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Authentic Greek vibes in the heart of Nanaimo! If you're craving tender, flavour-packed souvlaki and the creamiest tzatziki of your life, Asteras is the place to be. Located in the charming Old City Quarter, this hidden gem serves up traditional Greek dishes in the coziest atmosphere. Everything we tried was a 10/10. Pro tip: Don't leave without trying their tzatziki. It's THAT good! And, make sure to reserve before going on weekends because they tend to be packed. Parking 4.5/5 Food 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 Service 5/5
Beautiful little gem tucked away in a Victorian property downtown. Great service. -- we ordered pita bread, Nagasaki, and a spot prawn appetizer special. The bread was top notch - crispy, great texture. The sauce on the prawn special was just heavenly. Dip the bread in it - wow! Two of us ordered moussaka and a third ordered Alfredo fettuccine. Alfredo sauce was spot on. Great flavour. The moussaka - it was OK, but I wouldn't call it great. The flavour and texture doesn't really stand out for me. The restaurant treated us to a dessert on the house. I love that. It was really really good too - I'm not sure what it is exactly, some kind of cream on top of honey drizzled filo dough strips. Overall we liked it and would go back.
One of My All-Time Favorite Dining Experiences..., A Must-Visit on the island of Nanaimo! As someone who travels often and dines at restaurants around the world, I rarely hand out 5-star reviews..., but Asteras absolutely deserves it. From the warm atmosphere to the attentive servers and incredible food, everything about this place was outstanding. The owner personally came to my table, something he seems to do for every guest, and asked if I knew the specials. I told him everything looked great, but being from Chicago (home of some of the best food anywhere), I was hoping for something memorable. His response: "I will prepare a great dinner for you." And wow... he delivered. He brought out a plate of roasted lamb and seafood pasta..., both of which were phenomenal. The roasted lamb was without question the most tender, juiciest, and flavorful I've ever had. The seafood pasta was equally impressive, packed with incredibly fresh seafood and rich flavors that didn't overpower the ingredients. From start to finish, this meal was unforgettable. I'll absolutely try to make
With the lovely K out for dinner with clients I was dining solo, which is always an adventure. Astera's didn't disappoint in the food, ambiance or speed of service. My chicken souvlaki was plentiful, nicely cooked and came out quite quickly. For $26 however I would have expected the pita to be included, but it was and extra $3 for two pieces. I passed as I wouldn't have been able to eat both as well as my meal. The house wine was tasty, and I am certain I got more than my half litre, but who would complain. Emily took great care of me, stopping in to top up my wine and make sure I was well cared for. The other staff was also very helpful, and the owner stopped in a couple of times as well. Next time we are in Nanaimo we will have to stop in as K loves lamb chops.
Astera's is located inside a residential house that has been remodeled to a restaurant. It keeps it's warmth and welcoming atmosphere with the help of the friendly staff and amazing meals. Highly recommend reservations as they fill out quickly and get quite busy. We came by early on a Wednesday (like the moment they opened) and was lucky enough to get seated with a generous time limit. Listen to the specials, as there may be something that catches your ear (and your stomach). We had the shrimp appetizer special, pita bread, roasted lamb and the chicken pasta special. The shrimp appetizer was amazing, basically tons of shrimp in a feta a tomoto sauce and the size of a meal so there was plenty to share between two. Roasted lamb is slow roasted until it falls off the bone and served with a pile each of rice, potato, greek salad and veggies. The pasta was amazing also, but we couldn't finish that much food so had a whole box of take away at the end of the night. Our server even gave us some restaurant recommendations when she heard we would be travelling to Tofino later on. Such nice people! Great atmosphere, amazing service, delicious food and large portions. Couldn't possibly ask for more.
Really delicious Greek food, on par with some of my favourite Greek restaurants in Vancouver and Toronto. The restaurant is super busy, so I'd highly recommend making a reservation a week or two in advance. They have a lot of tables and staff, but even then it took us quite awhile to be seated despite our 8 pm reservation. A couple of parties that arrived before us were seated first, for some reason. Service is very friendly - they are just super busy so things can move slowly. The food came relatively fast as well. We opted to sit in their outdoor patio - it's very spacious and pretty with the lights. We ordered the lamb souvlaki and fried calamari dinner. The lamb was super tender, flavourful and had a delicious grilled taste. Although I asked for the souvlaki to be done medium-rare, it came a bit more medium, yet it was still very tender so I didn't mind. The calamari were crispy and not too oily, and there was a generous portion. Both dishes came with rice, Greek salad, roasted potatoes, tzatziki, and carrots. The Greek salad was very good and had lots of feta. I was not the biggest fan of the carrots, and the roasted potatoes were okay. The rice was a bit disappointing, normally I find Greek rice to be super flavourful but Astera's rice is pretty bland. However the other parts of the dish are flavorful enough to make up for it. If I ever visit Nanaimo again, I'd definitely aim to visit Astera's again! It's totally worth the hype.
12 days ago
Well there's a reason this has so many 5 star reviews for so many years. They do what they do well!! Make a reservation for this lovely place. It's cozy but not cramped and the service is beyond excellent. This was a special treat with some wonderful friends. The roasted lamb was fall-off-the-bone amazing. We also had a few shrimp appetizers which were incredible. So much attention to the flavor details. Very Wow! read more
Authentic Greek vibes in the heart of Nanaimo! If you're craving tender, flavour-packed souvlaki and the creamiest tzatziki of your life, Asteras is the place to be. Located in the charming Old City Quarter, this hidden gem serves up traditional Greek dishes in the coziest atmosphere. Everything we tried was a 10/10. Pro tip: Don't leave without trying their tzatziki. It's THAT good! And, make sure to reserve before going on weekends because they tend to be packed. Parking 4.5/5 Food 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 Service 5/5 read more
7 months ago
Food was amazing but the service was better! Love the conversion of a house into a restaurant. Very unique. Make a reservation. read more
Beautiful little gem tucked away in a Victorian property downtown. Great service. -- we ordered pita bread, Nagasaki, and a spot prawn appetizer special. The bread was top notch - crispy, great texture. The sauce on the prawn special was just heavenly. Dip the bread in it - wow! Two of us ordered moussaka and a third ordered Alfredo fettuccine. Alfredo sauce was spot on. Great flavour. The moussaka - it was OK, but I wouldn't call it great. The flavour and texture doesn't really stand out for me. The restaurant treated us to a dessert on the house. I love that. It was really really good too - I'm not sure what it is exactly, some kind of cream on top of honey drizzled filo dough strips. Overall we liked it and would go back. read more
8 months ago
One of My All-Time Favorite Dining Experiences..., A Must-Visit on the island of Nanaimo! As someone who travels often and dines at restaurants around the world, I rarely hand out 5-star reviews..., but Asteras absolutely deserves it. From the warm atmosphere to the attentive servers and incredible food, everything about this place was outstanding. The owner personally came to my table, something he seems to do for every guest, and asked if I knew the specials. I told him everything looked great, but being from Chicago (home of some of the best food anywhere), I was hoping for something memorable. His response: "I will prepare a great dinner for you." And wow... he delivered. He brought out a plate of roasted lamb and seafood pasta..., both of which were phenomenal. The roasted lamb was without question the most tender, juiciest, and flavorful I've ever had. The seafood pasta was equally impressive, packed with incredibly fresh seafood and rich flavors that didn't overpower the ingredients. From start to finish, this meal was unforgettable. I'll absolutely try to make read more
3 months ago
With the lovely K out for dinner with clients I was dining solo, which is always an adventure. Astera's didn't disappoint in the food, ambiance or speed of service. My chicken souvlaki was plentiful, nicely cooked and came out quite quickly. For $26 however I would have expected the pita to be included, but it was and extra $3 for two pieces. I passed as I wouldn't have been able to eat both as well as my meal. The house wine was tasty, and I am certain I got more than my half litre, but who would complain. Emily took great care of me, stopping in to top up my wine and make sure I was well cared for. The other staff was also very helpful, and the owner stopped in a couple of times as well. Next time we are in Nanaimo we will have to stop in as K loves lamb chops. read more
1 year ago
8 months ago
Astera's is located inside a residential house that has been remodeled to a restaurant. It keeps it's warmth and welcoming atmosphere with the help of the friendly staff and amazing meals. Highly recommend reservations as they fill out quickly and get quite busy. We came by early on a Wednesday (like the moment they opened) and was lucky enough to get seated with a generous time limit. Listen to the specials, as there may be something that catches your ear (and your stomach). We had the shrimp appetizer special, pita bread, roasted lamb and the chicken pasta special. The shrimp appetizer was amazing, basically tons of shrimp in a feta a tomoto sauce and the size of a meal so there was plenty to share between two. Roasted lamb is slow roasted until it falls off the bone and served with a pile each of rice, potato, greek salad and veggies. The pasta was amazing also, but we couldn't finish that much food so had a whole box of take away at the end of the night. Our server even gave us some restaurant recommendations when she heard we would be travelling to Tofino later on. Such nice people! Great atmosphere, amazing service, delicious food and large portions. Couldn't possibly ask for more. read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
5 years ago
Really delicious Greek food, on par with some of my favourite Greek restaurants in Vancouver and Toronto. The restaurant is super busy, so I'd highly recommend making a reservation a week or two in advance. They have a lot of tables and staff, but even then it took us quite awhile to be seated despite our 8 pm reservation. A couple of parties that arrived before us were seated first, for some reason. Service is very friendly - they are just super busy so things can move slowly. The food came relatively fast as well. We opted to sit in their outdoor patio - it's very spacious and pretty with the lights. We ordered the lamb souvlaki and fried calamari dinner. The lamb was super tender, flavourful and had a delicious grilled taste. Although I asked for the souvlaki to be done medium-rare, it came a bit more medium, yet it was still very tender so I didn't mind. The calamari were crispy and not too oily, and there was a generous portion. Both dishes came with rice, Greek salad, roasted potatoes, tzatziki, and carrots. The Greek salad was very good and had lots of feta. I was not the biggest fan of the carrots, and the roasted potatoes were okay. The rice was a bit disappointing, normally I find Greek rice to be super flavourful but Astera's rice is pretty bland. However the other parts of the dish are flavorful enough to make up for it. If I ever visit Nanaimo again, I'd definitely aim to visit Astera's again! It's totally worth the hype. read more
2 years ago
The staff was excellent. It was our anniversary and we love the presentation, the amount of food and the atmosphere. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
Great food and great service! Delicious seafood souvlaki and super tender lamb! The calamari was amazing too! Will be back! read more
3 years ago
We arrived without a reservation at 6:45pm and needed to wait about 20 mins for a table. A lot of people had finished dining around 7:30pm, and the restaurant emptied out some: plus the noise level fell a lot. The service is friendly and attentive without being intrusive or pushy. The meal was excellent: we had mixed mezes to start and then variations of souvlaki. Good value. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Best Greek food I have ever had. Had the beef tenderloin but the whole menu was so authentic. The atmosphere and service was amazing. Highly recommend this restaurant read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
A taverna where you can learn a thing or two about good Greek grub in BC. It's an old house reborn as an inviting and warm spot despite it being in the 20's F when I was there but once inside the crowd is convivial, the food served in Olympian proportions and in some Ouzo induced hazy way it reminded me of summer afternoons beach side in Santorini wearing nothing but a beanie. The place has been charmed up with soft lighting, muted colors and thankfully no annoying Bouzouki player sounding like a cat tossed in a tree chipper to contend with. No Greek truckers jammin' Euros in a Belly Dancer's G-string, no hail of dinner plates hitting a wall with rowdies howling "Yasou" at you. The Staff: Enthusiastic and friendly as a kitty litter (make that a litter of kitties which sounds much better). A hostess seats, a server greets, and two ladies perform synchronized water pouring all night. (A new Olympic demonstration sport for 2020?) The Vibe: Greek night's all right tonight say the locals. There were at least 12 Birthdays celebrated by the restaurant's own Greek Chorus warbling "the song". Join the fun, tell'em it's your B'day, have your candled cake and eat it too. The Bar Program: Beer and Wine. "The Greek wines have been de-listed" said the server, even if you are an A-lister. But wait, there will be a nice surprise to look forward to. The Food: Heroic sized plates. The Platter #1 would have fed a real Fat Greek Wedding with take home leftovers for everyone in attendance. The Creamy Eggplant Dip was a Dip of Eggplants with Oregano and Mint leaves chopped into it and served with some store bought warm bread. I ate it because I could reach it. Was it food for the Gods? Oxi! A Platter #1 had Astera's greatest hits. A Greek Salad that was the Sunset House version. Simple out of season Tomatoes, Cucs, Red Onions, and little perfect pearls of mild Feta all awash in an Olive Oil Lemon Dressing. There was Fried Calamari. Well, it was fit be fried anyway. Although the rings were tender, (they can be rubber bands in untrained hands) there was no crisp. Just a few bread crumbs clinging to their flanks like barnacles. Crunch quotient=0. Sprinkle on the lemon and move on. The Dolmades were dandy. Beefy, tasty, juicy, little fat cigars in a cloak of brine softened Grape Leaves. Neat or in Yogurt Sauce these buggahs were spot on. The Moussaka was not Moose Ca Ca, but it wasn't orgasmic either. Slightly under cooked Eggplant mixed with ground Beef and settled below a thick layer of over cooked Bechamel Sauce. Let's move on the 4 X 4 inch Spanokopita which was as good as you can make this dish. Phyllo crisp shattering like broken glass with each bite, perfectly barely cooked Spinach and bettah Feta. Trade the Moussaka for another one of these. A pile of braised Lamb anchored the plate. Simply prepared with Garlic, Oregano, and diced raw Onions it was plastic fork tender and could give a respectable Birria a run for it's Euros. With some house made flour Tortillas, you could be a happy Greek weak with joy. Platter #1 could have humbled Hercules as it also comes with a Mount Olympus of Rice, Potatoes, and Carrots just in case you are starch deficient. Dessert: There was something called Ek Mek (doesn't that sound like some endangered species?) It was really just bread pudding, kataifi with Custard and whipped cream) Plan a week at the Lindora Weight Loss Program right after this. However, at the end, if you're nice, they will give you an Amuse-Finis. Ouzo, Blackberry Liqueur and Lemonade. It was sublime and as it a nameless libation, I christened it, The Greek God. This may be the best Greek food in Nanaimo. Okay, it might be the only Greek food in Nanaimo. So, let's call it Greek on fleek. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
We really enjoy this restaurant. We stop in whenever we're in the area! Delicious food, nice size portions, friendly staff, lovely atmosphere, very clean! They have gluten free options. We had a salmon dinner and a shrimp and scallop dinner~ both were amazing along with all the sides! read more
4 years ago
Must try the olive dip, the calamari and the Moussaka platter!! Such amazing service even on an exceptionally busy Saturday - make a reso :) read more
4 years ago
AMAZING!!! Had my birthday dinner here as a party of 10. Our server Emily was wonderful and handled our large reso perfectly. The food was INCREDIBLE! Best greek food I have ever had. I also loved that the restaurant owner, and older man, walked around the restaurant and greeted patrons and chatted with us. The hospitality here is exceptional. I highly recommend Astera's!!!Garlic Prawns Ca$23 read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
8 years ago
What an absolutely hidden gem - perfectly the definition of "where do the locals eat". This beautiful Greek restaurant is tucked off the main streets into a beautiful blue house that will make you feel like "damn, what a perfect date spot" as you walk up hand in hand with your partner. This spot will absolutely blow your socks off. Their menu is traditional but still friendly to all ages. I personally have a dairy allergy and was upset that I couldn't crush souvlaki as they marinate theirs in Greek yogurt but my partner said it added a perfect juicy flavor that was to die for. Instead I had the roast lamb, which they roast for 6 hours!! The lamb was fall off the bone good that I simply couldn't get enough of. So tender and SO moist. I was seriously in food heaven. AND THE SIDE DISHES. I don't even know other adjectives to use other than perfect. Their rice was incredible, such delicate flavor that paired so perfectly with your meat. Their veggies cooked to perfection with the right amount of crunch left and the potatoes so delicious you couldn't stop. Lastly, the service and atmosphere was impeccable. Since the moment we sat our waters were NEVER empty and our waitress was incredibly incredibly kind in helping me find something that would cater to my allergies. Seriously such an amazing evening. I will go back every time in Nanaimo and I'll tell everyone I know about it!! Enjoy!! read more
2 years ago
8 years ago
Street appeal. Ever driven by a Street of Dreams house that immediately made you want to live there? Astera's is that kind of restaurant -- you look up at it from the street, see the customers happily eating inside, feel the lush surroundings and Greek-ness pulling at you, and it's like there's this tractor beam that inexorably draws you inside. One dish. The one food item that immediately won my wife and daughter and I over during our lunch there yesterday was the simple hummus and pita appetizer. Simply delicious. We had entree salads, and I had the lentil soup, and the flavors were impeccable. As we were wrapping up we saw another table receiving the daily special, stuffed peppers. Next time!! read more
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