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    Kokkari Estiatorio

    4.4 (5.6k reviews)
    Ultra High-EndGreek, Mediterranean
    Open 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Kokkari Estiatorio Photos

    Business Info

    KOKKARI ESTIATORIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Dug out a 2013 Black Stallion cab for my latest trip around the sun dinner with my awesome partner.
    Richard B.

    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!!!

    Greek for dinner
    Taylor J.

    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.

    But first... cocktails
    Andrea M.

    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!

    Afshin A.

    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.

    Kolokithokeftethes/Zucchini Cakes
    Amanda M.

    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!

    Ambiance
    Eliza C.

    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.

    Grilled sole
    Dan F.

    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.

    Agitated souvlaki - artichoke grilled skewer
    Alex W.

    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.

    Baked feta
    Alisa P.

    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.

    Octapodaki Tou Yiorgou/Octopus
    Helen W.

    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.

    Me with out delicious food
    Mary M.

    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.

    Ron P.

    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 :)

    Deepthi T.

    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!

    Eggplant beef and lamb baked

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    20 days ago

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

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    Kokkari Estiatorio Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kokkari Estiatorio

    Is street parking for early dinner easier in Sat or Sun?

    We found street parking relatively quickly - a couple blocks away.

    Read you charged $18 for house still water. Is this correct?

    Not correct. Filtered house tap water is free

    Are they no longer providing delivery?

    no delivery by Kokkari that I know of.

    Is there food menu at the bar for one person?

    Yes full menu at the bar.

    Is the restaurant requiring proof of vax again, just saw it pop up on OpenTable?

    No, they did not ask

    Do they have cocktails? What are some favorites?

    They do! And great bartenders.

    What is the corkage fee? I am planning for a birthday dinner for a group of 7 on the 25th of June (Saturday evening)?

    You should ask the restaurant directly.

    Will they be open Christmas Eve day? It does not state on their website. Unable to get anyone on the phone.

    Closed.. I tried to make reservations online

    Is vaccination required? We loved SF. I guess we won't be there till the restrictions are lifted.

    Yes. Stay home if you are not vaccinated.

    Is the meat halal or kosher?

    None of the above.

    Is there a dress code?

    Business sharp.

    Do they welcome everyone? Do they have legit vegan options or just sides and salads? Mediterranean and Greek places are known to have vegetarian options but not vegan, since they add cheese everywhere. Do they offer vegan cheese subs?

    They have legit vegan food and it is truly delicious.

    Is this place open for dining in as in does it have an outdoor patio?

    Yes. Kokkarri offers Indoor dining.

    Do you need a reservation for a group of 4? We really want to visit tomorrow night, but the earliest reservation is 9:30pm

    Yes. You need to make a reservation.

    Do I need to call to make a reservation for a party of 1? They are not accepting ANY reservations online. Only 2 or more online...

    There is bar seating that does not require reservations. First come first serve. They will probably have availability for 1 seat. Having said that, all depends on day and time of day. It's safest to call or use opentable.

    What is the Corkage fee?

    There is a $20 corkage fee. I wouldn't bother bringing my own bottle, since they have a huge wine selection and very knowledgeable staff.

    Is it appropriate more middle school age kids?

    If the kids are well behaved and are accustomed to eating at fancy places, yes. This is a fine dining establishment, don't bring kids that need to be controlled or that need to be pacified with devices or who will even take out their phones. The… Read more

    Is going there with kids a good idea?

    I wouldn't, more of a good date night spot!

    Can you dine at the bar?

    Yes! This is a great restaurant for that. My wife and I have enjoyed many meals at the bar with a nice martini on the side.

    What is the best itemto order here?

    The lamb dishes are great.

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    Old Jerusalem Restaurant

    Old Jerusalem Restaurant

    4.2(1.3k reviews)
    3.4 miMission
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    A gem. Genuine Mediterranean. Everything is fresh and…read moreclean, from the food to the bathrooms! Nice service. Casual. Relaxing. Must try!!!

    We've come across and heard about Old Jerusalem before and felt like having middle eastern food…read moretonight, so we took a chance and tried them out. When we arrived at around 7:30 pm, there were tables available. It's a comfortable cafe-like restaurant with mural paintings on the wall. Service was friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, the food wasn't as good as the ambiance and waitstaff. ***OUR PICKS*** BEEF SHAWERMA ENTREE ~ the beef was overly salted, saffron rice was ok, hummus was really thick, like peanut butter. My guy ordered this and thought it was average. 3/5 LAMB SHISH KEBAB WRAP ~ this was my dish. I ate one half of the wrap and it only held two cubes of lamb meat. The lettuce and tomatoes made the wrap bland. The meat was seasoned, but everything was plain, so it needed more seasoning. Honestly, this was missing flavor! I'll have to add something to it when I eat the rest of this wrap at home. 2.5/5 HALF ROASTED CHICKEN AND RICE ~ Our friend ordered this dish. It needed more sumac. This tasted like plain roasted chicken. Maybe it needs more seasoning while marinating. It wasn't dry, so that's a relief. Rice was ok and it wasn't dry or soggy. 3.5 We've been spoiled and have had better food in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Nothing stood out for any of us. Prices are a bit high for what you get. Sadly, probably won't be back.

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    Mansaf

    Old Jerusalem Restaurant - Lamb Chops

    Lamb Chops

    Old Jerusalem Restaurant - Shish Taouk Plate

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    Shish Taouk Plate

    Bursa - Spicy Adana Wrap: Spicy Ground Lamb + Beef, haydari, pickles, red onion, parsley, homemade tomato salsa, fries | $15

    Bursa

    4.3(1k reviews)
    5.4 miWest Portal
    $$

    Lovely spot to have dinner in West Portal. Cozy spot,…read moreupscale casual dining. Great wine menu - I am picky with my red wines these days and enjoyed my $11 glass of old vine Zinfandel. We loved the Combo appetizer plate which came with generous portions of 9 different items. I loved everything ! I'm an eggplant lover and two of the dips were eggplant based . My new favorite dip is the Mercimek Kofte which is a red lentil based chunky dip ; I would've guessed garbanzo bean based dip. The Haydari dip was also super addictive, a thick creamy dip made of kefir cheese and Greek yogurt. So many delicious but gut healthy items of the combo plate; which comes with thin lavash bread. Also loved the red lentil soup, which was warming on a rainy day. I thought it was flavorful without being overly spiced or too thick. My husband enjoyed the lamb kebabs. Tender juicy cuts of lamb that were well seasoned , comes on a bed of salad and rice. We also liked the charred red peppers and onions on the kebab . Service was sufficient Overall great little find for dinner !

    New favorite Mediterranean place!…read more This is about a 15 min walk from where I live so I'll be coming here more often. Big fan of the portions at this restaurant. We ordered the combo plate which came with a lot of Pita bread, definitely enough to share among 4 people. Dishes came with a big helping of hummus too. I personally got the Kofte Kebab which filled me up. I had enough to bring home for lunch the next day. Getting a frozen yogurt at Easy Breezy is a must afterwards!!

    Photos
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    Inside - Valentine's Day decorations

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    Grilled Rack Of Lamb

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    View of Interior of the restaurant

    Kitchen Istanbul

    Kitchen Istanbul

    4.4(594 reviews)
    3.6 miInner Richmond
    $$$

    Monday nights during pandemic times brought (according to the SF Chronicle) hospitality workers to…read moreKitchen Istanbul en masse. It wasn't just the food they say, but the remarkable wine list, which turned the place into a see-and-be-seen spot akin to NYC's Elaine's (RIP). If this isn't quite how you imagine anyplace along SF's Clement Street, think again. Years later it's still packed (on a Friday night) and loud. Service was the sole miscue on my visit with 3 others. We were given menus and water but ignored after that, to a point where we reached out to get some wine and attention. As you can see from the 5-star assessment, no harm-no foul; once wine and food flowed all was forgiven. The menu required some explanation. It's not broken down in any discernible way, requiring the server to explain that all dishes ae meant to be shared and that the first several dishes are dips, then small plates, then larger. In truth, all seemed like small plates to me (or small servings) but if your wallet permits, you'll not be disappointed. There wasn't one thing we shared that we didn't 100% consume nor anything I'd not recommend. Since we sampled almost the entire menu I feel comfortable saying that everything is delicious and attractively presented. We left the alcohol order to the one at our table who'd chosen Kitchen Istanbul and she summoned the sommelier and gave him free reign. He asked what we like (hearty reds) and what we wished to spend (about $75/bottle) and we enjoyed 2 completely unique offerings that we'd not have known to choose for ourselves. He was also tasked with pairing two of the dessert wines with two of the chosen desserts and they were as enjoyable as the wines served with dinner. It's fair to say that the sommelier had fun with our table, stopping by before we left to say how much he'd appreciated the opportunity to choose for us and for us placing our trust in him. Like the rest of the City I was following Sam Smith's food journey during his time here. He never made it to Kitchen Istanbul but if he had, I think he'd have nodded in agreement with the 5-star rating.

    This spot has been on my list for quite some time and I'm grateful that I was able to finally check…read morethis off! There's good reason why this place continuously garners glowing reviews. Started off with the hummus, which was a very solid starter that was clearly blended and seasoned appropriately. After the first bite, I was transported back to Israel for a hot moment. I do wish they served more pita bread (which was warm and toasty upon being served-chef's kiss!). Ordered half of the menu and the most memorable items had to be the Chicken For Two (tender fall off the bone chicken with sundried tomato, chard couscous that I could not stop reaching for 3rds and 4ths) along with the Moussaka ( bechamel sauce makes any day infinitely better). OK NOW ONTO THE MOST NUTRITIOUS, IMPORTANT PART OF THE MEAL. DESSERT. Get the Kunefe and Inci Profiterole. If you like the texture of baklava and chocolate in general, you will LOVE these two dishes and can thank me later (or scoff at me). I don't care. I was pecking all the flakes of phyllo dough on the plate like the city pigeons and scraping the plate of all the chocolate ganache goodness because it was THAT good. Great service and ambiance too.

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    Kitchen Istanbul
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    Kokkari Estiatorio - greek - Updated May 2026

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