Great food - we've been twice in a short time frame. Similar to Evvia but easy to get a reservation! I would recommend outside when it is warm. Entree wise the paella is sooooo good. read more

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Food: 2.5/5, Service 5/5 Came here for early Mother's day dinner, and the service here definitely made the experience for me personally! From the start, the staff was outstanding! They have outdoor seating, and were dog friendly which we really appreciated! They also have heaters that did a great job keeping us warm while we dined. I'm typically a fan of greek cuisine, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the options here. To start, we shared a bunch of appetizers, and got the calamari, pita with various dips, octopus and fried olives. The calamari was just okay, but the dips were really tasty and fresh! The octopus was a surprising standout and had great flavor and char that I loved. I thought frying olives would help me like them, but I can confirm I'm still not an olive fan haha. Their main courses seemed to highlight lamb, which I'm not the biggest fan of, so I decided to play it safe and just get the chicken skewers. Pretty standard chicken skewers, nothing really stood out. Despite Elia not having many options that appealed to me, I still had a great experience, and would definitely recommend for those who like the options they have here! read more

Elia - Complimentary bread with olive oil - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Super cute restaurant! Nice vibe, attentive service! Went as a group, we ordered multiple appetizers our favorites were the saganaki and the ceviche. Both delicious and the coconut was an extra touch! . Found the fried olives on the saltier side, the side tzatziki did help with the saltiness. Calamari was nice but would have preferred breading to be firmer. It was too soft. The whole fish was delicious and Ithe moussaka was saucy and delicious. The desserts were pretty good, we tried the galakto and the cheesecake and would have those again! Planning to come back and try different dishes. read more

2.75 stars rounded up. If we eat with our eyes first, Elia's plating does little to whet my appetite. Of our shared dishes, I tried: -- Crispy Burrata: the flattened pan de mie base made the appetizer seem cheaply thrown together. A more-substantial piece of bread would have better complemented the thick ball of cheese. Too many competing flavors with balsamic, pesto, AND tomato jam. -- Crispy Olives: enjoyed popping these one after the other after heartily dipping them in the accompanying tzatziki. -- Beet Salad: I thought the stacked beet & goat cheese was an odd preparation. And overall, the salad was visually unappetizing with the yogurt dressing mixing with the beets to give the dish an overall pink hue. -- Filet Mignon Souvlaki: the dish looked bare bones which called attention to the price we were paying for one skewer. Tender steak but the taste was not to my liking. -- Poached Pear dessert: off-putting, unnatural neon coloring to the fruit. The pink back-lit walls inside are certainly pretty & the beautiful covered patio is perfect for the heat wave we're currently experiencing; however, Elia's offerings were middling, & they fail at their attempts to make their food appear upscale. read more

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evening visit after dinner for a drink...a fully stocked bar and cocktail menu available...taking a seat at the bar...cocktails priced at $17 to $20 per drink...taking a gift of gaia $17 and medusa $17...complimentary popcorn provided...ordered a tzatziki $12 which was a thick greek yogurt spread and pita bread as a snack....tzatziki was tasty and pita bread was good...yogurt was a thicker consistency to easily spread on the pita...the drinks were stiff and good...gift of gaia has a refreshing pineapple and lime rum mixture cocktail...medusa can be described as a old fashion with some tangy fruity zest...bartenders were great and a perfect place to hang at the bar and get a drink in the evening... read more

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Total impromptu girls brunch. We had the best Time The Greek breakfast platter was A treat! I don't believe we had the simit, but the pisi was a crowd pleaser, fried and a tad bit sweet. The fig jam And honey were delish!! Two friends had the shatshuka (they couldn't Taste the lamb, in case you're not a lamb fan). I had the lobster omelet which was fine. Another friend had the chicken sandwich which was good. I really want To come back for the grilled Octopus. I haven't had since my trip to Greece in June! They were really nice, despite a language barrier with some staff. We really enjoyed our lunch. Hope To be back! read more

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Very nice setting right in the heart of downtown San Carlos. The ambiance was great. Nice inside and outside dining. On top of that, the outside dining has very warm and thick quilts that you can use..who does that? I have never seen that before, so thoughtful and nice. The colors and inside and outside decor remind you that you are in the mediterranean, perhaps Greece, but could be anywhere. Okay so we decided to order appetizers and drinks and they were good. Would I say that it is strictly or authentic to Greek, probably not. It does seem mediterranean and their menu attests to that. They even have their take on Spanish Paella, but not the same as authentic typical Paella so I am told. I would say this is more mediterranean cuisine style, perhaps Turkish with having some Greek plates highlighted. The service was great and attentive. I think for what we ordered and having only one drink each, no coffee or dessert it was a bit steep. We had one appetizer we shared, and we each had our an appetizer, we each had 1 glass of wine. That said, by the time we got our bill, it was about $70.00 each which included tip. SO just figure rule of thumb...about $25.00-$30.00 per item, which would also cover your drinks and tip. read more

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Absolutely beautiful ambiance. The decor is breathtaking taking. Food was good as well, and the service was kind. They give a lot of yummy free bread to start which we devoured with some olive oil. Ordered: - Evil eye martini: delicious, pretty strong, def one of those drinks that are for pics - Prawn appetizer: best thing we had tonight. In a delicious garlic and wine sauce. Olives in it are delicious too - Truffle mushroom risotto: it was okay, not super flavorful kind of underwhelming - Bucatini: DELICIOUS! lobster was amazing and fresh, and went perfectly with the creamy lobster bisque sauce. Noodles were cooked to perfection - Chicken skewers: my mom got these and said they were so-so, not super flavorful. She loved the side salad - Greek yogurt cheesecake: so unique and yummy. Great consistency, not too sweet and loved the mango coulis and berry puree Overall, great spot in San Carlos. It is worth it to come here for the ambiance alone - truly gorgeous. read more

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Came with 2 friends for dinner where we opted to share 4 appetizers and a salad instead of having a main. We were seated outdoors so it had a more casual feel than the indoor seating. Service was friendly and attentive; I was impressed by how they kept our water filled throughout the night. The food was fresh and flavorful although there were a couple of dishes I'd skip the next time. My friends and I ordered: - octopus - super tender. Only wish it was a little bigger - prawns - prawns were overcooked. The sauce was delicious though - saganaki - great dish if you love squeaky dish. The flambéed brandy added a nice sweet nutty aroma. - beet salad - interesting presentation and a good refreshing dish - pikilia - recommended by our server. All 3 dips were great but my favorite was the bell pepper one - lamb riblets - just ok. If I'm craving lamb, I'll try one of the mains next time. read more

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A fairly new spot right in the heart of Laurel Street, and we were instantly drawn to the beautiful blue, Greek-style outdoor setup. Spacious enough for the dogs to stretch out and relax, which made it even better. We came on a sunny afternoon and ordered a bunch of small bites -- all very traditional and served in a distinctly Greek way. They even cut the baked cheese right in front of us, which was such a fun touch and really showed their pride in Greek culture. Highlights definitely were the fried olives -- crisp, savory, and addicting. The beet salad was both delicious and gorgeous on the plate. And yes, they even offer Greek-style porridge for something a little different. Overall, Elia is a beautiful addition to San Carlos. I'll absolutely be back, especially on dog walks through Laurel Street. Perfect for: sunny afternoons with friends and dogs, or even on a first date. If you wanna try something a bit exotic. read more

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Pricey but tasty. Wish we got the lobster pasta instead of paella but flavors were on point. Loved the lamb and the coconut ceviche (came with a shot of coconut water mm). Didnt get to try the desserts but it looked yummy on other tables. Be sure to snag a good reservation on OpenTable for indoor seating - outdoor is questionable in the winter, brrr. read more

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Went to Elia last night for the first time for our date night. It's a good thing we had reservations because they got very busy. We were seated outside and the weather couldn't be more perfect. We were greeted right away by the most friendliest and let me add, very attentive staff. They came out with the most delicious warm bread that we devoured. For the appetizer, we had the Coconut Ceviche which came with a shot of coconut juice (which I enjoyed so much I ordered another one). For our main, I had the chicken skewers with tzatziki sauce and my husband had the Lamb Chops and everything was cooked to perfection. To top off this perfect dining experience, we had the Baklava and it was pure deliciousness. We most definitely will be back again. read more

The interior of this restaurant is very nice and reminds me of eating at a restaurant on one of the Greek islands. Great welcoming ambience. The service was also very good and attentive. The food prices are on the higher side but they are excellent quality to warrant it. We came for my dad's birthday and the staff sang to him when they brought out a special birthday treat for him. I would come back again for a special occasion. read more

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A newer spot in San Carlos, finally had time to try it on a recent date night. Husband and I wanted to sit outside on the super cute patio, but I also love their bar. Lovely decor; really like the design of this place. It was a nice fall night and the patio was warm enough at the time we went, plus they have little blankets on the back of the chairs in case you get cold. Nice touch. I cannot remember if they had heaters because it wasn't cold enough for us to need one of those. Onto the drinks. Cute little cocktail list. I had one of their signature cocktails - can't remember what it was called, but it was a very refreshing cucumber vodka drink. My husband had an old-fashioned and said it was well made here. For food we started with the fried olives and meatballs, I had the Greek salad for my main and husband had the lamb (I want to say it was lamb chops? I'm not a big meat eater). Both appetizers and our mains were good, but the fried olives were definitely the stand out. Service here was also good, our waiter was very nice and pretty on top of it. One thing I thought was interesting is that when we would ask her about how a certain dish was, a couple times she said either "I wouldn't recommend that" or "that doesn't get ordered very much". While I appreciated her honesty, I don't think I've ever heard a server flat out say they don't recommend something on the menu. Anyway, we didn't order anything that she said she wouldn't recommend but we did order one of the items she said wasn't ordered much and thought it was good (Greek yogurt cheesecake). Overall, we'd certainly come back for both the food and the drinks! read more

Celebrated a birthday in the family here. We were a group of four and the food, service, ambiance was top notch. We got some cocktails - Barrel negroni and Harmonia and a mock tail to start the evening. Everyone enjoyed their drinks and these set the time for the evening. We got the red pepper with pita (htiti) (5/5) which was delicious, the grilled octopus (5/5) the best I've had on this side of the Atlantic, prawns with olives (3/5) just coz the prawns were overcooked and chewy. For the mains we got the lamb chops (4/5) only because 2 of 3 pieces were medium rare and 1 was medium well. The filet mignon souvlaki (5/5) which had amazing flavor although it also suffered from being inconsistently cooked across the different pieces on the skewer. For dessert they gave us a complimentary baklava with a sparkling candle for the birthday person while the rest of us shared an amazing dessert called gelatoburkecto(??) (5/5) with crispy phyllo covering a semolina custard and served with a wonderfully flavored vanilla gelato that had a spice combination that elevated it to being amazing! There are many more dishes on the menu that I'd like to try and we will be back! Thank you to the team at Elia for making our evening special! read more

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I can't believe I'm just now writing a review for Elia because this place is easily one of the best upscale Mediterranean spots on the Peninsula. We first came here for Krish's last night before he headed back to school, and it turned into one of those perfect, celebratory dinners you remember. And yes... I've already been back with my work team because I couldn't stop talking about it. The food? Incredible. Here are my absolute favorites -- the ones I would reorder without thinking: The Flaming Cheese (Saganaki): If drama and deliciousness had a baby. They light it on fire, everyone gasps, and then you take a bite and realize why Greeks have been doing this forever. Perfectly salty, melty, and unforgettable. The Artichokes: Tender, lemony, and honestly one of the best versions I've had anywhere. Light enough to not weigh you down, flavorful enough to feel special. The Lamb Chops: Juicy, perfectly seasoned, and cooked exactly right. "delicious" doesn't even cover it -- these are the dish you talk about in the car on the way home !!! Filet Mignon Souvlaki: Krish ordered this and absolutely loved it. Vibe & Service: : Super classy without being pretentious. The kind of place where you can celebrate a milestone, impress your colleagues, or just feel fancy on a Thursday night. Service is warm, polished, and never rushed -- they make you feel taken care of in that effortlessly elegant way. Elia is a gem in San Carlos -- gorgeous interior, consistently incredible food, and dishes that genuinely stand out. I've now been twice in a short span (family and then coworkers!) and both times were flawless. If you've been "meaning to try it," learn from me: don't wait. Go. Order the flaming cheese. And thank me later. read more

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I've been here a few times and it's always high energy and happening. We went on a Thursday night and they had live Greek music playing. It was great. The restaurant is reminiscent of Greece with white and blue hues. The front room is very lively and can be loud, especially with a live band playing. The restaurant offers bar seating, high tables in the front room, patio dining, and indoor seating. They also have a large room, with long tables, for private events. The patio has tall heaters to keep you warm. We dined indoors this time. We could have a conversation while still hearing the music. Before dinner, we grabbed a drink at the bar. I got the evil eye. It was great and was very whimsical in its presentation. Once we got seated at our table, we got a couple of appetizers to share. We got the saganaki, pikilia, and dolmathes. I liked the pikilia the best. The trio of dips were so fun. My favorite was the red pepper one. It had some heat to it. The saganaki dish was fun because they lit it on fire tableside. We were expecting feta, as the cheese, but it was a different type of cheese. It was still good. The dolmathes were good too. For main dishes we got lamb chops and mousakka. The lamb chops were delicious!!! The flavor was great and the temperature was done perfectly. The mousakka was a huge dish. Our friend only had about a quarter of it. Make sure you bring a big appetite for this dish. It's also great to have leftovers though. For dessert we got baklava, my favorite. It was pretty rich so it's a good dish to share. It's a really fun place with great food. read more

Great food and service! We ordered some of the appetizers and the standouts included the octopus (very tender), the flambéed cheese (even squeaked on biting), and the roasted red pepper dip. For entree I got the paella and it was packed with seafood. The lobster was super juicy and buttery. My favorite dessert was the chocolate lava cake. I was impressed with how large the restaurant was and how much space was both inside and outside. Great place for a date night. read more

Elia - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

I like the decor of this restaurant a lot; it's decorated like an authentic restaurant you would find in Greece. It is actually quite large inside with plenty of outdoor seating as well, each equipped with its own space warmer. They provide complimentary, warm bread and quality olive oil for dipping which was a nice appetizer. For our mains, I got the lamb chops while my husband got the lamb pastrami sandwich. His sandwich wasn't huge, but it was quite filling. The flavors and texture were similar to a cacciatore. The fries that come with it are nicely fried and seasoned. For my dish, I had ordered the lamb chops medium rare, but unfortunately it came out a bit undercooked. A good portion of the chops were just straight-up rare. The flavors were still good though and it came with some currants on top which paired nicely with the meat. On the side, you get some shishito peppers, brussel sprouts, and some lemon-butter potatoes which were really nice. read more

Elia - Lamb pastrami sandwich - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

Larger than the one in Walnut Creek. Same happy hour. Good quality food and flavorful. Accommodating staff. Big drawback = super loud if you sit inside, seriously you can't hear the person next to you if you don't yell! read more

Elia - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

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What a wonderful Greek inspired restaurant. We went to celebrate a friend's birthday. The service was amazing from the bartenders to the servers. All very helpful and friendly. And the special "personalized menu" they created for our table was a sweet touch. The restaurant is a clean, modern design but still comforting. The food was delicious. A selection of classic Greek dishes along with some creative fusion dishes. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and look forward to returning for another visit read more

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5 out of 5 amazing Mediterranean Food. They have the best lamb and beef meatballs. It comes with a small salad and fried eggplant. It can be a meal even though it says appetizer. The lambchops are juicy and well seasoned. My coworker had the moussaka last time and she loved it. I've been here several times and the service and the food has been amazing each time. A really good restaurant for San Carlos! read more

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A lovely ambiance, but service was chaotic and there are not enough vegetarian options. Elia opened only 4 months ago, so growing pains are to be expected. We had a reservation at 7pm for 2 people on a Saturday night, and had to wait 5-10 minutes for a table to open up. Once we were seated, we were told by multiple servers that the kitchen was backed up and food might take a while. We were also given the lunch menu. There's only 1 vegetarian main, the truffle mushroom risotto. I elected not to go for this, and try the veggie apps instead. The cauliflower dish was good if you had feta in your bite, but the saganaki was underwhelming. I wanted to order tzatziki as well once I realized the saganaki was an oily disappointment, but we never got a hold of our server. I flagged down the hostess when she walked by and told her I wanted to order more, and she said she would tell our server... but he never showed up. My husband says the lamb riblets were well flavored, but he wishes they were more tender. All in all, unfortunately not worth the price. Would not return. read more

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It's a cute spot for date night! My husband chose Elia randomly one night when we were both lost on what to eat for dinner. We did arrive without a reservation and got seated outside which was fine as they turned on the heaters for us and had blankets available at each table for convenience. The menu was easy to navigate and we had a difficult time making a decision because everything sounded delicious. Ultimately, we landed on their cauliflower starter to share and then I got the lamb chops while my husband opted for their lobster pasta. We were given bread and oil as a starter upon sitting down which helped with our hunger while we went through the menu. The food came out in a timely manner and the caulflower and lamb chops dish were both seasoned beautifully. While the lobster was tender, the pasta didn't have as much flavor as I would've anticipated so that was a little lackluster for me. Overall, the food was good and fresh. The service was attentive and personal. The street this restaurant is on is blocked off for pedestrians, but we were able to find parking a block away without any issues. read more

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We loved our Greek Cuisine experience here at Elia on a Saturday afternoon! Let's talk about it! Brunch is served here Sat/Sun 10am-2pm We were able to catch the tail end (which they still served us) 10m before 2pm. Thank you! I ordered the steak n eggs and I can confidently say that it's one of the better brunch dishes i've had in ages. Well evenly portioned dish w/ cut slices of steak, marinated in olive oil and 2 sunny side up poached eggs with added fruits and salad. Each bite was full of tender, juicy, succulent greatness! It pairs well with the eggs which also were super tasty. highly recommend this dish 5/5 We also got one of their house martini mix called the Evil eye! Vodka based and we enjoyed how they included a charm with the glass that you can keep! It matches the drink! Super tasty, I believe this place would be a great spot to go for happy hour given their attention to detail on just the martini alone. The environment is welcoming, feels classy. White paint and wicker lamps with gold accessories/furniture. We chose to sit outside given the beautiful weather San Carlos is known for. Lastly we finished it with some dessert. The greek yogurt cheesecake. We never get a chance to try greek dessert and Elia nailed it. Perfect bite size cheesecake and berries. The presentation is so good and the taste is not to sweet! All in all we recommend this place and will be coming back! read more

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Hands down the best Tzatziki I have ever had in my life. I went to Elia a week ago just out of curiosity, ordered the steak and tzatziki and hummus and rosé. Everything came out so delicious. The restaurant interior is beautiful and calm. Quick but calm service. There's a very popular restaurant across the street that is full every day, maybe it distracts from all the amazing restaurants at Downtown San Carlos. read more

Absolutely beautiful setting. Great portions. Wonderful, gentle service. The zucchini cake, the beet salad, and the spanakopita were all excellent appetizers. The Bucatini, the moussaka and the skewer chicken were delicious entrees. We were so full we couldn't order dessert, all I would've liked to try it. Excellent dining experience. read more

It was an exceptional experience. The ambiance was delightful, creating a warm and festive! The standout dishes were undoubtedly the Branzino, octopus and grilled calamari, both cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor. The potatoes, however, stole the show--they were unforgettable, adding a fantastic touch to the meal. The service was impeccable, with lovely staff who were attentive and friendly throughout our visit. I highly recommend and I will definitely be back! read more

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Reservation - easy to make on open table. Highly recommend, when we got there on a Friday night it was packed with a pretty lengthy waitlist. Location - downtown San Carlos. Easy to find parking and free public parking garage nearby. Ambiance - the restaurant is beautiful, even the outdoor seating was well decorated. The views of the bar was amazing when you first enter. All the rooms are a bit closed off so sound does not travel. Music was played low enough to have conversations with your table. Service - this is where it was lacking. Long wait in between being being served bread and water before they even came back to check on our order for drinks. I actually had to flag someone down. It was unclear who our server was for the night... food came out quickly once it was ordered though. Food - everything was AMAZING. You are started off with free bread and olive oil. We preserved the fried olive, Greek salad, and octopus to start with. they were all fresh! The olives were fried to perfection and did not taste oily one bit. For entrees we did the bucatani lobster pasta and the Arnisia Paidaikia (lamb chops). Def enjoyed the lobster pasta more, generous portion of lobster. However, lamb was well cooked also. For dessert we got the Galaktoboureko, highly recommend! Drinks - Evil eye. It was really fruity and fresh. Also presentation of use was well done. We also got wine, the cab sauv tasted like it's been open too long, but the Greek wine was something interesting to try. Espresso martini was good, not creamy like other places but a good choice to end the night with. read more

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From the very beginning my family and I were greeted with big smiles and exemplary service. Although this is a nice restaurant, it is kid friendly. There's plenty of seating arrangements and the team coordinated placements well. The staff was also genuinely excited to interact with my 8mo daughter. The exchanges brought a smile to all of us and it was nice to feel everyone's warmth especially during the holiday season. The drinks here are fun, delicious, and Greek inspired. The Medusa is more citrusy and refreshing while the Evil Eye is more fruity and floral. If I had to choose one over the other I would say the Evil Eye drink was my favorite. It had a lot of great flavors that blended nicely with each other and it was chilled perfectly. For appetizers - we ordered tzatziki, crispy olives, calamari, and the keftedes, which are essentially meatballs. I feel like you should always have an order of tzatziki. It's a great item to start the pallet since it's light and easy to nibble with bread. The meatballs were good but seemed a little dry. The sauce definitely helped and it was also a great catalyst to dip our bread. The calamari had a nice smokey and tangy flavor but keep in mind that they're grilled and not fried. I think I would opt for the Spanish octopus next time. Finally the olives were reminiscent of fried pickles. They used large green olives which were milder in flavor. I would have liked the olive to be a little saltier since it's fried and it pairs well with alcohol but it was still delicious. Just be careful when you bite into it because the juices from the olive may scald your mouth. I ordered the lamb chops which came with garlic potatoes and brussel sprouts. The meat was seasoned well and cooked to my liking. I loved the char flavor and the portions were generous. My only gripe was that the brussel sprouts were a bit oily. There's a lot of heavy flavors so something fresh would have been nice. The grilled tomato definitely helped balance things out though. My wife ordered the Moussaka. I only tried a small portion but from what I gathered it was more like a Greek lasagna. My personal preference would have been for it to be creamier and more comforting like a Sheppard pie. Overall, we had a great experience and we can't wait to come back! read more

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It's busy, it's fun and the food is really superb but the real star of the night was their cocktails! I loved the variety and how different they were all while tasting absolutely delicious!! Highly recommend making a reservation before you head over! read more

Elia - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

My gf and I decided to have a quick bite during the SC Art & Wine Faire. We were seated quickly, but they took some time to get back to us. When we got their attention, everything came out quickly. We always had water. The server was charming with a smile and pointing to a special libation while I was visibily indecisively figuring out what I wanted to drink. Yes, I was amused. LOL I was ready for some smelt but not yet! So we ordered the Spanish octopus with beets. It was simple and delicious. We also ordered the meatballs which were soft and flavorful- clearly made fresh. We were served some homemade warm pita bread with olive oil, and it was perfect for dipping in the red sauce! The whole restaurant itself definitely gives you the feel of Greece. It brought me right back having just returned from Greece last month. - love the blue accents and white throughout. The interiors are so well done with Greek motifs throughout. Even in the restrooms were given attention to detail, and I love the placement of the mouthwash in there! There was also some live jazz playing. It's going to be a fun place, and I can't wait to return and explore the menu further! read more

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Went to Elia for my birthday dinner, and honestly, it was everything I needed. The space felt warm and inviting--beautiful without trying too hard--and the energy was just right for a special night. The food? So damn good. Every dish felt thoughtful, fresh, and full of flavor. Nothing felt overly heavy, just really well done with those clean Mediterranean flavors. I genuinely loved everything we ordered. Drinks were smooth and well-balanced, and the staff made the night feel easy and un-rushed, like they actually cared that we were having a good time. It felt like a little escape--comforting, elevated, and special all at once. Definitely one of those places I'd go back to in a heartbeat. read more

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Cocktails were really good, and server even made a mocktail (not on menu) when requested, which was very kind! Food-wise, the only things that were worth the money were the riblets (SO soft) and the spanatirokopita (flaky and crispy). Calamari and burrata had nice textures but were pretty flavorless. Servers were very attentive and quick, and cocktails were great. Food was just okay. There was some very lovely live music, and I liked the decor. read more

Elia - complementary pita, burrata, riblets, calamari, spanakotiropita, olive oil - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Amazing tastes, wonderful flavors, beautiful plates, and AUTHENTIC!! Had the lamb chops...best ever! Highly recommend. read more

Elia - Lamb chops - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

Elia is probably the cutest Greek restaurant I've been to in the Peninsula! The ambience is lovely, especially the area right by the bar. It made me feel like I was transported to Greece. They had an outdoor patio, which is dog-friendly. Service was very good and I like how they have live music on Mondays/Tuesdays. We were provided with complimentary warm, fresh bread to graze on and staff offered us more bread if needed. We ordered the dolmathes ($15), octopus ($21), crispy olives ($12), and burrata ($18) to start with. Grape leaves weren't really anything special, but it was light to eat on a warm day. Octopus was cooked well and accompanied by a delicious sauce and some veggies. Very tender and easy to chew. The crispy olives were just fried olives served with a tzatziki sauce and the burrata was also fried. We split the seabass ($44) as an entree. It was deboned and was very light and healthy. It came a hearty serving of potatoes too. For dessert, we opted for the galakto ($15) which was a phyllo pastry filled with custard. I personally did not care for it. I felt like the phyllo puff pastry tasted a bit off and I still prefer the desserts at Kokkari in the city. I swear, nothing beats the kataifi ekmek - even though it's a pain to get there and reservations can be tricky. The restaurant is also much bigger than it looks. There's sectioned off rooms and it's kind of fun wandering deeper and deeper into the restaurant to see how each area has a different vibe. read more

I had high hopes for this restaurant, and while there were some definite highlights, the experience was a bit uneven. First, the menu differs slightly from what's online, and I didn't realize reservations were available since that information is buried on their website. Fortunately, they had a patio table right outside the bar, which ended up being a great spot--we could see the gorgeous bar and enjoy the DJ without the overwhelming volume inside. What We Ordered: * Octapodaki - The standout dish of the night. The octopus was perfectly tender, and the flavors were spot on. I'd absolutely order this again. * Seabass Carpaccio - This was slightly disappointing. It was more like an over-marinated ceviche; the texture had turned a bit mushy from sitting too long in the citrus. The knife work was also sloppy--carpaccio should be thinly sliced, but these were thick, uneven strips. That said, the seasoning was great, with just the right amount of acid. They should call it ceviche and adjust the cut. * Arnisia Plevrakia (Lamb Riblets) - These arrived after we had already finished the seabass, and I really wish they had been timed to come out together. The riblets were incredibly fatty, and without something to balance that richness, they quickly became overwhelming. I could only eat one before feeling a bit queasy. The spices were delicious, though. * Halibut - A major letdown. The fish was completely dried out, likely from sitting under a heat lamp too long. There was no flavor--leeks and fennel should have added depth, but I couldn't taste them at all. The potatoes were bland and hadn't absorbed any broth. We ended up sending this back. * Moussaka - Decent but slightly under-spiced. If it had been served immediately, I think it would have been much better. * Galaktoboureko (Dessert) - The flavors were fantastic, and the ice cream and berries were a great way to end the meal. I just wish the phyllo had been crispier--it was a bit too soft. The service was very friendly, and besides the delay with the entrées, everything came out fairly quickly despite it being a packed Saturday night. Overall, I'd come back and focus on more traditional Greek dishes to get a better sense of what this place does best. Some of the flavors were fantastic, and I feel like I might have just ordered the wrong things. Hopefully, next time will be a more balanced experience. read more

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We love downtown San Carlos and honestly find the restaurant options better than any city on the Peninsula. My favorite kind of food is Mediterranean and my bucket list trip is to Greece, specifically the Islands of Mykonos, Santorini and Crete. The ambiance at this new restaurant matches the decor and essence of the Greek eatery of my dreams,with gorgeous sections and private rooms, an expansive outdoor patio featuring beautiful light fixtures and white and blue decor with breezy drapes , comfortable seating and cozy blankets. The menu is inventive and service is very good. We enjoyed our octopus appetizer ( my favorite although apparently we are no longer supposed to eat them because of their superior intelligence: although I give a slight edge to the more tender iteration of this dish to Mykonos in Burlingame, this version was served with a beautiful arugula and tomato salad)Otherwise I was very impressed by everything we ordered. Food was elevated by the freshest ingredients.For my main course i had the lamb chops off the lunch menu. They were perfect. i cannot wait to return. Put this establishment on your first date, " impress the clients" or hosting a small private event list!! I have heard the cocktails are phenomenal and I cannot wait to try more things on thr menu. read more

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Great ambience and service, food was decent. The interiors are beautiful. We ordered vegetarian food only so I can only comment on that. It was good but not great. The butter lettuce salad was just ok. The htipiti and crispy zucchini cakes were good. read more

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Very lovely new restaurant! They had the best octopus I've had. Unfortunately there was a mess up with the entrees but the staff was very accommodating - we would be happy to come back. read more

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