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Categories: Greek, Mediterranean
Neighborhood: Queen AnneMon. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Tue-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
"Get ready! Get set! GO! With an empty stomache! And a fat charge card! Love everything I hav eever had there : from the Greek salad to the…" read more »
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A co-worker suggested this place when a group of us went out for appetizers. It's apparently a family-run restaurant (and my co-worker says they shut down for a few weeks every fall when they all go on vacation; somehow I find that quaint and charming) and they have a very large range of dishes available. The space is small and cozy, but it's entirely worth the wait, if there is one.
Our group of five ordered an assortment of appetizers and found that to be the best idea to allow us to sample many of their wares, especially as several in the group were vegetarian. My favorites were (I wish I had written names down, but I didn't) the calamari in spicy tomato sauce, the kalamata olive dip, the skordalia, and the fried cheese (they make a big show of lighting it on fire in front of everyone in the restaurant, and shout "Opa!"). The pita was fluffy and warm and plentiful.
I don't get to Lower Queen Anne very often, but I may make a special trip for Panos. Yum!
This restaurant is small and warm. You walk in and there is instantly a family owned family worked feeling there whether that is true or not, I do not know.
I have to admit - I did not even look at the menu, my date ordered for us both. We got Humus and Sausage Links which I believe must have been appetizers. Both were good. Portions were small, but adequate.
I would recommend this place over others in QA for sure.
I went to Panos because it's near SIFF Cinema. Everything we ordered was delicious: soft, fresh pita bread, kopanisti dip, yigantes yhani (giant butter beans), kota souvlas (a house specialty chicken dish). I especially like that they indicate the significance or regional origin of each dish on the menu -- there are dishes from Crete, Athens, Corfu, Macedonia and other places. There are a lot of appetizers so you could have fun just sampling.
Definitely worth a return visit.
I loved everything I have eaten here. Best Greek restaurant in Seattle. And I'm Greek, so trust me
This is the best Greek food in the greater Seattle area that I've found. Great skordalia, spanakopita, white bean salad, and most of the lamb dishes are very good, though I usually don't get the one cooked inside the bread as it's too filling and I like to have a taste of as many things as possible when I visit. Their baklava is also very good.
For those reviews complaining about the cost per portion size being to high, I completely disagree. Two people can order 5-6 appetizer size plates with 2 orders of pita and be quite full for around $45+tip. Given the excellent quality of the food this is priced very reasonably.
I love this place. It is a great Greek restaurant. The food is amazing. Its the closest to tasting like the real thing. The atmosphere is also great on the inside. I just wish it was a bit cheaper. The prices add up quickly for dinner. If the prices were just a bit cheaper I would give it a full 5 stars. Otherwise this is one of my favorite Greek restaurants in Seattle.
We've been fans since 2000, when we moved here. Love, love love the kopinisti and pita. Love it so much that I've been known to have it followed by the kota kopinisi (chicken with the same sauce). If you're familiar, you can imagine how far vampires would stay from me after that! The place was tiny, but has expanded to serve more guests. The atmosphere is warm. The food is delicious. The wine is flowing. Great value on the entrees. $15 bucks for meat, starch, veggies and a salad?
I love it here. I love garlic, oregano, peppers, beans and greek olive oil too, and retsina! If it's a first date, and you think you're going to get to make out with your date later... um, well, make sure you share everything! So rich and so delicious... then go home and have a glass of barbayanni ouzo! (everyone should have a bottle of that at home!)
Oh, and to the person who bitched that it closes for weeks at a time, so what? Why wouldn't you if you could, go home to Greece for vacation? And if it doesn't fill you up? perhaps it's time to monitor your food intake... did you actually reference McDonalds in your review? Gross.
This was good good good! The evening began by an attempt to parallel park, and accidentally brushing the cook's car while making the attempt. He laughed when he came inside and teased us that he would be the one cooking our food. Apparently he meant that he was going to make it extra spectacular, but that's just what it was. The menu was pretty big, so or appies, we had (lots of) pita and hummus as well as tzatziki. I then ordered a main dish that consisted of buttery garlicky shrimp laying over a bed of skordalia. It was too good to be true. The cousin had the same dish, but he replaced the shrimp with a kalamari steak. We didn't know what to expect with that one, but it was so yummy. A nice slab of kalamari (uncut), which was seasoned to perfection. He had a Greek beer, and I a Greek riesling. All, just too good. We'll be back again.
Oh, and the interior..it's decorated like your Grandma's house with tons of little memorabilia from throughout Greece plastering every open space. So cutesy!
Lots of great reviews so had to give it a try. The Lamb was the recommendation so i tried it, it was way undercooked and tasted rare. If you eat lamb, they have a tendency to be gamey to start. It was a bit much for me to handle so i asked if they could cook it a bit more. The waiter (husband) got all defensive and stated this was how it's suppose to be. I wasn't trying to offend anyone but if i can't eat a bloody piece of lamb sitting a pool of blood i couldn't eat it. So please take it back and cook it a bit more so at least it's edible.
Service = ok
Ambiance = Family owned
Food = Actually good if you take out the lamb
Price = $$$ a bit steep
Crowd = lots of Greek
Personal Favorite = Nice runned family joint
Worst = price, undercook lamb
Meal for two = $60
I was brought to Panos by my Greek friend who is my now long distance cohort in dining. Now that he lives in Ohio, he plans his trips itenararies with specific restaurants for us to visit together.
Panos always makes the cut.
It gives me that warm fuzzy ," I wish I was born Greek" feeling from the minute I open the door. It's tiny and sweet. The menu is huge and not ordinary . My advice would be to order many things... but always ALWAYS ..order lamb.
You'll never be sorry you did.
This restaurant is the kind of place that I only want to take people that don't think Greek food is all about the Gyro. Know what I mean?
Opa!
Let me just say I grew up in Panos' home town, Nafplio, so I can vouch 100% for the authenticity. Every time I'm back in Washington, I try to go up to Panos' restaurant for a little taste of home.
The saganaki is PHENOMENAL, as are the tzatziki and all the other appetizers. There's good greek wine, a great family vibe and delicious lamb. It's always hard to replicate ethnic foods when you're not in the country of origin because you're dealing with different meat and produce. Panos, however, does an excellent job!
Food and service were both quite nice, however I have to say, most of the entree's are all kind of the same.. if you have had one, you have kind of had the others also.. hence the 4 stars..
Pita is fantasic, very good apps. and a nice atmosphere.
Overall, I will be back.
The food at Kleftiko Taverna is a sort of "niche" Greek cuisine, representing local dishes from the founder's home region. If you go, don't be too disappointed that your favorite typical American Greek food is not on the menu (though they do have the ever-popular spanakopita). Try something you've never heard of: it might just be your new favorite comfort food!
The vegetarian selection is extensive, flavorful and delicious. I recommend getting about 1 1/2 or 2 "appetizers" per person. That's as much or more food as an entree, and cheaper! I do have to snark a little about paying for pita bread, but $1.50 of pita was enough for 4 people.
The perfect way to eat at the taverna is to bring friends who like sharing, order an array of delicious appetizers, and munch your way through a relaxing evening.
Kitshy and cozy, Kleftiko is the perfect neighborhood spot for a few friends to gather. Everyone around me was engaged, having warm conversation about travel, about past experiences, about what excites them. With the door wide open, and sweet summer air filtering in, Kleftiko offered up a great dining experience.
I was introduced to the place by a friend who has lived in Greece previously. Great for vegetarians, I was impressed by the size of the menu, which my friend said was the most authentic one he's seen in the city. They serve his favorite cheap Greek wine, Retsina, that he drank while he was living there. As for our meal in Seattle, the pita bread was fresh and warm, and our appetizers came garnished with fresh fruits and herbs. We enjoyed a plate of melitzabnasalata (eggplant cooked in spices and onions)and downed our tzatziki and spicy feta dips. We watched in amazement as the waitress lit plate after plate of saganaki aflame.
The staff was easygoing. The place looked and felt great. The food was filling, spicy and fresh.
i can't comprehend how every single person wouldn't give this place 5 stars. i just snuck in there for dinner a couple weeks ago as i know they leave for a month to go drinking, fishing and greeking back in greece and was reminded of how EPIC this place is. they are a wonderful family and i love that they are always busy and that seattle is supporting this fantastic family ran gem. if you are lucky enough to get the daughter of the owners as your server, just let her order for you each and every step of the way and hide your menus from yourselves and let her pick (and charmingly correctly pronounce everything you have been stumbling over in your head). THE FOOD IS REIGHTOUS
The food was excellent here but a bit pricier than I would expect. The portions are very small and I expect more from a greek place. We had one of the chicken dishes and one of the shrimp dishes with balsamic. I liked the chicken a lot more and the tatziki was excellent here. Skip the baked olives in wine - they were not that great at all. The sauces are excellent here. The spanikopita was really good but again a very small portion. This place does an amazing amount of volume for a kitchen the size of closet. They are talented at what they do - just small portions and high prices holding me back from a higher rating.
* Just a little update as I brought another group of friends last night to Panos
Being Greek, I've eaten a lot of Greek food in many homes, and in many restaurants, and of course in Greece. Overall, the food is amazing. I always do the ordering of mezethes (appetizers), which is what I recommend people to do. Most of the dishes I love. Of the dishes I've had, only the meatballs I am not crazy about.
I will say that I am a bit surprised by some of the negative feedback here. Maybe they need me to order. So on that note, I think I should provide a list of basics for people to choose from. You will see some entrees listed. Don't worry about that, they take a couple bucks off the entree price and don't serve rice/salad that normally comes with an entree. Tell Alexandra (Panos's wife, she's a real sweetheart) that you'd like to order from "Kosta's list" (that's me, she'll know who you are talking about). Now now the list:
pita
tzatziki (yogurt, garlic sauce, great for dipping pita)
saganaki (cheese lit on fire, comes with the customary "Opa!")
horiatiki salata (Greek salad)
loukaniko lemonato (sausage)
arni aliada (lamb dish)
arni youvetsi (lamb dish)
melitzana psiti feta (roasted eggplant w/ feta)
arni klefiko sto psomi (lamb dish)
That should get people started. After that, just exchange an appetizer with something else, but that list is a guarantee for a great meal. The more people you have the better, as you can order more plates of what you like, and if there is something you don't like, then everyone just tries a sample, but moves on to the next dish. Also, have Alexandra or Panos recommend a wine for you.
One more thing. Everything, I mean everything, is fresh. Panos goes and shops every morning for what he cooks that night, as he is limited by refridgeration space.
Kali orexi! (bon appetite)
I took a friend, who was dying for Greek food, to Panos because of all the marvelous reviews here on Yelp. Little did I know she loves moussaka and that is not on the menu! Neither was the souvlaki that was her second choice. Not a good start! Everyone loved the saganaki and the service was on top of giving us suggestions since nothing looked familiar. The entrees run from $14-17 and includes a salad. I got the pot-roasted lamb that was so tender and covered with gooey melted cheese over orzo. It was great! My two friends got a highly recommended chicken dish (can't remember the name!) with feta, mint and olive oil and were very, very underwhelmed. They left feeling like it was a bit overpriced and too simple. It looked like something you would just make at home.
Bottomline, if you are looking for the standard Greek fare you can find at any Greek restaurant then this is probably not your place. Since this is my first try I still give it three stars for my meal but I can't say I will be running back there any time soon.
UTTERLY DISAPPOINTING!!!!!
I live around the corner and this place seems to stay pretty busy and as I always wondered if it was because of the location, because the restaurant is rarely open (the owner frequently shuts down the restaurant for 6-8 weeks to go on vacation) or if the food was out-of-this world. Sadly, it's not reason #3.
I have to agree with almost everything El G. said in his review. I've never had a bad dining experience at a Greek restaurant, but I guess there's a first time for everything. Here's a brief summary of my dining experience.
Portions= **SMALL** Who ever left a Greek restaurant still hungry? Our portions were so small, my boyfriend and I thought about going to eat at McDonald's afterwards.
Price= $$$ expensive for the portions
Service= Poor. The owner spent the entire time sitting next to us, drinking his beer, telling us how great his food was and then shooing people away who walked through the front door, because he wanted to close over an hour early. He kept telling us how lucky we were, because he decided we would be the last ones to be served that night. The server and owner were also very impatient and rude to my boyfriend, because he hadn't had Greek food before and kept asking questions on the menu.
Food= 2 out of 10. It looked like and had the texture of a Greek frozen dinner that heated. The food was definitely just simply re-heated and then put on the tiny clay plate.
YUMMMMMM!!!
went here with some out-of-towners for dinner... get there early kids because it gets crowded fast!! got here about 5:30, sat right away, and got food right away which was in contrary to what i've read from other yelpers : )
so much on the menu that i don't even think i read through it all!! tried the hummus, the meatballs, and of course had to have them with the pita bread... mmm... soft chewy yummy pita bread goodness... i dig it!! : )
i had the chicken dish that was the first one listed... sorry folks that's all i can tell ya... cannot remember the name for the life of me... i do, however, recall trying to pronounce all the names after a few *cough* glasses of the house white wine... i know i got a few laughs from the people at my table as well as everyone around me!! : D
great for small get-together and worth the wait that i didn't have to do this time around!!
OPA!!!!! : )
One of my favorite places in Seattle. Good food, great atmosphere, and the service has always been excellent. I've been in groups of up to 8 people for dinner, but I wouldn't recommend groups larger than 4 due to the small size of the restaurant. Four of us racked up a $500 bill one night when the wine was flowing. Good times.
If you are on a tight budget, order a couple of appetizers, a glass of vino, split a greek salad and an entree. Two Seattlites will be full (one midwesterner).
I'm often embarrassed about the "opa!" presentation the comes with the ordering of the flaming Saganaki, but it is so damn tasty.
My high school friend Jon and I went here for a laid back meal and gabbing. He called to see if we needed a reservation and he got the "ehh please, just two of you?" .
As for the food, it was pretty good. I made the mistake of ordering another set of the delicious pita and tzahiki (or however you spell it) and was soo full halfway through. we also got the octopus appetizer which was tasty but too strong to finish (lots of vinegar) and the fried feta (opa!) which was very good. we got a lamb main to share and it was very tender. a fun little place with decent greek food. wasnt bowled over, but it was good.
I agree with the other reviews, I am glad I was introduced to this place. It's my favorite greek restaurant in Seattle. It's a husband and wife team, he's in in the kitchen and she's waiting tables. On the several occasions I have been there, she's speaking Greek to the Greek customers. Good sign if Greek people come here. The Athenian salad with chicken is great, love the calamari steaks and shrimp skordalia too. Both eggplant dishes (hot and cold) are great. I like it here, great food, and very nice staff. Panos and wife sent over a free dessert to our table and sat with us after they closed and chatted a little. Very personal.
What to do, what to do? Celebrating my first big girl job on a windy Friday evening.. Let's go to Panos Greek Taverna Kleftiko! Let's wait outside and see what the wind does to our hair in 30 minutes... Let's get seated by the cutest, most welcoming elderly man this side of Mr. Rogers! To be sure, this is authentic food, genuine appreciation of customers and the best Greek beer one could ask for!
I don't remember the exact dishes we ordered but I do remember not needing to-go boxes and leaving with a smile on our face and a promise to return. We haven't yet, but when we go back I want to get the flash fried cheese so I can shreak "opa!" with the best of them!
Review #6 (in my quest for good Greek food)
OK, I have no idea what the hype is all about? Seriously folks? What is the deal here? Are you getting free meals to review this place? What is it that YOU think was so great? Was it the mediocre portions that brings you back or the ridiculous prices for the lame ass food that was served?
Tonight we had dinner there. I had to check twice that we were in the right place because all of the waitresses were Chinese, which made my date feel right at home since she is also. We sat and looked at the menu. Trust me, I know what is good and nothing here came close. First off shame on them for asking money for bread. That comes FREE in ALL places I know. Ohh wait, there was no bread...just pita. WTF.
We skipped the appetizers after looking around at all the lame ass portions they been serving at other tables. We ordered my favorite lamb meal which came in a tiny clay plate. No joke folks. It was tiny. Nothing else...just a tiny bit of rice and some carrots. Where is the lemon potatoes, where are the fried potatoes and where the hell is my mousaka? You call this place Greek? Shame on them. It was boring!!!
The best and only fun part was watching the Chinese girls torch cheese(saganaki). Ohh boy. If you seek Greek go elsewhere. Next.
I used to think that Costas Opa in Fremont was the best Greek restaurant in Seattle. Then I ate at Panos Kleftiko Greek Taverna. I've visited Panos twice and each and every bite has been mouth-wateringly delicious. The menu is appetizer heavy - a good thing when everything smells and looks so good that you want to try it all. The dolmades and pita bread w/tzatziki almost make a whole meal. My meat-eating companions always enjoy this one sausage dish on the menu.
The atmosphere just about screams Mediterranean taverna: slightly dim lighting, garlic cloves hanging from the ceiling, photos of beautiful landscapes on the walls. The place is so small that you can see back into the kitchen, where Panos himself gets the cheese ready to be lit on fire out in the dining area.
If you've ever thought you'd like to try Greek food, eat here and watch it become your new favorite cuisine. If it already is, eat here and raise your standards even higher!
I came here with a colleague while we were on business last week. It was a pleasant surprise to wander down from the Hampton Inn to find this family owned restaurant.
It was only 6pm and most of the tables were taken but we got the last table. We each ordered a different lamb dish and the lamb was delicious! Very tender and flavorful. Their pita was hot and fresh. My colleague had several glasses of wine. The glasses seemed a bit small, maybe that's why she had so many. LOL. We ended the meal with Greek coffee and baklava. The service was quick and very friendly. I will come back next time I'm in Seattle.
in short - if the food had been as good as the service, I would be back again. Unfortunately it wasn't. Not to say Panos isn't worth another visit. The service is truly great...very friendly and yes, very greek. Cozy establishment as well. The food on the other-hand was nothing spectacular. Appetizers were decent, tasty but nothing mind-blowing. The main meals were a mixed bag. Our chicken dish was quite plain, and the garlic aioli sauce was VERY rich. If you like garlic this isn't a problem of course, but beware. The lamb dish was tasty, very tender with a cheesy topping. Lots of oil...(the bottom of the plate was covered) but I suppose that's greek.
I would probably recommend Panos to more if the prices were less. $16 for a small plate (but rich flavors) that is only mediocre isn't enough for me to recommend. Go for the atmosphere and very friendly service.
"We are closed, but for you lovely ladies, we are open!"
This from the adorable Greek man who, I'm assuming, runs the place. What a welcome! You know he has the same lines for all his customers, but that's okay. It's still cute.
And the food -- yum! The pita bread is super fresh and hot, the hummus was awesome, the Greek salad...mmmm...the best was some sort of fresh cheese flambe.
OPA!
Panos Kleftiko, greek for " Den of Theives", is most definetly the best Greek cusine you will find in the northwest. From the outside it's very unassuming, but once inside you will be treated to a fun, friendly place delightfully removed from the outside world.
We usually order a myriad of appetizers and share, as they are quite large, this with the wine, is a perfect meal. The entrees are also very good.
There's usually a wait to get a table, but there's a nice pub next door, perfect for waiting and use to the panos crowd.
Should be 4.5 stars...
The food in this cozy, family restaurant is my favorite by far! The lamb (not in the bread bowl) is so tender, as is the chicken they cook wrapped in foil. The appetizers are wonderful starters and fun to pass around the table.
I suggest you speak with the owner (Pano himself) and ask him to recommend appetizers and wine for your meal.
When fully staffed all are in a wonderful mood, and the owner is able to help serve and even strike up short conversations with guests, but when understaffed and busy, it may be hard to get the warm hospitality for this family restaurant.
When the back section is open, they are able to serve more guests. Be prepared to wait, they do not take reservations and are not open on sunday. Since the size of the unit is so small, you have to stand outside and wait, but it's worth it!
Oh, this place is good! We were there last Friday night during a long weekend visit to Seattle. It looks and feels like a good taverna in a Greek village. To contrast, we have usually gone to Costa's in Fremont, but find it too big and chaotic to be hugely enjoyable. Panos is small and reasonably intimate but not too quiet.
The food is well prepared and flavorable. I especially loved the lamb roast. If I lived in the Queen Anne neighborhood I would return regularly. Now that we know about it, we'll be back on every trip.
Small, quaint and romantic. We usually just order the house red wine and small plates to share. We love this place! Everything we have tried on the menu has been delicious- the large white beans, the endless pita, meatballs....A wonderful experience!
Hands down my favorite Greek place in town. The fried cheese is tasty, tasty, tasty!! It can get pretty pricey, though. I would give it 4.5 stars.
I was on the fence about giving Panos 3 stars, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt for a few reasons:
First, a big portion of my dissatisfaction was waitress induced: I ended up feeling rushed to order after I asked her for a recommendation on a second dish, she let me order a special that it turned out they were out of, I just accepted her suggested replacement without really reading it very closely, she delivered one of my dishes to the wrong table, and she forgot to deliver my wine until I asked for it again. I was kind of left wishing I hadn't asked her for any menu recommendations. But she was very friendly and apologetic about everything, she was very attentive, and the service (except for the forgotten wine) was super fast.
Speaking of which, I'd definitely recommend steering clear of their wines by the glass: You end up with a european water glass of wine for $7.
But the food: There was only one of me, so I was confined to the appetizers, and while what I had was tasty and well prepared, I ended up with dishes that I just wasn't in the mood for thanks to the aforementioned ordering difficulties. The pita was pretty fantastic, though.
And the final reason I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt was because of conversation with the bartender next door at The Great Nabob: How "Panos does it right" seemed to be one of his primary topics of conversation besides The Mariner's. He could not stop talking about Panos, and when someone (who he presumably knew) sat at the bar with some Panos take out, the bartender started mooching.
Some trivia I learned from the bartender: Panos is apparently the only chef, so if he's sick or on vacation, the restaurant is closed; Panos apparently used to be partners in six or seven restaurants around town, but apparently he had some trouble with his partners, let himself get bought out, and now focuses on this restaurant; And apparently Panos gets there early and starts preparing ingredients long before they open.
I'd definitely give them another chance, preferably with some friends so I can sample more of the menu.
The Hummus was the best I've ever had. Service was warm and friendly. Small place with good vibes.
Ok, are there multiple Panos Greek restaurants in Queen Anne? Cause I surely didn't go to the same restaurant that every else here reviewed. Honestly, I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.
Every single item we had was sub-par. Even the bread was weak. I didn't know that was possible for a real greek resturant.
To confirm my low opinion, I was fortunately there with a friend who's family is from Rhodes and has worked in a greek restaurant his whole life. He too was severely unimpressed by every he tried.
Really, yelp totally failed me on this place. To the blacklist with Panos!
Great Greek Food!
Cozy atmosphere.
Great tasting food.
Love it.
Go in a small crowd, you'll love the food and enjoy your evening.
Drink wine, try the keftedes, try whatever they recommend. Everything is good.
I'm giving Panos 4 stars since it has been a bit since my last venture there
so will stay on the conservative end until I can more reasonably refresh my opinion. That said, I LOVED my last meal there!
I love the atmosphere as it is small (tiny really) and intimate. With such close proximity to the other tables, dinner felt more like a party as the night went on. Flaming Saganaki (Opa!) and some wonderful meat filled bread dish. Don't remember what is was called...not because of the amount of wine we had so much as we got lost in a delirium of deliciousness! We affectionately refer to it as "Meat Bread". (Not articulate or creative mind you, but truly delicious!) Sadly, there was no more room for dessert - and folks...that's sayin' something!
I've experienced the odd times of closure (?) but feel every attempt is well worth it overall. If its open, lucky you...or, better yet, lucky me!
Neighborhood: Queen Anne
Category: Greek
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