We held a special birthday lunch celebration for almost 90 people and had a wonderful experience. Massoud and the entire staff was excellent to work with. We did a full inside restaurant buyout and had the option to select several appetizers, two salads and four entrees from the menu. Of all the places I researched, this was the only one that was willing to do a full sit down meal (as opposed to a buffet). The restaurant is very pretty (and photogenic) and there was plenty of space for our guests to mingle before the food service began. The food was outstanding as were the desserts. We couldn't have been more pleased with how our party turned out. I highly recommend Elia if you are looking for an excellent meal or party venue. read more

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Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. Any Party of 6+ adds 20% gratuity. The restaurant was very nice and clean, got like an ocean vibe with the decor. Love how open the restaurant is with windows and natural lighting. The food was alright and pretty expensive. We individually ordered, but shared like family style including appetizers. We tried the Saganaki $17.00+ Skillet-fried flaming kefalothiri cheese, brandy, lemon? It was okay. To me, it just tasted like cheese topping from a slice of pizza. It was cool to see it being lit on fire though. I did like the fried calamari, that was delicious especially with the sauce. I ordered the mushroom and spinach omelette $19. It came with potatoes and fruit like watermelon. It was decent, I mean it's an omelette so what can I say, lol. The serving size was perfect to share. Our server was good. The woman who helped us clean our plates and refilled our water was very attentive as well. The bathrooms were clean, two stalls. Parking is available in the back or on the street. read more

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Pulling up to the restaurant they have valet so that's a plus bc trying to find parking downtown is hard. The table was ready for our reservation. We decided to bring our own bottles bc a bottle of champagne is around $300 but the corking fee is only $35. So just bring your own. Our Table ordered the salmon, the steak, the chicken, the pork, and the Halibut. I usually Larry of ordering fish because I'm scared. It's going to be dry, but they were both so soft and juicy and waste. We ordered the oysters and the tuna tartare for appetizers. Very very good. We didn't get a dessert menu, so that was sad, but we were full anyways. I didn't notice once I drove home an hour and a half away that the Valet let a key in my car to the lockbox. They did ask me to drive it back. However, I live an hour and a half away so that's not happening. So next month when I'm in Sacramento I'll drop it off. read more

Elia - Greek Near Me - Pleasanton, California

I LOVE Elia. Every time I came here for dinner. The food that I ordered never go wrong. I came here on Saturday around 6:30 pm for dinner. This place was jam packed due to lots of people coming here to pre-celebrate Mother's Day. My party ordered the combo spread, grilled octopus, zucchini cakes, baratta as appetizers. Lobster pasta and lamb chops for entrees. All of them are at least 4 out of 5 ratings. Grilled octopus are Lamb chops are my favorite. I strongly recommend Elia if you want some good food, ambience and service. I am coming back again soon. :) read more

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Been here 5 times now. The seafood paella keeps me coming back! This time I asked for them to take the lobster out of shell for me. They did but they did it before cooking so it turned into a small curl, I definitely feel like I got less this way so I'll go back to getting it out of the shell myself. Spanakopita is a great appetizer and I need it every time I it's wonderful even though they don't serve it with any dipping sauce. You only get 2 pieces. Desserts are all presented beautifully. The appetizer bread with olive oil tapenade is fabulous! Service is great here. Restrooms are clean and stocked with extras like tissue and mouthwash. Tried escargot for the first time, it's a no for me. Sokolatina is a must!! It Was heavenly- warm chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream, antep pistachio read more

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Came in like big group. Ordered like 10 items. Everything was great and good. Very nice staff. Didn't take many photos, would come back. read more

Elia - Saganaki - Greek Near Me - Pleasanton, California

Highly recommended checking out other establishments. I came in recently for lunch because according to yelp, Google, their business page stating they're open, and the business itself being open but empty, we were told they were closed by a staff member. It was incredibly rude. Ive been to the establishment before for dinner and never had an issue. The food is reasonable and the ambience is beautiful. read more

Had dinner at Elia tonight for the first time. The bread was really good that came before dinner. I ordered the Spanikopita and the butter lettuce salad. My friend had the chicken kebab plate with couscous and tzatziki sauce. Everything was really good, I really liked the Spanikopita although it only came with two pieces and was a bit pricy. I had wanted to order the gyro but was told it's only served at lunch. Our server was attentive and it was nice that there is a carafe of water at the table. It was replenished in a timely manner. Was impressed with how aesthetic it was inside the dining room. Beautiful colors and nice touches everywhere. I will definitely be back for lunch. read more

Elia made for a really satisfying dinner. The Seabass Carpaccio, Halibut, Burrata, and Arnisia Plevrakia (Lamb Riblets) were all delicious -- every dish was well-crafted and full of flavor. The bright Mediterranean atmosphere is charming and genuinely well done, and the service was friendly and attentive throughout. It's a great date night spot. It's on the pricier side, which makes it more of an occasion dinner than an everyday go-to. Worth every bite for the right night out.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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There is a parking lot behind the restaurant. Ambiance and decor are nice. Service is good. Food is good. Appetizer and kids menu price are reasonable. Dinner entrees are on the pricier side, it's Pleasanton downtown, so it's expected. Cocktail and Wine per glass is around $15-20. read more

Elia - Kids dinner plate - chicken kabob and fries - Greek Near Me - Pleasanton, California

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The food here was amazing. We ordered the coconut ceviche and chicken skewer's . The ambiance was amazing. The service was okay. Waiter wasn't very attentive. Lots of background noise from bartender. Overall would definitely return. read more

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10/10 for the lamb riblets, cilbir, and meatballs. The greek coffee was a little gritty and bitter for me but that was my first time trying it and others liked it. Service was fast and friendly. The outdoor seating was very nice and comfortable, highly recommend on a nice day. read more

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Definitely not the best experience. We were seated and had to wait 10 minutes before a waiter even came to our table, then another 5 minutes until we got water. The food was okay but not worth how much you are paying. The ambiance is very nice as it feels like you get a real Greece feel. But due to service and price point, not sure if I'll be going back. read more

Elia - Mousaka - Greek Near Me - Pleasanton, California

Our friends first time here. Octopus, delish, their best dish in our opinion. Our server was so amazing. We couldn't have asked for a better server! Lobster pasta so good! Must have a fun & delicious bubble shots! Blanco tequila, Cointreau & lilikoi/passionfruit. Then, at the table they put on a show to add the bubbles. The staff here is as amazing as the decor here. Welcoming & sophisticated at the same time. We loved the meatballs, the fried green olives & the bubble shots as well! Enjoy! read more

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The most exquisite ambiance I've ever seen with its gorgeous interior design very demure and polished. The service was amazing and we came to celebrate my friend's birthday so I'm glad we received amazing treatment from the staff. The food was hot and very delicious and we were served a complimentary dessert which was amazing. I'm so glad everything worked out in our favor and we will be back again soon read more

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We love going to Elia for girl dinner during the week. I was truly impressed when my sister in law booked this beautiful place to have a small, intimate wedding reception & we are still in awe at how amazing everything turned out. The entire staff exceeded our expectations. Major rave for everyone here. The food was delicious like always. They prepared custom drinks, a personalized menu, we had a dj, Photo Booth & an area to dance! Everything was absolutely perfect! read more

Nice date spot in downtown Pleasanton for semi-elevated Mediterranean fair. Relaxing, quiet, and somewhat intimate dining space. Service was very attentive on a weekend. We tried grilled octopus, paella, souvlaki, and pasta. Everything tasted fine, but portions were a bit light. A few of us left wanting a little more. read more

Elia - Seafood Paella & Chicken Souvlaki - Greek Near Me - Pleasanton, California

I took my husband here for his 34th birthday and it was truly an experience. As soon as I told them it was his birthday, they greeted us again with a glass of champagne. We sat at the bar for a more intimate dinner, but they noticed our large coats were hanging off our chairs. So they quickly grabbed a coat rack and hung our jackets up next to us. The food was amazing. The lobster pasta was buttery and delicious. The cocktails were yummy. I can't wait to go back. read more

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Food is excellent! Service is excellent! Just be warned, it is extremely loud when busy and you some tables you sit right next to other people. Definitely not a romantic calm experience, but perfect for a delicious meal. read more

Great ambience, beautiful restaurant, excellent service. It's a lot of fun here. The food is decent, looks good, people have a good time here. It is one of the most beautiful restaurants in downtown Pleasanton. The beautiful, expansive interior reminds me of Greece and Mediterranean beauty. The Greek interior is beautiful - white walls, wine, head busts and authentic Greek wines and bread. The appetizer selection is quite good : often it serves a watermelon salad (good) with cheese, house made warm unique bread (it is a cool small oval shaped) with olive oil and seasoned dipping, Mediterranean salad, octopus leg (a bit pale), anchovies (huge, nicely grilled, large portion). The entrees : we tried lamb chops, full branzino, noticed people get the full lobster tail. It's a very a very friendly restaurant welcoming to all people, unlike some other restaurants on Main Street. You can see people ordering delicious seafood, celebrating with family and have large groups here. I appreciate that very much about Elia. read more

This was our third time coming here for brunch, and overall we've had a good experience. We really like the interior design the white and blue color scheme feels fresh and gives the restaurant a beautiful Greek-inspired atmosphere. The Breakfast Paella is definitely one of our favorites. It's flavorful, with salmon, baby scallops, and shrimp, and the poached eggs are a nice touch. It was a little spicier than we expected, but still very enjoyable. We also ordered the Steak & Eggs for our child and requested the steak to be well done. Unfortunately, it came out completely overcooked and quite burnt, making it dry and tough to eat. On the bright side, the breakfast potatoes were crispy, well-seasoned, and delicious. The Branzino (sea bass) with salad was fresh and tasted Our only complaint is that the portion was quite small. Next time, we'd like to try the lamb chops and the blueberry banana pancakes, which both look really promising. read more

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I took one of my best friends here for her birthday dinner, and Ilya made it feel so special from the moment we walked in. They surprised her with a custom menu that said Happy Birthday Haylie, which was such a cute and thoughtful touch. We both ordered drinks--I forgot what she chose, but I got the one with the evil eye. It was this vibrant blue cocktail with an actual evil eye floating in the middle, and it was super yummy. We started with their famous cheese appetizer that gets lit on fire tableside, which was fun and definitely a little bit of dinner entertainment. We also got the octopus and the arugula salad, and honestly, that salad might be one of the best I've ever had. I even had her try escargot for the first time, and she actually liked it! The ambience and the colors inside really make you feel like you've stepped into Greece--bright, warm, and beautiful. It's such a cute spot, perfect for a special birthday, a nice date night, or anytime you want a dinner that feels a little extra memorable. read more

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This place is a gem. Nestled in downtown Pleasanton but the vibe is totally Mykonos. From the outside the blue and white umbrellas and outdoor seating is so inviting! But the inside.. a blend of whites, warmth and that classic blue, it's quaint and not kitschy. The service is consistent and quick. There are many severs and bussers who are constantly filling drinks and clearing the table. Lastly but most important, the food. Fresh. Tasty. Light. Intentional. Everything feels scratch made and so good. I would say the inside is small and might be best for a reservation or early dinner, but absolutely delicious and such a hidden gem! read more

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For our anniversary, there were few options that we considered, Elia at the top of the list. It's been a while since we last visited, and now they have a full bar. I started with a cocktail, called "Cupid's Arrow," and for appetizers, we had zucchini cakes which disappeared fast. For dinner, I had a glass of white Greek (Amethystos) wine recommended by our waiter. The entrees were lachanika and halibut, nothing superb. They brought us cheesecake and galakto for dessert, with something special for the anniversary. Elia has the nicest dining room in town, and we watched the staff as they hustled around, making every table look special. One of the classiest places to eat in the area, and definitely the best Greek food. read more

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This time we chose a restaurant with a nicer environment and décor for dinner. The food quality was very good, and the flavors were a pleasant surprise. The only downside was the fried calamari, as the batter didn't stick well. The service was also very attentive, making us feel very comfortable and overall very satisfied. read more

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Went for lunch. Food, large portions, was good. Moussaka was surprisingly good and could be shared by two. Service was good too. Sat inside but there is a nice outdoor patio to sit in as well. Not great, but very good, I would recommend it if you want Greek food. read more

3.5/5 I recently visited this location for the first time. The ambiance and decor are lovely, and the menu offers a good variety without being overwhelming. We started with the kalamarakia (calamari) appetizer which was delicious. They also offer complimentary bread with oil and vinegar. For mains, we had the bucatini astakos and moussaka. Portions were filling, and the food was good, though nothing extraordinary. My favorite was the bucatini. The moussaka, which includes a mix of lamb and beef, was good but not something I'd order again, as I'm not a big fan of lamb. If you are, you'll like it. Presentation for all dishes was nice. For dessert, we had the galaktoboureko which was a sweet, satisfying finish. After our visit, I noticed we were charged slightly more for our appetizer than the menu listed, and their online menus don't seem to have accurate, updated pricing. While the 'happy birthday' menu was a nice touch since we booked under a birthday reservation, we didn't receive any additional acknowledgment or birthday treats as recent reviews mentioned. Overall, the food is good, the service is friendly, and with a few small improvements, this place could be even better. read more

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Came here for a bottomless mimosa birthday brunch. The decor vibe was super classy and perfect for a girls brunch. Our waiter was kind and attentive. I ordered the filet mignon soulvaki plate. The meat was sooo soft and tender. Absolutely delicious! The veggies were fresh and seasoned perfectly. read more

Elia - Filet mignon soulvaki with an egg - Greek Near Me - Pleasanton, California

Food - 4 stars. Service 1 star 1. Kolokithokeftethes 4 stars- zucchini fritters were excellent. Flavorful with different herbs and not oily at all 2. Melitzana (melitzanosalata in Greece)- 3 stars. Good but not enough garlic, the depth of flavor from roasting was absent, and the eggplant was not as delicate as the melitzanosalata we had in Greece and NY. 3. Butter lettuce and Beet salad- 3 stars - solid but not outstanding 4. Keftedes (meatballs)- 5 stars-excellent flavor, texture and good quality meat, not too salty like a lot of meatballs or sauce 5. Kokkinisto - 5+ stars -outstanding- lamb was so tender, not over salted, excellent flavors, and the side of veggies complimented it very well 6. Moussaka- 5 stars- excellent, perfectly cooked, could taste individ ingredients instead of being mushed together like some moussakas. Service- ONE star. It took 4 requests for more water and 5 requests for ice before they brought it. There was 1/2 hr of sitting and waiting between courses after finishing the dishes. With the dishes we ordered for 4 ppl and no drinks, it took 2.5 hrs for dinner, even with repeated queries about our food. In many restaurants, a table for 4 has a 1 1/2 hr limit at a table. It was hard to find someone to flag down to ask questions about our food and other tables had the same issue of waiting a long time for their food. Yes, it's Mother's Day, but as I said to the manager who kept telling me they're busy, they know how many reservations they had. They know it's Mother's Day. They should be prepared; it wasn't a surprise. We cancelled the one dessert we were going to share between the 4 of us because it took so long and we have to work early in the am. And by the time we ordered the dessert, the restaurant was half empty so it should have arrived promptly. It looked like they prioritized the large tables with 8 ppl ordering a lot of alcohol. Sad because I was looking forward to dinner here after a friend's recommendation. There were no apologies, just excuses, from the manager read more

Love Elia for creative and fun cocktails and Mediterranean mezze plates! Great service that is prompt and very courteous. Ambience is classy, stylish and elegant. Love the outdoor seating near the fireplace on cold day. We will be here again! read more

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I had a quick lunch with a coworker here and it was delicious! I was in the mood for Mediterranean and this came highly recommended by a colleague. When we arrived, there was plenty of seating and we were sat right away. Our server was very attentive and the whole staff was friendly. The decor is gorgeous with little cutouts in the wall and beautiful light fixtures - a very fresh experience! The food was good- I do wish I had an opportunity to try more but it was only a quick meal. I love Gyros and it was very tasty although the meat might have been a bit overcooked. It came with some delicious fries and also there was bread and oil for the table that was a treat as well. There were many items on the menu that looked good and I look forward to trying more read more

Elegantly decorated. Burrata with fruits were refreshing and it awakened my palate. The lamb chop is a little gamey than the others that I tasted, I personally do not mind it, for me, it is the distinguishing factor between lamb and beef. And I love lamb! Fish was tender and perfectly seasoned. Moussaka was really good. Will order this the next time I go back. Prawns Rockefeller tasted good, like playground in my mouth. Some ingredients were sour, some were a little sweet... but they all compliment each other and was just the perfect combination of taste and texture. I understand Paella has variety depending on where it came from. Seafood Paella is not to my liking. It did have a lot of protein but I am not a fan of the taste, nor the texture of the rice. Greek coffee was good. The texture was kind of like drinking a chocolate drink. Like there's depth but flowy. Service was great. Staff were friendly and attentive. read more

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Dined in for a weekday work lunch with a group less than 10. I'm honestly new to Greek/Mediterranean food, but everything on the menu looked tasty. I had no idea what the items are, so I had to refer to the ingredients and some photos on Yelp, but no combination of ingredients sounded not good to try. It took me so long to make a choice. The item I got (no longer found on the menu--I literally been scanning their current menu and cannot find it for the dear life of me) was a coconut dish with fish, avocado, mangos, and chips for dipping. It was a fun dish, but a very tasty one. The drink on the side is the coconut juice they extracted from the coconut bowl. Everything tasted very fresh. I would order it again, but sadly it is no longer on the menu. My second option would had been the beet salad with a salmon protein. My coworker ordered it, and it looked very good. Everyone's items looked tasty, and I didn't hear anything that went wrong with their food. The only thing that was disappointing at first was the service. It was not busy for weekday lunch, but we were left abandoned outside at the corner and we didn't really get attended to. We were basically the only party outside in our area. A lunch that could had taken an hour took to almost a hour and 45 minutes because of their inattentiveness. When the server was there, he was kind, but they did not check in with us when we were ready to order. I would come back and try other dishes though! read more

Elia - Greek Near Me - Pleasanton, California

This was probably some of the worst service I have had a restaurant for a while. We came in on a Sunday for brunch around 11am. The place was practically empty. We sat outside. The ambience of this place was really nice. The decor was beautiful and we sat outside near the fire which was lovely. They were so incredibly slow. They never brought us extra bread we asked for. They took my friend's plate away before she was done eating her bread so she didn't have a plate for her bread. She ordered the salmon benedict - no salmon on her benedict. We had to ask three separate times for our check. The food was fine but nothing to write home about. I got a Greek omelet and honestly it was no big deal. I don't know if they were short-staffed but we won't be returning. read more

What a beautiful restaurant with gorgeous interior and patio! I had been eyeing this place for a while. Came on a Friday night for a work holiday dinner-- we were about 10 people and had reserved a table ahead of time. The decor and warmth, friendliness of the staff were not only welcoming but made us feel special. My colleagues enjoyed the Evil Eye cocktail and I loved my Cupid's Arrow mocktail-- what a treat! Hold your hats for the appetizer Saganaki-- flaming cheese that is quite a show-- don't miss it! As a vegetarian there are many apps to choose from but that is the way to go. For vegetarian entrees there is the veggie pasta, mushroom risotto, veggie paella. My colleague found her veggie pasta underseasoned but I enjoyed my creamy decadent risotto! I ordered a side of mixed vegetables but probably should have gone with a salad instead as the veggies were mainly a frozen mix with artichoke and roasted peppers added. The staff were attentive and made it a fun night for our large group. I look forward to coming back for a romantic date night with my husband. There are multiple public parking lots within walking distance. Keep in mind this location does NOT have live music/DJ. read more

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A lovely atmosphere with a upscale look and experience. Our server was extremely patient throughout the entire process. I enjoyed the grilled octopus for my appetizer, and the beet salad for my main course. I highly recommend both dishes, as they were both beautifully plated and perfectly executed. The goat cheese in the meat salad was a perfect addition and the salad was wonderfully balanced read more

Came here today with the wife and in-laws. My wife is Greek so she LOVED it here. She said it felt like home. Outside is very nice and wonderful amount of seating available. Inside you feel like you are in Greece right away. I bet at night its beautiful inside. Inside seating availability is wonderful as well. Overall you can fit a lot of customers without feeling it's too packed. Alcohol options is great. But for me I'm bourbon fan and I was impressed with their options. I had the Michters small batch. Menu's and the options are great. You don't feel like your looking at a over packed menu that has too much on it. Very clean. For apps we had SAGANAKI, KALAMARAKIA and AVGOLEMONO. All was very good. The KALAMARAKIA came jalapeno's and red onions. Really added a great flavor. For the main course we had KOKKINISTO, HALIBUT and LAVRAKI. All was very good as well. Halibut came with a sauce that really went well with it. For desert we had Baklava, Greek Yogurt Cheesecake which was absolutely amazing and I don't like cheesecake at all! Their Greek coffee is WOW. Will be looking for it to buy for home. Staff is very professional and beyond friendly. They take the time answer any questions you have. Also very well dressed. The only negative thing for me which was not enough to lower the stars is my food came out first and the rest at my table came out 20 minutes later. But things happen and it was ok. Not everything is also going to be perfect and you have to understand that and not be a snob about it. At the end with all the wonderful food we had I did not feel over full like I do when I have an American food restaurant. You can for sure tell the food is quality and ingredients are fresh. I highly suggest giving tis place a try cause you will be sorry if you don't. read more

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I wanted a new restaurant to go for Easter Brunch and this place fit the bill. The decor was lovely, the hostess, and our server were attentive and courteous. I had browsed their menu before coming and wanted to order the dolmathes, grape leaves stuffed with rice, pine nuts, and herbs ( I was able to order and they were scrumptious), and a gyro sandwich, unfortunately the gyro was not on the brunch menu which was a huge disappointment. I opted for a Greek omelette with cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, olive, peppers, and onions with a side of fruit, and breakfast potatoes. The omelette was okay a bit salty, from the combination of the olives and feta cheese. The ambiance and service made up for the omelette and not getting a gyro sandwich. I need to go back and get that sandwich. The restaurant was packed for brunch. A lovely restaurant in downtown Pleasanton across from Zachary's Pizza. read more

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Beautiful restaurant and excellent food and service. Celebrated my son's birthday and we had a great time!

The atmosphere at Elia is beautiful, especially the outdoor patio seating. Unfortunately, the overall dining experience did not fully match the ambiance. The service felt inattentive at times. For example, we ordered the sizzling cheese appetizer (Saganaki) and the presentation was done while my husband had briefly stepped away, rather than waiting a moment for everyone at the table to be present. The bread was served cold, and my pasta lacked flavor/seasoning. While the setting is definitely aesthetically appealing, the food and service felt underwhelming compared to the expectations created by the atmosphere and pricing. Overall, it was a nice evening because of the location and patio, but the restaurant itself left room for improvement. read more

Elia - Evil eye cocktail and Saganaki appetizer - Greek Near Me - Pleasanton, California

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