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Evvia is probably the expensive Greek restaurant I've ever eaten at, fortunately it was for a work event so I didn't have to pay! My colleagues weren't as hungry as me, nor have my crazy metabolism, so I almost had a full portion of each! Ambience feels like you're in someone's upscale Greek chic interior designed home, nice but not pretentious. Staff was excellent! $13 Taramosalata, Tirokafteri, Melitzanosalata, Tzatziki - with housemade grilled pitas...a trifecta of different Mediterranean dips, perfect paired with the warm fresh pitas. $21 Anginares Souvlaki - grilled artichokes & eggplant skewer with Greek yogurt...great grilled veggies! $21 Octapodaki tou Yiorgou - traditional grilled octopus with lemon, oregano & olive oil. I honestly feel a little guilty eating these intelligent beautiful creatures, and I normally don't like octopus, but no one else was really eating it, so I didn't want to waste it...and may the Greek God Poseidon, King Triton, and Princess Ariel forgive me...but this was pretty darn good? The meat was tender, almost chicken like, easily chewed. Nice char and seasoning... $17 Horiatiki - classic Greek salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, green pepper, red onion, oregano, olives & feta...simple but fresh and good for vitamins, fiber, and your bowel movements. $33 Moussaka - baked casserole with eggplant, lamb & beef ragoût, potatoes & yogurt béchamel...I have not liked Mossaka, until now! This was darn good that I am now lover. So meaty and cheesy! $35 Kotopoulo Souvlas - lemon-oregano rotisserie chicken with garlic broccolini & Evvia potatoes...nice roasted crispy chicken skin well seasoned, with juicy, succulent white meat...so good! $58 Arnisia Paidakia* - rib-cut, mesquite-grilled lamb chops with olive oil lemon roasted potatoes. BEST LAMB CHOPS OF MY LIFE! The lamb is so tender, gamy, flavorful, with a nice char with all the secret spices. $16 Galaktoboureko...phyllo wrapped vanilla bean semolina custard with pistachio ice cream...excellent! $16 Baklava...large baklava drizzled with honey syrup served with vanilla ice cream...traditional and terrific! I think I ate about $150 in food, and $100 worth of wine and Ouzo...thank gawd I wasn't paying!
Very nice restaurant with great service. Very busy but no long wait times. The food was spectacular. Very tasty and good pricing. The set up inside and outside is nice too.
My family and I went out to Evvia for my sister's birthday celebration. There was both indoor and outdoor seating. We sat outside which was a little quieter and more spacious compared to inside. All of the workers were friendly and quick to help us. We especially loved our server Hichem. He truly made our experience special. He was pleasant, funny, and very knowledgeable about all of the dishes. We ordered an insane amount of food and everything was delicious. The standouts were the octopus pasta, sampler platter, corn with feta, calamari, and zucchini cakes. All of the desserts were great too, but the standout was the cheesecake. My dad said it was "the best cheesecake he has ever had." I would recommend getting a cold iced coffee (frappe) to enjoy with your dessert. Without a doubt, this was a 5 star experience. I am already planning on coming back.
Greek/Mediterranean restaurant located in downtown Palo Alto, it has a homey vibe and a cute outdoor seating area too. Had heard good things about their sister location in SF (Kokkari Estiatorio) so was excited to try. Service was pretty fast when we put in appetizers around 5:30pm Saturday but quickly got busy after and took a while to get the attention of staff to put in our mains then for those mains to get served. Pleasantly surprised by the portions of the mains. They really didn't hold back on the protein, nice. On the flip side, they didn't have that much carbs but note they serve complimentary bread and olive oil as well. - Horiatiki (Greek salad): standard Greek salad, fresh feta - Saghanaki (sizzling cheese): heavy and salty but SO good, best shared amongst a group or else it'd be too much - Kolokithakia Tiganita (crispy zucchini chips): actually so addicting but the serving size was way larger than we expected lol - Pantzaria (roasted beets): delicious and refreshing! - Octapodaki tou Yiorgou (grilled octopus): so tasty but tiny lol basically one small tentacle cut up, we had to order 3 so it adds up - Arni Souvlaki (lamb skewers): huge skewers, good flavor, potatoes that came with it were really tasty too - Moscharisia Brizola (rib eye): big portion, maybe 12 oz? Tasty but I liked the lamb skewers more - Kotopoulo Souvlas (rotisserie chicken): juicy/tender but still just chicken lol
Service was five stars: I believe our waiter was David, and we were a table of six plus a toddler celebrating a birthday. He was patient with us snd attentive. We brought a cake and champagne and nothing seemed to bother him. Overall, I found the small plates to be excellent. I've been here before and I have ordered just small plates. This time we went with some entrees, and none of us were thrilled. We were asked how we'd like the lamb prepared - we said medium. All the lamb chops came out well done and dry. The flavors were good, but we were particularly disappointed with the lamb slouvaki, which was extremely dry and overcooked. We did order the riblets from the small plates and those were excellent. I do recommend this place, but stick with the small plates.
I love this place. I would frequent it in the early aughts when I worked in Palo Alto, but these days, I live in Alameda so I get down to the South Bay much less frequently. A friend wanted to treat me to birthday dinner here, so who was I to argue? Our starters, gigantes--I don't even like beans--and could not stop eating these-- and tender, succulent grilled octopus were perfect. We both had fish--hers a whole, steamed branzino and mine a roasted salmon--both very good. I regret not having photographed the dessert, a luscious light meringue with fresh berries. Don't pass that one up!
You always know you're going to have an amazing meal at Evvia! I love bringing people to this place because it never disappoints. I love to get the various appetizers like the dips with their homemade pita bread. I love the grilled octopus, and you can't go wrong with our fresh fish entrees or anything with lamb. The service is wonderful and I like their new outdoor seating. Make sure to make a reservation. This place gets crowded even on wait weekdays.
WOW!!!! One of the best meals I've had in nor cal (even compared to SF)! Not only was the meat tender, the seasonings perfect and the ambiance amazing, the staff is so generous and kind. I came here by myself for dinner one night and they made sure I was well taken care of. On top of that they brought me free dessert!
Date of Visit: 4/4/2026 We visited this gorgeous Greek and Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of Palo Alto. Evvia Estiatorio was opened back in 1995 by George and Judy Marcus along with Kenneth and Angie Frangodakis. It was designed to bring a warm and rustic feeling to Silicon Valley. We were greeted by the front desk when we stepped in and were sit at the large table at the center of the restaurant. Octopus $20.75 We ordered the traditional grilled octopus. On the side there were decorated with lemon, oregano and olive oil. Octopus was fresh and chewy, and the seasoning was great too. Prawns $19.75 My favorite of the day! The prawns were wood oven roasted, and mixed with Calabrian chili butter, tomatoes, scallions. The head on prawns were cooked right to the point and the sauce was amazing too. Grilled Asparagus $16 This was the special of the day. Grilled asparagus mixed with cheese and olive oil. Whole Fish $54 The Lavraki Mediterranean Sea Bass was grilled braised greens & lemon dressing. De-boned in the kitchen and poured with green pesto sauce. Lamb Chops $58.25 The medium cooked lamb chops was rib-cut and mesquite-grilled with smoky flavor and decorated with olive oil and roasted potatoes on the side. Moussaka $33.25 The traditional baked casserole of spiced lamb and beef, eggplant, potato and yogurt béchamel was creamy and rich. The texture was good and should be amazing if paired with wine.
Greek / Mediterranean food elevated. Such an amazing restaurant. While visiting, me and my mother decided to try this wonderful place. It was quite expensive, but definitely worth it. The service was impeccable with our waiter cracking jokes while staying very classy. Mood lighting and a great atmosphere really set the pace for the entire atmosphere. All the food was delicious. I love lamb, so that was the obvious choice. There lemon octopus appetizer was so good. A lot of the names were very hard to say, but everything was delicious. Perfect for special night occasions.
We got a table outside. It was nice. The service was great. Our waiter was very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable with the food and the menu. We ordered pita with cod roe, asparagus, roasted eggplant and artichoke, and sea bass. I was not a fan of the pita with cod roe. I thought it was too fishy for me and the pita was dry. The free bread, on the other hand, was pretty good. I like the asparagus. The roasted eggplant and artichoke and beets were very good. The fish was good too. It was very fresh. I also love the fact that they have a full bar.
Located right in downtown Palo Alto, Evvia is a fantastic restaurant with some of the best Mediterranean food The Bay has to offer. Parking is plentiful, with a lot right across the street and plenty of street parking. They have indoor seating and a small trellis for outdoor seating. Indoor is definitely more fine dining-like, whereas outside is great for a chill lunch. Service was prompt and very friendly. Our server offered us some recommendations and shared the specials, which we are happy to have pivoted and taken. The appetizers were so good and VERY generous in size. We opted for the zucchini chips & the Brussels sprouts special. They were both super flavorful and had the perfect fat/acid combo. For entrees we had the risotto special with prawns and sausage and the chicken skewer. Both were great! The chicken was a server recommendation and it didn't disappoint - one of the best flavors and cook of any chicken we've tried.
This is one of our favorite restaurants; we dine here about once a month if a reservation is available. Our go to dishes were the fried smelts, meat balls, lamb shanks, lamb chops, and whole fish. The smelts dish was the best one we've tried because of the crispiness and how light the coating was; I could easily finish the whole plate all by myself. The meat balls were mixed with pork and lamb; my daughter doesn't usually eat much lamb but the meatballs didn't have the typical strong lamb taste to them, so she did like and able to finish all of them. The lamb shank had always been very flavorful and tender; the pasta rice it came with was very tasty because it soaked in the meat source. Lamb chops were grilled to perfection because it had good ratio of meat and fat, yet not overcooked. They had variety types of grilled fish; from my previous experiences, they were all fresh and perfectly cooked. Always ends the meal with aged earl gray tea with baklava Furthermore, their wine selection was decent. We always order a bottle of wine to go with or meal. Customer service had been... mostly good, they were mostly attentive and friendly; although, we had times when it was difficult to get their attention. They have decent size of outdoor covered seating if that's what you prefer. We like the indoors because my daughter likes the decorations of the restaurant. They also offer free wifi access, which is convenient for my daughter when using her iPad. We recommend this restaurant.
Came by for dinner the other night and it was an excellent, world-class experience. Evvia is my favorite spots for dinner in Palo Alto and is featured in the Michelin guide. Came here with a reservationa and our table was ready upon arrival. Dining is available in the air conditioned dining room, or on the covered patio. Service throughout the evening was excellent as usual. The clientele looked quite polished. Started off with the zucchini cakes and they were excellent. Lightly breaded and fried, juicy zucchini and a nice dipping sauce. Opted for a half order (2 piece) of lamb chops medium rare and they came out as such. Loved the two pieces of potato wedges that were cooked to perfection too! Ended off the meal with the galaktaboureko which was a warm custard inside a phyllo dough. ~$75/head after tax and gratuity for dinner. read more
Very homey feel and cozy retaurant feel which is normal for Greek restaurants. The octopus had to be one of the most tender I've ever tried. Simply seasoned and with a little bit of lemon OMG . I can have 3 plates of just the octopus . They had a corn special with feta cheese i think and it was also equally good. Salty and sweet perfectbalance of flavors My date order the mousaka (sorry if I spelled that wrong ) it was very flavorful with the lamb and the eggplant omg My dish was the lamb chops I don't think you should go beyond medium rare and maybe if you must medium nothing further or you won't enjoy the chops. Cooked on the open flame like that really does increase the flavor. For desert the homemade vanilla ice cream and baklava with honey just a perfect ending to a wonderful meal One of the best restaurants In Palo Alto and they know it read more
Evvia is probably the expensive Greek restaurant I've ever eaten at, fortunately it was for a work event so I didn't have to pay! My colleagues weren't as hungry as me, nor have my crazy metabolism, so I almost had a full portion of each! Ambience feels like you're in someone's upscale Greek chic interior designed home, nice but not pretentious. Staff was excellent! $13 Taramosalata, Tirokafteri, Melitzanosalata, Tzatziki - with housemade grilled pitas...a trifecta of different Mediterranean dips, perfect paired with the warm fresh pitas. $21 Anginares Souvlaki - grilled artichokes & eggplant skewer with Greek yogurt...great grilled veggies! $21 Octapodaki tou Yiorgou - traditional grilled octopus with lemon, oregano & olive oil. I honestly feel a little guilty eating these intelligent beautiful creatures, and I normally don't like octopus, but no one else was really eating it, so I didn't want to waste it...and may the Greek God Poseidon, King Triton, and Princess Ariel forgive me...but this was pretty darn good? The meat was tender, almost chicken like, easily chewed. Nice char and seasoning... $17 Horiatiki - classic Greek salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, green pepper, red onion, oregano, olives & feta...simple but fresh and good for vitamins, fiber, and your bowel movements. $33 Moussaka - baked casserole with eggplant, lamb & beef ragoût, potatoes & yogurt béchamel...I have not liked Mossaka, until now! This was darn good that I am now lover. So meaty and cheesy! $35 Kotopoulo Souvlas - lemon-oregano rotisserie chicken with garlic broccolini & Evvia potatoes...nice roasted crispy chicken skin well seasoned, with juicy, succulent white meat...so good! $58 Arnisia Paidakia* - rib-cut, mesquite-grilled lamb chops with olive oil lemon roasted potatoes. BEST LAMB CHOPS OF MY LIFE! The lamb is so tender, gamy, flavorful, with a nice char with all the secret spices. $16 Galaktoboureko...phyllo wrapped vanilla bean semolina custard with pistachio ice cream...excellent! $16 Baklava...large baklava drizzled with honey syrup served with vanilla ice cream...traditional and terrific! I think I ate about $150 in food, and $100 worth of wine and Ouzo...thank gawd I wasn't paying! read more
My family and I went out to Evvia for my sister's birthday celebration. There was both indoor and outdoor seating. We sat outside which was a little quieter and more spacious compared to inside. All of the workers were friendly and quick to help us. We especially loved our server Hichem. He truly made our experience special. He was pleasant, funny, and very knowledgeable about all of the dishes. We ordered an insane amount of food and everything was delicious. The standouts were the octopus pasta, sampler platter, corn with feta, calamari, and zucchini cakes. All of the desserts were great too, but the standout was the cheesecake. My dad said it was "the best cheesecake he has ever had." I would recommend getting a cold iced coffee (frappe) to enjoy with your dessert. Without a doubt, this was a 5 star experience. I am already planning on coming back. read more
Greek/Mediterranean restaurant located in downtown Palo Alto, it has a homey vibe and a cute outdoor seating area too. Had heard good things about their sister location in SF (Kokkari Estiatorio) so was excited to try. Service was pretty fast when we put in appetizers around 5:30pm Saturday but quickly got busy after and took a while to get the attention of staff to put in our mains then for those mains to get served. Pleasantly surprised by the portions of the mains. They really didn't hold back on the protein, nice. On the flip side, they didn't have that much carbs but note they serve complimentary bread and olive oil as well. - Horiatiki (Greek salad): standard Greek salad, fresh feta - Saghanaki (sizzling cheese): heavy and salty but SO good, best shared amongst a group or else it'd be too much - Kolokithakia Tiganita (crispy zucchini chips): actually so addicting but the serving size was way larger than we expected lol - Pantzaria (roasted beets): delicious and refreshing! - Octapodaki tou Yiorgou (grilled octopus): so tasty but tiny lol basically one small tentacle cut up, we had to order 3 so it adds up - Arni Souvlaki (lamb skewers): huge skewers, good flavor, potatoes that came with it were really tasty too - Moscharisia Brizola (rib eye): big portion, maybe 12 oz? Tasty but I liked the lamb skewers more - Kotopoulo Souvlas (rotisserie chicken): juicy/tender but still just chicken lol read more
Service was five stars: I believe our waiter was David, and we were a table of six plus a toddler celebrating a birthday. He was patient with us snd attentive. We brought a cake and champagne and nothing seemed to bother him. Overall, I found the small plates to be excellent. I've been here before and I have ordered just small plates. This time we went with some entrees, and none of us were thrilled. We were asked how we'd like the lamb prepared - we said medium. All the lamb chops came out well done and dry. The flavors were good, but we were particularly disappointed with the lamb slouvaki, which was extremely dry and overcooked. We did order the riblets from the small plates and those were excellent. I do recommend this place, but stick with the small plates. read more
5 months ago
I love this place. I would frequent it in the early aughts when I worked in Palo Alto, but these days, I live in Alameda so I get down to the South Bay much less frequently. A friend wanted to treat me to birthday dinner here, so who was I to argue? Our starters, gigantes--I don't even like beans--and could not stop eating these-- and tender, succulent grilled octopus were perfect. We both had fish--hers a whole, steamed branzino and mine a roasted salmon--both very good. I regret not having photographed the dessert, a luscious light meringue with fresh berries. Don't pass that one up! read more
You always know you're going to have an amazing meal at Evvia! I love bringing people to this place because it never disappoints. I love to get the various appetizers like the dips with their homemade pita bread. I love the grilled octopus, and you can't go wrong with our fresh fish entrees or anything with lamb. The service is wonderful and I like their new outdoor seating. Make sure to make a reservation. This place gets crowded even on wait weekdays. read more
21 days ago
WOW!!!! One of the best meals I've had in nor cal (even compared to SF)! Not only was the meat tender, the seasonings perfect and the ambiance amazing, the staff is so generous and kind. I came here by myself for dinner one night and they made sure I was well taken care of. On top of that they brought me free dessert! read more
6 months ago
Date of Visit: 4/4/2026 We visited this gorgeous Greek and Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of Palo Alto. Evvia Estiatorio was opened back in 1995 by George and Judy Marcus along with Kenneth and Angie Frangodakis. It was designed to bring a warm and rustic feeling to Silicon Valley. We were greeted by the front desk when we stepped in and were sit at the large table at the center of the restaurant. Octopus $20.75 We ordered the traditional grilled octopus. On the side there were decorated with lemon, oregano and olive oil. Octopus was fresh and chewy, and the seasoning was great too. Prawns $19.75 My favorite of the day! The prawns were wood oven roasted, and mixed with Calabrian chili butter, tomatoes, scallions. The head on prawns were cooked right to the point and the sauce was amazing too. Grilled Asparagus $16 This was the special of the day. Grilled asparagus mixed with cheese and olive oil. Whole Fish $54 The Lavraki Mediterranean Sea Bass was grilled braised greens & lemon dressing. De-boned in the kitchen and poured with green pesto sauce. Lamb Chops $58.25 The medium cooked lamb chops was rib-cut and mesquite-grilled with smoky flavor and decorated with olive oil and roasted potatoes on the side. Moussaka $33.25 The traditional baked casserole of spiced lamb and beef, eggplant, potato and yogurt béchamel was creamy and rich. The texture was good and should be amazing if paired with wine. read more
7 days ago
Greek / Mediterranean food elevated. Such an amazing restaurant. While visiting, me and my mother decided to try this wonderful place. It was quite expensive, but definitely worth it. The service was impeccable with our waiter cracking jokes while staying very classy. Mood lighting and a great atmosphere really set the pace for the entire atmosphere. All the food was delicious. I love lamb, so that was the obvious choice. There lemon octopus appetizer was so good. A lot of the names were very hard to say, but everything was delicious. Perfect for special night occasions. read more
We got a table outside. It was nice. The service was great. Our waiter was very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable with the food and the menu. We ordered pita with cod roe, asparagus, roasted eggplant and artichoke, and sea bass. I was not a fan of the pita with cod roe. I thought it was too fishy for me and the pita was dry. The free bread, on the other hand, was pretty good. I like the asparagus. The roasted eggplant and artichoke and beets were very good. The fish was good too. It was very fresh. I also love the fact that they have a full bar. read more
10 days ago
Located right in downtown Palo Alto, Evvia is a fantastic restaurant with some of the best Mediterranean food The Bay has to offer. Parking is plentiful, with a lot right across the street and plenty of street parking. They have indoor seating and a small trellis for outdoor seating. Indoor is definitely more fine dining-like, whereas outside is great for a chill lunch. Service was prompt and very friendly. Our server offered us some recommendations and shared the specials, which we are happy to have pivoted and taken. The appetizers were so good and VERY generous in size. We opted for the zucchini chips & the Brussels sprouts special. They were both super flavorful and had the perfect fat/acid combo. For entrees we had the risotto special with prawns and sausage and the chicken skewer. Both were great! The chicken was a server recommendation and it didn't disappoint - one of the best flavors and cook of any chicken we've tried. read more
This is one of our favorite restaurants; we dine here about once a month if a reservation is available. Our go to dishes were the fried smelts, meat balls, lamb shanks, lamb chops, and whole fish. The smelts dish was the best one we've tried because of the crispiness and how light the coating was; I could easily finish the whole plate all by myself. The meat balls were mixed with pork and lamb; my daughter doesn't usually eat much lamb but the meatballs didn't have the typical strong lamb taste to them, so she did like and able to finish all of them. The lamb shank had always been very flavorful and tender; the pasta rice it came with was very tasty because it soaked in the meat source. Lamb chops were grilled to perfection because it had good ratio of meat and fat, yet not overcooked. They had variety types of grilled fish; from my previous experiences, they were all fresh and perfectly cooked. Always ends the meal with aged earl gray tea with baklava Furthermore, their wine selection was decent. We always order a bottle of wine to go with or meal. Customer service had been... mostly good, they were mostly attentive and friendly; although, we had times when it was difficult to get their attention. They have decent size of outdoor covered seating if that's what you prefer. We like the indoors because my daughter likes the decorations of the restaurant. They also offer free wifi access, which is convenient for my daughter when using her iPad. We recommend this restaurant. read more
***4.5 stars*** Called for same-day reservations for my party of 5. Very busy on a Friday evening. Our waiter was fantastic, ambience felt higher end and cozy. We shared a handful of appetizers and entrees. For appetizers, we got: Arugula salad (off the menu): delicious, loved the fruits and nuts, very light and tasty. Evvia Flatbread: personally not a fan of olives but other people in my party enjoyed this. Octapodaki: very tender, good charred taste, cooked very well, highly recommend! Crispy calamari: solid, can't go wrong with classic calamari. Oven roasted prawns: pretty good, dipped the complimentary bread in this sauce. Spanakotiropita: my favorite appetizer, probably the best spanakopita I've ever had! Flakiness was perfect, filling was flavorful. For entrees we got: Sea bass: good flavor, cooked well, but too many bones which made it difficult to eat. Lamb chops: pretty gamey, not super tender, only comes with 3 lamb chops. Ravioli: personally wasn't fan of the ravioli filling which tasted like a yogurt, but I liked the toppings including the butternut squash and mushrooms. For dessert, we got: Sokolatina: loved the warm chocolate lava cake, the sour cherry ice cream was interesting and had a slight medicine taste, we would've preferred vanilla ice cream. Rizogalo: the rice pudding had great texture and good cinnamon flavor, came with half a poached pear on top. Overall it was a great experience and if I were to come back, I'd probably stick with getting all appetizers! read more
Just ate here again with my family and realized I never wrote a review! Been coming here with my family for years and this has been a long standing favorite spot of ours. With all the new spots that pop up, we always find ourselves back here:) Ambiance is great for a date night or family gathering. They also have a nice outside patio thats heated. Service is always so kind and efficient and food is tasty and consistent. My favorite dishes are their --Appetizers Spanakotiropita Saghanaki Grilled Ocotpus -- Mains Lamb Chops** a must! Moussaka ( reminds me of a greek take on lasagna) -- Dessert Galaktobukero (phyllo dessert) Special Sundae ( the best if you love fudge and hazelnuts) read more
Came here on a date night with my wife for our anniversary and it definitely did not disappoint! We made a reservation on Opentable and were seated promptly after we had arrived. Reservations are highly recommended as it was packed even on a Thursday night. We ordered the top 4 items recommended by Yelp: 4.5/5 - Octopodaki (octupus) appetizer - good smoky flavor and very tender. I wish the dish was warmer overall 5/5 - Arnisia Paidakia (lamb chops). These lamb chops were grilled perfectly with very good flavor as well. Definitely recommend to order. 4/5 - Moussaka (similar to a Greek version of shepherds pie) - tons of minced lamb, some eggplant and potatoes. Good flavor overall and filling portion size 10/5 - Galaktoboureka (phyllo wrapped vanilla bean custard and a scoop of pistachio ice cream). This dessert tastes amazing with a good crisp and a very delicious, creamy filling. The pistachio ice cream was also amazing. Definitely don't leave without ordering some! Definitely would recommend coming here for a special meal! read more
11 months ago
Came here for a work dinner and they managed to accommodate a group of 8 at a round table which was nice. Restaurant was lively but not overly loud and it had a great ambiance. Food was delicious. Didn't manage to take pictures of everything we ordered before we dug in. My favorite appetizer was the octopus and the shrimp. For entree, the lamb chop is the must order. The sea bass is a good option too for seafood lovers. Portions are decent size, not too big so you'll probably have room for dessert. Love that most of their desserts come served with ice cream. Service was good and attentive even though the restaurant was pretty busy. Will return again! read more
21 days ago
Went to Evvia for a Saturday lunch around 1pm. They emphasize reservations so be sure to make one beforehand - there was plenty of availability the morning of. The ambiance is classy and the tableware is beautiful. Okay to come casually dressed but is also appropriate for more polished attire. There is complimentary bread with high quality olive oil. We ordered the Calamari and Lamb Riblets for appetizers - the Calamari was perfectly battered and tender, while the Lamb Riblets were fatty and juicy (not too gamey). For entree, we shared the Lavraki Mediterranean Sea Bass Whole Fish. This seemed to be a popular choice as we saw many parties also ordering this. It had nice flavor enhanced with lemon and braised greens. We ate the whole fish! Giving it 4/5 stars because the olive oil-based marinade was used across several dishes, making them taste a bit too similar. Would definitely return for a nice meal in downtown Palo Alto. read more
Went on a Tuesday night for a birthday celebration. Reservation was easy and got a place to sit immediately. There are a couple of parking lots around and found parking in one of them. The ambience is beautiful and rustic with copper pots and pans hanging. The place was popping for a Tuesday with a mix of corporate crowd and couples as well. They serve free sourdough bread and olive oil for the table. We got the flatbread as the appetizer which was surprisingly good with the olives, tomatoes and caramelized onions. We decided to order family style. Also got the moussaka. Think of it like a Mediterranean lasagna but instead of pasta sheets it has eggplant. It had a bed of potatoes and minced lamb, and the bechamel sauce. The lamb was very flavorful and the eggplant was perfectly cooked. The bechamel could have been more to make it a bit more saucy. We also got the lamb chops. It comes with 3 pieces. Since we were having family style, they were very sweet to ask each of us how we want our lamb chop. This was a great touch and highly appreciated! They even served it on separate plates. They served us a dessert with filo pastry filled with custard and pistachio ice cream on the side. We had informed them of bday celebration. That said we were charged for it but weren't even asked for what we want. Would have appreciated if we were asked if and what we wanted if we were going to pay for it anyway. Overall though very nice experience. read more
Had such a fabulous meal at Evvia, that I was already dreaming about the next time I'll come back before I even left! Three of us came here for dinner, and ordered everything to share. We started with the grilled octopus and anginares souvlaki, a grilled artichoke and eggplant appetizer. The grilled octopus was some of the best I've ever had, extremely tender and flavorful, I would come back just for that alone. For entrees we got the Psari Psito (Mediterranean Sea Bass) and Grilled dry aged ribeye. Both were fantastic - flavorful, cooked to perfection, and the perfect size for sharing. We enjoyed the sides that came with each dish, and also ordered the asparagus, which was a special that day. For dessert we got the greek yogurt cheesecake with Huckleberry compote and chocolate cake with sour cherry ice cream, both were a huge hit, but the cheesecake was phenomenal and we couldn't stop raving about it. Again, something I would come back for alone. We brought a bottle of wine and then opted for glasses from the by the glass list later in the meal. They had quite an extensive wine selection, and our server was nice enough to let us try a handful as we were trying to decide what we wanted. He also didn't get annoyed that we weren't liking any of them. I ended up liking a chenin blanc the most, one we didn't taste before, but probably would've opted for a bottle of, had we. Biggest pointer that I cannot emphasize enough, make a reservation! We had a 5:15 reservation and by 5:30 every table was filled. We heard some people walk in without a reservation shortly after opening, and they were turned away as the only walk-in table for the evening was already taken. read more
7 months ago
This restaurant is decorated so beautifully. The staff were friendly and attentive. The presentation of the food was lovely. The food tasted pretty good, but some of it could have used more seasoning. The desserts were decadent. I recommend this restaurant. read more
Evvia is an outstanding Greek restaurant in downtown Palo Alto -- everything we tried impressed, and I'd gladly eat here again. I came with a few coworkers for my second time , and we decided to order a spread of appetizers along with a bottle of Amethystos Cava that was recommended. While I'd call myself a slightly-above-average wine drinker, this bottle was one of the best reds I've ever had, even compared to wines I've tried in Napa. It's refreshing and flavorful, with just a subtle bitterness. Definitely on the lighter side for a red, but incredibly delicious. Expensive, yes -- but I'd recommend it without hesitation. Kolokithokeftethes - crispy zucchini cakes (8/10): Great crisp on the outside, soft flavorful texture inside. The tzatziki on top adds creaminess and balance. Not the boldest flavor, but still really tasty. Octapodaki tou Yiorgou - grilled octopus with lemon (9/10): One of the best dishes. Perfectly tender with zero bounce. The flavor gradient was incredible -- bright lemon sourness up front, finishing with a deep charred bitterness. Highly recommend. Anginares Souvlaki - grilled artichokes & eggplant skewer (7/10): Simple but really good. The veggies were tender, melted in our mouths, and nicely charred, but compared to the other dishes, it wasn't the standout. Arnisia Plevrakia - grilled lamb riblets (10/10): Absolutely phenomenal. The bark was chewy, almost like savory candy, while the lamb itself was tender and flavorful. A perfect meat-on-bone dish -- I could have eaten 15 of these. Soutzoukakia - baked meatballs in tomato (9/10): Another standout. The cinnamon in the sauce was strong and gave it a unique twist that elevated it far above your average meatballs. Tender, flavorful, and addictive -- especially with bread. Evvia Flatbread (8.5/10): Surprisingly one of the best flatbreads I've had. The caramelized onions made it sweet in the best way, balanced by the olives. The crust was soft yet structured. The most unexpected hit of the night. Service was excellent throughout -- attentive, super friendly, and everything flowed smoothly. The waiters have amazing personalities and really take care of you. Overall, Evvia is a gem in downtown Palo Alto. Perfect for a date night, a special occasion, or just treating yourself to consistently delicious Greek food. The lamb riblets, octopus, and meatballs are must-orders, and the wine list is stellar. While we only had apps this time, I've gotten entrées here before and those also impressed -- you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. read more
There are dinners... and then there are experiences. Sunday night at Evvia Estiatorio was the latter. From the moment we sat down, Ryan and I were treated like absolute royalty -- warm, attentive, intuitive service that felt both elevated and effortless. A special thank you to Scott at the bar for making the evening feel personal and unforgettable. The food? Masterful. The prawn appetizer was exquisitely succulent and impossibly tender -- delicately prepared in a way that honored the ingredient without overwhelming it. The lamb was nothing short of extraordinary: melt-in-your-mouth tender, deeply flavorful, and perfectly cooked. And the calamari -- Ryan's favorite -- redefined what calamari should be. The squid itself was incredibly tender (no chewiness whatsoever), and the coating was whisper-light and crisp, almost ethereal. The accompanying sauces were so thoughtfully crafted that we genuinely couldn't decide which one we loved more. And then... the baklava with ice cream. Good lawd. Perfectly balanced sweetness, flaky layers, warm spices, and that cold, creamy contrast. It wasn't just dessert -- it was a finale. We left feeling cared for, delighted, and honestly a little transformed. Evvia doesn't just serve dinner -- it creates an atmosphere where food, service, and hospitality come together in a way that lingers long after you walk out the door. A flawless evening. We'll be dreaming about it. read more
Came to this upscale Greek spot for a friend's birthday; seated outdoors with heaters, which was nice. We ordered a few dishes to share; the food was good, but nothing particularly special, and definitely on the expensive side. Unfortunately, found a hair in the fish, and they just took the plate away without any follow-up or offer to fix it. Overall, an okay experience but not sure I'd rush back. read more
1 year ago
Evvia is the sister restaurant of Kokkari and is a nice option for several reasons such as: - if I don't want to make the trek up to the city - if I want to dine outdoors with my pup - if I don't want a hard time getting a reservation - if I want Kokkari but don't want to pay the surcharge...jkjk kinda. THE ONLY THING IS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE KATAIFI EKMEK DESSERT! In all seriousness, Evvia is one of the top Greek restaurants on the opposite end of SF. Many of the dishes are the same/similar, but I do wish they had the classic creamy custard dessert with the shredded phyllo. We opted to sit on the outdoor patio for a late lunch and they graciously accommodated our little shiba inu. The staff even brought out some water for him without us asking. We ordered the saghanaki ($19.75) which is pan-fried cheese and it goes beautifully with the complimentary bread. We also got the seasonal watermelon salad with feta bits ($16), not the most exciting thing but so perfect for a toasty Summer day. For the mains, we decided to share the salmon ($44.50). It was cooked perfectly and accompanied by a potato puree -which I inhaled. We ended the meal with a Greek yogurt cheesecake ($15). It was lighter than your traditional American cheesecake and drizzled with a tarty fruit glaze. The only thing I didn't enjoy....and it's not the staff's fault at all, were the other patrons, specifically one older gentleman. He was seated right next to us and came to our table as I was about to bite into my bread. He asked my partner and I who was better at taking photos. We glanced at each other and then he proceeds to just hand us his phone to take a photo of him and his party without even asking if we would mind or apologizing for the intrusion. THE AUDACITY AND THE ENTITLEMENT. OMG. I was so annoyed with him, but my partner kindly took a photo. I also didn't like how he talked to staff and how he said he knew the menu better than they did, but you know, typically conceited Silicon Valley behavior. Anyways, just wanted to rant. I hope I don't run into him again. read more
13 days ago
9 months ago
My husband brought me here for my birthday. It was sooo delicious. I love the concept of the open kitchen. The decor feels so warm and cozy here. It is clean, the service is kind and friendly. For appetizers we got the Octapodaki tou Yiorgou which is grilled octopus. It was sooooo good. I crave it till' this day. For dinner I got the lamb chops, which was pretty good. My husband got the whole fish, which was really tasty. We will be back :) read more
8 months ago
We went to Evvia Estiatorio for lunch with a couple visiting from overseas and reserved a table for four. While the dinner atmosphere is a bit nicer, lunch was still very enjoyable. We started with the spanakopita, octopus, lamb riblets, and Brussels sprouts--all were excellent. The lamb riblets were especially memorable, literally melting in your mouth. The Brussels sprouts were very flavorful. For entrées, we ordered the grilled sea bass and lamb chops, and both were outstanding. The whole fish was very impressive--you don't often see that at restaurants. They debone it for you, but be careful of a few small bones. We've ordered the same dishes before when we came for my husband's birthday dinner, and once again, we were not disappointed. The ambiance is welcoming, and the service is attentive. Definitely recommended if you're in Palo Alto. read more
We've been meaning to try Evvia for quite some time, and finally was able to try it for our anniversary. First, the service was fantastic, servers were very friendly, attentive, and everything came out quite quickly. The appetizers were rather disapointing, however. The octopus had good flavor but was a bit mushy for our taste, and the dish was quite small. We also ordered the grilled cheese based on the server's recommendation, but it honestly just tasted like toasted cheese from a hot pocket. Our favorite appetizer was probably just the free bread as the olive oil was quite good. The entrees are enormous, but that may be the best thing about them. The ribeye was cooked to a perfect medium rare, yet it was quite tough for a dry aged steak. The chicken was rather dry. Overall a disapointing experience. read more
Amazing service, you can tell the people who work there are happy to be there. My favorites: the butternut squash with beet soup (seasonal special), the chicken was surprisingly tender and flavorful, and the sea bass. We also got the ribeye and lamb chops but those were pretty on par with other places. Came on a Wednesday night and they were full - make sure to grab a reservation. read more
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More info about Evvia Estiatorio
420 Emerson St
Palo Alto, CA 94301
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(650) 326-0983
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http://www.evvia.net/
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Ask the Community - Evvia Estiatorio
Is the lamb you serve 100% grass fed?
Sound level is loud?
If you are seated outside or next to the large open door to the street, it's can get a bit louder than average. Inside is just average restaurant noise level.
What brand is the olive oil served with the bread?
In 2010 it was Dafni olive oil. It's Greek, and was not available at stores. But, Dimitri Maziotis (650-269-9505 dnmimport@hotmail.com) was the sales rep then, and I got some bottles from him at a reasonable price (btw, he was very friendly).
Is there a split plate charge?
Is outdoor seating properly covered for rainy days?
It appeared adequate when we were there, but it was not raining at the time.
Hi, we booked a table for our anniversary tonight. I just want to know the corkage fee for a bottle of wine.?
$30
Is it really as Expensive as people say?
Personally, I think it is for what you get. The food is really good though. 15-20% more expensive than it should be.
Do they have a high hair? Would like to bring my 6monthold there.
I would not recommend bringing a 6 month old, it is more of an adult setting if you want an adult environment
Can I go there with my 8month old baby?
We had the most amazing night there. If I were you I'd save it for a night you can leave the little one with a sitter.
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