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Evvia Estiatorio
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Thu 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
917 reviews for Evvia Estiatorio
Review Highlights
-
"I drool thinking about those lamb chops." In 233 reviews -
"...a phyllo wrapped semolina custard with pistachio ice cream." In 26 reviews -
"Also had the Octapodaki tou Yiorgou - excellent." In 19 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
917 reviews in English
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Review from kevin w.
San Jose, CA
5/15/2012
Evvia's is EXCELLENT Greek food. I have now been there twice and both experiences have been superb from the service to the food.
We most recently went there on Mother's Day and it was outstanding. Every person that we had contact with was very nice and offered great service from the hostess, the waiter, and the manager.
the food is outstanding. I haven't have anything I haven't liked yet but a couple items that are must haves for an entree & dessert...
Arnisia Paidakia - rib-cut, mesquite-grilled lamb chops with olive oil lemon roasted potatoes
Galaktoboureko - traditional phyllo wrapped vanilla bean semolina custard with pistachio ice cream
I highly recommend this restaurant! -
Review from Randy F.
5/23/2012 9 photos
One of the Peninsula's most loved restaurants and for good reason. I've been to Dio Deka and had been to Evvia years ago, but it was nice to revisit. Haven't had a chance to go to Kokkari though.
Service is top notch and the atmosphere is nice, but comfortable. The entrees are all well explained and everything we had was hearty and satisfying. I was planning on having the lamb chops, but a friendly diner at the next table who had just returned from Greece recommended the moussaka.
Never would have ordered it as it sounded very plain, but it reminds me of advice I once heard about menus: order the most homely sounding dish because if it's on the menu, there is a very good reason.
It worked out this time as well. The Moussaka was creamy, delicious and had wonderful ground lamb meat mixed with creamy potatoes. It was quite similar to a shepherd's pie, but much better.
We also enjoyed the dessert. Baklava crumbled and mixed with their ice cream. No doubt they use their day old baklava if I were to guess, but it's still heavenly and was the perfect ending for a great meal. Entrees are pricey here, but the food portions are generous and well prepared. Reservations are a must.
Evvia accepts all credit cards, including American Express. -
Review from Hagit K.
Palo Alto, CA
5/18/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I'm not saying Evvia is bad, because it isn't. But if you want my five stars you have to wow me at your price level and Evvia didn't.
Let's get pricing out of the way first. We're talking high-end prices for food that's basically Greek street food. A main of grilled chicken breast served with a variety of vegetables is priced close to $20. At that price, with those ingredients, it really has to amaze, and it doesn't. It's good, really well done, but not fabulous. Likewise for everything else that Evvia serves: simple ingredients, done well.
So it's a 3 star. For that kind of pricing, I expect amazing. That said, service was great and everything was tasty. Go if you don't care about the price. -
Review from Andrew K.
5/17/2012
After hearing rave reviews about this place for years, and watching friends take their sig. others out here for special occasions during my college years, I finally got to try out Evvia for myself for a work lunch. As a disclaimer, I'm not a big fan of Mediterranean food...
I really liked the ambiance, with the table settings, white tablecloth, and overall classy environment.
The pita with spreads were amazing. Soft, fluffy, delicious pita...mmmmm. I wasn't as big of a fan of the Dolmathes, but that's probably more due to personal preference rather than a knock on Evvia.
I got the beef souvlaki entree. The meat was flavorful but a bit dry and overcooked. I really liked the Cretan rice that came with the dish.
Service was pleasant, though a bit slow. We waited around for the drink refills and check to come. Overall, very good food (though still probably not my top choice of a restaurant because of my relative aversion to Mediterranean) but also quite pricey. I generally reserve paying this kind of price for a restaurant that is truly remarkable/special/Michelin rated -
Review from Julie T.
San Mateo, CA
5/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable
What's all the hype? It was just ok. A very weak 3-star at those prices.
I like the tall ceilings and the decor but it's in Palo Alto...it's expected to to have a little charm.
Service was just blah. Our server Brent didn't even tell us about the specials till we heard our neighboring table asking him explicitly.
We had grilled octopus, lamb riblets to start, the mousaka, and grilled fish for entrees. Everything was just ok, a bit on the bland side. The mousaka was especially disappointing. It was overloaded with cream and salt, yet lacked the rich flavoring from spices.
Was not impressed at all. -
Review from Kath M.
Tustin, CA
4/28/2012
The main problem with Evvia is to be able to book a table... once you do, things are pretty easy going...
We got our table as soon as we walked in at the time of our reservation. A super friendly greek waiter took care of us and recommended a nice greek wine made from one of those obscure grapes. It was very original and we all loved it.
We tried several appetizers with clear winners being the octopus and the lamb ribs... i had the grilled fish of the day which was simply but very nicely prepared.
The atmosphere of the place is heartwarming, exuberant and very noisy... not the best place if you are trying to close a delicate business deal or to have a sweet romantic dinner... but it is great to clean your head from a day of meetings, enjoying life, food and wine ... -
Review from princess c.
Sunnyvale, CA
5/9/2012
This review is not for food, but for the service.
i came here for dessert. made reservation at 9, didn't get seated till 9:25! as soon as we sat down, waitress delivered some bread. i said i'm here for dessert only. c'mon i'ts so late already. but she looked very surprised and seemed to blame me and said, "you don't make reservation if you want dessert only. You just go straight to the bar!" what's worst is she took away the bread immediately! such poor attitude and don't show respect to your customers! look at the big picture. what's so expensive about the bread! it's the bad impression you leave to your customers. i did the same thing at Alexander Steakhouse which is also a popular restaurant and they are happy to deliver me not only the bread, but chef sampler even though i said i'm here for dessert only. i ended up giving them big tips. I hope Evvia will learn a lesson and treat their customers with respect...
their famous custard dessert is good, but not THAT great. -
Review from Julie W.
Saratoga, CA
5/9/2012
We celebrated daughter's birthday here last night per recommendation of son, everyone had a wonderful time. Evvia is 4.5 stars in every measure, from the ambiance, service to the food, (oh the food).... if I had to find something to complain about, it's how 'unfriendly' the menu is designed on it's website. I usually research the menu before going to a higher end restaurant, not easy here..... hopefully they can make it better to 'perfect' the total customer experience.
Parking can be challenging, we opted to do the valet for $6, very friendly service and a great start. We were seated right next to the open grill, interestingly we did not feel the heat in a warm evening but enjoyed watching the grilling and bread slicing in action.
Our waiter was very personable, attentive and intelligent, the rest of wait staff were also excellent. For starters, we shared the prawns, mussels and two salads; the winners were the butter lettuce salad with freshly toasted almonds and the plump and tasty mussels. The prawns were a little overcooked for my liking. Our main courses were 2 lamb chops, an aged rib eye steak and a whole fish. Everything was grilled perfectly with excellent quality ingredient and generous portions. Our special bottle from home was decanted and the cocktail was nice and strong.
Yummy desserts! The strawberry tart and some kind of cream filled phyllo (can not pronounce after multiple tries) were both wonderful and not too sweet. One of the desserts was comped for the birthday girl, a nice touch.
We'll be back for sure and highly recommend it to other foodies. -
Review from Kevin N.
4/15/2012
Friends' reviews, Elites' reviews, non-friends' reviews, and enemies' reviews all had one thing in common: eat the lamb. In fact, I think I saw a vegetarian recommend the lamb. I would have to back through all 900 or so reviews to figure that out. If you do, let me know, but until then I will work under the assumption that even vegetarians are recommending the lab from Evvia. AND THEY SHOULD! The lamb is a dish you do not want to miss. You don't necessarily have to order the lamb, but someone at your table does, and you must take a bite.
The waiter was a bit arrogant, making the bold statement that Evvia served the best food in town. Well, he may also have been right! I don't eat everywhere in Palo Alto, but of those I have visited, this is the best.
When I order wine, especially when I do not know many specific bottles on the menu, I like to create a short list of things that sound interesting. I was all over the map this time, with French, a couple Italian, and even a Greek wine making the cut. Waiter recommended and I went with a 1er Cru to go with the lamb. Damn was that a good choice. Not only was the wine affordable and excellent, it made a great pairing with the food. What did you expect, tho, really? I'm sure you weren't reading this and thinking "oh, that will NEVER work". So, it wasn't groundbreaking. It was still a whole lot of awesome in my mouth.
The dessert was good, and almond ice cream is something special. A good, light dessert after that crazy meal. It makes a good way to finish off the meal. You probably want to have it with coffee, although they have a nice selection of dessertifs on the menu. I did not partake, for once. Cocktail hour before dinner plus the excellent wine was plenty. -
Review from Dee Z.
San Francisco, CA
4/28/2012
Wow. It is a high end Greek restaurant. Appetizers are wonderful and also wonderfully pricey cuz you don't get very many but the quality is amazing. Tzatziki - very, very yummy. I like that they make their own pita. Souvlaki or kebabs are heavily seasoned. I'm a big kebab person but I like to be able to taste what I'm eating, not just the after taste of a lot of seasoning. The lamb shank is very good - moist and off the bone good. If you're a fan of lamb shanks - believe me when I tell you that I've never had a bad lamb shank at any restaurant that has them on their menu. I wonder why that is????
For ambience - the place is packed and noisy. If it was quieter, it would be quite different. We felt fortunate to have a booth so it seemed to have a little more privacy. I would definitely go back - but if someone else is paying. -
Review from Julia L.
San Jose, CA
4/25/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I wanted to try Evvia for a long time, so when a friend of mine suggested we meet in Palo Alto for dinner, I knew exactly where I wanted to go.
This restaurant is beautiful, the service is attentive, and they have great selection of wine and beer and a full bar. I liked everything we ordered off the appetizer menu and our desserts were great (we shared). The hiccup came when the main dishes arrived. Outside of the lamb chops (which were cooked well, but for me lacked seasoning to make them outstanding), the other lamb (slow cooked, different cuts), the chicken and the halibut at our table, were done ok but not special enough to carry such hefty price tags. For something that came to about $175 per couple, our meal just wasn't that spectacular.
I will come back here again, but I think this time I will stick with the appetizer menu. -
Review from Tiffie L.
4/6/2012
3.5 Stars - I had to round down, however, due to my disappointment in the service. I threw my boyfriend a "Welcome to NorCal!" party here and we had a large party - 16 to be exact. So of course, there was a mandatory 20% gratuity. While the server was friendly, he was a bit pushy about ordering appetizers for the entire table. After he convinced us to order dip for the table (came out to $40 total) and also brought us two extra plates of pita bread without notifying us that it was $4.50/plate. We assumed it was complimentary.
Aside from that, I enjoyed the food -- many people ordered the Lamb Short Ribs based on the good reviews and it was indeed, really really good. They meat was very tender and did not taste gamey. For dessert, the Sokolatina is a must have. I opted for the Strawberry Fruit Tart, which was good, but not nearly as special as the Sokolatina!
The ambiance is also really nice. There is a cozy, but upscale feel. There is a partially open kitchen, which is also fun to have in a restaurant! Other than slightly disappointing service, I enjoyed my time here. -
Review from Amber M.
Providence, RI
4/19/2012
Nothing less than what you'd expect from a high-end Palo Alto restaurant. The ambiance is really well done -- rustic chic style with hanging garlic wreaths, a visible kitchen, natural wood floors and furniture and high ceilings. Our server was really friendly and knowledgeable about the food and wine. This is what we got -
Appetizers: Charred octopus, wild mushrooms and greek fried cheese, crispy fried smelts
Main Courses: dry-aged beef, lamb special with different types of cuts, grilled mediterranean bass, and grilled petrale sole.
Dessert: homemade greek yogurt with honey, dates, and walnuts and local strawberry tart a la mode.
A lot of food for 4 people! The food was pretty excellent. I think for the price though, it could've been even better. The Sole was a tad under seasoned and over cooked, so it had a slightly unpleasant chewy texture. The smelts were good, but maybe they weren't fried at a high enough temperature because they were greasier than I expected. Also, the tart could've used more strawberries and less crust (it was more like a strawberry dumpling). Our total with wine, coffee, a cup of tea and tip was a little over $300. -
Review from Aditi S.
Fremont, CA
4/1/2012
Great food and they pair the wine with the food you would order... I must say they have really nice collection.. Best idea would be to have a reservation before you come to the restaurant .
Grilled octopus and lamb chops are to die for. For the dessert I ordered Galaktoboureko, it's phyllo wrapped vanilla bean custard which is absolutely YUMM!
Awesome food right from starter to dessert. -
Review from CeCe C.
LAMB CHOPS!!!
I'm only a fan because of their lamb chops! They never seem to disappoint me!! If it's your first time dining here, the only thing you need to get is the LAMB CHOPS, not the Lamb Shank! I promise you, it'll be worth it! :)
This place is always, always crowded and super noisy on any given night. We had 9:30pm reservations on a Saturday for my birthday dinner and the place was still packed!! We came a little before 9pm and they were able to immediately seat us!
It was unusual that the owner of the restaurant had to come and talk to our table telling us that they're going to make room for this big group that's going to occupy our section. The owner offered us free dessert, so we said sure. But I kinda wished the big loud group didn't take up so much room or come at all. We felt really cramped by our table and annoyed. The group was extremely loud and obnoxious, making the free dessert and experience not really worth it. =\
FYI- On another note, I've noticed whenever I make opentable reservations via yelp. I don't get any dining points from opentable. Booo. So if you want your opentable points, I recommend booking it through the opentable app on your smartphone or through the opentable website (NOT YELP).Listed in: ROTD love :)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/22/2010 ROTD 1/18/2011
The only two things you need to order from this restaurant are the lamb chops and galaktoboureko… Read more »
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Review from John G.
3/18/2012
Have to give this place 5 STARS after last night's meal. Everything was extremely well prepared and so very tasty to the palate. We both had the lamb chops which simply are the best, ever. They marinate them overnight and then cook them over a charcoal grill with special rub added to them. One bite and you are in heaven. Accompanied so very nicely with glasses of Hendry's zinfandel. What a treat!
Had the romaine salad as a starter. Lettuce was crisp, fresh and dressing so yummy. Desserts were the baklava with ice cream, and a warm chocolate cake with sour cherry ice cream.
They had some great fish specials that I shall try on return visits. Extensive menu with something for everyone.
Doesn't get any better than this. Be sure to make reservations in advance. because the word is out. My friend was there on a Monday night, and it was packed.
Highly recommended!Listed in: Best Restaurants
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Review from Patrick H.
Scottsdale, AZ
3/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
My mom and I decided to pop in here for lunch last week. We were seated immediately. The service from Anthe was fast, friendly and very efficient.
To start we had the fried calamari. It was probably the best I've every had. Super fresh, flavorful and it came with a wonderful dipping sauce.
We both had the chicken kabobs which were outstanding. They were cooked perfectly and the seasonings were outstanding.
It was my mom's b-day and they comped her any dessert she wanted. The strawberry tart with creme fraiche ice cream was amazing.
In short, this was a perfect lunch. -
Review from Jason C.
San Francisco, CA
4/23/2012
If you are looking for romantic dinner, look no further than Evvia. Seems like other people agree as I have never been able to reserve a table early enough for Valentine's day.
Everyone says order the lamb, and I will say no differently: order the lamb. After you consume a delicious dinner served by an attentive staff, and come back knowing what Evvia is capable of, you can venture out into stranger waters.
On a side note, there was a Ferrari outside both times I dined, so maybe that's another bonus to look out for. -
Review from Brent T.
5/1/2012
My gf took me here for my birthday at my request. We had planned to go to Mission Chinese Food in SF that day, but the weather ended up crappy so we decided to stay closer to home. I think it was a great choice.
We walked in w/o a reservation at around 5 PM. We were told we could have a table now but there was a reservation earmarked for our table at 6:30 PM. No problem for us, we weren't planning on taking that long.
I'll start by saying our server was prompt, attentive, and knowledgeable from beginning to end. Couldn't ask for better service, that's for sure. The place itself has an upscale feel and is dimly lit for ambiance. Has a very rustic feel to it with pots and pans hanging from up above and direct view to the grill and oven (I think, it's been a few months).
And most importantly, the food was fantastic. We both agreed that we had one of the best meals we've had in a while here. A basket of very good crusty bread was brought over, and standard olive oil/balsamic was on the table, as well as a nice sea salt...divine. We had an appetizer of roasted vegetables with a red pepper sauce and also some yogurt. Vegetables were roasted perfectly, still retaining some texture, and the sauces complimented them well. For entrees - I had a roasted lamb dish which came on a few wedges of potato and some lightly sauteed swiss chard, and she had a grilled branzino with the same swiss chard. Both were cooked well, with the chard especially having just the right amount of texture. For a place like this, the portions were probably more than we were expecting as well, which was nice. And bonus points for the 1/2 lemon coming wrapped in a netting so you could squeeze it without the seeds coming out onto your food.
Cannot comment on the value part of it since I didn't pay, but from viewing the menu, it was not outrageous and seemed par for the course for this type of dining. And the quality of the food, as noted above, was FANTASTIC. Can't wait to come back! -
Review from Alex M.
Campbell, CA
5/21/2012
The food was tasty, the service was amazing.
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Review from Sanket K.
3/26/2012
5 easy steps to make yourself happy:
1.) Pick up the phone. Call their number and make a reservation.
2.) Drive to Evvia (or cab,walk, bike, or bus) and be on time for your reservation.
3) Look at the reviews here and order the Spanakotiropita or Kolokithokeftethes or just about anything.
4) Then look at the reviews and order what is most popular for your entree.
5) For the dessert finale, order the Sokolatina with a Greek coffee.
At the end of all this, you should be happy. See how easy it is? :) -
Review from Markus N.
3/5/2012 Seated via OpenTable
On days like Friday last, when the temperature lets you wear just what you want under a deep blue sky in pleasant company it's almost easy to forget the rest of the world, the troubles, the strife, the discontent.
Evvia conspires to help make this happen. And I suppose it's not a bad thing, to take to a carefully prepared delicious meal laid before you by smiling articulate beautiful attendants. To let this meal pull you out of the swamp and gently with fluffy towels a light brush of your hair and a story lullaby all of it straight away.
I only had lunch. Shared a perfect Greek salad, looked at the lamb souvlaki, had me a delicate gyro like thing but more delicately prepared and presented with love. For two hours I wasn't here. I was there. Just there.
Radius test - Evvia is five stars from anywhere in the Bay Area. Maybe in combination with a classic film in the art house down the street. Romantic. Delicious.
Just do me this favor. After your evening of loveliness, after you kiss her goodnight, just for a second remember this - on the other side of Highway 101 lives East Palo Alto. EPA doesn't get to go to Evvia. -
Review from Jacki C.
Newark, CA
4/1/2012
The DH and I stopped here for date night. What a delightful surprise. The service here is top notch. Our server was very helpful and knowledgeable of all the dishes and specials.
We had the wild mushrooms with cheese appetizers along with the mussels. When we came in we saw that they had a suckling pig spinning on the spit, so we could only guess that the rotisserie of the day, was roast pig (oink, oink). I ordered the lamb chops and the hubs ordered the suckling pig. The lamb chops were AMAAAAAAZING!!!! Cooked perfectly with a nice charred crust. The flavor was fantastic and even. I had three lamb chops with oven roasted potatoes. I could only get through 1.5 of the dish and couldn't eat another bit. Oh well, looks like I'll get to have lamb chops again the next day. The suckling pig was also extremely good and the DH was extremely satisfied with the food. The food is a little pricey, but well worth it for a special occasion like an anniversary or birthday.
The service was top notch and we will be back for a special occasion. -
Review from Brian C.
Rocklin, CA
5/5/2012
One of best restaurants I have ever been to and I would highly recommend dining here. Lamb off of the rotisserie was unbelievable! The service was outstanding and the atmosphere was perfect.
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Review from Linh L.
3/11/2012 1 photo
I suffer from being over-hyped when it comes to Evvia Estiatorio - I've heard such amazing things about Kokkari Estiatorio, that I had super high expectations of it's sister restaurant. Given my earlier notions of what the food would be like, I had a pleasant meal but was not overly impressed.
The food was mostly on point, with the star being the porchetta special I ordered as the main entree. The pork was perfectly cooked, and they had fried pork skin scattered on top - this dish was clearly made specifically for my pork-loving ways!
The rest of the meal was good, but not memorable. The zucchini cakes were lukewarm and tasted very flat. The calamari was that balance of crispy without being too oily, but seemed to lack a certain depth of flavor. The desserts were more delicious than I've had at other restaurants, but were also sweeter than I typically like.
All the other hallmarks of a good restaurant were there - the ambiance was warm and romantic, the staff checked in but wasn't intrusive, and the space itself was beautiful. Overall, this was worth the trip, but not one I'm compelled to repeat again.
I'm excited for Kokkari - if it's the better of the two, then I have a great meal to look forward to. -
Review from Christa S.
Austin, TX
4/13/2012
Went here with and at the recommendation of a colleague who lives in San Francisco. She clearly had made reservations or there is no way two of us could get a table, even on a Tuesday night! And, I was really glad she shared this gem with me. I started with the Milo Salata (heirloom apples, field greens, manouri, candied walnuts & apple cider vinaigrette), which was delicious. For my main course, I selected the Kotopoulo Souvlas (lemon-oregano rotisserie chicken with roasted root vegetables & Evvia dressing), which was a great mix of flavors and a VERY hearty portion. I can't go Greek without tasting the Baklava, which I ordered for dessert. My colleague doesn't like Baklava, but was able to eat the vanilla ice cream that was served to the side. I left full and fondly thinking of my trips to Greece...this place would make any Greek God or Goddess proud!
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Review from Huy P.
3/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Medium rare lamb chops melt in your mouth and is seasoned perfectly! The roasted potato that comes with it is also excellent, the perfect french fry.
We also started off with their flat bread and dip which is very good too! -
Review from Jedi A.
Bay Area, CA
Yum, yum, yum!
Took my dear friend here for lunch to celebrate her big 4-0. Our meal was amazing!
We ordered:
Grilled brussel sprouts - I don't like brussel sprouts, but after having these I do now!
We both ordered the whole fish with braised greens - OMG! Super crispy skin and flakey juicey meat... perfection
Phyllo wrapped custard with pistachio ice cream - she ate it all (ok, I got a bite, and it was dang good)
Warm chocolate cake with cherry ice cream - I ate this all and loved every moment of it. lol!
I don't get to say this often, so I'm happy saying it... one of the best lunches I've had in a very long time! The kind of meal where you're happy the rest of the day just thinking about the food (and well okay, the excellent company you had as well!) ;)
It was a very special occasion and the food was outta this world, so it was well worth the price! I'll definitely come back! :) -
Review from Jennifer L.
San Francisco, CA
2/21/2012
Oh So Incredible.
Growing up in Palo Alto, I have seen many restaurants come and go. This is by far one of my favourites!
I am probably a little biased, though. One of my friends from high school worked here, and a couple of us were invited to eat dinner here. The chef or manager (I forget) who she was friends with all gave us a bunch of dishes on the house - all of which I remember were amazing.
As other reviewers have said, it is usually crowded on Friday and Saturday nights (as are many restaurants in Palo Alto), so be sure to make your reservation! Tables are close together, so it's not a rigid atmosphere.
When I'm back in town, I'll have to come back! -
Review from Chris C.
2/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
A good friend took me here for my birthday and I have to say I was very impressed. Took a while to get our table even with a reservation but once we were seated it was all green and service was golden.
For appetizers we had their steamed mussels in garlic sauce as well as the pita with artichoke hearts and olives. The mussels were amazing and the sauce was even better. The pita was not what I expected as it came out like a pizza but it was regardless it was delicious. We also got a pretty reasonably priced half-bottle of Zin and for my entree I got their HUGE lamb shank which was ridiculously tender. For dessert I had a pretty good tart with a surprisingly good walnut ice cream.
In terms of Greek fine dining, Evvia pretty much hits the mark. I will definitely be back! -
Review from Kyle Y.
San Jose, CA
3/14/2012
This place sets the bar for service/ taste/ wine selection and overall experience. I'd give it a perfect score, but then there would be nothing to improve, right?
I was here over the weekend and this was my second visit. Had a similar experience the first time so I can vouch for the consistency.
Ordered rack of lamb or lamb shank (Huge! Probably only took 2 bites out of it since I was already full). Also ordered a lot of little appetizers that were unbelievably good. We ended up ordering almost everything they had and just sampled each and took the rest to go. We topped everything off with some cabernet as a suggestion from the waitress which complimented the meal just fine. -
Review from Ziyan C.
2/21/2012 7 photos
Wow, wow. Wow.
Excellent, prompt, friendly service. Great vibe. Fantastic food. What more could you want?
* MUST-HAVES: Prawns, whole fish,
* Crispy Zucchini Cakes - 4 stars
(with marinated cucumber & mint yogurt - $8.75)
The breading was just firm enough to hold the whole thing together, yet still crumbly and soft. The inside was a little too soft - you couldn't quiet slice your fork through it, it kind of just crumbled/fell apart under the pressure of a utensil, but the flavor was great and the yogurt dip SO refreshing and perfect.
* Prawns - 4.5 stars
(wood oven baked with tomato & feta - $10.75)
This was like.. having the ocean in my mouth. In a tasty tomato sauce. The prawns were so fresh, with that really nice crisp crunch to it. The sauce was tangy and thick from the feta. Loved this.
* Avgolemono Soup - 3 stars
(traditional egg-lemon soup with chicken & rice - $8)
I wasn't a big fan but I don't really like sour to be the dominant flavor in soups (eg. I hate sweet & sour soup). My friend was a huge fan. I will say that the chicken was soft & tender and this had a really nice consistency, not too thick but not watery either.
* Whole Fish (bass) - 5 stars
(mesquite grilled with lemon-oregano vinaigrette & braised greens - $35)
SO delicious!! Love that the fish has a nice crispy slightly burnt skin, just enough to give it some texture but not too much to give it a charred flavor. The texture was so tender and just fantastic, and the flavor slightly tart.
* Galaktoboureko - 4 stars
(traditional phyllo wrapped vanilla bean semolina custard with pistachio ice cream - $8.25)
Very nice. A flaky, soft yet firm crust to the phyllo. The filling was a bit on the sweet side (and I have a major sweet tooth!) that could be offset a little by the ice cream (which btw was delish). -
Review from Susan W.
Palo Alto, CA
3/23/2012
The food was fantastic and the service just right.
Reserve early, because it is hard to get a table during busy times. Worth the expense. -
Review from J. S.
Santa Clara, CA
4/22/2012
Good service, disappointing lamb shank.
My husband and I went here for his birthday. Service was good (not overly exceptional). Appetizers of zucchini cakes - round little balls of fried zucchini which came with a dipping sauce - were wonderful. We also ordered the Saganaki, which to my surprise and disappointment didn't come to the table flaming as served at every other Mediterranean restaurant I've been to. The server mentioned something about Palo Alto fire ordinance or something, but if you're not going to serve the Saganaki flaming you should not put it on the menu. My husband had the special of the evening - lamb rotisserie - and he enjoyed it. I ordered the lamb shank and was very disappointed as the chef was much too heavy-handed with the cinnamon. The spice totally masked the lamb flavor, and added a slight bitterness to the dish. The orzo that came with it, though, was very good. The highlight of the evening was the Galaktoboureko - a custard wrapped in phyllo dough served with pistachio ice cream. Overall, good restaurant - just a bit of a spotty evening on the food. -
Review from Elle L.
San Mateo, CA
4/18/2012
Have been here on many occasion and apologize for a late review. Evvia since it's inception has always delivered. Food is always fresh and delish! Whatever is on the menu, I always order the lamb! I don't frequent eating here enough, though I have to say, I have never been disappointed! I wish I could say that about a lot of other places that I frequent. I guess I have been lucky because waiters can't always have a great nite.
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Review from Ramya P.
2/23/2012 2 photos
In love!!
I'm happy n glowing... and its definitely because of the semolina custard wrapped in Phyllo with the most delicious pistachio ice cream. Oh no... Wait, it could be the greek yogurt with honey and walnuts, baked cheese with roasted peppers, the simple and elegant asparagus with feta infused with herbs, the fries with oregano and feta, the gigantic beans in a tomato-based sauce, the roasted beets on skordalia or the scrumptious spanakopita. They all were equally delicious and gave me a reason to visit Palo Alto again. The ambiance and service were impeccable too.
Last but not the least please grab a bunch of the toffee with fennel after your meal at the reception desk... You'll be pleasantly surprised as I was!! -
Review from Jason C.
Los Altos, CA
2/9/2012
There isn't a whole lot more that I can add that hasn't already been said.
Well okay, here are a few things (maybe). Most people get the lamb chops and miss out on the lamb shank. Yes the lamb chops are the best thing here. But if you're greedy (like I am), get BOTH the lamb chops and lamb shank. Because the shank is absolutely awesome when you reheat it the next day with the orzo it comes with.
The beef souvlaki is a gorgeous filet mignon - a lovely steak and skewer all in one. The best of both worlds. But don't get it. Get the lamb chops instead. You won't miss the beef.
Order family style. Share everything. Go nuts and get too much. Plan on having the most fantastic lunch or brunch the following day. Make sure to order extra lamb chops so that everyone at the table gets at least one -- preferably two.
But as awesome as the lamb chops are, man cannot live on lamb chops alone. (I've tried). Fortunately there's moussaka that is unlike any other moussaka I've ever had. That brilliant grilled whole fish. And fresh simple greek salad. And tasty spanakotiropita. And oh those spreads and pita!
Refuse the bread. Make them take it away from the table. Waste of carbs. Get more pita and spreads. Unless you really want more stuffed grape leaves (they're pretty tastey so maybe you do), don't order them. The assorted spreads comes with four of them.
Buy the best wine you can with the meal. A nice robust red one. It goes well with the lamb chops. (Yes, there is a theme here regarding the lamb chops.) Evvia is a fantastic meal, but with the plenty of the right wine, it is absolutely magical.
A greek feast with friends and family and half a dozen dishes and wine - this is how dining should be. Is this absolutely the most exquisite food I've ever had in my life? No. But I've had a some the best meals of my life here. This is where I'd want my last meal, surrounded by loved ones.
It's the sharing and company (and wine!) that makes it extraordinary, and this restaurant embraces that.
Other thoughts -- it's tempting to sit in the back at the bar if you want to squeeze in and there are no tables. Don't do it. Too small and close to the bathrooms. Order take out instead if you don't have reservations. The lamb shank and moussaka are fantastic to go. The lamb chops, less so (but still good).
What makes the grilled fish work is not only that it is a beautiful whole piece of fish, but those greens! Especially if they're just a little too salted, they just merge with the herbs and buttery soft fish and lemon. What a compliment to the lamb chops!
Go for dinner, not lunch. Lunch is good, but it's different when you're feasting with friends and family. It's kind of sad when you think about it -- just eating from your own little plate with work colleagues at lunch.
It's okay to get the beef souvlaki for lunch. Lamb chops are for dinner. -
Review from Suavecito m.
Palo Alto, CA
4/18/2012
Got the lamb as everyone indicated and was not disappointed. We also got a soup and had the dessert as well. The dessert was the most memorable part of the evening, figure on spending $90 - $150 for a party of two. The atmosphere was nice and the servers were attentive.
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Review from G Y.
Santa Clara, CA
3/17/2012
Advance reservations are highly recommended. This place gets so busy.
I give Evvia 5 STARS for OUTSTANDING TASTING FOOD, HIGH QUALITY FOOD, YUMMY DESSERT, GREAT WINE, NICE ATMOSPHERE, and did I mention their food is great?? IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE FOOD!!
It's a bit pricey, but ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT.
I've been coming to Evvia since 1999 and I LOVE EVERYTHING HERE. EVVIA is MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT!! I've brought my family and friends here and have told everyone I know about this place.
MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITES ARE:
1. Psari Psito - grilled whole fish with lemon-oregano vinaigrette & horta
2. Galaktoboureko - traditional phyllo wrapped vanilla bean semolina custard with pistachio ice cream
OTHER ITEMS WE LOVE ALSO ARE:
1. Arnisia Paidakia - rib-cut, mesquite-grilled lamb chops with olive oil lemon roasted potatoes
2. Moscharisia Brizola - mesquite grilled dry aged rib eye steak with olive oil lemon roasted potatoes & horta
You can't go wrong with anything else on the menu. The above is just a list of our favorites.
They have a great selection of wine, too. Got to have a bottle with your meal!
When the weather is warmer they open up their front sliding doors to really open up the restaurant and it feels fantastic!!
Cheers and happy eating!! -
Review from Maddie C.
Palo Alto, CA
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
After reading some of the reviews, and seeing how many there where, I was starting to get a little worried that Evvia wouldn't live up to the hype and would ultimately be a disappointment. Boy, was I wrong. I had the most delightful dinner here.
My date and I had reservations for 8:00 pm on a Sunday, and we were lucky we made those because when we arrived the restaurant was popping. That late on a Sunday, parking was a breeze (there was a lot across the street) and we were happily seated a few minutes early. The restaurant is a little loud (but it was pretty crowded) but the ambiance is nice and warm and welcoming.
Since I am gluten-free I did not get to enjoy the complementary bread, but my date did and ended up gulping it down. He approved. We ordered the octopus appetizer per our waiter's recommendation- and it was a total win! It was crunchy, chewy, salty, spicy, and just overall YUM! Not fishy at all. For our mains date ordered the lamb skewer, and I had the lamb chops- both executed to perfection! Medium, pink, tender, and lovely. The potatoes were delish as well, perhaps a little on the oily side. I was also impressed with the portion size- both plates were HUGE (although the appetizer was definitely only for two).
For dessert we enjoyed the Evvia Sundae- the chocolate ice cream was so rich- it was almost a brownie, and the whipped cream wasn't over sweetened. Next time, I want to give the rice pudding a whirl, I've heard great things.
Service was prompt and unobtrusive.
I am looking forward to my second visit soon!
