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Palo Alto, CA 94301
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Amenities and More
Ask the Community
Q:
What brand is the olive oil served with the bread?
A:
In 2010 it was Dafni olive oil. It's Greek, and was not available at stores. But, Dimitri Maziotis (650-269-9505 dnmimport@hotmail.com) was the sales rep then, and I got some bottles from him at a reasonable price (btw, he was very friendly).
Dan C.Â3 months ago 1 person found this helpfulQ:
Is there a split plate charge?
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No answers yet. Answer this question
Recommended Reviews
Overall rating
2935 reviews
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Dong Wook C.CA, CA84031413Apr 22, 2024Love this place! Nice sit-down restaurant with an upscale and inviting interior. Food is on point.
Loved their Octapodaki appetizer. Perfectly soft and not overdone. It was beautiful in its simplicity; marinated lightly yet so tasty.
Their Mediterranean sea bass was perfectly seasoned. Amazing texture; skin slightly crisp yet hiding its scrumptious meat inside. Eating a whole fish is a delicate process if you want to avoid accidental swallowing of fish bones, but this dish was incredibly delicious so take your time. They even offered to debone the fish and remove the main skeleton running through the middle...now that's service!
The waiter, who should win a trophy for his world class customer service, was very attentive towards all guests. He even offered to have the bar craft a special cocktail for me and it was delicious! I may have drank it too quickly, not realizing the alcohol content, but it was definitely one of the tastiest cocktails I've had.
Eating here was a very nice experience and I would love to return for special occasions. Although a little pricier than most restaurants, the service and ambiance reflects that and this restaurant deserves its high ratings on Yelp.
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Sharika M.Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA0628Apr 20, 2024I loved the dessert. It was very soft and the right balance of flavours. The appetizers were also very nice. I felt that I should have chosen the lamb to be rare instead of medium rare. The other entrées were nice but could have had more flavor.
The staff was very friendly. They accommodated a last minute increase in number of people. They made suggestions on what to order and how much to order.
Ambiance was very calm and peaceful.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0
6194931492Apr 1, 2024Haiku: Evvia Estiatorio
Craving crispy smelts
We ordered family-style plates
Top, superb service.
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Evvia checks all the boxes in terms of phenomenal food, superb service, and a casual, warm ambiance. It seems that every dish we ordered were crowd pleasers and satiated our bellies.
Fabulous dishes we ordered:
- Pikilia: all three Greek spreads with grilled pita and pickled vegetables.
- Marithes Tiganites: Bite-size crispy smelts were tasty and easy to pop into our mouths. The garlic and potato dip sauce was crack. It's as if I had the garlic sauce with the little fried smelts.
- Octapodaki tou Yiogou: traditional grilled octopus was tender and perfectly cooked. The lemon juice on the thick cuts of octopus made it fresh and light to eat.
- Arnisia Paidakia: Rib-cut, mesquite-grilled lamb chops were tender and juicy. The taste of the lamb wasn't overpowering.
Evvia sets the bar for supreme service. Their inviting hospitality and warm conversations made us feel at home. They spent the time to explain the menu and specials and even folded the napkins whenever we left the table. They're like mind readers--consistently checked up on us and topped off our drinks, cleared the tables when we finished dishes, and gave us new plates when they noticed ours were dirty.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0- Apr 13, 2024
Went for an early lunch and simply ordered 3 starters: Prawns, Calamari, & Artichoke/Eggplant w/yogurt. All 3 were very good. The sauces were very tasty. The service was attentive and the restaurant was busy as usual. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating. We sat inside and the ambiance was comfortable. Evvia offers an extensive alcohol menu as well for those who partake. I look forward to returning and trying different menu items such as vegetables, hummus, spanikopita, and perhaps a main entree.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Feb 18, 2024
Second time visiting Evvia and I had a great experience.
Ordered zucchini cake and octopus as an appetizer and chicken breast as main course.
The food was excellent as always and the service was good as well. I took a table outside but they had the heather on, which made my dinner very pleasant.
Today I brought my parents and we tried the mushroom appetizer, which was amazing.
Great spot and great food/service
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Feb 17, 2024
The lamb chops was undoubtedly the highlight of the dinner! I'm not a huge fan of lamb in general but enjoyed it so much. It was cooked perfectly and paired with the delicious sauce with some unique cheesy aroma.
The grilled whole seabass was a lighter dish (portion is generous though). The flavor was subtle but still savory.
The appetizers didn't impress us as much as the entrees did. I was looking forward to the grilled octopus and zucchini cakes but they were mediocre in my view.
They accommodated our reservation change on the day of Valentine when we called which was much appreciated.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Feb 17, 2024
This meal can't get any better! It's the best I've had so far.
Started with Evvia salad and octopus.
Salad's dressing brought out vegetable's freshness. All its content brought each other's best and made it a perfect combination!
And OMG- octopus is to die for! My best friend and I were surprised! Typically, are chewy. This one melts in your mouth like butter. $19.00 justifies its tasty and tenderness. It's like it was slow cooked for hours. Whoever monitors it is on the dot!
I had lamb and my best friend- ravioli. Both were quite palatable! Too bad I was driving. I'll get alcohol next time!
Their staff were all friendly and welcoming. My best friend and I were busy catching up, hence didn't get to talk to the staff attending us. Couple next to our table however, really tried to get to know their waiter. It's just so nice there was a real conversation. It makes it more personal which makes the visit more like homey.
It's busy and yet ambiance is classy. It's a bit pricey, but it's so worth it! We'll go visit again.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 3Oh no 0 - Jan 31, 2024
Very fun, fancier, Palo Alto restaurant. We came here for our anniversary and were very pleased.
I may be biased but felt like we ordered perfectly - we started with the Classic Greek Salad, got the Crispy Zucchini Cakes, Prawns, Braised Lamb and finished with the Baklava. Every item was perfectly cooked, plated to perfection and had delicious flavor. If I had to choose one to not order again it would be the Greek salad - very good but not the most special. The yogurt dip that comes with it is unique and delicious. The lamb is a classic and very well done. The prawns did have a little bit of a kick to them but we loved it. Delicious with the roasted tomatoes. Whatever you do don't leave without getting the baklava. Fantastic and the perfect way to finish off the meal!
Smaller portions than most places so I would recommend ordering multiple items. We liked ordering 1 main entree with the two "mezethes" (small plates style) for the two of us. Can't go wrong, everything looked fantastic. Don't let yourself fill up on too much of the yummy bread.Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Jan 15, 2024Updated review33 check-ins
Came by for dinner the other night and it was a world class experience. Evvia is a Palo Alto staple known for their lamb chops, octopus, and galaktoboureko dessert. The restaurant is featured in the Michelin guide.
Dining is available indoors with a view of the open kitchen or outdoors in the covered and heated patio. Checked in with the host upon arrival and our reserved table was ready for seating at our specified slot.
Staff are cordial wearing their own white dress shirt and an Evvia vest for warmth.
Started off with the Manitaria tou Fournou featuring field mushrooms,
Kefalograviera, thyme & Evvia dressing and they were world class. These came out of the oven hot and the server even helped served some of these on our plate. Flavoring and textures were excellent!
Moved on to the spanakotiropita featuring phyllo stuffed with spinach, leeks, feta, dill & herbs and these were super light and fluffy! Excellent! These also came out hot out of the oven super fresh!
The saghanaki with pan fried Kefalograviera with oregano & lemon was great as it was a sharp cheese on a hot grill plate.
The kolokithokeftethes with crispy zucchini cakes with cucumber & mint yogurt were lightly fried and filled with tasty zucchini!
The Arnisia Plevrakia were also tasty! The grilled lamb riblets with lemon & oregano were perfectly grilled and they were super soft and tender topped with Evvia sauce.
Ended the meal with their famous galaktoboureko featuring traditional phyllo wrapped vanilla bean semolina custard with pistachio ice cream and it was a light and fluffy way to finish off dinner.
~$60/head after tax and gratuity for dinner.Helpful 9Thanks 1Love this 7Oh no 1Oct 22, 2022Previous reviewCame by for dinner the other night and it was a decent experience, although previous visits were even better.
Made a reservation via OpenTable and our table was ready upon arrival. Reservations seem to be available from 5 - 5:45 pm and ~7:30 pm or later intervals. I'm assuming this is for 2 sets of diners each evening.
Dining is available both indoor or outdoor with a covered and heated patio. The patio is well made and upscale. Both dining areas have plenty of space between tables. Doors are also wide open to allow for a cool evening breeze into the dining room.
The dining room has been a Palo Alto classic for the last 20+ years. It is always dimly lit with a fantastic dining ambiance.
Meal started off with some Acme bread which was lackluster. I find that Evvia's bread consistently misses the mark, even though there is olive oil to complement the bread.
The Manitaria tou Fournou with field mushrooms, Kefalograviera, thyme & Evvia dressing also missed the mark the other night. The mushrooms didn't taste super fresh and the Evvia dressing was on the lighter side... The appetizer used to be a hit on previous visits.
The Octapodaki tou Yiorgou with traditional grilled octopus with lemon, oregano & olive oil has been a Evvia staple and is always world class. The octopus is perfectly grilled to perfection with the competitive advantage being super soft octopus without being rubbery. The flavors were on point.
The Arnisia Paidakia with rib-cut, mesquite-grilled lamb chops with olive oil lemon roasted potatoes were world class! Requested medium rare and this came out as such. The lamb chops here are the best in the Bay area with super thick lamb chops that are super tender, flavorful, and fragrant. The side of 3 potato wedges are delicious too!
The Moscharisia Brizola mesquite grilled dry aged rib eye with olive oil lemon roasted potatoes & horta was also excellent. The surprise here was that this was a bone-in rib eye! Requested this to be medium rare and it came out as such. The rib-eye was on the thinner side and the marbling and flavoring were world class. The side of potato wedges and swiss char were tasty. The portions were huge, perfect for sharing.
Ended the meal off with the classic Galaktoboureko with traditional phyllo wrapped vanilla bean semolina custard with pistachio ice cream. Unlike previous visits, I was slightly bummed out that this came out merely lukewarm. Usually, this is warm throughout.
~$110/head after tax and gratuity for dinner. No employer mandates or mandatory service charges.Oct 2, 2021Previous reviewCame by for dinner the other night and it was an excellent, world-class experience! Made a reservation with Panos a few weeks in advance and our indoor table, well spaced between others, was ready upon arrival!
Antonio was our server for the evening. Antonio and the service team was fantastic throughout the meal.
Started off with the heirloom tomato special and was delicious. Tomatoes were super ripe and the cheese on top was great!
Moved on to the classic grilled octopus and it was just like the way I loved it 15+ years ago, super flavorful, fragrant, and most importantly tender!
Ordered the lamb chops medium rare and they came out exactly to my specifications. The potato wedges were excellent too! Flavoring on the lamb chops were A+.
Had the galaktoboureko with vanilla ice cream for dessert and it was also world class. The pastry was super light and flaky and the vanilla ice cream was super smooth and fragrant.
~$105/head after tax and gratuity for dinner!
They still have a beautiful outdoor parklet and sidewalk seating with heat lamps for those more comfortable with outdoor seating!Jul 30, 2019Previous reviewEvvia is one of my favorite restaurants in Palo Alto. They're always consistent with perfectly cooked octopus, lamb chops, and vanilla custard dessert. Their dining room is comfortable and the staff is always excellent.
Made a reservation via OpenTable a month out and my table was ready upon arrival. Street parking is available.
Meal started off with complimentary sourdough which was okay, especially with the olive oil dip.
Their grilled octopus is world-class as it is always perfectly grilled that is super soft (not rubbery) with a blend of olive oil.
Their wild mushrooms appetizer special was top notch. Flavorful and perfectly prepared. Topped with a touch of cheese.
The highlight of dinner has always been the lamb chops. Lamb chops are thick, perfectly cooked to a medium-rare, along with a few pieces of potato wedges, absolute perfection!
Dessert is always fantastic with the vanilla custard in the puff pastry. Even their ice cream is top-notch!
~$100/head after tax and gratuity for dinner.Dec 14, 2017Previous reviewEvvia has a special place in my heart as it is truly my favorite restaurant in Palo Alto. The dining experience is always excellent by the entire staff. The ambiance is romantic, upscale, and fantastic for meeting with friends and/or loved ones. Reservations can be tricky. If you're a regular, might be easier to call for a reservation. They'll also remind you of your reservation a couple days prior too!
Managed to score a reservation a couple weeks in advance via phone and was seated upon arrival to the quaint and relaxing restaurant. Meal started off with sourdough bread which was delicious.
The lamb riblets were perfectly char-grilled, seasoned with garlic and olive oil. The meat was very flavorful and tender. My mouth is watering just thinking about them!
The grilled octopus appetizer was also phenomenal. Unlike most rubbery, overcooked octopus, this one is perfectly tender, flavorful and just amazing.
The highlight of the meal were the perfectly cooked medium rare lamb chops. Lamb was very tender, cooked to a perfect medium rare and also seasoned with garlic and olive oil. ...words don't do it justice...it has to be tried in person! ...many restaurants have some sort of lamb chops...but none are close to Evvia quality!
...also had the lamb shank which was also very tender and flavorful, although the lamb chops were the best!
Ended off with the vanilla custard dessert which was also excellent. Very light and fluffy!
~$102/head after tax and gratuity for dinner.Nov 14, 2016Previous reviewMade a reservations 30 days in advance via OpenTable for one of the 2017 Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants in the Bay Area and was promptly greeted and seated upon arrival.
Restaurant was almost completely full and was warm and cozy. Service was friendly throughout the meal as well.
Bread service is mediocre, although the olive oil does make the bread tastier!
The octopus appetizer is world class as usual. It is cut into small pieces, perfectly seasoned with garlic and cooked perfectly so that the inside is soft (none of the over-cooked rubbery stuff...)
Evvia featured my favorite roasted suckling pig this time around and the waiter claimed it was an 8 oz portion with a variety of cuts. ....the portion didn't quite seem to be 8 oz and some of the dish came out rather dry...which was quite sad. ....most, if not all, of the pieces also seemed to have come from the same part of the pig too... :/
The lamb chops are always the highlight here and were excellent as usual. Very juicy on the inside and seasoned perfectly. They were also cooked to perfection at a medium rare.
The Galaktoboureko for dessert was quite good as usual. Surprisingly, portions were a tad more generous than before. Their ice cream is quite mediocre. It is always very light, flaky, and filled with a vanilla custard cream that isn't too sweet!
Pricing seems to creep up every time I visit and it now up to ~$75/person after tax and gratuity.Aug 20, 2015Previous reviewMade a reservation for dinner via phone a week prior, and was able to secure a table, despite no availability on OpenTable.
Valet Parking is available for $8.
A very talented hostess provided a warm greeting upon arrival and brought me to the table.
Service throughout the entire meal was excellent, courteous, and efficient, on par with a Michelin-rated restaurant. Speed of service has improved significantly.
Started off with the lamb meatballs and they were okay.
The lamb chops were also decent and came out medium rather than medium rare. The side of potato wedges were tasty.
Ended off the meal with the phyllo dough wrapped vanilla custard which was okay. ...this dessert was much better before.
Dining room was comfortable and cozy.
~$61/head after tax and tip for dinnerJan 28, 2014Previous reviewThis is one of the more popular restaurants in downtown Palo Alto. Making a reservation ahead of time definitely helps securing a table, even on weekdays!
There is street parking as well as parking in public surface lots that are usually free after 6 pm. Valet parking is $6.
Octapodaki tou Yiorgou - Excellent and outstanding! The octopus is fresh and perfectly cooked. Tender and non-rubbery. A must-try!
Arnisia Paidakia - Lamb chops are the reason to come to Evvia! My 3 lamb chops were medium rare as requested and came with 3 pieces of roasted potatoes. They were perfectly flavored and cooked!
Galaktoboureko - This dessert was heavenly! The phyllo dough wrapped vanilla was delicious and not too sweet! The pistachio ice cream had a unique crunch!
Service was excellent by the staff.
~$72/person after tax and tip for dinner.Jul 9, 2012Previous reviewThis is one of the more popular restaurants in downtown Palo Alto. Making a reservation ahead of time definitely helps securing a table, even on weekdays!
There is street parking as well as parking in public surface lots that are usually free after 6 pm. Valet parking is $6.
Octapodaki tou Yiorgou - Excellent and outstanding! The octopus is fresh and perfectly cooked. Tender and non-rubbery. A must-try!
Arnisia Paidakia - Lamb chops are the reason to come to Evvia! My 3 lamb chops were medium rare as requested and came with 3 pieces of roasted potatoes. They were perfectly flavored and cooked!
Galaktoboureko - This dessert was heavenly! The phyllo dough wrapped vanilla was delicious and not too sweet! The pistachio ice cream had a unique crunch!
Service was excellent by the staff.
~$72/person after tax and tip for dinner.Feb 3, 2011Previous reviewSaw all the great reviews about lamb chops at this place that I had to take the opportunity to give this place a try! Tried to make a reservation via OpenTable but my preferred time slot was full. Called in and was able to secure a reservation! :)
The restaurant is definitely hard to find at night as they have no lighted signage outside the restaurant. The interior was full by the time we arrived at 6:30 pm on a Monday evening.
The complimentary bread was fresh and tasty, esp w/ the olive oil. Yelpers recommended Octapodaki tou Yiorgou which was basically grilled octopus and it was well cooked, not rubbery, and had plenty of olive oil.
Requested the lamb chops to be medium and they came out mostly medium, maybe medium well on the side... The pan-fried potatoes were crispy and well cooked too!
I finished off w/ the pistachio ice cream which I didn't care too much for. The pastry that accompanied the ice cream had a nice warm vanilla bean custard that was delicious!
Throughout the entire meal, the staff was friendly, prompt, and professional.
All in, ~$60/person. - Feb 1, 2024
The food is delicious, the service is amazing, and the ambiance is great!
This is my go-to when I'm in the mood for delicious Greek food!
Never disappoints! That's why getting a reservation is so hard because everyone else agrees with me!Helpful 0Thanks 1Love this 0Oh no 0
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