The spanakopita, salad, & gyro/fries were all very good. We weren't too impressed with the kalamari or cucumber/feta rolls. Be forewarned that as of Sept '23 everything on the menu is about $3-$4 more than what's posted on the menu on their website. Patio is nice and big but could use a little music to improve the ambiance. read more

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Haven't been here in a long time. Have never seen the outdoor patio area. Really beautiful! Food and service were excellent!! read more

I had heard very high recommendations for Cafe Nova, it has been on "the list" for a very long time. Today the stars aligned and I needed food, wifi and space to work. Full disclosure, I did not end up hoping on their wifi, but I did see they had it available. I don't know why I was surprised at how genuinely nice the servers were. I loved them. Maybe it's just been a long time since I've had great service. Food was delicious, I was excited about each bite that I took, starting with the salad, I expected olives and tomatoes, but grapes and apples were an exciting addition. The salmon was everything I wanted it to be, cooked to perfection. I've had a few over cooked salmon in my day. My one super tiny comment, the special on the board outside, since it was lunch time, I assumed it was a lunch special. The amount of food and the cost were definitely meant for dinner. I would have gone a little lighter if I had known, but really I'm so glad I got the salmon, can't wait to bring the boyfriend to check it out. read more

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Wonderful place. Great food & service. The patio is amazing. Good place for big groups.

We stopped in late on a Monday afternoon. We were sat right away and ordered some water. I had a traditional gyro with added feta cheese. It was MASSIVE and stuffed with meat and veggies. I started out biting into it but quickly realized this was a fork and knife situation. Everything tasted amazing and was fresh and hot! Ambiance looked fun for a night on the porch/patio but it was raining today. My partner got the spanacopita and it was heavenly. read more

Cafe Nova - Traditional Gyro with oregano fries - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Food IS amazing here. No exaggeration. Their service model needs to be revamped though. Three servers were waiting on our table of 4 tonight and it was very inefficient. They were all serving all the customers in the restaurant, instead of assigned servers. It didn't work well. We were asked three times if we were ready to order, three times if we wanted refills, three times if we wanted to pay the bill, etc. Water wasn't refilled and we had to ask multiple times for more ice before it was finally brought to us. The manager was too busy to discuss our dissatisfaction. (Note- the servers were hard working & very polite. Not their fault that the service model did not create a positive customer experience) read more

Wow, what a great place! Can't beat the value. Coffee drinks were very inexpensive and absolutely delicious. The food was fantastic and the portions were massive. The patio was beautiful and the service was quick. Will definitely be coming back. read more

Cafe Nova - Delicious food and coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Ordered a falafel appetizer and Athens gyro to go. Service was good, and the ambiance from what I saw while picking up the food was very clean and on theme. My concerns were that the Athens gyro was really difficult to eat because of how stuffed it was - which is actually a good thing, because it's worth the price. I deducted a star because the falafel is overpriced and the baklava was not good. Overall I would eat here again! read more

I got the falafel and it was pretty good! Very fresh and had good flavor. The staff was very pleasant and attentive. The weather was super nice out and they had the perfect patio to enjoy it! read more

Cafe Nova - Falafel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I checked out cafe Nova for lunch and the spot looks great. They have plenty of outdoor seating which is perfect for spring. The waitress was nice and their macchiato was delicious. I proceeded to have the Salmon Bruschetta which was delicious and the nova gyro. The meal took a little longer than usual to show up but the staff kept us updated and checked on us. When it did show up it did not disappoint. Parking isn't the most convenient but there plenty of street parking read more

Cafe Nova - Salmon bruschetta - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

We took our daughter from out of town to this restaurant. We have been here many times. It has a lovely patio which I wanted to take advantage of. The hostess told us to seat ourselves and we did. We waited a few minutes for someone to take our drink order then at least 15 minutes for someone to take our appetizer order. We waited 20 minutes for that delivery because the gyro meat was carved too early read more

Cafe Nova is definitely a go-to spot, especially if you're into Mediterranean food. The food tastes super fresh and sooo good. My wife and I are got a lot of stuff: Nova's Chicken Wings 10/10, Veggie Samosa 6/10, Nova Gyro 10/10, Calamari 7/10, Grilled Chicken Plate 8/10. When initially looking up the restaurant I wanted to see the negative reviews, just to see what I could expect. After eating there, I totally get why some people say the service can be slow...but I just think it's because the cafe isn't that big. They have A LOT of tables, but seemingly a small kitchen. So, it kinda makes sense, there's gonna be a limit on what they can output. I particularly didn't have to wait long, but honestly, it didn't bother me much because the staff is really nice and they provide great hospitality, not to mention is a very cozy setting The one thing I'd say they could work on is their Taziki sauce. It wasn't as flavorful as other ones I've had before, kind of bland in comparison. But man, the fried chicken wings were so good! They honestly dethroned my favorite wing, St. Louis Wing Co. Lemon Pepper Wings. Now these hot wings are my favorite. I strongly recommend trying this place, when I go next I am going to try the lamb chops (never had any). If you do go, and want to avoid the negative experiences people have had, go during a weekday afternoon! read more

Delicious food and beautiful outdoor patio! Have been there many times and have always enjoyed it!

Delicious & authentic Mediterranean food! Great service with plenty of seating both inside as well as outdoors. They have a bar for adult libations. Nova is a wonderful meeting spot. Works equally for lunch and dinner dining out at a reasonable price. I highly recommend the hummus and even higher the salmon special. Enjoy, ~Christy read more

Cafe Nova - Salmon special - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Excellent food, Always so delicious. Whenever I'm is STL we eat Cafe Nova. My go to is spanakopita, Greek salad and the best baklava ever!

MY OH MY. I have been searching for a good GYRO AND GREEK FOOD FOR SO LONG. This is by far this gals favorite MediterraneAn food in SAINT LOUIS!!!! Please come here and try this delicious Novas Gyro WITH FETA CHEESE! I really like the tzatziki sauce and get extra extra for my fries. The service is so good. The wait staff and people on the phone for take out are kind people!!!!! It's so CUTE OUTSIDE. They have a PATio. You can sit inside or outside. The Cucumber APP was incredible. I love this place and will always eat it when I CRAVE FRESH FOOD. read more

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Not sure the same albanian family runs this spot but it used to be very good. First on a Saturday early evening there was no white wine to chose from, next came the cold calamari. My falafel salad consisted of yellow, old arugula, soaked in gloppy salad dressing. We ordered another glass of wine and after a half hour it never came. Not going back! Pitiful. read more

This patio is perfect for warmer weather, they have tables but also a few couches Start with the hummus and pita, yum. Or the falafal I went with the shrimp plate this time. It did not disappoint, the shrimp was cooked perfectly and the rice has an amazing buttery flavor. Salad is fresh and perfect on the side read more

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Soooo good!! The staff seem like family toward each other and it feels very comforting. I've dined in and done carry-out multiple times and it's equally as good eating there in person or lasts the car ride home. Traditional Gyro is one of the bests I've had, the falafel option is also great. Patio is a VIBE on a nice day. read more

This place is definitely a hidden gem!! The service was really good! The outside patio was amazing as well! The food was really good!!! I got the salad, their wings and a gyro!! Also had a really good beverage and to top it off was the cheesecake dessert! It was so good I couldn't stop eating it!! I highly recommend this place!!! read more

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When we arrived we were told to seat ourselves where we wanted. We chose the patio which is very nice. The food was excellent with large portions. Now for the bad. The service was non existent. This is was our second visit and had a similar experience last time. We wanted to give them another chance because we really liked the food and atmosphere. Our food was very slow coming out. Tables that ordered after us were getting their food before us but they had different waiters. Our waitress finally brought our food and disappeared not to be seen again until I had to chase her down for the bill. Was there an hour and a half. Waters were never refilled. We had to get our own to go containers. Disappointed. Will be taking our business elsewhere. read more

Never had eaten there before fantastic great team of people there the food was awesome and hot

Cafe nova has suck a peaceful, vacation vibe. The side patio is an oasis with ample seating and the wait staff are genuine and kind. The menu features many staple greek dishes that will have any true foodie "greeking out". Haha! And please don't sleep on the cocktails! The sangria and Strawberry Smash were perfection! read more

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The food was great and very vegetarian friendly but the service was bizarre. They said they couldn't take card but only cash or Zelle. I only had cash and the total was $36. The waiter then pulled out money from his personal wallet and put my money in his wallet. He then said he didn't have any smaller bills for change and asked to round to $37. I said yes but when I got the change back it was off by $3 not including the extra rounded dollar. Not sure why I wasn't given the rest of my change and no receipt. Service was also lacking throughout the dinner. UPDATE: Saw someone else paying with card a few minutes later... read more

Nothing but good things to say about our experience today, the food was amazing. I got the grilled chicken plate, the chicken was tender, the rice was cooked just right and the salad was a nice crunchy side. My boyfriend got the veggie gyro and the falafel was delicious. They recently expanded their patio and it is absolutely beautiful. Our server was very attentive and kind. Will definitely come more often. read more

Cafe Nova - Grilled chicken plate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

First time here. The place is great inside and huge outside. We were the first to open the place. Service was not to par for being the only ones inside and only one table outside. We had to ask for refills and extra napkins. Food was impeccable and huge portions. The Gyro was huge and well worth the money. The Panini was not a true Panini definitely wouldn't order that again. Will definitely go back when it gets more like patio weather. read more

Cafe Nova - The Gyro (front) & Panini - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Wouldn't recommend i specifically called to ask if it was family friendly because I have a child . My husband and I brought a stroller with us ... we was told to first sit outside its 97 degrees out with a 9month old .. then we was ask to come inside we walked inside and found a spot that would accommodate my husband and I plus a stroller ... she ask us to sit at the smallest table possible . I told her it's ok we will leave being that it seems hard to accommodate us . If you have a stroller I DONT RECOMMEND!!! This place isn't family oriented at all !! read more

My current favorite spot in STL for date nights and going out to eat with friends! Easily one of the best patios I have seen in a while - comfortable seating with flowers and even a waterfall! I am a non-meat eater and love the amount of options available to me! I have yet to find something that I try and don't like on the menu. The gyros are a great size for the price; I always have enough for lunch (or breakfast ‍) the next day. The caprese appetizer has a basil oil on it that I love dipping my fries in! In my last visit, the owner and her son went above and beyond for us helping both an individual on crutches and an individual using a walker full time get to the table easier. Absolutely not necessary, but very appreciated! read more

Cafe Nova - Nova gyro - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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I popped in to cafe nova for lunch last week and was pleasantly surprised. It's a SUPER cute location with a great (and huge) patio. I had the Greek salad with french fries and while the Greek salad was fine, the fries were really delicious; I believe it's oregano they use on them and I loved them! The service was a little spotty but they were very busy with only a couple folks working. Overall I'd recommend it and I'll certainly come back sometime. read more

Cafe Nova - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I can't believe I hadn't been to this place before, especially their large patio. There's a small patio that is right on Kingshighway and it's a bit noisy with traffic, but the patio continues around the side and into the back. Most tables have umbrellas for the sun, and they have tables to accommodate large parties of 8 outside too. The staff were very friendly despite staffing shortages like everyone else in the country right now. I had to place a very picky order because of a medical procedure that prevented me from eating as I'd like and the wait person came out to me twice after my original order to make sure she was conveying it correctly to the kitchen. I appreciated that! The food was good, though the falafel was a bit crunchier than I usually like. I love Mediterranean food and will return when I can eat all the ingredients without being so picky! read more

Asked for 4 straws gave me 2 and gave me 4 pounds of veggies with rice when I ordered chicken and rice

Our family had the best experience here for Father's Day dinner. The employees were very attentive shoutout Danny and created a warm welcoming environment. The food was unbelievable too, and the summer drink specials were delicious. Would highly recommend this place if you are looking for authentic Mediterranean dishes. Will definitely be back soon! read more

Wonderful ambience and food. Great coffees, and the tiramisu desert was the best I ever had. Portions can be large. Excellent service as well. read more

My first experience here was takeout and it was fantastic!! We placed an order via the website and our order was confirmed quickly. We arrived at the restaurant and saw it had SUCH AN AMAZING Ambiance and beautiful patio. Would love to come back and check out those amenities. Portion size was massive... enough to split with another person or two meals. Food was very flavorful... rice was a little dry but squeezing the lemon and adding a little olive oil on the reheat worked just fine. baklava melted in my mouth! And man oh man, the greek salad alone was pretty stellar. Highly recommend and i'll definitely be back! read more

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The food fair. The service has too long of a wait. I thought the food quality was a bit substandard. read more

Cafe Nova - Cafe Nova courtyard. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Wow! Another gem. Can't believe they've been here for 13 years. Such a quaint place. Small indoor, but very cozy. Beautiful outside patio complete with fountain and garden, and comfy seats. Ok, now to the food. Another find! I had the Shrimp Plate and added sautéed veggies. It came with a bigger than usual side delicious Greek salad. My friend had the gyro with fries. Everything was excellent. Our waiter wed later find out was also the owner. Service was fast and friendly. Will definitely be back here. Don't miss out! read more

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Food here was good. T they had pretty good gyros, and fun drinks. Outdoor seating area is nice, and they had the best fries! Service was quick as well. read more

Disappointed by the Service Despite Great Food We recently visited Cafe Nova with high hopes, as we've always loved the food and wanted to share the experience with our out-of-town daughter. Unfortunately, the service fell well short of expectations -- and this wasn't the first time. Our party of four arrived hoping to sit on the patio. The hostess told us to seat ourselves, which we did. It took about 10 minutes before anyone approached us to offer waters then take our drink orders which we provided with our appetizer order. The drinks took 10 minutes however after 20 minutes, we asked about our appetizer (Mediterranean Platter), only to be told the gyro meat had been cut too soon and we'd have to wait longer so we went ahead and put our dinner order in. About 10 more minutes passed before it finally arrived. For dinner we ordered: spanakopita, nova gyro, salmon panini, and tuna panini. The server visited another table before coming back to us and reconfirming our order with the salmon panini. Three of our four entrees arrived roughly 20 minutes after our appetizer (about 1 hour into our dining experience), all of the entrées were delivered -- except mine, the spanakopita. My family wanted to wait for my dish to arrive before enjoying their entrees so after about 5 minutes we stopped the waiter again to ask what the issue was with my dish. The server explained that rushing it could cause it to topple and it would be another 2-3 minutes and offered to bring my Salad out along with another round of drinks for my family. I agreed to have my side salad ahead of my entree so that my family could start eating. It took about 10 more minutes but he did bring me an entree sized salad and advised that once more the Spanakopita is going to need 2-3 more minutes. He apologized for the inconvenience and offered that the 2nd round of drinks would be on the house. By the time the rest of my family had finished their meals and I had finished my salad, I still hadn't received the spanakopita. The server started clearing some of our entree and salad plates and I asked again about my spanakopita. I again told it was "next up." At which point, I requested it to-go because we'd been there 90 minutes and we're ready to leave. The server apologized and kindly said there would be no charge for my entrée in addition to our second round of drinks. The spanakopita finally arrived in a togo box and was extremely overcooked. When we asked for the tab and presented our credit card, the server reviewed the check line by line and reiterated there would be no charge for my entrée. He then advised there were internet issues and asked if we could pay the $114 bill with cash. Unfortunately we did not have cash. He told us it would be no problem and advised he would get a hot-spot to take our payment. 15 minutes later, he still had not returned to take our payment and we were more than ready to leave. My daughter attempted to go to the bar to pay our bill where the server advised he was busy prepping desserts in togo containers for another table and he would be right out. He finally brought the check out reminded us that our second round of drinks and spanakopita were not included in the bill. He hovered over us until we finished the payment and the itemized receipt indicated we did in fact pay for the overcooked and 30-minute late spanakopita. I want to love this place because I want my neighborhood to thrive and the small businesses to flourish. The atmosphere of the patio is pristine on a spring day in South Saint Louis, but they very clearly cannot execute a quality experience. read more

One of the best patios I've seen if you're up for outdoor eating, and their caprese salad is delicious.

What a beautiful spot! We stopped here for dinner to sit outside in their beautiful garden. It was nice and relaxed, sixties music, fountain going, this is not a place for a rush meal. Everything from the salmon bruschetta to the cucumber rolls to the gyro was delicious. I'm partial to the chicken and veggie plate. As some reviewers have mentioned they are struggling like everyone else to have a full staff. They do not have a huge kitchen and I saw dozens of takeout orders go out the door. We never felt ignored or like it was a terribly long wait, but we also didn't have anywhere to be. Be kind. read more

Cafe Nova - Chicken and veggie plate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri