Sofia Restaurant

This restaurant had a great vibe on a summer Saturday night. Food was excellent and really quite reasonable. Really liked all of the wine flight options. Servers were always around, being as busy as it was, I was surprised by that. Would definitely go back to again.

Absolutely delicious cauliflower appetizer! Loved it. The indoor and outdoor ambiance was beautiful. Thank you for having vegan options…… my eggplant dinner not only looked beautiful but it was absolutely delicious. Looking forward to visiting again.

Let me start by giving credit where it’s due: the food was pretty good and the restaurant is lovely. But none of that matters because the service was such a disaster that I won’t be back-ever. I run a woman’s social group that goes out weekly and this time five of us decided to try Sofia’s. I did what I always do:told the server ahead of time that we’d be splitting checks. Apparently, that was asking too much, because he immediately refused. When I added that I wanted the appetizers on my own tab, he actually said, “ Why don’t you worry about the food now and worry about money later.” Ah yes, nothing like being scolded for trying to pay at a restaurant. Bold business model. But fine-let that one slide. The appetizers arrived, and I politely asked the waiter (Kenny) who brought them out to take a quick picture for us. This is not only a shout out for my group but also highlights the restaurant. He hit me with an immediate “no”, dramatically rolled his eyes and then marched over to the bar to complain about us to two other customers. You could be serving a Michelin level meal (spoiler: you aren’t) and we still would never come back. The service was that spectacularly rude. I do need to mention the younger, very sweet server (bus boy?) who did take a picture of us. He was all smiles and quite respectful.

Sofia Margate a must go to. Amazing experience from the minute we walked into this aesthetically beautiful restaurant from start to finish. When we walked in Maria M was so welcoming. We felt like we walked into her home. So kind and just made us feel at home. From the fresh oysters to the crab cocktail to the Tzatziki with fresh pita absolutely amazing. Our silverware was changed with each course. The salmon melts in your mouth and the surf and turf prepared to perfection. We have been to many amazing restaurants in our time and never did a server come and remove the lobster tail shell from the plate so quickly. That server is Rena. She was spot on with every move. The desert from baclava to the fig and honey ice cream just divine. The Greek coffee amazing with a nice touch of a dipping pastry. To Marie M, Rena and all the staff just amazing. Let me just say our Mom is 91 and has been to a lifetime of restaurants and she said nothing has compared to Sofia Margate. Honestly she is a tough critic. Don’t pass this gem by. Absolutely amazing.

This place is absolutely gorgeous inside and outside which makes it perfect for special events and taking pictures. It was very busy but since the restaurant is so large and well staffed they were able to accommodate my party of 2 without a reservation (however, I always recommend making a reservation just in case). I was blown away by the cauliflower appetizer so I had high expectation for the entrees. My table ordered the Salmon and the Lamb chops of which both were very mid, 4/10. Salmon was dry, and the lamb chops were very fatty so I barely got any meat since they only give you 3 lamb chops. I would definitely go back just for the cauliflower. Wine and cocktails (spicy margarita and espresso martini)were decent, not the best I ever had but still very tasty. Anyways, our waiter was very busy but he was very efficient and able to give us great service. The server assistant did a phenomenal job setting up our table for every course and she was extremely attentive so we never felt neglected.

UPDATE: November 2024: We have been going down the shore on the occasional weekend and our first stop before even going to our apartment is to stop at Sofia's and sit at the bar for a quick dinner and drinks. We love all the food and they have a great wine menu. Drinks are made well. My only complaint is that their posted hours aren't really what they adhere to. We have been at the bar long before closing and tried to order food and the pizza oven was already shut down or "the kitchen staff all left" so we can't get dessert. And this might be about one hour before posted closing time. I wish they would give you final warning so we could get what we want. --- A little late with the review, but we sat at the bar for a quick dinner (reservations were unavailable) and we had an excellent time. The bartender was very attentive. The food was awesome. Can't wait for summer 2024 to go back. Will probably sit at the bar most times unless we are with more people!

🇬🇷✨ Greek island vibes in MARGATE, baby! ✨🇬🇷 From the instant Sofia herself and her fabulous daughter Maria swept us into their world, we felt like long-lost family. Think wrought-iron arches, candlelit corners, and a dining room buzzing with laughter, clinking glasses, and the aroma of garlic-kissed olive oil. 🤌🏼🔥 What disappeared from our table (fast!): 🥗 Crisp Greek salad drizzled in liquid gold EVOO 🥩 Lollipop lamb chops that melt on contact 🐟 Whole bronzino—lemon, herbs, perfection 🍤 Shrimp souvlaki skewers snapping with citrus 🍅 Greek-style meatballs swimming in tangy tomato bliss 🔥 And YES—we had the legendary flaming saganaki, lit tableside and devoured within minutes! 🍷 The Greek wines they presented to us come from the land of Alexander the Great and the demigod Hercules—bold, rich, and absolutely divine. Every bite screamed “Yasou!” and every sip of wine had us planning our next visit before dessert even landed. If you crave home-style Greek cuisine served with genuine love, this is your seaside sanctuary. 🌊💙 📍 Sofias, Margate NJ — Pack your appetite, bring your besties, and get ready to feast like a Greek deity. Tell Maria and Sofia the PhillyFoodFanatic says Opa!!!

Sofia’s is very different from the rest! A fantastic mix of authentic Greek and Mediterranean cuisine! Her new spectacular Chef Soto is preparing new items unlike any other restaurant in the down beach and Atlantic City areas ! Wine selection is superb and very moderately priced! All wines are selectively picked to accommodate the new menu as well as the wine enthusiast favorites! You must enjoy the Truffle dusted cauliflower appetizer, the chopped mixed green with basil leaf, sunflower seeds, crumbled blue cheese with diced tomatoes cucumbers and a touch of sweet baby corn ! The short rib is so tender and flavorful! And the desserts! Deconstructed baklava with a pistachio mousse and the raspberry tart! Excellent ambiance! Perfect for a date night!!! Sofia, Angela, Christina, David, Kelly, Nick, George, and Damon, all phenomenal!! You’re part of the Greek family as soon as you arrive and depart!! Go check out Sofia’s of Margate out!!

It has been a long time coming, but I FINALLY dined at Sofia's this summer. This restaurant is visually GORGEOUS and a toddler's paradise for people watching and looking around. We were greeted and seated immediately. The service is incredible. Our server was patient and accommodating with our party. All tables are served fresh bread and oil which our toddler thoroughly enjoyed. Additionally, we got the calamari and grilled octopus to start. The calamari was delicious and a favorite for the entire group. The octopus was good, but we've had better. The menu is quite large with so many delicious sounding options. I had to go with the lamb chops, and I'm glad I did. They were perfectly cooked. The accompaniments were just ok, nothing to write home about. J went with the steak and he said it was decent. I admit, I'm writing this about a month after the fact so some of the details are slipping my mind, but we all enjoyed a few of the desserts, as well. While, overall the meal was enjoyable, I am not sure we will be running back so quickly, as it is quite pricey for what you're getting.

We had the most fantastic meal outside at Sofia's on July 16th. The ambiance was absolutely spectacular, outside on the terrace filled with little white lights and and abundance of flowers and flowering vines grown with love. Our server (Sophia) was terrific and attentive, the food was out of this world and even the cocktails and mocktails were to die for. Would recommend this 10/10 every time and definitely over any other restaurant in the area (including the very high priced restaurant down the street that everyone raves about).

It all started well until we were greeted to our seats lost by the speedy young hostess who we could t find as she ran up the stairs tow. Table of four amidst two birthday parties Not good seat selection. After a tortuous rebuttal with the difficult hostesses we were seated at an appropriately empty tAble despite being told there were few open tables. Refreshing were the waitress and support staff who refreshed water glasses and were friendly and attentive The warm freshly baked rolls were fluffy and delicious paired with a garlic filled oil dressing-10 The appetizer of margarita flat bread was what one expects but the calamrinwere absolutely delectable crispy hot and amazing The Greek salad was colorfully filled with different tomatoes feta cheese snd leetuce Star of the evening were three whole grilled bra zip which were cooked to perfection moist and delicious paired with less than amazing lemon potatoes which were Likely prepared a while ago lacking. Anything but fried potato wedges which were Not limonas Somerset a pasta dish and I was distracted The drinks were fig martini and dirty martinis which were to me average nothing great No dessert tonight Upon leaving the irritating blonde hostess asked if yelp was around anymore I said yes and I look forward to your reading my post Frankly decent food not more than 6-7 overall and definitely in need of a. Front desk attitude adjustment

Had dinner here last evening for an event they were having. We made reservations weeks ago and were asked if we wanted a high top bar table. Umm not hardly since we were dressed for a nice dinner and attempted to make it special. We started with hummus and pita , Greek salad add on lettuce , and fried calamari. All three were underwhelming. The best part was the feta in the salad so creamy and delicious. The dressing lacked any punch or flavor. The hummus was dry and on the hard side scooped like ice cream. The calamari was cold and meh. On to meals we had the special with crab and shrimp and cavatelli. Overall, the dish was extremely cheesy, almost like macaroni and cheese, which was not described. There were a total of three shrimp on the dish and four pieces of crab. We also had the moussaka. That was flavored nice and tasted good and was hot. It was drenched in red sauce, which I think took away from some of the flavor. Over all this dinner was a miss. The star of the show where the two cocktails we opted for the old-fashioned and the filthy dirty martini. We skipped dessert as not to be disappointed like we were with the meal. $190 all in for two people two drinks, two apps, two meals and a salad. Fairly average for Margate. But not worth it for the quality of food and the experience. The restaurant is very beautiful inside and lively. The food doesn't match the decor.

Unbelievable 60th birthday party dinner I forgot to put all the five stars up this place is amazing and every time we come to the beach from now on, we will be celebrating something at this restaurant because the food is amazing. There's nothing on the menu that's not good. We enjoyed everything.

Food is very good especially having drinks during their Happy Hour. We have been to this restaurant many times and iyou can eat outside also if you prefer.

I have never been spoken to with such rudeness, arrogance, and disrespect by any restaurant. Ever. We had a Saturday night reservation for 5 ppl at Sofia and were genuinely very excited. In a traumatic turn of events, our 2 dogs (yes, real dogs, not a made-up excuse) got into onion bagels and chocolate chip cookies that afternoon and had to be rushed to the emergency vet. We arrived at the emergency vet at 5pm (2 hours before our dinner reservation). As soon as I had a moment to breathe amidst the chaos, I immediately called Sofia to let them know the situation that we would not be able to make it for dinner. The woman on the phone was understanding, told me it was no problem, and said she'd cancel the reservation with no issue or penalty. That should've been the end of it. But 3 days later, I'm blindsided by a $125 charge on my credit card for a no-show!! I called the restaurant to straighten it out and was transferred to either Sofia or Angela, the so-called "owner." What followed was one of the most unprofessional and infuriating conversations I've ever had with a business. She cut me off before I could finish a sentence, aggressively accused me of lying, claiming that people "make up all kinds of stories" to dodge cancellation fees -- essentially calling me a fraud and a liar. When I offered to send her the timestamped emergency vet bill to verify the situation, she flat-out refused and continued to talk over me, raised her voice to tell me they're "running a business here", and made it clear she had zero interest in listening, let alone resolving the issue. Her final words? "Dispute it with your credit card company." No apology. No empathy. No decency. This is not how you treat any customers, especially those who called ahead and were dealing with an actual medical emergency. Instead of any grace or understanding, I was met with accusations, condescension, and a completely unjustified charge. This restaurant may serve food, but it serves up zero customer service and a hefty side of arrogance. I will never step foot in Sofia and if you value honesty, professionalism, or basic kindness, you shouldn't either.

Excellent happy hour. Great prices during this time and the menu offers many tasty appetizers.

Recently discovered this gem in the heart of margate Great place, great food, even better staff. Check out by buddy tony at the bar.

If I could give this place 0 stars I would. My boyfriend and I waited for 30 minutes to receive two cocktails... then had to go to the bar for our second round of drinks because our waitress was running around. Then we waited two hours for chicken kabobs and three slices of tomato's with mozzarella which we assumed would be more for the price... we ended up boxes the dinners to take them home because it took so long to notice the chicken was raw when we sliced into it.

Light happy hour dinner at the bar. Split a Greek salad and a small pizza. Service was great, food was great and drinks were good. Lots of TVs to watch the end of the Phils game vs the Giants. We got lucky there were two open seats, wouldn't be this easy mid summer. Very pleasant atmosphere. I highly recommend.

Good food. Nice wait staff. Bar is cool with a real tree growing in the center. The desserts are really good!

We had an exceptional dinner experience on the outside dining area at Sofia's. Our waitress, Arvada, was outstanding! The humus, meatball ap, and Greek salad were outstanding. Salaam was delicious!!!! Atmosphere and cocktails were just perfect. We will definitely be back!

My mother and I stopped in to Sofia's for drinks and desserts for our birthdays. I had been here previously for dinner which was wonderful. Upon approaching the hostess stand I explained we just wanted to grab a table for 2 for desserts and drinks. The older woman (Lizz Ann- got her name before we left) very condescendingly and abruptly said "we don't usually do that". We felt extremely unwelcome. She eventually came back and said fine follow me. We were sat by the bar at a high top and greeted by the most lovely server, Olivia, who turned our whole experience around. She had fabulous recommendations for our desserts and even brought some candles for our birthdays. She was truly lovely and saved the whole experience. Don't let the manager or whoever she was at the hostess stand deter you- as the food is excellent and the servers are even better. Would have given 5 starts instead of 4 if it weren't for our initial experience with Lizz Ann.

Loved this place! The bar is so cozy. you feel like you're sitting at a bar in the middle of a forest. Stopped in for happy hour and it was great. We ordered an array of appetizers off their menu to share. Starting with Taziki, short rib and fig flat breads, greek sausage, greek salad and their signature ginger manhattan cocktail. Everything was fantastic. We sat at the bar and the service was amazing. Looking forward to visiting again when I'm in Atlantic City.

Always have a great time. I tend to eat at the bar. Bartenders are great. Food is very enjoyable and love the happy hour.

I'm a local and have been coming here for years, the food is great. However, I recently had a bad experience. A friend and I were dining outside on a weeknight. It was maybe 9:30 at night and we were finishing our dessert and wine. The bus boys started to break down all of the chairs around our table and were loudly dragging items around our table. They also began slamming things around and laughing hysterically. It was so disrespectful. Also, online it says the restaurant is open til 11pm, so why were we being rushed out at literally 9:30 pm? Our meal total was expensive and we did not deserve to have the staff rushing us out of there and being completely disrespectful. Our server was clearly more concerned with flirting with the bus boys rather than ensuring we were having a good experience. Train your young staff better...

This turned out to be a nice meal. Hadn't been here in a while. Two people got the branzino. One got the pork special stuffed with prosciutto and feta and I got the seafood Pescatore. For apps we got the spanakopita and the saganaki cheese. One horiatiko salad. Our server was David who was great. Attentive without being overbearing. All entrees were enjoyed. My Pescatore had a good bit of seafood in it and the scampi sauce was good. I thought the spanakopita was very good. Overall a very good meal and I would go back

Pay no attention to those Giving 2 stars to this restaurant. The food is still delicious. The waitstaff is professional, helpful, and just plain nice. The ethereal cauliflower appetizer is the best most people have ever eaten. We order heavy appetizers and a delicious dessert, although it is difficult to turn down the branzino. The bar crowd is always lively and inclusive making Happy Hour one of the nicest in the area. Obviously, I am a big fan of Sophia's, but with very good reason. Unpretentious and wonderfully delicious. Accommodating for vegans and others with food restrictions. It is a definite 5 star, more if available.

I had the opportunity to dine at Sofia's this past weekend. I was not impressed. The atmosphere was very nice and drinks were delicious. I was not happy that our server called me Sir twice. I had to correct her by telling her i was a woman. instead of her just apologizing and letting it go she continued to insult me, insinuating that I looked like a man. As far as the food, the rack of lamb could have had more flavor and potatoes were under cook. We will not be coming back.

I went last night, we didn't have a reservation but they were able to get us in one of the high tops. It was busy! Let me tell you I can't believe I haven't been here before. The food was SO delicious!! I got the ahi tuna, husband got the mousaka. We started off with the Saganaki it was so good I probably could have eaten 2 melty hot cheese that they lit on fire was really cool. I am going back for more I really like a lot of things on the menu and I am very picky and don't eat red meat. Go there! Make a reservation if you can and don't be in a hurry it's a relaxed slow service. I

We have always loved Sofias, the food, the staff, the overall experience but the new chef has elevated the food to a whole new level. The menu has changed and while it took us a minute to adapt, we are so happy we did. Each thing we ordered was better than the next, we had dinner Thursday night and had such a great meal that we canceled our plans Friday and went back. A few of our new favorites were the Greek salad, the beet salad, the new octopus( which although different then before has sooo much more flavor), the tuna tataki, the truffle pasta is a steal at the price as well as new branzino which was amazing! Another treat was the updated outside seating which was so beautiful and relaxing, you forgot you were next door to Maynard's

The parking here was a bit tight, but the venue is beautiful. Our server was friendly, positive, super nice man. We got quite a bit of food for 2 people: A drink from the bar Eggplant dip Flatbread Asparagus Gnocchi Salmon Food was great. Good portion sizes, nice presentation. Per my husband, Without the sauce/marination on the salmon, the salmon itself wasn't anything special. We would come back!!

Everything was on point, food was delicious, service was attentive, ambiance was perfect

Sofias is impressive ... besides being a tremendous restaurant that can prob seat a few hundred it's done with class and tons of detail. Everyone we talk to about this place says you like it now come back in the summer and dine outside. Our server was wonderful. She was so attentive and knew her stuff. She made great recommendations for food , drink , and even dessert / coffee. Best spinach pie I ever had, eggplant dip was the right call and then a delicious steak, chicken and lamb chop for 2 platter with asparagus and those lemon potatoes. Wasn't overkill either. Bill was substantial but worth it... a place you go twice a year and look forward to it. Last thing is the down beach express toll that's $2.25 each way no ez pass to get into margate city. Straight up weird.

The food is fantastic, and the service is even better. Our usual server, Nicholas, is one of the best. His professionalism, attention, and knowledge of the menu - especially the wine - are second to none. His recommendations are always spot on. Combining all of this with the gorgeous ambiance, both inside and out, make for a wonderful dining experience.

Ambiance seems fun. Mix of old and young-ish? The rest? Not so much. First, our server was terrible. I think she might have forgotten us, and she definitely forgot my son's dinner. We had to ask the runner and a different server to check on his food because she never came back. He ended up getting his food after everyone was done. Yikes. Second, the food was okay depending on what you ordered. Half of us enjoyed and the other half did not. Third, when we spoke to the owner about our experience, she was AWFUL. What a horrible human being. What was supposed to be a lovely birthday dinner turned out to be a horrible experience. I definitely do NOT recommend.

Wonderful experience at Sofia on MDW no less. On reservation was on time and the service was impeccable. There was a "manager" or main host that gave us a weird vibe as she seemed very overwhelmed and took it out on customers/her staff. Didn't effect us, but figured I'd add as I wouldn't want to get in her way if I worked for her. Any who, our experience was top notch and the food was delish! What we snagged: -Dip Trio (Great sauces and the pita was well cooked. Whatever the red pepper dip was, I need the recipe) -Filet (cooked perfectly) -Crab cakes (FIRE. Wish we had 4 to a plate! Highly recommend) Overall, great experience and for great value. Will be back for another special occasion down the shore!

Food: 7.5 Ambiance: 7.9 Service: 8.8 Bang for buck: 6.8 For food, not everything was a hit. The baked pizzas were unique and well made. Pastas had great flavoring. The hummus, sadly, was a miss for all of us- dry and lacking flavor. The service was the shining star, waiters were attentive and patient. I would return for the service.

We were in Margate for the weekend and my brother in law had made an online reservation at another restaurant down the street. There was some glitch in the system and they never received his reservation. Luckily we were able to be seated promptly at Sofia. Sofia is a large restaurant with outdoor patio dining, limited inside dining and also and upstairs outdoor deck. We were seated on the upstairs deck. Sofia is a beautiful restaurant. The menu is fairly big and has a good selection of Mediterranean and seafood dishes. I ordered the lamb lollypops and chicken soulvaki. The lamb was excellent and well seasoned. The chicken was also good but a tad on the dry side. Service was fantastic all evening. Tables were spread apart and everyone had masks and gloves. We had a very pleasant evening at Sofia.

Went there last night with a big group of 13 of us. I have a ton of food allergies and our waitress, Maria was very cautious and reassured me that what I ordered was safe to eat. She even wrote down all the things I couldn't eat and ended up remembering many of them and there are a lot (7 foods). She was kind and made me feel comfortable with ordering, while many other places do not make me feel that way. The food was delicious. Overall a great experience and much of it had to do with the great service!

sadly, we went there for my sons 20th birthday party and we waited three hours to get our food. Our waitress never came over to check in to see how we were doing. We were never offered any complementary drinks for waiting so long. When the check came at the end, we had to fight for a 15% discount for waiting so long and losing another reservation somewhere else for an after party with friends. Terrible service and the food was only ok at best. in talking to a few of our friends from Margate, they had a very similar experience. We will not be making any reservations for Sophia's again. Food was not worth the price or the wait.

Great food, great service. Absolutely large family run which adds to the atmosphere. Prefer to sit in bar area. Cleaning solution odor emanated from bathroom area towards end of night where we were sitting. Otherwise would have given it a 5/5

Great place Great service Awesome ambiance Four is outstanding Went with a big group and literally had a waiter just for our group. Eat it!

Great place to sit and eat at the bar with a view of the bay. Four dip trio was delicious. Fire shrimp was perfectly cooked in a lemon white wine sauce.

Had a terrible experience at Sofia last night. Took a long time for the waitress to come over. Finally ordered drinks and the appetizers arrived way before they did. The octopus was very un appealing. Had an 8:15 reservation and by 9:40 still hadn't ordered dinner. The waitress wanted us to wait for some reason. They also changed the menu for the worse and were out of some key entrees like the crab cakes. We left and paid the bill before ordering dinner and got frozen yogurt instead! Won't be going back here for quite a while if ever!

Great happy hour! The food was good but the service was above and beyond! Our waitress Irene was amazing! She was funny and pleasant and truly accommodating! I will come back just to see her!

Best place for either happy hour or dinner I've never been disappointed here and I literally can't say that about any other restaurant in the area and yes I've been in Margate for years.. The staff is amazing and always will accommodate you.. Don't know the secret but they make the best cosmos

Amazing lollipop lamb chops, grilled shrimp and spanakopita! Ate at the bar. John and Damon are the best bartenders! I love this restaurant!

Sofia used to be our go to for a good drink and great meal. Food has gone down hill considerably.

We had our wedding celebration there last night. The service was excellent and food delicious. Angela couldn't have made it easier to organize our party. We love this place!!

I'm actually surprised that this place has a lot rating. It's consistently great Mediterranean food and great drinks (try the Espresso or Key Lime). Whole grilled Branzino 10/10. Wish I could eat here every week. **TRY THE FLAMING CHEESE! It's their cheese soaked in ouzo (licorice alcohol) and they bring it to you and light it on fire. Served with pita. So good!

Happy hr is excellent ...beautiful bar setting ...wide choice of cocktails & food items for happy hr....

Service was A+ tonight. I ordered the grouper special, which was accompanied by polenta, and purple cabbage. It was stellar in its presentation, and the combination, sprinkled with pomegranate, was absolutely delicious. We treated our guests for their 50th wedding anniversary, and it really hit the mark!

I went with my family to Sofia's last night. Wow, each and everything we ordered was extraordinary!! Definitely on our weekly rotation! They have really stepped up their game!

The best part about Sofia is the beautiful ambiance and environment. The outdoor area is filled with beautiful flowers and plants, blocking you from the street. You feel like you're in a little oasis. The service at Stella is also fantastic. Everyone is friendly and helpful from the hostesses to waiters to bus boys. Giving 4 stars as a rating relative to the other restaurant options between Ventnor and Longport. The food here is good but nothing that will blow your mind or draw you back. For appetizers I had a ceaser salad (standard), octopus (tiny and rubbery), and 3 dip trio (dips were average and pita was cold). Honestly the free bread and pesto oil was better than all of the apps ordered. For an entree I had the seafood plaki which was delicious - large portion. Overall, I would go back here for the ambiance and drinks but wouldn't rave about the food.

A great spot for a private party - thank you Sofia's! Although, I do wish they allowed for a few more choices.

Extremely slow. Almost not worth it to go. And they did not compensate us appropriately.

Excellent food, really good and pleasant servers. You can't go wrong there. The only reason I don't give them 5 stars is the dress code. You get young girls going there with shorts (missing a lot of fabric) and tops so short they might as well be wearing a bikini. Guys with tank tops. I know it's a shore town, but a nice place like that should have a basic minimum dress code.