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Categories: Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
Neighborhood: Financial DistrictMon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"I absolutely loved this place. I came here with one of my very good friends to treat him for a nice bday dinner. Uh, NO - Cheesecake…" read more »
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Oh Yelp! Please forgive me, as I have not yelped in over a month due to a hectic work schedule. But I'm back, and what better way to be back than by reviewing Kokkari.
Very impressive.
My new boss took me out to lunch here and it was quite lovely! Too many delicious items on the menu resulted in us selecting a few small plates/apps to share- it is def. the way to go, folks.
The Zucchini Cakes were great- served hot and perfectly fried to a crisp. The Wood Oven Roasted Prawns melted in my mouth- the tomato sauce was fresh and basil-y goodness. The Grilled Lamb Riblets were the stand out though. They had a sweet tang to them and the meat was not overcooked. Delicious.
Overall, Kokkari lived up to the hype, in my opinion. It is a great spot for a special lunch. And I look forward to coming here for dinner, sometime!
Great place for a business meeting or special occassion. Come here if you're trying to impress, otherwise you might find the atmosphere to be on the stuffy side. You can order standard dishes such as souvlaki or lamb chops or be more adventurous and try the lamb organs or octopus. We went for the lamb organs, which were great, though sometimes difficult to chew. It's served with what might just be the best potatoes ever. My favorite was the goat stew (served with feta cheese) . The meat was tender and the sauce had a hint of cinammon with a little tang.
The server, Rainbow, was attentive and cheerful. We were too full for dessert so she brought us a complementary little box of Greek cookies to go. Definitely recommend asking for a table in the front area, where you get the thrown like chairs and the fireplace
Gotta love a Greek place that doesn't even try to dabble in gyros! Italian often crowds out the higher end restaurant scene so it's nice to see their Greek neighbor get some market share. The rarity of non-gyro Greek joints makes this place that much more special since many dishes expose you to a taste experience you may not have not had before in the States.
Arnisia Plevrakia: So flavorful for a cut often neglected by butchers! Perfectly grilled lamb riblets on the outside with a partially well-done and partially medium-rare meat portion inside. The fresh oregano is a cool twist since I so rarely get served fresh oregano.
Octapodaki tou Yiorgou: A pretty bland mollusk to start with, but the wood fired grill makes all the difference. All those suction cups on the tentacles become crispy which contrasts the chewiness of the main meat portion.
Arnisia Paidakia: The portion near the bone was reminiscent of the riblets, but the main lamb chop had a good fatty tenderness to it. The potato wedges tasted like they had some rotisserie fat drippings on top, perhaps more roasted than deep fried. What a nice chop!
Kounelaki sta Karvouna: The whole rabbit was probably on that metal skewer. Some pieces were great with well marinated skin and juicy meat while others were mostly bone. The savory orzo with yogurt sauce was great, loved the sour contrast of the yogurt topping!
Meyer Lemon Curd Filo: It's great when a Greek Taverna can innovate on classics. Wrap filo around curd from the local Meyer lemon and top with crème fraîche ice cream! The curd was so awesome by itself and was simply amazing enrobed in crispy filo.
Sketo Greek Coffee: Bitter... like so many of my friends. What I'd expect from Greek coffee. Good to remind me of my time in Athens, but not nearly as tasty as an Italian affogato.
It has been months since I ate at Kokkari, yet the memory definitely lingers! Seriously one of the best restaurants in all of San Francisco! And so, close to the office too. On the downside, it is on the pricey side, so prepared to drop a little cash, but luckily I wasn't disappointed at all.
Must haves:
* Grilled calamari with feta cheese
* Spanikopita
* Lamb riblets...OMG spectacular! I'm tempted to go back to just to ravenously devour a couple plates of them
Definitely check this place if you're looking for a classy place for a special occasion or if you're hoping for live luxuriously for a decadent meal.
Great Great Great Spot. Never a let down!
Love catching a bar seat with a few appetizers and wine. (But even that is usually a bit a wait that takes some carefully strategic plotting and pushing, gently of course.)
My favorite is the variety appetizer of hummus, baba, tzaziki, etc., and the roasted veggie skewer, too, which is much more special than just regular old roasted veggies on a skewer. It's a go to place for sure. Love the big fire place and warm ambiance, too.
I would say that this is my favorite Mediterranean restaurant in San Francisco. I think their appetizers are better than their entree, however, from time to time, they do offer a whole fish that they cooked with sea salt, butter and lemon. Gotta admit, that was GOOD...
I love their hummus, specially the yogurt and eggplant flavors. I know it may sound a lil' euww :") but trust me, they are awesome!. The octopus salad and lamb tongue are great too (I absolutely love em). You just need to be a lil open minded about the food, then, you would enjoy em...
(See pics)
The zuchini cakes was really good. The moussaka my friend had was very rich and delicious. The lamb shank dish was too big of a dish like half of a lamb was there. It kinda killed my appetite just looking at it. I could only finish about half of it.
The prices are very decent and it's such a big place that feels like somone's house with a nice fireplace.
Bathrooms are in the basement and seeing the wines I was a bit surprised sine it was a fairly warm area and was wondering if the wines cellar was just properly separated in cooler temperature.
Service was very good and friendly.
Best restaurant in San Francisco, hands down.
AMAZING FOOD - always a new experience every time.
Excellent Wait Staff - very knowledgeable and accommodating
Great wine selection - I highly recommend the Sigalas (a crisp, mineraly white wine from Santorini)
Perfect atmosphere - rotisserie grilling in huge open fireplace oven, tons of people (it's always packed so make sure to get reservations!), great for a business or social purpose
If you haven't yet tried Kokkari, put it at the top of your list!
I wanted to take my friend out for her bday, so I needed something new and different. We both haven't eaten here before, so I thought it would be a perfect time to try it out. I booked a 6:30 reservation, and we were seated right away. The place was packed on a Wednesday night. Reservations are highly recommended.
The waiter came by and told us the specials and gave his recommendations. I couldn't pronounce the Greek names, so I had the waiter repeat them just for fun. We went with his suggestions for the appetizers and got the Kolokithokeftethes...crispy zucchini cakes with cucumber & mint-yogurt dressing( http://static.px.yelp.... ) and the Octapodaki tou Yiorgou...grilled octopus with lemon, oregano & olive oil( http://static.px.yelp.... ). The zucchini cake was so good. The texture reminded me of a crab cake, but made with zucchini. It was nice and crispy on the outside and had lots of great flavor. I usually don't order octopus because the suction cups weird me out. We tried it anyway since there were such good reviews on the dish. It was nice and tender, and had that nicely grilled flavor.
For our main dishes, JL went with the Mediterranean Sea Bass- wood oven-roasted, with tomato, fennel & olives( http://static.px.yelp.... ) and I got the Arnisia Paidakia - grilled lamb chops with a lemon-oregano vinaigrette & Kokkari potatoes( http://static.px.yelp.... ). I got to try a bite of the sea bass, and it was super delicious. The flavors of the tomato and the fennel go so well with the fish. I'd highly recommend this dish! My lamb chops were quite good as well. The meat was very tender and flavorful from the grilling process.
When I made my reservation, I let them know it was my friend's bday. We didn't even have to order dessert...they just brought her a Galaktoboureko - semolina custard in filo with honey roasted pineapple & crème fraîche ice cream( http://static.px.yelp.... ) with Happy Birthday written on the plate. This was super good. The custard inside the filo was really light and not too sweet. It went really well with the roasted pineapple.
The service here was excellent! The waiter constantly checked up on us to make sure everything was ok. We were there for almost 3 hours catching up on life, and they didn't even try to kick us out....no dirty looks or anything! I'll definitely be back for the great food and great service!
Of all the times I've eaten here including once for my birthday and how much I loved it each time, not sure why I haven't written a review for them yet...so it's about time!
Based on my experience, I highly recommending sticking with the small plates. I have tried their rotisserie of the day a couple times and it was good but their small plates are so much more fun to eat and so much tastier!
Here are my favs...
Crispy zucchini cakes w/cucumber & mint-yogurt dressing - Mixed with tiny feta pieces and lightly fried but without that greasy taste.
Traditional filo pies of spinach, feta, leeks & dill - Sounds like the boring traditional item you can find just about anywhere but it's not made this great everywhere!
Roasted beets w/sweet dill & skordalia - A mix of red and yellow beets with a lightly seasoned...yum!
Crispy smelts with garlic-potato skordalia - It's like a bunch of little fishies swimming off the plate...SO crispy with a tasty dipping sauce.
Grilled octopus - SO tender...just perfecto!
Grilled lamb riblets - Almost too cute to eat but SO tasty...one order is never enough for this dish!
All the house made spreads w/grilled pita - Just a simple MUST have!
Pig trotters & head - NOT one of my favorite...it's a very exotic dish so you must be brave to try this one! I tried it but couldn't take more than one bite. But here's some advice...if you can close your eyes and never look at it before putting it your mouth it may be a lot easier to swallow...and you may even agree with the server that it sure is tasty!
Greek restaurants are hard to come by in this city...outstanding Greek restaurants even harder! That's why Kokkari is a gem and has become one of my favorite restos!
My experience of Kokkari was wonderful - just what the doctor ordered at the end of a fun-filled day. It had a magical warmth and hominess to it even though the place is huge. Something about a big firepit laden with roasting chickens just made me feel at home (although I've never done this at home.... where does that come from?) My bf and I sat at the bar and enjoyed the hustle-bustle of the place as we chose from a plethora of fabulous sounding appetizers.
We finally decided on the grilled artichoke and eggplant - fabulous; the "fries with eyes" (smelt) with the very garlicky potato sauce - way too many, but very good; and the grilled brussel sprouts - perfecto!
We were brave and ordered the lamb organ meat dish - we both love organ meats (somebody's got to right?) and had never seen it on a menu before. It didn't "kick our butts" like my bf would say, but it was still yummy and nicely presented.
It was nice that the bartender comped our dessert for making us wait (not sure when we waited...?), so we opted for the baklava. And a great choice it was.
I never knew I was a fan of Greek food until I came here - now I want to go home and cook with lemons and olive oil and grill everything. I'll be back.
Delicious.....only negatove is price, but this place has been consistent and delicious every time I have come.
Dips Always Good -(not a huge bread fan, but you gotta try theirs!)
Watermelon Salad tasty
Market Fish always good
Kokkari is fantastic. I had the special - braised pork and it was delicious. Not the healthiest item on the menu, but extremely flavorful and cooked through but very tender. We also tried the greek salad, spanakopita and the octopus dish. The octopus dish is worth trying even if you're squeamish about tentacles.
The ambience is rustic as others have mentioned but it's a nice decor. They have a small but friendly and lively bar. There's ample parking on the weekend in that area (for dinner) so it's easy to drive. Definitely worth going back and great for groups or just a quiet dinner date.
Kokkari has very nice ambience and the staff are prompt and polite, but they serve below average Greek food at best. The Greek salad was okay, but the octopus appetizer was lame, and the saganaki was much too salty and soaked in grease...it was obviously pan-fried rather than lit ablaze with brandy and with an accompanying "Opa!" My wife's fish was very average as well. Definitely not authentic Greek food, but a romantic place I guess you could say. If you think this is good Greek food, you haven't been to Greek Town in Chicago!
If you're a seafood lover, you must have the following appetizers:
Grilled Calamari stuffed with feta, fennel & orange with black olives ($7.50). The stuffing is what really got me. Time to stuff Filipino pusit with feta!
Grilled Octopus with lemon, oregano & olive oil ($11.75). The octopus was surprisingly soft. Grilled octopus is usually tough. That together with the flavorful olive oil they doused it with, made my eyes roll back in my head in delight.
Last but not least there's the "po'-folk" appetizer: fried and abundant. That would be the fried smelt with garlic-potato skordalia & lemon ($7.50) which unfortunately wasn't up to par with fried smelt in cheaper places. It was a bit tough to bite and the exterior not as crisp, but there's a lot of it. Dip it in that yogurt sauce everything comes with and you'll be fine.
Yummoful!!!!
Service was excellent. Even though it was packed and I had no reservations they figured a way to fit me and my friend in.
Decor is lovely.
Food was "spectacular"! But I have to say hands down has to be their lamb ribs... My mouth waters just thinking about them :) In fact me and my friend set a record by ordering 4 orders at one sitting. They served them to us on one plate. Afterwards we grinned at the waiter and said "Umm... so that is one dish. Where are the other 3 we ordered?!?!?"
Overall a great place to eat.
What a great night! We sat near the big open hearth in the gorgeous front room. Highlights were the lamb shank with orzo and the most delicious grilled lamb chops I have ever encountered. Be sure to ask for grilled pita in addition to the bread basket. Service is the best in SF. Huge restaurant and every table was filled on a Tuesday evening. Make a res on Open Table. My mouth is still watering when I think of those lamb chops.
This is tough. Let's see where it goes.
If I exclude the extremely pleasant lunch conversation - and I do because this is about the restaurant, then I can focus on the service, food, ambiance, etc.
The restaurant has a nice feel - great atmosphere. A real contributor to this is the intimacy of the seating (large stuffed chairs and tables not too close together), the location of the bar - way inside, opposite the entrance and the open fire with a spit and an entire animal (assume lamb) roasting on a spit - that's awesome!
The service was adequate. The restaurant is a little more high end, so the expectation is a little higher - this was as I say, adequate.
The food, hmmm. Well, it was...hmmm...OK. Yeah, that's what it was, ok...Just OK. I had lamb kabobs which came with the basic condiments of a gyro. It was in fact, sort of like a deconstructed gyro.
The lemon-chicken-rice soup was a little inferior because the chicken was tough actually.
The desert - a chocolate sunday was good.
Adding it all up...god this is tough. I really want to give a 3.5 but I can't. I have to round down. Still, Kokkari is A-OK and I would go back.
Kokkari has remained firmly planted in my top 5 for years. It is one of the few places that continues to blow me away, trip after trip. The most recent one was no different.
The grilled calamari app is easily one of my all-time favorite apps. My sister was in town and was so blown away that she wants to go here on every trip (not allowed, too many other good spots to check out!). The rest of their apps are awesome as well, I've never really had one I disliked (though I think the octopus is a bit overrated).
The meat, oh the meat. The lamb chops are simply the best you will find. I dare you to show me better. My other favorite dish is their goat stew (seasonal, so may not be on the menu when you go). You must try it. It sounds.....odd, but is simply delicious. The servers will tell you so. And the lamb shank just makes any other you will try pale in comparison. Not sure about the seafood, because I feel like it is almost sacrilege not to order the meat here.....
Service is typically fantastic and was last week. Love it, love it, love it.
successful integration of delectable traditional mediterranean food with a trendy,unaffected California vibe. Kokkari consistently delivers!
( must try items: Psari Psito and Kokinisto me Manestra)
Whole Grilled Meditteranean Seabass - deboned and ready to devour - awesome! The braised collard greens complement the fish perfectly and my girl friend and I ate those fish with gusto (we each ordered our own whole fish).
We had the famous octopus apetizers. I was expecting the same taste/texture of calamari, but it was actually quite different. The texture was almost like chicken, but a little more spongy.
They cooked everything with olive oil - makes me feel a little better even if I did devour a whole sea bass, some octopus and half a slice of chocolate cake all by my little self.
The damage was about $60 per person and we did not even have drinks. Quite pricey... Service was also great, but they did forget to bring my friend's coffee and we had to remind our waiter about it.
Oh, also, I was wondering if maybe there is something we did not know about the place. While waiting for the elevator to go to the bathroom, my friend was chatted up by this guy who asked her what we girls would be doing after dinner. And, two tables away from us, a woman climbed onto a guy's lap and made out with him blatantly.
Hmm.....
This was my second time at Kokkari. The first was not so memorable but this time around was a great experience. The only reservations we where able to get was for 9:30pm on a Thursday evening. Which does say a lot about a restaurant. We arrived almost 30min early and they host said they where waiting for us. They walked us to our table which was near the kitchen. Our waiter was cordial and after a little chit chat. He suggested that he would bring out three starters of his choice for the table to start. We where more then happy due to the fact that everything on the starter menu looks so good its hard to choose. After having a few sips of wine the waiters came by and served us Spanakotiropita ( which I had him repeat because it sounded so fun when he said it) Zucchini Cakes and Chanterelle Mushrooms with Feta Cheese.
The Spanakotiropita was flaky with warm spinach and feta in the inside. The Zucchini cakes crispy outside and soft inside. They where topped with a yogurt sauce and pickled cucumber. The yogurt sauce had a light goat cheese flavor which went well with the crunchy cucumber and crispy zucchini cakes. The chanterelle mushrooms where lightly sauteed witch cubed baked feta cheese. Very light and earthy in flavor. For the main dish I had the Goat Stew. The dish comes in a clay pot casserole which is extremely hot. I had to wait a while before I could dig in. Instead I grabbed a piece of bread and dipped into the sauce while I waited for the dish too cool. Damn was that good! You can taste the cinnamon, salty feta, and all the Mediterranean flavors. The dish is comprised of shredded tender goat meat, orzo pasta, tomato, feta cheese, and artichoke hearts. I wish this dish came with a spritz of lemon. It would of brought out more of the flavors and spices. The next day leftovers I did just that and it tasted much better. My boyfriend had the special which was a trio of pork cooked 72hrs in a pit. It was shoulder, butt, and bacon with Kokkari potatoes(cooked in the pork drippings) and a half lemon wedge. I also had this dish for lunch the next day a long side some corn tortillas. The tender pork and the flavorful drippings with a spritz of lemon was just one great dish. We finished off the meal with dessert Galaktoboureko and some Greek coffee Glyko. The coffee was good not to sweet and did not leave me wired or with a stomach ache. A fine way to finish a meal.
First off if you plan on eating here I highly recommend making reservations. When we arrived my wife and I waited for the rest of our party and settled into the bar for a before dinner cocktail. The bar is uber-chic with some talented bartenders. Nice opener before dinner and a posh hip crowd.
For dinner I ordered the Kokinisto me Manestra which is aromatic braised lamb shank with orzo & myzithra. 1 word EPIC. The lamb shanks were cooked to perfection and tasted fresh and delicious. The staff waited on our every beckoning need, and was kind and courteous. The ambiance here is very elegant yet uber-chic. Overall some of the best greek food I have ever had @ a high end restaurant.
Highly recommended.
4.5 stars
With 994 reviews there isn't much I can add but I really enjoyed my experience at Kokkari.
Service was excellent, we were seated immediately when we walked in and we were seated near the windows and the wood burning stove that had berkshire pork and chicken roasting in it. The decor of the restaurant was very rustsic and comfortable with wood beam vaulted ceilings.
We ordered three appetizers:
Octapodaki tou Yiorgou - grilled octopus with lemon, oregano & olive oil - I didn't know what to expect but this was so good! It was meaty and had a nice flavor to it.
Kalamari - grilled calamari stuffed with feta, fennel & orange with black olives. I also liked this, it was a nice balance of flavors but the only thing was it seemed a little cool in temperature, like they left it sitting there a little too long.
Korrari salad - arugula with feta cheese and tomatoes. I made a mistake in ordering this because this was just a regular salad, nothing really stood out.
We had two of their specials - goat stew with orzo, and berkshire pork with yukon potatoes. Goat stew was flavorful and orzo had soaked up the goat juices and was delicious. Berkshire pork was tender and it came with pork rinds and bacon.
We also ordered the dessert: Galaktoboureko - semolina custard in filo with sour cherry spoon sweet & crème fraîche ice cream. Oh my goodness, this was really delicious - the custard was so creamy and smooth and wasn't too sweet. I'm not normally a fan of custard but this was divine!
I will definitely come back to Kokkari to try their other dishes - I was eyeing the lamb shank at the table next to ours and is next on my list!
This has definitely become my go to spot in SF, and my longtime favorite. So many fabulous things to choose from on the menu, a cozy atmosphere, especially in the front room nearer to the bar, and I always leave satisfied, if not carted out carefully in a wheelbarrow from overeating.
Best of all, you can eat grilled octopus here, freak your friends out, and be sent straight to heaven in temporarily in the process. This salad cannot be missed.
Or make your friends squirm more when I giant plate of steaming little fried fish, heads and all, plop down in front of you, to be devoured one by one.
And once youve sated on surf, head toward land, and rack up some lamb.
This was one of the best meals of my life.
I wanted something light, so I had watermelon & feta salad, peach salad, and a berry bread pudding.
It all sounds so simple, but it was extraordinary, perhaps because it was so simple. Everything was fresh and seasoned perfectly.
A must next time I visit San Francisco.
This was an amazing birthday meal. No wonder we have never been able to walk in and get a table. The lamb's tongue appetizer with butter and caper sauce, the 1/2 order of deep fried smelt with very garlicky skordalia, the 1/2 order of cinnamon spiced goat stew, the perfect lamb chops, tasty glasses of Grenache... it was all wonderful. Then it got better.
For dessert, there was baklava ice cream. Why doesn't Ben and Jerry's make this flavor? It is my favorite flavor ever.
Went there with a bunch of girl friends. Convenient valet parking ($8)
Great appetizers, nice Greek wines
Had their Napa Valley Goat stew for my entree.
Of course, their food is fantastic, ambiance is a bit loud but nice nevertheless
Some vegetarian options, but you had better be a meat eater if you eat here
One star less because they had a 100% markup for wines - and I mean 100% markup on restaurant prices not retail prices
Overall if you're coughing up around $100 per person, this place is good.
The best things about this restaurant was the service and Zucchini cakes! I could eat many more of those little, fried guys just about any time of day.
My meal was so-so unfortunately, a bit too oily for my tastes
My Greek coffee made me grow hair in places I already have too much
This place is SO amazing. I love Greek/Mediterranean food, and I had to try this place after much research and yelping. The atmosphere of the restaurant is really nice and romantic...the perfect place for a dinner party or an intimate date. Our party of two had reservations already and got seated right away. Everything we ordered tasted AMAZING. Unfortunately I don't exactly remember what we ordered but it was all very good. Parking is a bitch but there is valet for $10(?) which is well worth it, I think.
Went here the other night with my family for my bday dinner. Very happy with the restaurant. You have to get a reservation though, and probably a week in advance for a good time, so it seems best suited for special occasions. The seating in the front by the wood oven is vastly superior to the back, where its not quite as romantic. So if you can reserve seating area in your reservation then do that, but either way, its not that big of a deal.
For appetizers, we got the prawns and meatballs. The prawns were good, but not as amazing as some people on here have posted. Although the sauce was delicious and perfect to dip the bread in. The meatballs were really good as well, and same goes for the sauce haha.
For entrees, I got the goat stew. It was delicious. I tried some of the chicken and potatoes dish as well. The potatoes were average, but the chicken was moist and very good. The best entree at our table was the lamb shank. Holy cow, it was huge and the meat fell off the bone. I tried some and it was fabulous. If not for the taste, just the appearance. Its one of those dishes that when they bring it to the table, everyone elses eyes get big and they are like oh man i should have gotten that!
I got teh flourless chocolate cake. It was good but nothing special. Can't speak about any of the other desserts. Overall, I was very pleased. The service was a little slow, but thats not always a bad thing, especially if there is a good ambiance and good appetizers. Would have really loved some butter or olive oil to go with the bread tho lol
Goat stew! Flatbread! Shrimp and Riblette apps! Tatkizi! Terramasalata! Pita Bread! Amazing Service! Everything is absolutely incredible.
Wow! If you can get in here, do so! I walked up without a reservation on a recent Tuesday night just after 9:30 p.m. and still had to wait a bit to get in. In other words, make a reservation! (You can do so on line). The service was fantastic. Knowledgeable servers who actually know and care about the food and wine, who are attentive without being annoying. It would have been fun to sit in this nice setting and chat with these smart, friendly people even without the food, but then the food came. YIPPEE! This is some seriously good grub. Octopus appetizer was ultra fresh and tasty, firm without being rubbery- blew me away. Moussaka was out of this world.
Wine list is extensive, but very much on the pricey side without very many affordable options, but there are one or two, and those wines are perfectly good. Enjoy!
I absolutely love this restaurant. I'd even go so far as to say that it's one of my faves in CA and I think that's a pretty big compliment in a city full of great restaurants.
I love the ambiance too, it's sort of a jazzed up rustic look, with dim lighting and yummy smells bouncing of the walls and beams of this place! You can come all dolled up, or come in a pair of jeans and shirt. You can come for a romantic date or a nice dinner with the family. Anything goes. The hostesses are warm and friendly, and the service is impeccable. For all this and more, Kokkari definitely deserves 5 stars!
Among some of my favorites are the gigantes, zucchini cakes, Kokkari potatoes, fresh spreads and pita, the lamb, chicken and the moussaka. I'm not a huge fan of lamb, but this is just about the only place I'll eat it.
I've come with friends, co-workers, and family, and it's definitely always a crowd pleaser.
Speaking of which...I definitely need to come back soon!
P.S. How had I not already written a review for this place!
Service here has gotten terrible. Waiters are arrogant and ignore patrons. Eyes were literally rolled when we tried to order at the bar. Women in particular get poor attention. There are too many restaurants in this area to treat customers so poorly. We're not going back any time soon, and we live on Jackson Square.
Location: Downtown SF
Parking: tons of garages in the area, we taxied
Service: BEST. SERVICE. EVER.
Food: Excellent, we started with Melitzanosalata, Taramosalata, Tzatziki with grilled pita (YUM) and Ravioli and a lamb special for dinner.
Drink Selection: Excellent wine selection - we had Duckhorn Merlot.
Price: You get what you pay for, worth every penny
Recommend: YESYESYES
This is a really good restaurant and good for business lunches and dinners. It's classy and quiet enough to have conversation with the individuals you are having the meal with. I've had dinner here with a large group in their back room and its really nice. The back room is a score, its near the kitchen and fire place and is really welcoming and cozy. The atmosphere is great, too.
Never been to a better Greek restaurant.
What I liked most about Kokkari was the ambiance and actual site. It's a very chic restaurant with a very hip-San-Francisco feel and crowd. We went here for Lily R.'s birthday and we had a great time. The moment you walk in, you smell the intoxicating aroma of food. I have to admit I was really excited to eat here but fell a little disappointed with the actual dinner.
We started with Greek "munchie" food and had the house-made grilled pita with an array of different spreads (Melitzanosalata, Taramosalata, Tzatziki, Favosalata and Tirosalata). Try saying THAT five times in a row! LOL
This was satisfying as it pretty much what you would expect for a simple starter. Lily and I ordered the rotisserie chicken. I had seen these babies spinning around and around on the spit and I just HAD to try it! I was surprised because the chicken really wasn't as juicy as I had hoped. It was still flavorful but not amazing.
Our friends had the pacific halibut steak as their entree and I wasn't too impressed with that as well. The tomato, olive sauce that came with it, was a bit on the salty side. Our service was slow. So slow that they brought over four glasses of complimentary proseco to accommodate for our wait. That was nice of them.
Even though it wasn't the BEST meal of my life, I still want to go back and possibly try something else. There's still hope for you YET Kokkari ;)!!
Sorry, but no.... I have Greek family and I know Greek food so I decided to go to Kokkari after numerous friends recommended it. The wine BTG I was served smelled of acetone, obviously the bottle had been opened for a couple of days. Then, the beer my bf ordered was later filled with water by a forgetful waiter. The shrimp appetizer was good, but our entrees weren't! I had the lamb shank which had a red sauce that tasted of canned pasta. My bf had a rissotto... hmm...wasn't too bad, but not for a restaurant like Kokkari. We weren't too pleased with what we had eaten so we ordered dessert...couldn't go wrong with a Greek dessert! Had the yogurt... it was ok....I guess....kinda wierd.... sooo what happened?? I think it might have been an off night, I truly want to believe that. This restaurant has so many good reviews and friends insist that this restaurant is amazing.. so Kokkari, I promise I will give you another chance. I will change my choices and forget about my prior experience.
P.S. Something positive I can say about Kokkari is that it has very very prompt service and a beautiful interior design.
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Greek
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Category: Greek
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Greek
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