Consistently delicious neighborhood greek spot. Horotiki salad with the warm lentils, the eggplant dish, fasoulia, and their salmon is very good. I have been ordering from here for over a decade. I hope this place never closes. When you dine in, it is a more casual experience, but the service is also consistent. They have a few tables outside if you want to bring your dog, but inside is definitely a nicer ambience. read more

Such a gem tucked away in the Bruegger's parking lot. The happy hour is incredible value with lots of menu items. Splitting the gyros, spanakopita, and chicken skewers were more than enough for 2 people which is so rare with hh portions! The chicken was my favorite - so juicy with a great citrus flavor. Can't wait to come back and try more items. read more

Cafe Athena - Spanakopita, Gyros, and Chicken Skewers - Greek Near Me - San Diego, California

I've known about Cafe Athena for a while but haven't had the chance to try it until recently and it was such a hidden gem! First off, the restaurant is huge inside and I would've never known from the exterior. They had lots of seating available and a whole bar section as well. Second, they have great happy hour deals! I came in around 5 pm and my table ordered 4 dishes and everything came out to less than $40. The food was delicious and a great deal. Their tzatziki has great flavor too. read more

Cafe Athena - Chicken Souvlaki Skewers, Gyros, and Spanakopita (happy hour) - Greek Near Me - San Diego, California

Cafe Athena is a fantastic place to enjoy a great meal. Come during happy hour and indulge in a little of everything because it is all so yummy. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful, clean and spacious. The Greek theme is displayed very nicely. The host and waiters are always kind and knowledgeable about the menu. Recommend this place many times over. read more

Cafe Athena - Greek Near Me - San Diego, California

Nice staff and good food at reasonable prices. I gave my order and was eating within 10 minutes. Usually, I compare restaurants of this ethnic type against the gold standard that is Fairouz on Midway dr. They are hard to stack up to but Athena will eventually get there. Although they will never be able to compete on price. read more

Food was delicious! We tried the lemon orzo soup, lentil soup, greek salad, and papasouka (eggplant with lamb). Everything was packed with flavor and not too heavy. The ambiance is really great and so nice to have a sit down place in this area with good food. Our server Laura was an absolute sweetheart - the cherry on top :-) read more

Cafe Athena - Papoutsakia - Greek Near Me - San Diego, California

I've had the pleasure of dining here for years (since 2015) and have left numerous reviews for this restaurant more than any other. That's because this is my go-to for all Greek cuisine. San Diego, unfortunately, has precious few Authentic Greek Cuisine restaurants (I have been to all seven), and of the handful that do exist, they are horrible. Only Athena delivers. Excellent service and parking. Terrific staff. Easy on the wallet, too. read more

See all

The food here is delicious and healthy. Their menu has a good variety of selection. Their entree sizes can be shared by two. We ordered the Chicken Kabob plate with a side of Beef Kabob and also a Baba Ganoush appetizer which came with Pita breads. The food did not take long to come out. We were a party of two and was very full. Nice ambiance and lots of parking. The staff was friendly. Cafe Athena is a nice place to go to eat Mediterrenean food. read more

Cafe Athena - Chicken Kebab Plate - Greek Near Me - San Diego, California

We had a great experience at Cafe Athena. Our sever, Sergio, was very friendly and wonderful. He was also attentive and quick to refill water too! The ambiance is really nice and beautiful. We had the kebab plate and the moussaka and both were flavorful and good. read more

See all

I recently rediscovered Cafe Athena when I picked up a donation for our local elementary school. Because I like to support the businesses who support Barnard, I brought my family back to dinner. I used to come to Cafe Athena decades ago when I used to live in PB but hadn't come here for many years. The restaurant was remodeled in recent years and looks great! The food was as good as I remembered, even better in fact. My husband had the gyros plate. I had Shrimp Scorpio. Our kid had the kids' cheese pizza. We all enjoyed our choices. The gyro meat was tender, sauce and pita perfect. My kid said the pizza was the best she'd had (especially the crust). The Shrimp Scorpio was the highlight. It was very flavorful, a garlicky, light tomatoey delight! We had a delicious dessert too - galacto-boureko, 3 filo pastry rolls filled with custard and orange zest topped with a light rose water syrup. The night we went was busy. The restaurant was nearly full with patrons at the bar as well. I found out that there were only two servers that night but the staff was so attentive we never felt any lack in service. Everyone from our server Sergio to manager Joe to hostesses all checked in on us, brought us drinks and food, cleared dishes, etc. without ever missing a beat. We thoroughly enjoyed our most recent visit to Cafe Athena and plan to be back soon! read more

See all

From the outside Cafe Athena looks like any other restaurant in the plaza, inside the ambiance is unparallel! Such a warm and welcoming atmosphere with beautiful decor. My boyfriend loved everything. I can only speak for the vegan food, which was pretty good overall. The Gyro was tasty but was a little on the dry side. However, there are many other vegan options on the menu that I have not tried yet. So thankful for restaurants that included and list vegan options on their menu. Can't wait to try more yummy dishes next time! read more

Delightful restaurant and staff serving delicious Mediterranean dishes, and a great daily happy hour. This has become a favorite local go to. read more

Had an awesome visit to cafe Athena for dinner last week with a mid-sized bachelor party. I was hoping for a bit of an elevated experience and they gave just that. To start on atmosphere. It's a lively spot with modern decor and lots of lighting. The area is spacious and the table we had was perfect for a large group. We also had a reservation which was handled well. Service throughout the night was solid. They did a good job taking care of us and answering any requests. I thought my Ares drink was super refreshing and the perfect mix of ingredients. The food as well was really tasty. We started with a few of the dips which were perfectly puréed and packed with flavor. The mains were large and full of flavor as well. Everyone seemed to really enjoy their meal and things felt fresh and vibrant. Was it the most unique Greek food I've had, probably not, but it was still tasty and perfect for our vegan friend in the group! A great spot to go and grab a quick drink or sit down for a nice meal with a group. A nice break from some spots closer to the PB main drag. read more

See all

OMG so fire I've been eating the same mediterranean salad here since I was 16 and I'm 21 now I LOVE IT SO MUCH and the half baked chicken with their ratatouille read more

Our absolute favorite hidden gem. Truly the best greek food i've ever had and it's hidden in a strip mall. They have an incredible happy hour everyday and the best, kindest, most attentive staff. The bar area is so nice and well decorated, with a TV to watch sports. The greek salad with Gyro is my favorite, but i've never had anything I didn't love! read more

Celebrated our daughter's college graduation at Athena's and had a great time! The food was delicious, the service was quick, staff was friendly and attentive. Everyone in our family loved it! Thank you Laura, Joe and Mike! read more

If I could give a 4.5 I would. I had seen this place on instagram and decided to take myself out to dinner for my 30th birthday/ 1 year in remission. I came around 5pm, it wasn't super busy, atmosphere was nice, not too loud. I came in time for happy hour so I was able to order multiple items to try out the menu a bit and a glass of wine. Everything was amazing! Calamari was perfectly fried and the aioli was tasty. 8/10 Keftedes were the 10/10! I grew up eating them but these were incredible, I got two plates just to take some home. Yalanji was very good, could use more of something just can't figure out what. 7.5/10 Spanakopita was great, super flaky phyllo dough, with a warm melty inside. Again need more of a spice but not sure. 7.5/10 I got a Greek sav blanc that was so fragrant! The reason I docked a star. There was a larger party next to me and when the server came she asked if they were celebrating something (which I get is normal for bigger parties, I worked in the industry). She was very nice but I was a bit bummed when she asked them but didn't even consider to ask me because I was alone. After I ordered 3 plates, she tried to take the menus assuming I was finished, or maybe wanting me to leave(I wasn't.) When I finished, I asked for a box because I was getting full and hoped to order the Galakto Boureko to celebrate. She never offered a dessert menu or asked if there was anything else I'd like. Then she immediately brought me the check. In total it was $47 before tip for 5 plates and a glass of wine. All in all the restaurant was nice, food was incredible, will be going back. I just hope servers try their best to treat everyone the same and even if you see someone alone, consider they might be celebrating something too. read more

See all

Had door dash deliver chicken skewer meal, dolmades and a side of feta. Everything was so fresh, chicken was juicy and tzatziki sauce was some of the best I've had. Can't wait to eat in house next time. read more

I used to live in PB but this was the first time eating at this cafe. I had the falafel wrap which was delicious. My friend recommended the avgolemono soup which was incredible. Loved the decor and parking wasn't bad at all! read more

Loved this place! Stopped here for a quick dinner after an event and it did not disappoint. The staff is super nice, food was fantastic and the vibe was pleasant and casual. I got the gyros plate, it was super fresh. I didn't get a picture but I also recommend the dolmades appetizer as well! Overall I really liked this place and I'd love to go back and try something different on the menu. read more

Cafe Athena - Gyros Plate - Greek Near Me - San Diego, California

It was delicious, and great prices. The service was lovely, she recommended the potatoes and they were delicious. The Cadillac margarita was very tasty. It's a cute place with inside seating and plenty of parking space. read more

Cafe Athena - Gyros Wrap - Greek Near Me - San Diego, California

The service was great here. We had separate checks and our waitress kept it all straight. Water glasses were filled often. The place is nice, but a little on the loud side. The bar is next to eating areas - so that made it a little louder. The food was good. Our favs were the spanakopita, hummus, and mousaka. They do have happy hour here with $7 drink specials. The food portions for happy hour are much smaller than the regular appetizers - so you're not getting a great deal. But the drinks were good and strong. Free parking is ample. read more

I've had takeout from Cafe Athena and it was great, so I've always wanted to go back and dine in. So at 7 pm on Saturday night, we walked through the doors and were greeted by a smiling hostess. It was pretty busy and she asked us if we wanted to sit at a shared high-top table or the bar. We opted for the bar which was quiet at the time. The restaurant was bustling and all of the tables were full! The restaurant itself is quite large and it definitely feels like you are walking into a space that is curated to make patrons comfortable and welcome. Onto the food...Gabby helped us at the bar and she was friendly and helpful. We ordered two cups of Avogolemono soup, Beef kebab plate, and Shrimp Scorpio. The soup was definitely our favorite... bright and refreshing, while also being comforting. I just love it! Each small cup was also served with a basket of warm pita quarters which complemented the soup well. The entrees came out shortly after, and we began to nosh. The Shrimp Scorpio was tasty. The artichokes paired well with the light tomato based sauce. The 7 shrimp were cooked well, but not over cooked. The dish also had plenty of rice to soak up and enjoy with the sauce. Overall, enjoyable. The Beef kebab was underwhelming. Additionally, it arrived extremely rare and practically mooing on the plate. We told Gabby and she immediately put in an order for a new kebab. She apologized and did her best to make it right. M. also ordered a side of gyro meat which he enjoyed because, in his estimation, the kebab & meat portion was on the smaller side. The tzatziki (homemade) was delicious, and he also ordered more of it for the gyro meat. I tried it... wow... best Tzatziki I ever had. At this point, we were ready for the check. Gabby came over right away with it. I was slightly surprised to see a $1.50 charge for the small ramekin of tzatziki, but oh well. I handed her a $100 bill. She looked at it and said, "Management doesn't let us take the older $100s, but I'll check." She came back and shook her head. Fortunately, it wasn't a problem as I had other forms of payment, but in the event that I didn't, I just wonder what would have gone down. This strange situation just put a slightly bitter aftertaste on what was a positive experience over all. However, Gabby, and the other staff members who brought the food and were really hustling, all made a point of smiling and being really kind. We appreciated their efforts. We'll be back for sure! read more

See all

I love this place! Service was super friendly and our bartender really took pride in crafting cocktails. Food was really fantastic and actually really good value. The baba ganoush and the saganaki were particularly good. read more

Most underrated Greek place in existence!!! This place is humble and other worldly good! We haven't had food this good out of Greece. The service is warm and friendly and ABSURDLY fast. I'm already planning my next trip! My wife is absolutely obsessed with the bourekia! My heart belongs to the chicken wrap! The combination of sun dried tomato, chicken and garlic sauce is incredible! The skordalia here is bliss. It is the mashed potato perfected and the char on the zucchini is exceptional. The specials here are a must! There isn't a single thing I've ordered that I've regretted! I only wish I came hungrier or with more friends so I can try more food! read more

See all

From the outside, this restaurant appears to be a dainty little spot. But when you walk inside, it's a totally different experience! The decor and ambiance is beautiful, is way more spacious than you'd think. The food is so delicious, very fresh ingredients and I always leave satisfied but never stuffed or bloated. Their tzatziki and pita bread combo is the absolute best- warm, fresh baked pita & I usually order multiple sides of the tzatziki, it goes so quick! & I'm so happy they extended their hours. The people are always kind and hospitable, there's rarely a wait, I love it here. Be back soon! read more

See all

Café Athena is the best Greek restaurant in San Diego! They have my favorite appetizer, flamed Saganaki cheese served with yummy pita bread. They also have classics like Moussaka and patisto. Don't forget the spinach, feta, phyllo squares. They have the Greek lemon chicken soup, which is always lovely , comforting and zesty . And of course they have gyros, chicken shish kebab and a great Greek salad. This time I tried the papasoutkia, which is a delicious ground Lamb mixture nestled in an eggplant half. Delicious! Their hummus and tzatziki sauce great additions to any meal. If you save enough room after eating all these delicious foods baklava, is a great sweet ending to perfect dinner! Service was good, but they seem to understaffed. Ambience comfortable and clean. read more

Cafe Athena - PAPOUTSAKIA - Greek Near Me - San Diego, California

I was so delighted to find this hidden gem. Tucked away in a rather uninviting strip mall, Cafe Athena was a delightful, upscale greek restaurant. I believe they opened as a greek diner many years ago, but they have since turned the place into a lovely date night greek restaurant with authentic flavors, good portion sizes, and excellent service. I ordered the flaming halloumi and the chicken couscous, while my friends got variations of the dolamides. I was so surprised by the quality of the food and elevation of flavors, I'll definitely be back with my fiance. read more

We've been customers here for years. It is by far my favorite Greek food in San Diego. The food is always fresh and delicious, and the quality is excellent. read more

Best kept secret in PB. Killer food, rock star staff, place is clean as a whistle. Do not miss this spot -- incredible work guys! Thank you! read more

If this were 2008 I would have given them 5 stars, however there has been a slow and steady decline over the years. I think maybe they have been systematically cutting corners here and there to pay for their remodeling. The remodel is nice but the toll it has taken on the food is not worth it. The first thing that suffered was the chicken couscous. It was possibly in 2018 when this happened. It used to be my favorite dish with the chicken so tender and flavorful. Today the chicken is rubbery and inedible as if they boil the chicken or do something similarly unspeakable. After that, the chicken add-on to the sun-dried tomato salad became inedible. You can now pay extra-extra for edible chicken but this shouldn't be necessary. More recently they have fallen short on the pita bread. The pit bread of 2008 was soft and fresh. As of late, if you order hummus and pita, the pita bread is somewhat hard and most definitely stale. This brings me to yesterday's lunch. I ordered the souvlaki chicken sandwich. The ingredients tested fine however someone has decided to really save on food costs. There was barely anything inside of the pita bread. One piece of lettuce, one piece of tomato and two relatively small pieces of chicken. We ordered hummus and pita as well as a half order of pita. There were all of 8 stale pieces of pita in the bag. My husband ordered moussaka which he said tasted blah, but the biggest disappointment was the dessert. We ordered baklava, which used to arrive as 2 baklava, however they gave us 1 baklava cut in half. This all makes me very sad. read more

A true hidden gem of Pacific Beach! I really enjoy their food whether it is sat down in the restaurant, or takeout for a night in. They have a cozy vibe with a full bar! I have tried a few of their plates, but you can't miss with their moussaka or gyro plates. I am obsessed with their dolmades! read more

Cafe Athena - Moussaka - Greek Near Me - San Diego, California

My sincerest compliments to the chef. This restaurant immediately became one of my favorites after the first time I ate here. The food is absolutely incredible and the service is great. I never feel rushed and my water glass is always full. 10/10 experience. read more

I won't recommended this restaurant anymore if you have food allergies. I been here a ton but the last time I have very bad reaction due to my food allergy The 1st time I thought it my fault but the 2nd time I was very clear with the staff and had a very bad reaction.. A reaction such as having an issue with breathing. If you don't have food allergies, then it a great place to eat. read more

This place is amazing, absolutely the best to be I've ever tried to me and my family get a big tub tzatziki from here every single week. Everything I have tried from this place has been amazing. Me and my family rarely go a work week without having café Athena's for dinner. read more

Really enjoyed our meal sitting at the bar. Bartender was super attentive and charming. All of the food was excellent. Especially the baba ganoush. Drinks were great too. read more

I ordered pick up food for lunch and a major change in my schedule popped up after the food was already ready for pick up. I called to let them know I was going to be later picking it up. Then when I finally made it to pick it up it was hours later and instead of giving me cold food the, what appeared to be the manager came out and said they were remaking it fresh. I would never expect that, especially during this time of high food costs. It was so greatly appreciated. This is one of many great experiences ive had here. The food is amazing and thr interior is beautiful also. read more

Wow. What a cute place. It has been completely remodeled since it was a small little Greek place; now being a very hip restaurant. Love the decor and the vibe The food was great! Had the Baba Ghannouj spread and it was so so yummy. Then we each had the falafel wrap. Took half home because it was plenty big and really good! The service is superb. Great atmosphere, food and service. I can't wait to go back. read more

Cafe Athena - Falafel wrap - Greek Near Me - San Diego, California

Service was attentive and we were seated right away. The ambiance was nice and sunny. We ate indoors but there was ample outdoor seating. My gyro was authentic and delicious. The desert was out of this world good. Get the Galacto-Boureko. Made fresh to order. Very yummy. My wife loved her humus. Also a little hard to find and tucked away in a strip mall. Google maps took us to an adjoining strip mall that didn't connect with the one the restaurant was in creating some confusion. read more

Service and ambiance were amazing. Happy hour specials not that "special" Calamari was cold but overcooked... go figure Greek Salad Large was huge not enough chicken in proportion to salad Moussaka was very disappointing not only was it cold, bechamel sauce was pasty; weird odd chunks of eggplant Pita basket...hard pita at the edges so thinking it's old Super bummed Case of the cover of the book being better than the story...won't be back read more