Beautiful space ; authentic Greek food , very delicious ; really enjoyed this experience

Kokkari is as good as it gets for what I love. Especially Mediterranean/Adriatic: fish, lamb, garlic, olive oil, & lemon. Of course a Greek emphasis, but lots of intersection with my Croatian-American culinary heart! The smelts are fishy in a good way, nice crunch, texture, tang of lemon, & sharpness of garlic spread. Very difficult to find, never mind getting it right. The octopus & stuffed calamari were the right texture, seasoning, & flowing with olive oil. Finished with some greens. What a treat! Pro-tip: get the smelts, be bold. My wife raved about her moussaka. Artisan. Nice hint of cloves, right amount of yogurt béchamel. The lamb, beef, eggplant (not watery), & potato all stood out. My sons loved their salmon & chicken. I sampled and confirmed. My bronzino was FANTASTIC. This one was big & better quality than I usually buy. I got it with bones, head, & skin. Poured on olive oil, more salt, & garlic. Yeah, gotta use the hands, chew...graciously pulling out the bones, looking as civilized as possible. Folks, this is Mediterranean: a great fish should be eaten like this. Crisp skin, get the meat from the cheeks & head. Again: emphasis on olive oil mixed with fish juices from bones & lemon! We were stuffed and shared a Baklava. Nobody does it better. Except James Bond, 007, but in a different context. 2 glasses of wine & 2 Shirley Temples for kids. The service was excellent. Attentive. We were in the back & it wasn't loud. Classy servers & classy people enjoying themselves. Oh: great portions too. $407, including 20% tip. Great value for what you get. We've come here for special occasions. They've strengthened the bond, we'll be back more often. So reminiscent of what I eat in Croatia when I visit. Thank you Hellas! read more

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I came here with a party of 5 and we ended up doing one of our usual family style feasts so we got to try a little bit of everything across the menu. Overall, the proteins are the top picks for me. The lamb chops and prime rib were both superb, both cooked perfectly with the right amount of seasoning and had great texture throughout. The moussaka was also very good with a nice balance of starches and protein without feeling too heavy for me. Desserts hit very well too and were a strong finish to the meal. The service was quick all night and the staff stayed very attentive without making things feel rushed at all. The lighting inside is very dim, which adds a cozy atmosphere, though at times it felt a little too dark depending on where you were seated. The bread and olive oil to start were okay and most of the appetizers were okay as well, but the meats easily stole the show for our table. We were seated in the corner overlooking the center of the dining room, which turned out to be a great spot for people watching and taking in the energy of the restaurant. The only downside was the seating setup itself was a little awkward for me. The round table with the moon shaped bench felt a little awkward, tighter than we would have liked, and some of the cushion were uneven and not the most comfortable for a longer dinner. Next time I come back here, it is definitely going to be a bottle or two of wine and all the proteins to feast on. read more

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We have been here multiple times for dinner and drinks. And last night for  my most recent trip around the sun my partner treated us here again. Then I realized I haven't reviewed this place. So here it is. First, the kolamari. Thats squid with a "K". It is a Greek restaurant. Yes, squid. When you go and have nothing else you have to have a plate or 2, maybe 3 of the squid. This isn't the breaded fried in Crisco crap everyone else does. It is grilled with feta, fennel, black olives and oranges. Next time for dinner I'm getting 3 plates of this. But last night my partner had the Sea Bream whole fish and I had the the special rotisserie lamb. Both were delicious. And yes, we did have the kalamari. My partner started with a Lemon Drop and I had Tequila and lime as usual.  There might have been more than one round.  Actually, I'm sure there was more than 1 round. We also brought an amazing 2013 Black Stallion Reserve Cab from the home celler. Prolly one of my favorite wines ever.  Service was great. Huge shout out to Stephanie for putting up with us and the massive wax seal on the wine. We sat in the way back dining room this time and prior to this didn't even know it was there. This is a huge restaurant. As usual for us, tables would get seated and people would finish and leave and another seating. For us we take our time, lots of time. Last night was about 3 hours. Usually it's 4+. And the big plus here is no pressure to get you out the door. So back to the Greek thing. You can't decide by the main menu item names cause it's Greek, unless your Greek. Need to spend time reading the sub text to fully understand each dish except for items like whole fish. That's pretty much universal language. The bar area is very lively as is the front dining room. The back room we were in this time is less so. Perfect for an intimate diner with conversation. We will be back. Soon!!! read more

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Spray some Windex on me and call me healed! (hopefully you got that reference) What an incredible experience over at Kokkari! It was probably one of the best meals I've had in SF. Arrived on time for our 8:30pm reservation and was greeted to the beautiful ambiance inside. Is this the romantic, cozy, enchanting restaurant of my dreams? I think so! Those amber lightbulbs did their duty here to make this place feel warm and inviting. We were seated and was greeted by the wonderful Gilberto! He was literally the star and highlight of our evening. Cracked a few jokes, talked about his fave dishes, we really had a ton of fun with him. A complete gem! As I walked through my restaurant, I sat down and said " I smelled melted cheese, whatever that is, I want it" It was the Saghanaki and I needed it in my life. Melty cheesy and delicious. I met her, tasted her, and now I need more. Now, I only recently had Octopus once of twice before, but this one here was fabulous! Tender, delicious, beautiful. I absolutely adored this. The smelts were so fun to eat! I called them protein fries. Little teeny tiny fishies, so crispy and flavorful. For our entree, we snagged the porkchop special. SO. FREAKING. GOOD! It felt special too since it was....a special. It wouldn't have been a true dinner with me if i didnt finish off the meal with a dessert wine. Normally I go for a port, but we were dining in Greece this evening, so I went with the Vin Santo. Absolutely lovely and perfect for the end of our meal. Beautiful visit over at Kokkari. The ambiance was great, the food was fantastic, and the service was incredible! I can absolutely see myself here at the bar, having a fancy meal, sipping on a lovely cocktail, and enjoying myself. Maybe I'll do that very very soon. read more

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Wow, can't believe it's been nine years since I first visited Kokkari. Well, in having dinner there again last night for my partner's birthday, it's good to see some things stay just as good as when they started. We arrived for a 7:30pm reservation on a Friday, and the large restaurant was filled out. We ended up being seated at a table in the back dining room, which was perfect, I actually prefer this to the front. What a cozy, intimate, comfortable space. Being Serbian, the Mediterranean vibes here make me feel transported closer to home. Our lovely server Stephanie introduced herself and went over the specials, which all sounded great (especially the apricot salad), but we were already pretty well dialed into what we wanted, from weeks of perusing the menu in anticipation. We started of course with a round of cocktails. Ocho tequila with lime for the birthday boy, and a lemon drop my usual way for me - Ketel, less sweet, no sugar rim. The lemon drop was perfection. Give this bartender a raise. Our server gave us plenty of time to settle in, sip, and talk, with no rushing, which I very much appreciate. For our appetizer, we went with the kalamari - grilled calamari, stuffed with cheese, and with black olives, fennel, and orange. Ah-mazing! I had almost forgotten how delectable this dish is, but RB remembered from our previous times here. Next time, we're getting at least two orders of these apiece as our meal. For our mains, RB went with the rotisserie lamb, and I went with the Mediterranean Sea bream. I was extremely pleased with my choice. I've previously only had sea bream as sushi, never cooked. It was delicious. Fresh, tender, and delicately flavorful. I was just a bit apprehensive when I saw 'whole fish' on the menu, thinking it would be too much for one person, but nope, it was just right. Squirt some lemon on this guy, and mwah! It was fun people-watching too. Sophisticated but unpretentious crowd. SF is a lot of fun. We used to enjoy its nightlife scene regularly during the years I worked in the city. Miss the city, don't miss the hustle work culture one bit. Anyways, back from my tangent. For dessert, we opted for a liquid one, with espresso martinis. Very tasty and not too sweet, and from there we leisurely wound down our dinner. Very enjoyable night, and I look forward to going back. Reservations are a must. Make one, go, and enjoy! read more

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Kokkari Estiatorio was an easy choice when family visited from SoCal and wanted a nice dinner spot. We made a reservation about a week in advance, and expectations were high since one person in our group had been there before and spoke very highly of it. We were seated right in front of the fireplace/oven, near the bread station, which added a nice touch to the overall atmosphere. Our group of six wanted to sample a bit of everything, so we ordered several mezze and salads to share, and they were all flavorful and well prepared. For entrées, we tried the salmon (Solomos), roasted chicken (Kotopoulo Souvlaki), and lamb chops; the lamb chops were especially a hit at the table. We also shared a couple of desserts, and those did not disappoint. Service was excellent. Our server was attentive and handled our group, who can be a bit particular at times, very well, making sure everyone was taken care of. The dining space is fairly large and split into different sections, which helps with the overall flow. One small tip: the restrooms are located downstairs and require an elevator ride, so it's best not to wait until the last minute. Overall, a great experience and a solid choice for a special meal in the city. read more

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I think this is my new favorite Greek restaurant and one of my new favorite restaurants in FiDi / the area! Kokkari Estiatorio hit the mark across the board on ambiance, service and food. Ambiance: This was great for a fun girls date but would also be a wonderful date night or group gathering. The restaurant aesthetic is a little rustic and feels intimate, but it is actually quite large and was very lively early on a Saturday night. Although the restaurant is indoors, there are large windows that open to the street that make it feel more open and fresh. Service: Our waitress was very friendly and had the perfect balance of being attentive but also giving us time and space. She did a good job pacing different dishes and didn't rush us out at all. Food & drink: My friend and I ordered wine and a series of apps to share. First, there was a great selection of wines! I ordered a Chalbis, one of my favorites, and it didn't disappoint. The menu has a wide variety and it was hard to pick! We shared the saganaki (with house bread), chili garlic prawns, octopus, fried zucchini cakes, and two off-menu specials (a duck dish and an apricot arugula salad). Every dish had a unique flavor profile but they were all so good in their own respect. Some specific callouts: the bread was thick and crispy on the outside but incredibly soft on the inside, the octopus was perfectly charred but still tender, and the yogurt sauce with the fried zucchini cakes was "zesty" and refreshing. We also enjoyed the baklava and frozen yogurt for dessert. I think these were fair portion sizes for the price point. I would love to come back here! read more

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I made reservations for 1 PM on a Monday and thankfully we were able to get seated earlier. The service was great, we ordered the zucchini bites Greek salad and chicken souvlaki and all three were really good. It was very lively ambiance for a lunch hour. read more

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Excellent dining experience. Food, service and drinks were all perfect. The place has a fine dining ambiance to the place, yet the clientele is very diverse. There was a private room celebrating someone's birthday that looked like a high powered attorney. Then at the other end of the room was a 3-time NBA MVP enjoying his meal sans the rest of his team. Then there was little 'ol me, lol. Kokkari is really a special place for a wonderful celebration. It's considered a premier, high-end Greek restaurant in San Francisco's Financial District known for its rustic-chic. The restaurant specializes in Hellenic cuisine, emphasizing fresh, simple ingredients, with a focus on lamb, seafood, and vegetables from a wood-burning grill and rotisserie. We got to enjoy traditional dishes like grilled octopus, saganaki (pan-seared cheese) and gigantes plakiv (giant beans). The mains were Chicken Souvlaki and Grilled Sole - excellent pairing with the Duckhorn, Sauvignon Blanc. Kokkari has a sister restaurant called Evvia Estiatorio, located in Palo Alto that I'm am looking forward to trying. read more

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Tldr been eating here for years and it's still awesome My wife and I have regularly visited Kokkari as our favorite restaurant to have dinner at during San Francisco staycations. There's something about the elegant yet rustic ambiance, warmth, and the incredible Greek food that has forever charmed us and keeps us coming back. On this evening we arrived slightly early and were seated right away. The first table they gave us was great but it was a very hot day and the table was near the ovens, and without air conditioning it was just a bit too warm and we knew as soon as we sat down. We asked if they could move us and they swiftly accommodated, finding us another cozy table in the front. Service throughout the evening was excellent and attentive, with a knowledgeable server checking in on us regularly and everything coming out perfectly hot. Here's what we ordered: Tzatziki, grilled pita, house pickles: 5/5 - A great appetizer to get the meal started. Bread was toasty and the tzatziki was perfect. The crunch and acid from the picked vegetables was a nice balance and kept the dish from being too heavy. Aginares Soulvaki - 4/5 - this is a vegetarian skewer of grilled artichoke hearts and other vegetables, served with whole yogurt and spicy sauce on the side. It was really delicious but one of the four artichoke hearts was a bit woody and not great eating. Everything else tasted great though. English peas (special appetizer): 6/5 - this dish redefined what we thought peas could be. Cold peas with a bit of feta, olive oil, lemon? It tasted so much better than it sounds especially on a hot day. Grilled whole sea bass - 5/5 - don't let the simple look of this dish fool you. The flavor is deep and each bite of flaky white sea bass had a bit of seasoned, grilled flavor to it. It'll become a craveable fish dish you'll want to come back to eat. It was served with a side of braised greens that were fine if a little basic, but give how flavorful the fish was, added some balance. Solomos - 5/5 - pan roasted salmon with fingerling potatoes and vegetables. This is a more sophisticated dish than the menu implies (at least for an everyday eater like me), with the fingerling potatoes and vegetables shaved into thin coin sized slices and then mixed together forming a base under the salmon. The olive tapenade adds a salty depth that balances out the light flavor of the perfectly cooked salmon creating a harmonious dish that I practically devoured. Will definitely be back! This place has become very popular so be sure to book ahead as much as you can. read more

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I was planning to try this SF staple for a while and was not disappointed. Beautiful lively restaurant, amazing food and great service. It wasn't easy to book a table for my birthday dinner (even though it was Monday evening and I was booking in 4 weeks before). The spot we got was in an alcove which was perfect for us with a very active toddler. We ordered the baked feta as an appetizer, the Moussaka and chicken souvlas , which we shared and really enjoyed. The entrees was very generous and we unfortunately didn't have a room for the dessert (I was actually really interested in trying their baklava). Definitely a great place for a date or celebration. read more

Kokkari Estiatorio - Baked feta - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Mixed feelings - ambiance and service was great. The apps were great but the lamb which is the star of the show and what we came here for was dry and not as expected Would def come back for drinks and apps only read more

Loved the ambiance of the place earth decor where the open kitchen was. Service was very good. The food was delicious. We especially liked the zucchini cake, pork chop, and the desserts. For the desserts it was definitely a toss up between the sundae and the chocolate cake. read more

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This is probably the funniest review I've written since I started visiting restaurants. The reason? The only photo I took was before the food arrived because once the dishes came out at Kokkari, there was no time for pictures, only for enjoying every bite. Kokkari is an elegant, stylish place with an impeccable atmosphere and absolutely exquisite food. We ordered the grilled calamari, grilled octopus, the Kokkari salad, and finally the Mosharisia Brizola. Every single dish was extremely delicious. The service is top-notch, the space is beautiful, and the overall experience is outstanding. Highly recommended. I would absolutely come back. read more

Kokkari Estiatorio - Me with out delicious food - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

One of the best decisions we made on our wedding day was choosing Kokkari to host our wedding lunch. Exceptional service, delicious food (every single bite), and amazing vibes. Thank you Kokkari for making our special day even more special :) read more

Kokkari Estiatorio - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I am so lucky, this is one of the hottest spots in SF, and I came for a holiday dinner that was family style. Kokkari is a decadent, magical dining experience. I have never had Greek food like this- WOW! The space is huge, dimly lit, lots of indoor seating with a warm, rustic vibe. They absolutely crushed it serving over 15 people at a large table, being so precise with critical allergies. They spoke to each individual with dietary restrictions and made special alternatives. Service was incredible!! Greek red wine was 12/10. Our starters: Pikilia - Greek spreads of melitzanosalata, tzatziki & taramosalata served with dolmathes & pita bread, Kolokithokeftethes - crispy zucchini cakes with cucumber & mint yogurt dressing, Octapodaki tou Yiorgou - grilled octopus with lemon, oregano & olive oil, and Horiatiki - classic Greek salad of tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, oregano, olives & feta. The pita here is out of this world, I've never had fresh pillowy delicious pita like this. The dips were freshly made, creamy. The octopus was also so bright, delicious. Not rubbery at all. Incredibly seasoned, cooked perfectly. The salad was so fresh, bright, they use a high quality olive oil for sure. All the veg was fresh, like it was all in season. It was a nice light course before the starters. Our mains: Makaronia - ravioli of ricotta, mushrooms, spinach & leeks with onions, kale, zucchini & squash nage, Arnisia Paidakia - lamb chops with lemon & oregano, Moussaka - traditional casserole of eggplant, lamb, potato & yogurt béchamel, Horta - braised wild greens with lemon Patates sto Fourno - oven roasted potato wedges with oregano & lemon. The ravioli was good, very creamy sauce. The lamb chop was cooked perfectly, juicy. The seasoning was on point! I have never had moussaka before, it was so delicious! It was like a creamy, potato casserole, very dense in a good way with the béchamel, also cooked perfectly with that crust to break open. The greens with lemon were good, hard to compare with the other incredible dishes. The potato wedges were seasoned well and cooked perfectly to be crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. After serving each person, the left additional portions of each dish. At this point, I couldn't breathe from all the amazing, delicious dishes. Somehow I found the courage for dessert. They took coffee/tea orders. A cappuccino with Sokolatina - flourless dark chocolate cake with sweetened whipped cream. The cake was so decedent, wow. It was fudgey delicious, the whipped cream was light, fluffy. The cake was perfect- not too sweet. Paired well with the coffee. If you snag a res, call me, I'd love to go again! I heard it's very difficult to get a res, but so worth it. This was an SF dining highlight for me. Somewhere to experience food so special! read more

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The portion size was generous, and with appetisers, salad and soup, we couldn't finish our main courses and had to pack them to go. We also couldn't resist the desserts. In the end, we were so full but super satisfied. We've already booked our next reservation here. The game plan will be to share our orders and not overdo it. read more

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Food is absolutely delicious. Appetizers like citrus salad, dolmas, and beans are tasty, flavorful, and rich. For entrees, the lamb chops are absolutely the stand out, but the moussaka and sea bass were both delicious and extremely flavorful as well. Service was amazing, our server was friendly, attentive, and hilarious. Vibes are super nice at this restaurant as well, its classy, old school, and artsy. Will be back soon. read more

Kokkari Estiatorio - Dolmathes - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I last remembered eating at Kokkari before the pandemic. This time around was for a work dinner, and it felt like nothing had changed. The interior and the food make up the same consistent experience. They sat us at the table in front of the fireplace, which gave it a cozy feel. The lounge chairs, though comfy, are a tight fit and make it a little hard to get in and out though. $12.75 Melitzanosalata, Taramosalata, Tzatziki, Favosalata, Skordalia, Tirokafteri: good! a mixed plate of fresh dips with pita is always a good idea $14.75 Kolokithokeftethes - crispy zucchini cakes with cucumber & mint-yogurt dressing: good! crispy with the sweet zucchini flavor $19.25 Saganaki - pan fried Kefalotyri cheese with lemon & oregano: good! what's not to like about fried cheese? $20.75 Roasted Prawns - chili-garlic roasted wild gulf prawns: great! very flavorful large prawns $20.75 Octapodaki tou Yiorgou - grilled octopus with lemon, oregano, olive oil: good! octopus is always delicious, but a tad too salty, could be a little more tender $35 Moussaka - traditional baked casserole of spiced lamb & beef, eggplant, potato & yogurt bechamel: okay! a creamy layered baked potato dish $45.50 Ippoglossa - Pacific halibut filet pan roasted with fava puree, garlic & chili broccoli rabe & olive tapenade: okay! could be a little more tender $69 Arnisia Paidakia - grilled lamb chops with lemon-oregano vinaigrette & Kokkari potatoes: great! beautiful lamb chops, though the best part is the vinaigrette $13.50 Galaktoboureko - semolina custard in filo with pistachio ice cream good! delicious balance of crunchy filo and creamy insides $13.75 Kataifi Ekmek - shredded filo with semolina custard, creme fraiche & pistachio good! beautiful layered cake on a crunchy kataifi crust $11.50 Loukoumades - traditional Greek doughnuts with honey, cinnamon & walnuts: okay! can't complain about sugary doughnuts It was great to try a lot of the menu in a large group, but I think if I were to come back, I might only really be interested in the lamb chops and maybe an appetizer. Too bad it's one of the most expensive things on the menu. read more

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I like it! The service was really nice and I love low lights in a cozy restaurant. Let's start with the bread, 5/5 warm, fluffy, and served with olive oil and sea salt. Calamari stuffed with feta and fennel 5/5, cooked perfectly, literally melts in your mouth. Zucchini fritters 5/5 extremely tasty Lemon soup avgolemono, this was not my thing, so can't really be objective. Duck (special) with Yukon potatoes, sounded amazing, execution fell short. Extremely over for the duck which was a shame because the flavor was quite good. The potatoes were excellent 1/5 for the duck 4/5 for potatoes 2.5-3/5 for this dish, such a shame. Grilled sea bass 5/5 very tasty read more

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TLDR: Updating after trying many more items. My opinion still stands -- come for the appetizers, desserts, and atmosphere. Entrees are good but probably not mind blowing. Always a nice time here! ------ FOOD: 1. GALAKTOBOUREKO (5/5) Truly one of my favorite restaurant desserts. Very unique, and the semolina custard is divine. Comes with two rich semolina pastries so easy to share for two. The pistachio ice cream is delicious and is a nice cold contrast to the warm pastry. I'd avoid the fruit jam as it's extremely sweet, but it's easy to push to the side! 2. FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE (5/5) The best flourless chocolate cake I've ever had from a restaurant. Not as hopelessly dense as many others I've tried, and the sweet homemade whipped cream is the perfect addition to the rich bitterness of their dark chocolate. There's a reason why they proudly display a whole cake on their counter for all to see. 3. JUDY'S SPECIAL SUNDAE (5/5) What a joy of a dessert. It's bigger than you could ever imagine and would make any child's (and adult's...) day. 4. MOSHARISIA BRIZOLA (RIB EYE) (5/5) I haven't personally tried, but others who have are steak experts and they really like it. It's simple and comes with a serving of cooked greens. 5. SPANAKOTIROPITA (4.5/5) An order only comes with two pastries but they're almost the size of a hand. These are done very well and I always have to order them. If they used a tiny bit more filling, this would be a 5/5. 6. GIGANTES BEANS (4.5/5) Like having pasta without the noodles! Delicious seasoning and the feta adds wonderful umami. It looks like a small serving but it's easy to share with a group and the beans are hearty. 7. OCTAPUS (4.5/5) This is a pretty small serving for an octopus appetizer, but it's pre cut so it's easy to share, and it's cooked very well such that it's not too chewy. The lemon adds a lot of flavor to this. 8. SOUTZOUKAKIA (4/5) Meatballs! Comes with 4 medium sized meatballs. They're not spherical and juicy like Italian meatballs -- they're slightly drier and more squat, like they've been pressed down to 50% of their height. The yogurt sauce is a wonderful combo I've never had with meatballs before. Wish these were slightly bigger or that there were more, but otherwise these were great. 9. LAVRAKI (SEA BASS) (4/5) Soft, tender fish. It's a great fish option, but the flavors are simple to let the fish itself stand out. It's really just a big fish and lemon, much like many of their other entrees (a protein and lemon, maybe with greens or potatoes). If you like this level of simplicity, Kokkari's entrees are for you! 10. MIPAKIA BRUSSELS (4/5) I thought the Brussels were fine. I prefer my Brussels with a bit more texture (like a slightly crispy exterior) but these were on the softer side. The bacon also didn't really taste like much. This is a good portion size though. 11. 3 PEPPERS DISH (4/5) This was one of the specials of the night. Three different kinds of roasted peppers and a large portion. Others at the table really liked this. I thought it was good but I prefer thicker peppers vs. many very skinny peppers. Still a good option though, and unique! 12. LAMB DINNER SPECIAL (3.5/5) They had a spit-fire roasted lamb as a special for the night that came with potatoes that had been roasting with the lamb since the morning. We were excited for this dish as it came with many different parts of the lamb. But the lamb was a bit chewier than expected (or perhaps as lamb tends to be) and I wished there was slightly more flavor overall. I still like this more than the lamb chops, which is a typical menu item. They start the meal with complimentary bread which is soft with a crusty exterior, but it's not warm. It is served with a plate of nice olive oil though, and apps that come in a nice tomato sauce or other are great for dipping the bread into. ------ AMBIANCE / ENVIRONMENT * Kokkari's holiday atmosphere is there. The restaurant has dimmer lighting and they've set up garlands and other reminders of the holidays throughout the dining rooms * This is a large restaurant with three main dining sections, with the back room by the kitchen being my favorite. Thanks to the size, they have tables of all sizes and can comfortably accommodate larger groups * The surrounding area is neighborhood-y and quiet. Lots of families were here celebrating the holidays, as well as couples and groups of friends * Should be plenty of parking in the blocks around this area given it's much more residential ------ SERVICE: * Despite the size of the restaurant, it's still pretty difficult to get same-day reservations. Highly recommend booking a few weeks in advance for your desired date and time * Service is always professional yet playful. They course out your dishes appropriately, get you new plates between each course, and scrape the table of crumbs as well * We were celebrating a birthday and they helped make it special with candles and a birthday message in chocolate read more

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Kokkari is a staple in SF and requires reservations. They'll even call you to confirm reservations. Love the vibe and they suggest business casual attire. Food was good. We ordered the following appetizers: - grilled octopus (a little overcooked) - zucchini cakes (our favorite appetizer and you don't need the mint yogurt sauce since it was moist inside) - fried brussel sprouts (also a little overcooked and not crispy) Entrees - moussaka - delicious and flavorful. It was nice pairing this with the table bread - Grilled Mediterranean Sea Bass - smaller than Chilean sea bass and very moist Drinks - sidecar - zero proof espresso martini - this tasted watered down and not worth ordering The bathroom is a bit hard to find and in the back of the restaurant down the elevator one floor. read more

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Such a pretty restaurant i was in love with their aesthetics. We were seated pretty close to the entrance by the window, but realized the restaurant is HUGE when we went to the bathroom. The bathroom is downstairs by the private rooms and it looked super cozy - wanna try next time! We didn't make a reservation but they were very accommodating. We felt very welcomed. The server helped us order a side of Orzo for our toddler and she loved it too! We tried their beet salad, grilled calamari, grilled sea bass (absolutely delicious, a must try) and the chicken souvlaki. The chicken souvlaki was recommended by the server but it was really dry and not as good as the other dishes lol Very pricey but worth going to once in a while for a nice date out There were plenty of street parking too, perhaps because we went on a weekday for lunch. read more

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I've been back a few times since my first visit, and while I still enjoy the place, I have to admit I'm a little less wowed each time. Dinning room is still warm and cozy. The saganaki is still crispy, golden, and just as delicious as ever. The fish remains fresh and light, though it didn't quite knock my socks off the way it did the first time. The lamb chops are good, but not something I feel the urge to immediately come back for. Which is funny because after my first visit I remember raving about them to anyone who would listen. On the bright side, we tried the ribeye this time and wow. Juicy, flavorful, and so good it had everyone at the table questioning their life choices for not ordering it as their entrée too. One thing I can't believe I forgot to shout out in my last review is the granita with ice cream and tuile. My gosh, what a fantastic way to end a meal. It's light, refreshing, and just the right amount of sweet to finish things on a high note. read more

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Not a fan of most Michael Mina restaurants but I think this is the best one, he should just shut down the rest lol. Kalamari and the sea bass are my faves, all the small dips and plates are just so good. I've never been to Greece but the inside of the restaurants makes you feel like you're elsewhere and not in Jackson square. Service can be a little meh sometimes, including the hostesses but nothing worth ripping into them for. Overall a solid meal! read more

Kokkari Estiatorio - Bread - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Atmosphere was very cozy and the service was great! Our waitress answered all our questions and gave us guidance on what we ordered. The pacing was also good and our table never felt overcrowded. By far our favorites were the zucchini cakes and Greek donuts for dessert. read more

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Came here on a weekday for lunch and it was packed - be sure to make a reservation. We ordered brussels sprouts as an appetizer and they were amazing - tender inside, slightly crisp on the outside and not bitter at all. The octopus salad was perfect as a light entree - grilled perfectly and super tender. Their lamb chops were also delicious - thick, juicy and full of flavor. Can't wait for my next visit! read more

Kokkari Estiatorio - octopus salad - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

Lovely food and wine, and bright modern ambiance with rustic touches. We came here for a casual business dinner because of the bright modern look, suitable for a professional or personal event. We relaxed with a modest $22 Greek wine from their extensive Greek, old world, and new world collection: a lightly sparkling 2023 Assyrtico white, with the minerality characteristic of Santorini's volcanic soil, and complex hints of pear or melon. The Octapodaki tou Yiorgou was a tender almost-creamy $21 grilled octopus, simply yet fully flavored with lemon, oregano & olive oil, listed as an appetizer but rich enough to serve as a smaller main. The $49 Kokinisto me Manestra was an herb-flavored tender braised lamb shank over orzo, brightened with shredded dry, salty, tangy Mizithra cheese. The $53 Arnisio Souvlaki is a skewer of generously traditionally seasoned tender juicy grilled lamb, served with fresh chopped cucumber-tomato salad, tangy tzatziki, and salty herbed roasted potatoes. And we loved the tender creamy grilled halibut and wild horta greens, simply flavored with green olives, lemon, pepper & olive oil. This lovely restaurant is modern with some rustic decorative features. The staff was professional and attentive. Food and wine were quite delicious, well-prepared and authentic. This was a serene pleasant experience. read more

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Hard to give a rating here with only 5 star options because I feel like they deserve 3.5 stars but rounding up to 4 is overstating how good it is. So, have to stick with 3 and it's 90% related to the food and 10% related to "other factors". First, the food. I really liked the menu here but was disappointed at the execution. The standout by far was the Gigantes (giant beans in sauce). The rest of the food we ordered was all mid at best. What else did we order? Prawns, which were fishy in my opinion and lacked any real flavor in the sauce. Greek salad (I think the menu name is Hortiki or similar) also lacked any real flavor in the dressing and vegetables were tasteless. Meatballs - very gamey, didn't love the sauce. Lamb shank - fatty, not great flavor. Tzatziki- this was actually good and the grilled pita was VERY good. Pita was the other standout next to the gigantes for me. Yogurt dessert - overly saturated in honey; way too sweet! Overall, the dishes all lacked flavor and nothing was prepared very well. Ok, other factors. The service was great, but it did bother me that our empty drinks (I had the mocktail, which was excellent; husband had an old fashioned) were left on the table until the end of the meal. My other big nit was how close together the tables were. I felt like I was eating with the party next to us, given we were separated by literally a 1 inch lamp pole. I know this is polarizing because so many restaurants do it, but it doesn't mean I have to like it and it really makes the experience feel less special. Anyway, your mileage may vary on those factors, which is why I based my review mostly on the food here. read more

Kokkari Estiatorio - Gigantes - the menu standout for us! - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

Such a beautiful restaurant with great service and great food. The space is so beautiful inside and has a very homey ambience. I loved everything we ordered except for the octopus. I don't think I would order the octopus again but the zucchini cakes and chicken slovaki were amazing. The baklava was good. It came with two pieces, but it is very sweet so I didn't finish it. This restaurant is definitely a place worth trying and it seems to be a place that can be good for group dinners. read more

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Good food and ambiance Saghanaki 5/5 Gulf prawns 5/5 Ravioli 2/5 Pagoto baklava 5/5 Amazing wine and dessert menu Service was pleasant. read more

Kokkari Estiatorio - Pagoto baklava - Greek Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The ambiance of this Taverna style Greek restaurant is amazing. Walking in, the dining room is decorated with exposed brick walls, wood beams, and white tablecloths. There is also a large outdoor patio with views of the Embarcadero which gives the space a romantic vibe, but since they seat the tables close enough to unintentionally hear the conversations of adjacent tables, it takes away from the intended intimacy of the space. The food is authentic Greek style cuisine which I personally love. The Lamb shanks and chops were perfectly cooked and the Moussaka was delicious. I've always been a sucker for a good Baklava which they serve with ice cream and syrup which I adored. Having been here a few times, I must critique that the service is inconsistent. First time we visited, they were attentive and friendly. The 2nd & 3rd, the level of service dropped significantly with the staff blatantly catering to what I must assume were "VIP" tables while everyone else got the cold shoulder. For the $$$$ level pricing they charge & the automatic tip they tack on, I found this distasteful and it's soured my perception of this establishment as a whole. Parking is hard to find. Recommend you take alternative transportation to get here or pay a large sum to the nearby parking lots. read more

It may not necessarily be the prettiest round number, but knowing that my 1,700th review was near, I decided to wait on Kokkari Estiatorio to mark the occasion. Which is rather apt considering how long it took me for me to make my way here. Not only have they been yet another restaurant on my long list of places to try, but they're also one of my best friend's restaurants ANYWHERE. Layer on the fact that we were coming here to celebrate her birthday and writing about this place felt all the more compelling! Somewhat tucked away in the area between the Financial District and Jackson Square, Kokkari Estiatorio is quite the gem. Not only is the neighborhood rather cozy, but the interior and vibes of this place are just as appealing. Similarly, the menu is fantastic. Based on all that I had heard (and my experience at their sister spot, Evvia, in Palo Alto), I knew that they had a whole range of eye catching selections. Yet, as I skimmed through the options before us, I was taken aback by just how many of their appetizers, mains, and even desserts that I wanted to try. While we ended up ordering quite a few things to share, I wouldn't have minded if we had added a few more dishes to share as well! -- MASTICHA MARGARITA - Tsipouro, Mastricha, and Lime Juice with a Salted Rim...$17 This definitely tasted like a margarita with a bit of a Greek twist. I liked that the different elements were fairly balanced and that the pour in this was strong yet not too heavy. -- MARITHES TIGANITES - Crispy Smelts with Garlic-Potato Skordalia and Lemon...$15 This was AMAZING! It already sounded so delicious, but it tasted even better than I could've hoped. The smelt were super crispy and moist while the skordalia was equally flavorful. Honestly, I'd happily devour two plates of this on my own! -- OCTAPODAKI TOU YIORGOU - Grilled Octopus with Lemon, Oregano, and Olive Oil...$20.75 I LOVE grilled octopus and this definitely ranks among one of the best I've had! While I do wish they had a bit more char on them, the chunks of octopus were all super meaty and had such a tender bite. Plus, the hit of acidity from the lemon was so good! -- MOSHARISIA BRIZOLA - Charcoal Grilled Dry-Aged Ribeye with Braised Greens and Kokkari Potatoes...$71 Aside from it feeling a touch undercooked along the bone, this was great! The cut was generous, it had a nice crust, and the taste of this was so beefy, though, perhaps a touch too salty (FWIW, my friends thought it was fine). Plus, the potatoes were fantastic! -- ARNISIA PAIDAKIA - Grilled Lamb Chops with Lemon-Oregano Vinaigrette and Kokkari Potatoes...$69 Of course we had to get their signature entree and, thankfully, it didn't let us down! The lamb chops were cooked perfectly - gorgeous grill marks on the the outside and super juicy on the inside. What's more, this wasn't the least bit gamey and the seasoning was so good. -- GLOSA - Petrale Sole...$49.75 Pretty decent, but still my least favorite dish of the night. The skin of the fish was only slightly crispy (I was hoping for crunchy edges) and I wish the fish itself was a little more moist. That said, I liked the overall taste of the dish and the fish cheeks were terrific! -- LOUKOUMADES - Traditional Greek Donuts with Honey, Cinnamon, and Walnuts...$11.50 Not that I thought this was going to be bad, but it was better than I had hoped! The donuts weren't dense like I feared they would be and the honey and cinnamon on this wasn't too intense nor too sweet. Yum! -- GALAKTOBOUREKO - Semolina Custard in Filo with Seasonal Fruit & Pistachio Ice Cream...$13.50 One of my friends recommended this one and I can see why she likes it so much. Despite how one of the rolls was rather pale, the taste of the custard, fruit, and pistachio ice cream complemented each other so well. -- BAKLAVA ICE CREAM...$8 I think there was some miscommunication with our server on this one, but it was fine - we had more than enough desserts and this was still pretty good. The ice cream was very creamy and really did taste like baklava in a scoop. Other than that small mix-up with the ice cream, the other thing that really impressed me about our experience was how awesome the service is. The restaurant happily accommodated us/sat us even though one of my friends ended up running fairly behind and we never felt pressured to leave (we made sure to order more and tip more to make up for it). As for our server, she was friendly and happily to guide us through our questions. Between that, the lovely ambiance, and the terrific food (especially the smelt and octopus), the question is when, not if, I'll be back for more! FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded down for now. read more

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Had a wonderful experience at Kokari last night... service was genial, food was thoughtfully prepared and presented, and the price points were very reasonable. The vibe was energetic but it was not so loud you could not have a conversation. All in all, the experience showed why they have thrived so long and is a lesson: the newest hottest next big thing may not be all that or the best, and if we want the best to survive, we need to patronize and show appreciation. Kokari earned ours! read more

Great ambience and fast service. The baked feta and roasted squash were extremely flavorful and definitely stood out. The special citrus salad, however, was a bit underwhelming. Do try the coffee - it's worth it! It was easy to find street parking nearby. read more

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Came here for a Sunday dinner with a friend and we were excited to try Kokkari after seeing it on so many must try restaurants in SF lists and we were pretty happy with the meal overall! The restaurant is definitely tailored to a more special occasion as we saw many couples on their date night or families celebrating an event. The atmosphere is lively and warm without feeling so stuffy. We food we ordered the: - Crispy smelts with garlic and potato spread: Loved this dish, probably my favorite of the night! The smelt fish is coated in a light batter and perfectly fried but the real star is the garlic and potato spread which was so flavorful without feeling as heavy as an aioli - Grilled calamari stuffed with feta, fennel, orange: The small calamari pieces were nice and tender but overall the flavors were a bit bland; I wish there was more feta but for a light app this was yummy - Avgolemono (a traditional egg-lemon soup with chicken & rice): Loved how fresh and lemony this soup is! It's light with only a bit of rice and chicken but the fragrant lemon (love the lemon zest) is lovely - Grilled sea bass to share: We shared this between the 2 of us and it was plenty of fish for 2 people - would definitely recommend splitting the whole fish! The fish was grilled lightly and still tender. Definitely squeeze plenty of lemon on top and we ended up pairing the garlic spread from the smelt with the fish as the flavor is light Overall, everything was cooked nicely and it was a solid dinner. I'm not a huge fan of mediterranean food but appreciated the light and fresh flavors and could see why Kokkari is so highly recommended! read more

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Whole Grilled Seabass 9.28/10- this was absolutely delicious! I loved how lemony and buttery this was - the perfect balance of flavors. The fish was cooked perfectly and flaked apart so easily. You could taste the freshness and the lemon really brightened everything up while the butter made it rich and luxurious. Such a simple preparation but executed flawlessly. Moussaka 8.43/10- this is a baked casserole with spiced lamb and beef, eggplant, potato, and yogurt bechamel. This was good but I wish it had a bit more spice as I felt that the cheese on top did overpower a lot of the flavors. The lamb and beef were tender and the eggplant was cooked well, but the bechamel was so rich and creamy that it kind of masked some of the other ingredients. Still tasty but could have used more seasoning to cut through all that richness. Saganaki 8.26/10- pan fried kefalotyri with lemon and oregano. This was a classic and they did it well! The cheese was perfectly golden and crispy on the outside while staying gooey inside. The lemon added that perfect acidic brightness and the oregano gave it that traditional Greek flavor. Simple but satisfying. Dips with Pita Bread and Pickles 8.68/10- this was really good! I loved getting to try different dips - we ordered an onion dip, tzatziki, and a spicy dip. The onion dip was pretty strong and definitely packed a punch. My favorite was definitely the spicy feta - it had this amazing kick that wasn't too overwhelming but still had great heat. The pita bread was warm and perfect for dipping, and the pickles were a nice palate cleanser between all the rich flavors. Zucchini Cakes 9.38/10- I loved these zucchini cakes! They had great texture and flavor, but they definitely needed salt. Once I added salt though, they were absolutely immaculate. The zucchini was perfectly incorporated and they had this amazing crispy exterior with a tender inside. With the right seasoning, these were one of my favorite dishes. Artichoke Souvlaki- heard this was incredible but didn't get to try it since I was too full! I love artichokes though so I'm definitely curious about this one for next time. Loukoumades 4.21/10- there was personally way too much honey for me to enjoy this properly. I liked the texture of the doughnuts though - they were super soft on the inside and had that perfect airy quality. But the honey was just overwhelming and made it way too sweet for my taste. Espresso Martini 9.21/10- this was excellent! The coffee they used was really good quality and you could definitely taste it. It had that perfect balance of coffee bitterness with the smoothness of the vodka. Not too sweet but still perfectly balanced. This Greek restaurant had some really solid dishes with authentic flavors. The seafood was definitely a standout and I appreciated how fresh everything tasted! I think I had too high of expectations though, as I heard this was one of the hardest reservations to get in SF and we were debating between going here and Cotogna. It was good but for fine dining I expected more - some dishes felt like they needed more seasoning or refinement. Our server Tanya was amazing though! She was so knowledgeable about the menu and made great recommendations. Her service definitely elevated the whole experience Instagram: @hungrytamale read more

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How have I not reviewed Kokkari yet? It's a staple Greek restaurant that I found out about from a former manager when I worked in the area. He swore up and down that it was the best restaurant and years later, the quality and standard have remained the same. Reservations, at least the ones at decent times, can be hard to come across. However, they release earlier times as it gets closer to the day of. The last time we came, we ordered quite a feast. Our server (Thierry based on the receipt) was absolutely phenomenal. If you get him as your server, you'll have excellent service and great recommendations. Some dishes that you can't go wrong with are the saghanaki ($10) - a fried cheese appetizer drizzled with lemon juice. Pair this with the complimentary sourdough bread and it is heaven! The octopus appetizer/octopodaki tou yiorgou ($20.75) is also wonderful. It's super tender and a decent sized portion for a shared dish. The zucchini cakes/kolokithokeftethes - a mouthful to say isn't it? ($14.75) is another classic starter and comes with tzatziki dip on the side. There was a minor misunderstanding in which Thierry thought I ordered a pita/dip combo and it was gifted to our table regardless. For mains, there's usually a nice vegetarian ravioli that I'm always too stuffed to touch but the time it comes out. We usually also get a fish dish, typically fish of the day or whatever the server recommends. Everything is very fresh and delicious. Our favorite dessert is the ekmek kataifi ($13.75). It's a layered dessert of creme fraiche and custard situated on shredded phyllo. It is amazing and I never leave without getting this to end the meal! FYI - they do tack on a 4% SF mandate to your final bill and it's listed at the bottom of the menu. read more

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Had an amazing dinner here, left feeling so full and satisfied! Service was nice and the interior really transports you to Greece. We started with the fried smelt which was nice and crispy. The dipping yogurt sauce & lemon added the perfect creaminess and acidity. Then the octopus was highly recommended. The mead was very tender and the flavor really shone through. Finally we shared the lamb kebab entree between two of us and I appreciated that they brought it out on 2 separate plates. The half portion was actually the perfect serving size. Finally, even though I was stuffed, I couldn't resist trying their flourless chocolate cake. It was so nice and creamy, the perfect sweet end! Overall highly recommended this spot for Greek food! read more

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