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Athens Pizza and Pasta
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
4 reviews for Athens Pizza and Pasta
I have been here several times over the last few years and definitely plan on making more trips in the future.
I don't think I have ever left here without a to-go box. Weather it's pizza, traditional (huge) Greek dinners, or grinders that are at least a foot long you have more than your average selection to choose from.
They have all of the Italian American favs along the lines of pasta with tomato and meat sauce with melty cheese. For an actual Greek style be prepared to load upon the carbs. I can pretend to pronounce let alone spell the yummy sounding options they offer but I have tried the lemon chicken and suggest you do the same. Their lunches feature a list of grinders that will have you skipping the large chains for a return visit. If your not into left overs at lunch bring a friend, split a sammie and order an appetizer salad or spanakopita (Flaky phyllo layers with a spinach and feta filled center).
This place is totally casual and very family friendly but could also be a great date spot with the Des Moines theatre across the street and the Butler Bar like two doors down.
We tried it for the first time last night. We are vegan so pizza for us is crust, veggies and a hot oven. Their crust rocks and the veggies were great quality. The place isn't anything to jump about physically but the staff was really nice and the food was great.
I'm going to be upfront about this: I've only been once or twice in the last two years (due to living in a different state) so this review will be for the times I experienced in past years.
I remember when this place opened, it was operated by a super-nice (and actually greek!) couple. Seemed everyone knew eachother and the employees warmed up to the locals quickly. The menu is your basic Greek/Italian fare. Gyros, baklava, pizza, lasagna, grinder sandwiches. Seemed whenever you stopped in they were either SLAMMED with everyone in town plus the local little league, or they were dead and you were the only one in there. Either way the food was killer.
I'm not sure what happened, but the owners sold a few years after opening..... and although the menu is the same... the place just isn't. New owners installed a tv (which didnt really fit the vibe) and started playing these really weird DirectTV music channels. Like something that didn't fit at ALL. Like old country music. Dolly parton style. In a greek place. I was confused.The new owners also began all these gimmics... I don't know if they were just trying to make more money or what, but since they added random crap to the menu (smoothies, wings, etc..) it just isn't as genuine as it used to be.
Grinders are amazing. Grinder special is 6 inches with a salad for under $10. The veggie grinder is a vegetarians sandwich dream come true, its mostly what I order there and I AM a meat-eater! Gyros are good, pizza is good (more toppings than crust!), and the man loves their lasagna. I personally don't care for their red sauce as it has cinnamon in it.
To sum it up... the food is good, but the ambiance will never be the same and this saddens me.
EDIT: a close friend says the service has really gone downhill and her orders are often wrong. I took away a star based on her input.
Grinders are amazing here and you get a lot of food for the price. I think its normally about $10 with tip for a large one that will fill just about anyone up.
