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Athineon
Category: Restaurants Greek Greek [Edit]
1941 University Ave(between Martin Luther King Jr Way & Bonita Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94704
Neighborhood: Downtown Berkeley
(510) 705-8500
- Hours:
Mon 11:30 am - 3 pm
Tue-Thu 11:30 am - 9 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
Sat 12 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
109 reviews for Athineon
Review Highlights
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"or to get that amazing gyro again." In 41 reviews -
"This is a small family run business." In 4 reviews -
"The pita bread was amazing." In 7 reviews
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109 reviews in English
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Review from Joe D.
Berkeley, CA
1/19/2012
Every chance I have to grab a casual lunch in Downtown Berkeley I stop here. My go to dish is the gyro platter with hot peppers. It is exactly as it should be: tasty lamb, tender pita, tangy tzatziki, and a fresh Greek salad.
The family that owns the restaurant is friendly and efficient. Can't wait for my next visit. -
Review from Judy L.
Dublin, CA
4/17/2012
L.O.L. try the Spartan without a napkin.
I love their Gyro and Souvlaki, so why not combine the two? :)
Deliciously huge. I'm salivating.... -
Review from Elisabeth H.
Berkeley, CA
4/6/2012
I've often wondered why we have a plethora of Mediterranean food in Berkeley, but a dearth of actual Greek restaurants. (Ironically, "plethora" is a word from the Greek, while "dearth" is not. Heh. I crack my self up.) But, anyhow, I don't have to worry my little, boring head about it anymore because we have Greek and it's good!
Formally Fish Castle and before that Wings and Strings (whatEVER that was supposed to be about -- the name alone kept me away), this location seems to have finally found its purpose in life: souvlaki and fresh, hot pita. Tender, flavorful chicken cubes that are perfectly cooked, scooped up onto a toasty, soft, fresh pita triangle with a perfect, thick tzatziki to bind it all together.
Yes. I just have to say yes.
I appreciate that they are not afraid of the anchovy. The melitzanosalata (that is Greek for "yummy, squishy eggplant goo that you eat with too many pita triangles") is highlighted with anchovy flavor and their xoriatiki salad celebrates the salty little swimmers as well.
The service was decent and the staff earnest and sweet.
I hope this one doesn't get the usual "CLOSED" label that so many of my favorites end up with. -
Review from Carolyn Y.
Berkeley, CA
3/14/2012
Loved the food here! Better than most Greek places in the Berkeley area.
I went around six and the place was pretty empty. The one table other than us was enjoying their saganaki (flaming cheese) with pita which was super tempting. We ended up getting Athineon fries (fries with feta cheese and oregano) and the Athineon plate (gyro + souvlaki) to share for two.
Our server was kind and first served us water in a tall blue bottle (I love having a limitless supply of water). We then got our fries which made us so full. They were so yummy! I never thought fries would taste so good with crumbly feta but it was the perfect combination.
The salad that came with the Athineon plate came separately and was decently portioned. There was too much dressing though, as most Greek salads do, so I didn't particularly enjoy it. I liked the plate, more so the souvlaki then the gyros. The plate had so much food; I would definitely recommend sharing. -
Review from Sam M.
San Francisco, CA
5/5/2012
While wandering around the Berkeley area looking for dinner, my boyfriend I stumbled upon this place. I must say the food was divine! I had the Athineon plate and he had the Spartan sandwich, and we both could easily say this was the best Greek food we have ever had (my boyfriend is from Chicago, so he knows his Greek food fairly well)
Even further, our waitress was extremely polite and we even got a free small dessert because my boyfriend's coke spilled onto his plate (which ruined the fries). It wasn't necessary at all and was such a wonderful surprise!
I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for amazing Greek food for a good price. Once we've moved into the city, were definitely taking the trip out here anytime we want some Greek! -
Review from Vika H.
Oakland, CA
4/17/2012
Yummy gyros. Athineon will be my go to for gyros. I think it was about $7-8 for one, I can't remember. Tried 5 different places and this is one of the top.
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Review from Josh S.
San Francisco, CA
5/12/2012
This place has homemade flavor. It's not flashy, but instead tastes like food cooked with love for family. Highly recommended if you're looking for some greek comfort food.
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Review from Barb L.
San Rafael, CA
4/22/2012
I'm not a great connoisseur of Greek food specifically. But...in general this place excellent. The food is fresh and really tasty. Nice clean, unassuming family-run place.
Check out the Spartan, it rocks. -
Review from Kem A.
Oakland, CA
4/17/2012
The best Greek food in the entire bay area. Really great food, kid friendly, excellent service and not expensive too. My wife and I loved their food. We will go there again and again. This place become one of our favorite restaurant. The only thing I wished they served Ouzo too.
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Review from Jay M.
Berkeley, CA
4/17/2012
Best gyro sandwich in Berkeley. No contest. I look forward to trying other Greek specialties in future visits if I can keep myself from ordering another gyro!
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Review from Foodie S.
Oakland, CA
4/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm not certain...but it appeared as though this was a mom, dad, and daughter run business...the whole family behind the counter. Juicy Gyro meat was sliced off the roasting slab made to order. I ordered a regular Gyro, and don't think I could have eaten the Spartan...the regular was a lot of food.
I ordered some feta hummus sorta dip....definitely was not a fan of that appetizer. Fries were cooked perfectly, though not as amazing as the Greek fries at Troy in Alameda. Gyro was better than Troy though. -
Review from Ryan Y.
Bay Area
4/2/2012
What a great Gyro. *Chomp* *Gulp* My prayers have been answered. Thank you Anthineon, where have you been all my life!?
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Review from Romany I.
Oakland, CA
4/26/2012
I love Greek food and was happy to find this restaurant. However, We ordered 2 Xoriatiki salads because we adore anchovies. Our salads came and we kept eating the salad hoping the anchovies would appear hidden under the tomatoes. When I questioned the waitress, she told me they had new kitchen staff that had forgotten to put the anchovies in the salad. I was not offered the anchovies, an adjustment or any compensation. She told me next time I came in I could get the anchovies. This experience did not make me want to rush back to spend more money for something that I already paid for and didn't get.
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Review from Mercy D.
The Zeus platter "appetizer": gyro meat, meatballs, pork, sausages, tzatziki and pita bread. They were out of pork the night we came so they gave us more sausages. $20 during dinner time.
So. In my opinion, if you are struggling college students.... order the Zeus platter + order 2 sides of rice and/or extra pita bread = perfect dinner for 2 = cheap date! And you'd still be perfectly full at the end of your meal. Because this "appetizer" is a huge plate it could totally be an entree itself! If there's 4 of you then this is a great app to share!
My friend and I had also ordered the Slovakia and the gyro plate in addition to the Zeus and we barely did damage to these items. The chicken in my Slovakia was cooked to perfection - seasoned well and moist! Loved it.
Service was also still awesome.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/2/2011
One of my favorite places now. Why?
1) Within walking distance from downtown BART. Awesome if you… Read more »
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Review from Reney O.
11/15/2011
It's been almost one whole week and I'm still daydreaming of the foodgasm Athineon gave me.....**le sigh** This place is definitely on my must-have list when visiting Berkeley.
Because it was located so close to campus, I assumed that the caliber of food would match the average cheap college student budget. Eau contraire, my $5 spanokopita was worth so much more! Fresh out of the oven- the light crunch of philo combined with cheesy spinach mix....lordie lordie best $5 ever spent. To think that was just my appetizer! hehehehe
I debated on going the traditional lamb gyro route, but I decided that this definitely felt like the place to try something new. Their moussaka---whew!! My definition of Greek goodness. Rice, meat, sauce, potatoes, cheese, eeeeeeeverything was cooked perfectly and tasted fantastic.
My friend left the Athineon completely content with our experience. I'd say that the ambience here is perfect for a date- cozy, quaint, and quiet. Oh!! And our waitress was the sweetest thing! Not only is she super considerate and kindly, she's one smart cookie. If you've never had Greek before (like the other patrons sitting next to us) she can school you right on every single dish. Lovable service and better yet, cooks that truly care what you think of their food. I didn't miss the pairs of eyes coming from the kitchen watching our reactions to the food. This is a GREAT family owned business.
Must...go....back....... -
Review from Robert N.
Berkeley, CA
11/9/2011
The gyro sandwich is perfection. Period. Only $5 on Monday.
This is a quaint family run business on University in Berkeley, near the new Trader Joe's. The owners are very friendly, and Greek can be heard frequently in the place. They also play Greek music.
The place is very clean. Fresh, tasty ingredients. They also have Ouzo soda and Ouzo ice cream. I'm going to try to Moussaka next. -
Review from Luiza D.
Berkeley, CA
4/25/2012
This place is amazing!!! Everything tastes awesome, it is not expensive at all and the service is also very good. They give free fries or free drinks if you are a student.
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Review from Mousputin S.
Berkeley, CA
3/14/2012
I first came here a couple of years ago for lunch with an old coworker and have been plotting my return ever since. Finally got the chance to swing by today, and the food was just as good as I remembered! The Spartan sandwich (get it with hot peppers!) is literally bursting with flavor. It's advertised as the biggest sandwich in Berkeley, which I can neither confirm nor deny, but it's plenty big for this small person. I can't imagine eating the entire thing in one sitting, but I know of others who can do so easily ( + fries + baklava...) Not very busy at ~6 PM in the middle of the week, only 2 or 3 groups dining in. I feel like Athineon is located in one of those dead spots on University that doesn't get much traffic, so please go! Food is delicious!
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Review from Anthony C.
Richmond, CA
2/14/2012
I had the Spartan with jalapenos and extra tzatziki sauce. One bite of this heavenly creation and the worlds problems simply disappear. Athineon is conveniently located just a short walk from the downtown Berkeley BART station. The interior is well kept and peaceful. I will be back time and time again to support this "mom and pop" Greek goldmine.
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Review from Mike M.
San Francisco, CA
3/15/2012
Holy mackerel! This is good food! Admittedly, I'm not an authority on Greek food, so I can't speak to all issues of authenticity, but just for pure yumminess, this place rocks. The prices are quite reasonable, and the portions are quite generous. Mouth-watering hummus. Delicious chicken kebobs. The serving staff is very friendly and helpful. I never would have known about this little hole-in-the-wall place if friends hadn't brought me there, but now it's one of my favorites in downtown Berkeley.
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Review from Corinne C.
Walnut Creek, CA
9/21/2011 5 Check-ins Here
The gyros here are fanTAStic. Moist, flavorful, perfectly-textured slices of meat. The gyro sandwiches here are huge. My to-go order of choice is the greek salad with gyro meat. It's a huge box of dressed greens, topped with hot gyro slices and warmed pita, with a side container of tzatziki.
YAY:
* I like that after they slice off the gyro meat, they heat it up a bit more in a skillet. It slightly crisps the edges and ensures the meat is piping hot. The slices are juicy and thick in the middle, tapering out to the thinner, near-crisp edges. Mmmm.
* The pita is terrific! I could eat it all day until I'm lost in a carb-coma.
* Request spicy peppers!
* Pastitsio: tastes like comfort food. Heavy, carby, soul-warming comfort food. Don't expect to get any work done after eating this for lunch -- you'll be snoozing soundly in a food coma.
* Most people here are super nice, in particular a young woman who is often working at the register (perhaps the daughter?). She's super friendly and attentive.
Needs Improvement:
* Everything is on the pricey side. If you're trying to be frugal, be a Cal student for the free fries or drink, or get the $5 Monday sandwich special.
* Not a large amount of variety, but that's okay. They only do a few dishes, but they do them well. Better than some restaurants that offer a ton of mediocre dishes. -
Review from megan h.
Pleasanton, CA
4/18/2012
This is literally the best restaurant in ALL of berkeley! I think it's family owned, and they treat you like family. I go there regularly and am always treated to extra large portions, or free samples of new dips. They go completely out of their way to make sure you like the food, and they seem genuinely happy to be running a great restaurant. I recommend this restaurant to everyone :) Mykonos platter and the mythos plate are amazing
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Review from Gabriel C.
Pleasanton, CA
This place is a hidden gem. In the restaurant business location is everything and this Greek haven is definitely located in a prime area.
I've frequent this place every chance I get. I am a huge fan of the Spartan. It's the Athineons' version of a gyro and it packs your stomach while not emptying your pocketbook. It's a heaping helping of lamb and chicken rolled into a warmed pita. On top of that they add tzaziki, red onions, tomatoes, and for those that love heat they'll add jalapeños!
For beverages they have sodas in cans and the soda fountain. The real treat is Oüzo and Mythos beer!!!! For the kids they also have non alcoholic Oüzo, but in a carbonated soda form.
I have tried other Greek plates such as the Slouvaki and the Athineon plate.
Just live a little.....try it ya'll!!!! -
Review from Gelene V.
8/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you come here, you MUST get the Spartan with jalapeno peppers! It's the best thing on the menu!!!
It's definitely not a meal for the light and dainty, since it's a bit on the heavy side (thick pita wrapped around fries, meat & veggies).
I usually get my meals to go because I work down the block, but give yourself a good 10 minutes before heading to the restaurant because it takes a little while for them to prepare your food. -
Review from Kevin C.
Berkeley, CA
4/19/2012
the owners are so sweet. they are a true neighborhood treasure!
the food is made with care. the portions are very generous.
i love their gyro sandwiches - which they'll dress up for you with grilled onion, sweet peppers, jalapenos, Greek herbs, if you like. the really take the time to properly brown the meat before they serve it - and it makes a world of difference.
we frequently order the Greek salad with gyro added - i ask for my dressing on the side. as others have noted sometimes it's a tad overdressed.
as a dad i deeply appreciate how fantastic they are with my son!
oh and get the fries with feta! -
Review from Lee C.
Pasadena, CA
9/28/2011
Overall, a good place to sit quietly and enjoy a tasty meal made with soul and integrity.
A total "Mom and Pop" place, Athineon serves up decent portions of great greek comfort food, and offers a nice array of beverages. The space is like a tall log cabin, and the service is quick and as friendly as you will find. They will even hook you up if you work in the neighborhood.
I love eating at places like this, and you should too. -
Review from Carrie A.
Berkeley, CA
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
The gyro's here are soooooo good. Plus, the owner is super nice, and she can actually really cook up some good food as well as run the place! There are other cook's as well, but I am just sayin'...
+ for Cal students - free fries or drink with purchase - woo hoo!
+ for cheaper date night - at night I think it's a little romantical of a setting here. -
Review from Caroline O.
Alameda, CA
1/14/2012
We were craving gyros so we decided to give this place a try. I'm really glad we did. The gyro was fabulous, just enough meat to fill the pita nicely. It was huge so I brought half of it home. Hubbie had the gyro plate w/ salad. The gave a nice amount of meat and the grilled onions and peppers were a great touch. The greek salad that came with his meal was also excellent. I loved that this place is a small family run establishment. I hope that people come here because we had a late lunch and were their only customers. Try this place, you won't be disappointed.
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Review from Andrew C.
Stumbled on Athineon while running an errand near UCB. Even better, Monday's currently have a $5 Gyro or Chicken Souvlaki Sandwich deal. Not sure if students can get the free fries or drink with sandwich deal on top of this.
Went with the Chicken Souvlaki Sandwich plus Fries ($2). Nice size sandwich almost filling the plastic tray (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and another tray of fries (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
The pita was warmed up and on the thicker side, unlike some of the thin, hard pitas you get at other places. The chicken chunks were tender and moist, but could have used more seasoning. The other components (tomato, lettuce, grilled onions & peppers, & tzatziki) were fresh and went together nicely.
The fries were your standard fare. Cooked well and fried to order. Looked and tasted like previously frozen. I didn't see the Athineon Fries that are on the online menu (Feta cheese & oregano) which I was hoping to order.
Seems like a family run place or coincidentally 3 really friendly people the right ages to be husband, wife, and daughter who all speak Greek.
Souvlaki Sandwich: 4 stars
Fries: 3 stars
Overall: 4 stars including the friendly service -
Review from Vinh N.
San Leandro, CA
10/6/2011
I don't eat Greek food too often because I'm not a fan of lamb, but I am definitely a fan of Athineon's Souvlaki. It's chicken, caramelized onions (YUMMM), fresh tomatoes, grilled peppers with a generous dallop of tzatziki sauce all wrapped up in a warm and pillowy pita.
The chicken was well marinated, the onions were my favorite, and it held together very well until the end -- I had to ask for a fork and just pick at it since I made such a mess. The tzatziki sauce just sealed it for me and I was a fan. For $6.50, it's a little bit spendier. The french fries were yummy too with just enough crunch and soft on the inside. They were abnormally long though which I thought was a hoot.
Customer service was spectacular as everyone behind the counter was as sweet as can be. They were nice and helpful. They were more than generous when we needed more napkins for the mess we made and didn't even shoot us evil glares when we asked for cups of water.
They also have nice deals for Cal students for drinks and french fries. Too bad this Bruin girl had to step back and miss out :( -
Review from Diana V.
5/29/2011 2 photos
FRIGGIN' DELICIOUS! The Spartan is so insanely tasty. There was so much flavor packed into this huge sandwich, that I was not prepared.
The Spartan is a Gyro + Souvlaki combined in a double sized pita. That means all the goodness of spiced meat mixed with marinated and grilled chicken, grilled sweet peppers, caramelized onions, tomatoes, and tzatziki sauce.
AMAZING.
This thing was so big that I could not finish it in one sitting. I had to have part of it for lunch, and then the other part for dinner. That's $10 total for two meals for those budget conscious folks.
And the fries -- YUM!
I can't wait to go back, and bring my friends.Listed in: I'm a Cheap Bastard! How About…
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Review from Henry T.
Here's a little refreshing Yelp review in light of my more critical ones of late (this one's for you, Jenny):
Athineon is a great place to have lunch. I ordered the Spartan sandwich, which is basically a overgrown gyro sandwich. That might be the biggest gyro I've eaten yet. It has its typical gyro meat and red bell peppers, grilled onions, and jalapenos (only upon request) topped with tzatziki (I think? maybe sour cream? I wasn't sure...) surrounded in an overgrown pita bread. To add on to your humongous sandwich, you get free fries OR a free drink with a student ID. The Spartan sandwich tasted wonderful. A perfect blend of spices, meat, onions and a touch of spiciness from the jalapenos resulted in an excellent combination. The fries were well done. Not much to say about that...they're fries. Crisp and well cooked. Bravo!
But, damn. That's a lot of food. I don't know if it was because I had just woke up about an hour before I had that lunch, or if it was just that large, but I was STUFFED! The service here is really friendly and they're attentive to the guests and your requests. This is a great place to go if you are in the mood for dropping ~$10 for overgrown gyros (by Greek restaurant standards). I know I would again if I had the chance. -
Review from Rachel S.
8/27/2011
I was going to a show at Berkeley Rep with my boyfriend and his mom, and did a Yelp search for good food nearby. I got so excited about a 4-star Greek place so I directed us here...and ended up feeling kind of bad about it, since none of us seemed to be into our meals.
I don't know if we were all dealing with some sort of stomach virus, but we all barely touched our food. I picked at my boyfriend's gyro plate and thought that the meat was tasty, but that was about it. The salads were really heavy on the onions and the shredded lettuce (combined with it being over-dressed) didn't help. I also ordered a side of rice which seemed a little on the crunchy side for me.
Also, having gone to a lot of Greek restaurants in other cities, I was wishing for a lot more variety. I was really craving Agvelomono soup and was disappointed not to see it on the menu.
Our server was really sweet and I think she noticed that we weren't really digging our food, and I do feel bad for that but ultimately, I think I'll try another place next time I'm in Berkeley for a show. -
Review from Tiffany Z.
Berkeley, CA
9/3/2011
3 stars. So far, I would lightly recommend this restaurant for OK but not "spectacular, go out of your way to come here" Greek food in a very casual but clean setting with friendly service. I'll update my rating once I try some of the main dishes!
The Mykonos platter ($12) was composed of a spicy feta dip, yogurt & herbs (tzatziki), hummus, and an eggplant dip served with warm, flavorful, and amazingly soft pita bread. The spicy feta dip was a huge hit -- very flavorful and addictive and the cool yogurt dip also went very well with the pita. I thought the Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) were overpriced at $8 for 5 pieces (it came with more of the tzatziki dip and pita bread, but these weren't really necessary) -- they were also a bit overly mushy. Finally, the Spanakopita (spinach and feta in phyllo dough) was very reasonably priced at $5 for a large piece -- the phyllo to fillings ratio was a bit too high, making the dish a bit too dry. I wouldn't say that any of these were "must-try" items though -- from the looks of other reviews, maybe I should have ordered the Spartan sandwich?
The restaurant itself is very casual but fairly clean for the most part (the glass plates were a little dirty so I'd recommend wiping them down before putting food on the them). It was really nice to have (free) ice cold water served to us in a big blue bottle so we could help ourselves as needed. And, our waitress was very friendly and attentive. -
Review from harsha g.
5/29/2011
This is a regular lunch haunt for me and my classmates mainly because the portions are humongous, the staff are friendly and who can say no to free fries/a drink!
They are also very flexible about the lunch hours, there was a time when we ordered the lunch menu around 3 and were the only customers.
I love the greek salad, the veggie wrap and the Xoriatiki. My friends love everything on the menu. There are times when I am tempted to switch my vegetarian habits when my friends describe a gyro/ sandwich laden with fresh meat.
All in all, a wonderful restaurant you shouldn't miss! -
Review from Kenji M.
Berkeley, CA
1/27/2012
This review is going to be mostly constructive criticism even though I'm giving it 4 out of 5, because the reviews are pretty good but there are some problems.
Positives: I had the gyro. Nice, cheap, simple food. It wasn't trying too hard to be something it's not, and the raw onions contrasted very nicely. The textures of the gyro were wonderful, and the fries were cooked properly.
Negatives: Look, I get that Greek and Mediterranean food are simple and let the ingredients stand up for themselves, but your ingredients just aren't good enough. The tomato just lacked any fight whatsoever. The lamb just lacked flavor or sophistication, and was crying for some thyme, rosemary, or pepper. Not a lot, just a little bit to really bring out that meaty goodness. And the fries needed something more than salt. Maybe a little bit (again, not a lot) of cayenne pepper. Anyway, some seasoning: not to make the dish taste like that seasoning, but just to bring the flavors out a little bit more. You're just not serving high enough quality ingredients to make super-simple work, so you need to do a little more (again, not a lot, just some herbs and light spices) to bring those flavors out.
Also, don't even offer grilled onions. I didn't have it, but if you do, you're offering something closer to a pastrami sandwich than a gyro. Sometimes the customer isn't right: I like grilled onions better but it just frankly doesn't work. Make them ask for grilled onions. -
Review from Christina C.
Berkeley, CA
4/3/2011
At the end of this meal, I learned three very important things, only one of which is pertinent now. First, this place serves amazing food that justifies all cravings. Second, butter for butt-sex is sometimes marketed to resemble the dairy product. Finally, dildos and other sex toys are a great passive aggressive way to fight back against intrusive roommates when said items are casually left in the kitchen, fridge, or other communal spaces.
We ordered the dip platter, kalamari (spelled with a "k"! how kute!) and the slovaki sandwich, gyro sandwich, and spartan sandwich. There was ambiance on the table. And the water was served in blue teardrop shaped bottles. A couple across the way had ordered the dinner for two and there was a lovely pile of stuff on their table. Delicious tasty-looking piles of stuff threatening to overflow the table. The pita was the thick fluffy kind, not the dry thin kind with the hole. I am not a fan of the pocket pita. I really like the thick fluffy pita.
The kalamari was well fried. Not thickly battered and not overly dry. It was only lightly dusted with some kind of starchy powder. The rings of kalamari were substantial and not chewy. Firm yet yielding. I have heard that the most elusive part of fake boobies is to get the oscillating wave function correct (i.e. grab, nudge or tap the boob, the genuine article will exhibit a ripple of a perfect oscillating wave function). If there were also tentacles, I would have been happier. I like wiggly bits.
My gyro sandwich was the biggest effing thing in the world. It was the size of my calf. The amount of meat wrapped up in a fluffy pita was enough to feed me for 3 meals. The mountain of fries was also deliciously seasoned. There was a sprinkling of red colored powder with small sesame-looking seeds. The meat was dripping-juicy delicious. Everything melted into one another like a really bad face-lift performed in the back alley of a third world country substituting wax for silicone and red vines for stitches. The meat was not dry, leathery, or salty. Imagine that.
The waitress was attentive, kind and easy to talk to. I wished she was my therapist. I think I'll start taking therapy here instead of at a doctor. Save me money and time. Do you know how many meals my co-pay can buy? A lot. Stupid insurance.
The kitchen was well lit, there was greek rap playing on the television, and signs of Greek pride adorned the walls. Funny thing about Greek rap: the rappers are all white, the music video featured systematic and rhythmic slapping of antagonists on bended knee, and there was no mention of guns! Greek rappers will take the time to get into the face of the person that pissed them off, engage in close quarters hand to hand combat and slap, punch, or otherwise manhandle anyone that disrespected them. That is so much more gangster than a gun. Guns are for cowards. A real man slaps. -
Review from Rani R.
Berkeley, CA
1/21/2012
So insanely yummy! The gyro and spartan sandwiches come with fries and both are to die for. Though after consuming the spartan, your respiratory system starts failing a bit. The souvlaki is delicious, and so is the mousaka (even though I normally dislike eggplant, the mousaka is unbelievably tasty). I'm having difficulties trying other menu items, since I enjoy these and order them so much. Try the imported beverages and let them cook the food with all the ingredients they want. These are Real Greeks, people, they know their food! :D
PS: The waitstaff (and the chef) are extremely friendly and attentive as well. The waitress gave me free fries for being a Cal student, even though I was there at dinner time and the discount was only for lunch! Such a sweetheart.
PPS: I saw a man getting the saganaki, which looks like a pan containing some cheese which the chef bursts into flames right in front of you. WHOA! I'm so getting that next time; it looked, sounded and smelled delicious!
"Ah'll Be Bahck." -
Review from Bill H.
5/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've had gyros from Athineon one or twice, and I was decently satisfied. My girlfriend and I dropped in for a sit-down meal a few weeks ago, and I was sorely disappointed.
We ordered a calamari appetizer, which took about 20 minutes to deliver. When received, the calamari was extremely fishy. Not good. We couldn't finish even a quarter of it. In retrospect, I wish we would have told the waitress that we thought the fish was bad, but I didn't want to confront her.
I ordered the lamb special, which was decent enough -- lamb cuts on a bed of rice with steamed celery. A nice, homestyle meal, but at the price ($17) was not a good value at all.
Oh well. I'd be willing to try again for sandwiches. -
Review from Jeremy G.
6/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
My review is based solely on Athineon's pastisio. I have had been fortunate enough to have traveled to Greece. When I was there I had pastisio about five times. At restaurants. From markets. So I feel pretty confident when I say I know what good pastisio tastes like.
Athineon's version is awful. Did I appreciate that a Greek salad came before my meal? Yes (and it was quite tasty). Did I like the warm and soft pitas that bordered my plate? Yes. My joy ends there.
The meat was dry and tasteless. Nowhere was the sweetness of the nutmeg. The noodles were equally bland and there was no sauce running through the body of the slice. The bechamel sauce was also tasteless and lacked the fluffy and creamy quality it was supposed to have. Then on top was a thick layer of tomato sauce. Which tasted like it came from a can. This was really bad.
Once again, I will reiterate that I write solely about one dish. Athineon has other options and they have pretty decent service, but I don't I can ever convince myself to go back because if you can't make pastisio, why should I trust your other authentic Greek dishes?
