surprised they don't sell booze - it is BYOB. No biggie - we were there for the delicious Greek food. The waitstaff consisted of an Army of One who was working hard and efficiently despite her heavy workload. Best pita I've had - delicious gyro. So who has the best Greek food in Bmore ?? Say it to me - SAMOS

Whoa. This place is so good that it reminded me that I need to write some more Yelp reviews! Everything here is good, but I constantly return for the gyros which are 7-10 dollars(!!!) Which is a steal nowadays! The soups are always divine, and this spot is BYOB! The service was warm, the ambiance had a comfy and familial vibe, and this spot is definitely on my menu rotation!

Samos the original location is the most authentic Greek restaurant you will try without the $$$$ we loved the crispy skin Branzino and the Lamb chops are grilled to a tender tasting perfection. If you want wine bring your own bottle for a nominal corking fee. This is a corner house in Baltimore the Original location has way more entree options the food is fantastic. The other Samos locations and the food is good but doesn't match the original on Oldham street Baltimore. The custard dessert is something you must try (Galaktoboureko) Samos atmospheres is very unassuming neighborhood restaurant the service is always family like. This is a must try.

Great service. Did not realize no liquor license. Didn't read the website fully just assumed. Amazing amount of food- way too much. Lamb chops cooked perfectly. Chicken flavorful and lemony Ordered potatoes but got rice. A little too much air conditioning on a cooler August night. Very loud table of 8 at front of room. Price very reasonable for the food. Would go again but bring wine.

A real local longtime Baltimore Greektown gem. Mom and I enjoyed our first time here, and made a half-day of it here, as we later found a new bakery/dining place nearby for even more food (see my next review for Estiatorio Plaka)! Anyway, quick, efficient service highlighted our decision to share small plates and a dessert. Loved the olive tapenade, veggie dolmades and saganaki (a sort of sweet kasseri cheese flambéed with bourbon wine lemon!)--all served with much pita! For dessert, instead of the typical baklava, we dared to try the scary-to-try-to-pronounce galaktoboureko, which became the custard in filo with cinnamon and honey tastebud-pleasing sweetness of loveliness to end all dessert-searching journeys. Even the hot chocolate was good. The atmosphere is old school and homey. When we arrived at their opening time, it was quiet; but it quickly picked up for the lunchtime locals. Note: They only accept cold, hard cash!

Coming back from DC, we decided to stop at Samos for a late lunch/early dinner. It was a perfect time - the restaurant was practically empty. It was great to see Joyce again. We were told we could sit anywhere. We picked a table for 4 even though there were only two of us, which was fine with them. Eleni came right over and took our drink orders. My husband ordered the Souvlaki Platter with two skewers of steak accompanied by roasted vegetables, rice, tzatziki and a Greek salad with grilled pita wedges. I decided to have the Pastitsio, which came with a Greek salad and grilled pita wedges. The Pastitsio was baked ziti layered with meat sauce and topped with creamy bechamel sauce and parmesan. Oh my, we both we are in heaven. My husband enjoyed every last morsel of his dish. Mine was so enormous, I had enough for another meal the next day. We purchased some of their Greek dressing to take home. Thank you again for an absolutely delicious meal.

Family restaurant. Food was excellent. Had the halloumi appetizer which was a meal. Pork and shrimp skewers also worth coming for. Right off the highway. Street parking was easy. Service was excellent and personal. This place is worth coming too. Only complaint is that the owners son started a restaurant with the same name in Canton Crossing. If your meeting someone, confirm which one for the meeting.

The quality here is unmatched. Second time coming and it was the best we've ever had. Delicious grilled calamari is an excellent option for gluten free, and it was perfectly charred and tender and seasoned. Shrimp houlumi appetizer with a delicious fresh romesco sauce and charred jumbo shrimp atop a bed of seasoned lemon rice... Excellent. Best value, best portion, and best flavor! Owner is very friendly and knowledgeable. Best Greek in Greek Town and possibly one of the best businesses in Baltimore. Mangia!

This is my first time to eat Greek foods and I like them so much! Especially, I like the soup and the grilled octopus. In Avgolemono (egg-lemon soup), there were shredded chicken and dill. The octopus was tender and delicious. Caper and lemon go well with the octopus. After eating these two dishes, I was 70% full, however I was interested in the "Souvlaki". So I tried the lamb souvlaki. I have not imagined that this is so large. In addition, there was a side salad. The lamb was simply grilled and the tzatziki was nice. Overall, the dishes there were delicious and they looked healthy. There was a description of "cash only" in their menu, but now credit card can be used there.

My first time there... Food was fabulous and decent prices Service was great and I enjoyed the shrimp pita!

Excellent!!!! I found Samos when I left the barbershop across the street and they didn't disappoint. The hardworking and charming ladies at the register asked me if I wanted anchovies on my salad and I said "most certainly" and said "nobody has ever asked me that before" LOL. The avgolemono soup was delightfully lemony. I will be trying other items on the menu but for now I was a very pleased customer .

well priced authentic Greek food! Fresh salads, love the gyro, octopus appetizer, moussaka. All around great reminded us of Greece. Also well priced! Ambiance isn't amazing but reasonable given the price.

My friends and I used to come here a few times pre Covid & we loved it. This time however was a bit disappointing. We ordered our usual pork souvlaki platter - 2 pork skewers, rice pilaf, pita bread wedges, roasted veggies, tzatziki sauce and comes with a small greek salad. The pork was, in my opinion lacked the usual flavor . I had to slather the pieces with the tzatziki sauce ( which was good but could've used a bit more seasoning) to make it more enjoyable. I had ordered Kalamari as an appetizer and we both agreed that this was the best dish . They gave us a nice serving of tender pieces of perfectly fried squid . It was delectable! We were tempted to abandon the souvlaki & just order another Kalamari but I'm still regretting we didn't do so. Service is quick and attentive so that's always good. This is still a cash only business but they do have an ATM machine on the premises.

I always enjoy my visits to Samos Great Greek food! The waitresses are truly great and the cooking is spot on I always try to coordinate having company dinners with my team there because they all enjoy it so much! Christos

My daughter and I really enjoyed our grilled lamb pita. The fries were nice and hot. Definitely was worth the stop

Loved this place! Everything was so hearty and flavorful. I also loved the homey vibe at this restaurant. We will be back to try their sandwiches.

What more can I say about this restaurant. The ambiance is pretty good, oldies but goodies, some say it's close to the ambiance you get when you're in Greece. Service was pretty good, but the food is the thing that I kept coming back! All is so delicious and the portions are generous. This is my go to Greek Restaurant.

Our best friend's son is dating a gal who's family is from Greece and this came as a recommendation from them. My husband and I have not necessarily been happy by the Greek offerings around town as we have always had an gritty Feta cheese experience as every dish we have seen seems to almost have Feta crumbled on almost every dish! The best experience with Greek food has been the Greek Isles in Pompano Beach, FL-until now. Samos is a small little restaurant in Greektown and they are cash only, so be sure if you head there that you stop at the bank before going. Our group of six ordered many things and pretty much there were no complaints. My friend and I got the sampler trio, opting for the Tzatziki, Olive Tapenade, and Melitzanosalada. They were served with warm pitas and it was just oh so good! My favorite was the Olive Tapenade as I am huge fan of Kalamata olives. The dreaded Greek salad was served....this is where my husband and I get lost....we always seem to get this heavily dressed salad almost swimming in Feta and Greek dressing...not so here. Nice chunks of Feta are on top of fresh salad served along with a small container of Greek dressing. This ends up being a nice surprise for us as we haven't had a decent Greek salad here in Baltimore. We both ordered the Shrimp Souvlaki platter. Two huge skewers of nicely seasoned shrimp accompanied some more Tzatziki and pitas, a nice arrangement of mixed veggies and rice. All very good....we probably could have split this and been just fine.....especially since there was dessert was definitely going to happen here. We ordered the Baklava and had tastes of the Galatkoboureko. So many Baklava's here around town seem to have sticky honey, almost like no one has ordered them and they begin drying out. Both desserts were very tasty. There were some other dishes ordered by our friends and definitely no complaints. If you want to drink, you need to bring your own as they only serve soft drinks. This was a great experience and we look forward to going back really soon! Price are very reasonable!

Great Greek food. Clean, pretty restaurant at Canton Crossing. Want a taste of old Greektown? Go to the original restaurant on Oldham Street, a minute or two away in Greektown.

I was in the area and tried their food and really loved it. Specially the vegetable they make with the rice, so sooo good that I can literally have it every day. Will try them again when I'm back in the area.

Great experience at Samos Restaurant in green town! We tried the tour of Samos so we could taste a little bit of everything. The dinner starts off with Greek salad, tzatziki sauce and pita. The second course included fried calamari (nicely fried with light breading) stuffed grape leaves, grilled shrimp and spinach pie( very cheesy with lots of greens). The last course included gyro meat, grilled chicken kebab(moist with great seasoning) , lamb chop ( very tender but a tad bit gamey, had to squeeze a little extra lemon on it) and stewed lemony potatoes. There's a bunch of back in parking on that block, very easy on a weekday evening but may be more difficult on the weekend. Cash only, but they have an ATM in the back! Overall a great meal! Can't wait to return to try some other things!

I ordered the large Samo's salad with chicken, Kalamari, and Dolmides. It was all very delicious. It was my first time here and I would definitely go back. Good sized portions and not too expensive.

The Greek Salad with chicken kabob was what I picked for lunch. The salad was served with homemade Greek vinaigrette, green peppers and onions with yummy olives. And giant hunks of blue cheese and oregano to spices. Plus assorted garden veggies. Winner, winner chicken dinner.

From the moment you walk in the doors until the moment you leave you feel like you're having dinner at a good friend's house. The food here is like homemade food that a good friend would serve your We had the hummus, Greek salads, sliced gyro platter and souvlaki platter. Everything was beyond delicious!! We also shared a piece of baklava... don't skip it!!

The ambiance was that of family and friends. And the service was great! The food was even better, I was sad when I ate it all!

You should add Samos as your GO TO spot for Greek food in Baltimore.... I've been going there for 29 years or more, and it barely changes, which is a good thing in this case... The delicious Avgolemono soup is one reason alone to go here... but wait, there's more.... Of course, the Gyro Platter (or Just a wrap) is my personal favorite menu item. It is Gyro perfection. I believe they are still a cash only business....

Wow! Never would have come in W/O Yelp reviews!! Glad I did. Great place. Cute. Traditional! Delicious! Will be back!!

This location is the original Samos location and is DEFINITELY the one you should visit if you haven't yet tried their food. Located on the corner of Fleet and Oldham in Greek Town so there is a ton of free street parking around. This location had an old time charm and cozy feel inside. The service can be a bit slow but the staff are extremely pleasant and friendly. The menu has a variety of items from apps and pita wraps too larger platters and pastas. I am a huge fan of moussaka and the one at Samos is definitely in the top 3 I have ever eaten!

Best restaurant, great food, great service. Joyce and Tammy are the best and I can not say enough about MR Nick. They are like my family.

Samos is closed for vacation. Opening again on 8/12/24. Good Greek food, pleasant staff, not too expensive.

This is a first time visit for us, this is a really easy to find restaurant, good location. Seating was quick, sit anywhere! Parking can be difficult depending on the time of day, it's all street parking. There were 3 of us and my first friend ordered the Spinach Pie, it was bigger than she expected and delicious. She also had the chicken pita wrap, very fresh and tasty. The next friend had the shaved lamb pita wrap, Also very good. I had the lamb pita wrap and thought I ordered the shaved, I didn't so it had chunks of lamb which were tough and chewy, although very tasty. As an appetizer I ordered the fried calamari, it was huge and came with a warm marinara sauce, perfect. I can't fault them for my mistake in orders, would have preferred the shaved lamb, well, next time. Prices are reasonable.

I was underwhelmed. I attempted to call in a takeout order but the number had a strange message that they weren't accepting calls. I ordered the moussaka and it was missing my favorite ingredient...cinnamon. Additionally, it lacked flavor. The bechamel was a bit too soft for me. The baklava was "meh". It lacked the two textures that make it extraordinary...flaky and chewy. It was more wet and heavy. If you're looking for flavorful Greek food, this may not be the spot for you. Maybe if you're sensitive to spices and flavor, you'd like the food. I really wanted to give it 2.5 stars but rounded it up because the staff appeared to be nice. .

Food wasn't that great. Bacon on bacon cheeseburger tasted bad. Cheese pizza wasnt appetizing.

If you want a real old school Baltimore restaurant, run to Samos. It started out as a mostly carry out/ counter in the width of a row home in Greektiwn, and broke thru a wall to double its size. Even still it is small and we had to wait prob 25 minutes at 130 for a table for 6. Much better to have 4 people. I got the octopus app for my meal and it was a generous portion with a well balanced tomato/olive oil/caper topping. I was a little gun shy because the last time I ordered it at another restaurant it was swimming in capers! The Greek salad had nice chunks of feta and enough Tom/ cuke/ onions.... The sovalaki plater looked great, the soup was delish, the spanikopita was a nice size and looked like it was made in house. So the food is still top notch, the waitress was attentive and I will be back!

My family stopped in for lunch and everything was so good and flavorful!! Even my 5 and 10 year olds enjoyed it. I would not leave without having some baklava too!

Got to Greek-town to try Samos on a Friday for lunch. We tried to call ahead to order a few dishes for sharing. The line was busy for a while and once I got an answer was put on hold and the person unfortunately never came back. So not a good start. That said, once I arrived I was greeted by a friendly lady that took my order. Despite being busy our order was ready in 20 minutes which was impressive given the small team of people working. Ordered a few pita sandwiches -Gyro, grilled Chicken & Pork Souvlaki which were all excellent! The star of the show was the Octopus starter which was seasoned and grilled perfectly. Not many places get Octopus right. The side of potatoes were tasty but had a bit too much salt. Also ordered the dip trio. Taramo, Melitzano & Tzatziki. The Taramo was some of the best I've ever had! Spanakopita & Beef Dolmades were very good. Overall, a home cooked feel with a small team that is preparing a good variety of Greek cuisine with care. Would highly recommend!