We used to frequent this place when we lived in NJ. We currently live in MD and haven't been here in about 10 years. I was so excited to come back. Unfortunately, I was highly disappointed. I know things changed since the previous owner (older Greek man) no longer owned it. He used to stop by the tables and chat with customers and we noticed that the portions had become smaller. This time we came for lunch on a Sunday. Place was kind of empty, with the exception of 2 large tables. We ordered Saganaki and were informed by waitress that they no longer flambéd it table side. We still ordered and it was good although not melted like we remembered. Husband only ordered the lemon soup, which he said was good. My daughter and I both ordered beef and lamb gyros, I ordered it with Greek fries (with the Greek cheese over them) and my daughter ordered hers with lemon potatoes. Both gyros came dry, in hard shaved pieces and I barely ate my fries as they were worse than fast food fries and not the traditional Greek cheese over them. The tzatziki was good, however, my daughter's had a hair in it. The worse part was that when we brought it to the waitresses attention, she was not apologetic or surprised. She just said she would bring a new one. This was unacceptable. To make matters worse, I went to their store next door to get the cheese I could fry at home and their custard dessert; they had neither. What a disappointment to the entire experience. Won't be returning if ever in the area. read more

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I landed at Pithari Tavern for a team dinner after a full week of "collaborative workshop Olympics." It's a tiny, charming Greek spot tucked into Highland Park downtown, with parking so limited you basically need divine intervention... or street parking. Inside, it's cute and very Greek-coded. Vegetarian options? Let's just say... blink and you've seen them all. The hummus platter held its ground, but the Halloumi? I swear it was so rubbery I could hear it squeaking back at me. It felt like chewing a flip-flop in surround sound. Dinner came with exactly three vegetarian choices, all of which looked more like an appetizer sampler trying to pass as a meal. Thankfully, I had great company and a teammate who generously brought wine, which definitely upgraded the experience. Would I return? Personally, no. If you're vegetarian and planning to eat anything beyond hummus, salad, or bread, this place might test your patience. But credit where it's due... their orange cake was delicious and dangerously sweet. read more

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We were a large party of 8 and they were happy to accommodate. There's seating inside and out, and it's a BYOB. We started with a ton of appetizers for the table. For dinner we got a mix of gyros, kebabs and some chicken dishes. It's generous portions so keep that in mind when ordering. You could probably share some of the dishes. We ended up taking so much home. Unfortunately, they were out of most of the desserts so we'll have to try again next time. They have a small parking lot in the back and street parking is available. read more

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So good we were back again! The staff is terrific and the owner takes his time to stop by and chat and answer questions we have about the authentic dishes he creates. It's awesome! This evening he surprised us with Greek Yogurt dessert. It was super tasty and a nice finish to another amazing dinner! Can't wait to visit the store right next door. The honey, the olive oil and the grape leaves were exceptional! read more

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We ordered the shrimp with garlic sauce. The sauce was amazing, but there were only five small shrimps for 20 bucks. My entrée arrived ice cold. They reheated it and it was tasty, but I probably won't be back again. read more

I've been wanting to come here for years, but just never made the trip up and always crowded Route 1 to go there. I used to eat a lot of Greek food when I was living in Germany, but that was a long time ago, and the Greek food offerings in my township are strictly your standard kebab and gyro kind of joints. As a result, my Greek restaurant experience is limited, and I'm trying to keep that in mind as I write. Huge portions--be aware that some of the dishes are just massive, and can easily be shared. Ask your server about the plate sizes, or (my favorite) just walk around and stare at what other people are eating. The servers were friendly and efficient. We weren't rushed to get our orders in, and they even let us do the appetizers first and then order the mains later. I wish all restaurants would allow that, as there's nothing I dislike more than getting my main while I'm still working on the appetizer. Greek Salad -- well sized, more than enough for four people as a starter, and perhaps enough for two as a main course. Strictly cukes, tomatoes, onions and cheese with no lettuce tossed in to water it down. Very solid and good, but I'm a snob (I admit it) when it comes to tomatoes, and I couldn't help but wonder how much better it would have been later in Summer with in-season tomatoes. My dining companions, who are not tomato snobs, enjoyed it very much. Dolmades -- stuffed grape leaves -- A cold appetizer of rice wrapped in a grape leaf, and honestly, I don't see the attraction. I've always found them a bore, and these were no exception. There was just nothing memorable about them. I'm sure they were in line with the taste requirements laid down by the Greco-American Dolmade Standards Board, but for me they're one of those Greek menu items that are better off skipped. Grilled Octopus Sta Karvouna Appetizer -- A very good, tender octopus arm (it's an arm, not a tentacle--feel free to ridicule anyone who tells you different) with a very nice grilled flavor. Will definitely get it again on any return trips. Melisio Calamari Appetizer -- Worth the trip all on its lonesome. I'd have never thought that honey and chilies on calamari would be so good. A huge plate as well, and big enough to share for all four of us. I'd seriously consider ordering this and a side of lemon potatoes for my main meal on any future trip. Maybe with the grilled Octopus as my starter for an all cephalopod meal. Stuffed Flounder -- Three well seasoned flounder filets stuffed with crab. I normally don't like fish stuffed with crab, but that wasn't the case with these, as the Mediterranean flavor in the crab stuffing was interesting enough that it unexpectedly made me actually like it. Garides Santorini -- A massive dish of extra-large, sautéed shrimp in tomato sauce with orzo -- had no idea what the dish was going in, but it was good. My only grief was that the sauce tasted so similar to an Italian pasta sauce. I wanted it to have something special and different that made it scream, "I'm Greek!" I brought half the orzo home, and after reading a few recipes about the dish, saw the recipes all added crumbled feta for serving, which wasn't the case at the restaurant. I tried this at home with the leftovers, and it made all the difference--acting as a cheesy Ionian Sea and separating the dishes of the two countries. Aegean Seafood Platter -- Another massive dish. A generous portion of shellfish (it should be called Aegean Shellfish Platter as there's no actual fish in the dish) atop orzo with a nice tomato and wine sauce. I give this dish the nod over the Santorini thanks to the wine making the sauce more interesting than that of the Santorini, and the entire table enjoyed it. Baklava -- was very good, and even though I normally skip desserts (having dessert means that you didn't have enough real food), I'd 100% get this again. It's BYOB, but there's a booze store close by that can help you out if you leave that bottle of wine on the counter in your rush to leave. read more

Last Night, 06/06/25, after the Zone 6 Diaper Drive we indulged in dinner at Pithari Taverna. It was such an amazing dining experience! The staff were super sweet & very accommodating! The food was absolutely to die for. We indulged in appetizers from shrimp, humus dip, Greek salad, & more! For dinner we all got the meat platter which came with assorted meats like chicken, pork, gyro, & lamb chops! For sides we got lemon potatoe wedges which were to die for! And for dessert we got to try a many different assortment of all of them!! Overall the atmosphere was so beautiful & quiet. It was also a BYOB establishment which was very convenient! Would definitely come back here again! read more

Pithari Taverna - Just a bunch of friends enjoying a lovely dinner - Greek Near Me - Highland Park, New Jersey

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One of our family favorites. We love coming here to celebrate special events. The atmosphere is warm and inviting like you're hanging out in someone's backyard. The service is wonderful and accommodating. They are BYOB but always bring you glasses and open the bottles for you. They also provide ice buckets if you need. And the food?! Wow. There is probably a little greek grandma in that kitchen. No matter what we order we are never disappointed. read more

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I haven't been here in years and they did not disappoint! The food was just as amazing as I remember it being!!! The staff is super friendly as well! My husband and I went for a date night and boy did we go all out since we don't have Green much because of my sons sesame allergy! We started with hummus, grape leaves, and zucchini fritters! All of it delish!!! Our main dishes were beef and lamb gyro platter and Mediterranean chicken! So much amazing food that we brought home plenty of leftovers!!! We didn't stop there....we HAD to have the baklava! They serve a nice size piece and even gave us a scoop of Greek yogurt on the house! I would recommend this place over and over again. I feel like there are no great Greek restaurants around anymore and so glad they are!!!! read more

Pithari Taverna - Stuffed chicken breast - Greek Near Me - Highland Park, New Jersey

This is an amazing Greek restaurant with generous portions and really delicious food. I have been coming here since my college days and it never disappoints. They give you some complementary pita to start. The octopus is really tender and has a good char; any seafood dish you get feels really fresh. I really love their Greek lemon potatoes as well as their chicken lemon soup. Everything just feels really authentic and homey and you really could go no wrong with any of the menu items. read more

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Service A+. Food A++ we love to eat here. Parking is easy. We have been coming here from the time they first opened years ago.

This is an expensive, but worth the price. Portions are huge, food is fresh and tasty. I highly recommend the Saganaki appetizer. The moussaka is delicious. All the Greek cheese dishes are amazing. You can't really go wrong with any dish. My go to is the crab stuffed flounder/scallop with the mushroom risotto. After trying out different dishes, this one is my favorite. Best risotto I've had. For dessert, I recommend the yogurt. It's creamy and not too sweet. Beautiful restaurant as well. The staff are very friendly and kind. They also give you complimentary dessert if you have your birthday here. I come here for my birthday every year. read more

Pithari Taverna - Crab Stuffed Scallops and mushroom risotto - Greek Near Me - Highland Park, New Jersey

Cute little restaurant, we went on a Saturday night and it was pretty busy. We had their traditional Lamb Souvlaki and Beef and Lamb Gyro platter both were delicious and portions were generous. You have a choice of Greek lemon potatoes or a Greek salad instead of fries. The octopus was amazing and their galatopoureko was homemade and delicious. Even tho they were busy service was outstanding. read more

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We ate here in August, for a celebratory dinner before dropping our son off at Rutgers. What a great choice. The food was superb, and came in very generous portions! The mezze plate was fantastic, with the eggplant dip and whipped feta being standouts. We could not stop eating (but should have) the fresh, tender pita. We also had the grilled branzino, the braised lamb shank, salmon and a scallop dish - all were just great. For dessert, we shared a baklava and they gave us a yogurt with honey and walnuts, which were both very generous and delicious. The service was attentive and friendly. We will definitely return when visiting the area! read more

We went to have dinner here. The place is busy with diners. We ordered Stuffed scallops and grilled squid. The scallops taste great, it's delicious. But the grilled squid is bland and slightly hard, not soft. Serving staff are friendly and helpful. Well lighted and decor is good. It's a BYOB place. read more

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Food is always good. We've dined in and got takeout and either way have a positive experience. We haven't had anything that we didn't enjoy. read more

Pithari Taverna - Greek Near Me - Highland Park, New Jersey

We visited Pithari Taverna on a late Saturday afternoon soon after it opened. The inside is so cute with blue tables and grapes along the sides of the walls. We were allowed to sit anywhere we wanted and the service was amazing. I ordered the spanakopita, my boyfriend ordered a lamb dish, and we had the calamari as an appetizer. We were also given complimentary pita to start our meal and we were delighted to find that the pita was still warm. As a huge fan of spanakopita, I loved the spanakopita but found it difficult to finish since the portion was so big. The calamari also met our expectations, but my boyfriend was not a fan of his lamb. In his opinion, the lamb was really dry and bland, so he did not enjoy it. I have been here once previously, and I would still come back again! read more

Pithari Taverna - Greek Near Me - Highland Park, New Jersey

Food is great, great selection of authentic Greek food. Serving sizes are big. Service is fast. BYOB.

Convenient, friendly service, clean, delicious, and huge portions. What a lovely restaurant that I hope to visit again next time I'm in the area! read more

Went here with my wife and daughter. Had a nice experience. Very welcoming atmosphere with friendly staff. Food was delicious.

Great little Greek spot that looks like a diner. I did take out so I didn't get a chance to see the service but the girl at the counter was very pleasant. The gyro was on point for a typical beef/lamb gyro with great tzatziki sauce. The Greek salad was also great. Would definitely recommend if you like green food and are in the area read more

Pithari Taverna - Beef & Lamb Gyro and Greek Salad - Greek Near Me - Highland Park, New Jersey

Food was soo wonderful and flavorful! Highly recommend. Service was good. They are BYOB, so don't forget to bring your bottle of wine.

Love, love, love this place for amazing Greek flavors. Every time I go I get a new appetizer and an entree to share, as the entrees could feed 2-4 people with plenty to eat. Every dish I get, I am amazed at the flavor they're able to achieve. I would have tried the whole menu If I were to remain in the area. Not to mention, any restaurant that offers complimentary food (here it's Pita and olives) as soon as you sit down is a plus for me. I love the vibe of the place and always loved the waitresses. The place is BYOB which I enjoy because it can get pricey, so having the option to bring your own wine is always nice. read more

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Absolutely loved this place. The ambiance is amazing. It's BYOB which was a negative for me so I will have to give this place four stars for that reason. Their pita and olives are delicious! read more

Pithari Taverna - Chicken gyro - Greek Near Me - Highland Park, New Jersey

2nd time here and the food is delicious! Was able to find parking on a quiet summer Sunday noon. Enjoyed the time with friends. We ordered two appetizers. Skordalia (garlic dip) for the nicely hot pita bread and Spanakopita (comes in 6 pieces. Spanakopita looks homemade and the outer lightly crisp layer of the pie is cooked perfectly. It took a while for the food to come and it could be the the items comes out fresh. It was a little bit slow but that gave us time to take a break before eating our main course. Once they sat out plates down, the portion size is worth it! It's filling for one person. Service is good. They came by and check us periodically. Overall, the restaurant is a great place to go to have authentic Greek cuisine! read more

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We are so lucky to live only 15 minutes away from this little hidden gem in Highland Park. One of the best places for Greek food around! The octopus appetizer was super fresh and delectable. Every one has to try the dip platter which was a nice treat of a variety of flavors straight from greece. My favorite entree is the Moussaka. Its a large size and I always end up taking some home. The inside is super cute and the dining area makes you feel like you aren't even in NJ. Definitely a good place to try if you haven't ventured here. read more

What a disappointment. I had not been there for 15 years, since Tassos and wife opened this little restaurant. It used to be so popular and so good that the place was bursting at its seams. It has since had an expansion and renovation to double their space and add some outdoor seating as well. The place is lovely. But the food... another story. The menu has all the traditional favorites, and some news additions as well since my last visit. A companion had the tomato soup and another had the avgolemono soup and each were very pleased. I wanted to order from the original menu orzo and tomato sauce in a clay pot with chunks of lamb, and something similar was on the menu, and another friend got that. She left half of it on her plate at the end of dinner and a great big lamb bone. Along with four others, I order the lamb souvlaki (lamb kebabs) and while the others thought it was just ok, I found it difficult to eat. The lamb was tough as can be, and I could not chew the first two pieces. I had to spit them into my napkin. Additionally, they were so overseasoned that whatever joy had been in that meat was no longer. It was overwhelmingly seasoned. I asked for a replacement with chicken. The chicken was easier to chew, but it was also overseasoned. No professional Greek chef or cook would do that, so who's cooking? The lemon potatoes were very good, though. I don't think I'd need to go back. I really wanted Tassos's food, and his wife's baklava. Shucks. read more

This is one of my favorite Greek restaurants! My family and I have been coming here for years and it's always a favorite of ours. We usually make a reservation so it doesn't take long to get seated. The service is good and our waitress is super friendly. The interior is also really cute, with a good amount of seating. The spicy calamari as an appetizer is pretty good and a big portion size. My favorite entrees are the arni yiouvetsi (braised lamb shank), paidakia (baby lamb chops), and moussaka. The lamb is super tender and flavorful, and the moussaka is just pure comfort food. The lemon potatoes are a good side as well. The portion size of most of the entrees is huge, making for great leftovers the next day. read more

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Why go to Athens when you have a restaurant like Pithari in your neighbourhood? This charming blue and white taverna boasts a delicious menu of traditional Greek eats and the BYOB is a bonus. We ran the whole menu from appetizers to dessert, and we were not disappointed. We started out with hummus and fried goats cheese with honey. Be sure to pour some of their Greek olive oil on the hummus, it makes for a delightful pair. The goat cheese and honey...UNREAL! The sweet and salty combo was decadent. For the main course, I went with a Greek classic--lamb souvlaki. The lamb was thick and juicy. The tzatziki on the side was rich, creamy, and paired perfectly with the lamb. We rounded out the meal with some rice pudding, which was the right consistency, not too milky and not too chunky. Our waitress was warm, welcoming, and all around wonderful. My wife forgot her leftovers and she chased us down to make sure we didn't go home empty handed. Whether you're doing out with a special someone or a group of friends, Pithari is a vibe. Opa! read more

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I highly enjoyed my meal at Pithari Taverna. I like that it is BYO and they have a parking lot. They give you pita bread and olives to start. My meal came with a Greek salad. The atmosphere and service is very nice! read more

Every time I have a family gathering, I love ordering from here. The price and the delicious food never disappoint us. My family from NY is in love with their Baklava. The attention and service from their staff and boss are very welcoming. We will definitely keep ordering! read more

Pithari Taverna - The attention to detail and dedication they put into everything... we simply love it. ( baklava picture) - Greek Near Me - Highland Park, New Jersey

It's been a few years since I have been there but will go back again more regularly. Large restaurant, small parking lot but there is street parking. Outstanding Tzatziki and the grilled octopus was prepared perfectly with a side of rice. Also had fried eggplant and zucchini which was also delicious. read more

Pithari Taverna - Grilled Octopus - Greek Near Me - Highland Park, New Jersey

Love Pithari Taverna! I used to frequent this spot when I lived in the area but haven't been back in several years. I'm happy to report that the food is still as delicious as I remembered! The menu is traditional greek and has any and all of the classics that you could want. The regular menu is pretty large and on top of that there is usually an entire page of specials. Seating is plentiful and you can BYOB. We started off with a few small plates -- grilled octopus, baba ganoush with pita and saganaki. All were delicious, especially the saganaki which literally comes out on fire! The Greek salad is also always a solid app pick. For my main I went with one of the dishes on special. It was advertised as a lemon roasted chicken with orzo and veggies with some grated cheese on top. I was expecting a chicken dish but instead got a full fledged bowl of orzo with some chunks of chicken and lots of creamy cheese mixed throughout. So basically, more like a risotto and a lot more rich and carb heavy than expected. I wish it had been advertised differently on the menu. Hubs and in-laws all ordered salmon, each with a different side. The salmon was perfectly cooked and so delicious. The lemon potatoes were flavorful and so thick that one or two was filling. The salmon also came with a few delicious spreads -- avocado tzatziki and artichoke. Next time I'd probably stick to a more classic entree like chicken kabobs or a gyro platter. For traditional Greek fare you really can't go wrong! read more

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We stopped here on the way home from CT. It's not far off of 95, very convenient and definitely worth a few extra turns if you are looking for something more than fast food while traveling. The restaurant was filled with people which got our attention as we drove by. Our waitress was very friendly & attentive. The food was delicious! We especially enjoyed the Calamari special (that had some kind of honey drizzle on it), the Salmon Cakes & Gyro. We will definitely stop here again whenever we are passing through. read more

Awesome Gyros and an excellent atmosphere. Really enjoyed the dinner and the waitress was very nice. Love the BYOB policy too!

Really great Greek food. We were in Greece a couple months ago and we felt like experiencing it again. I highly recommend the baby lamb chop, they are tender and have great flavor. It is a nice and simple dish. We also had the fried zucchini fritters and hummus. Everything was delicious. The service was also great. A couple of notes: They have a parking lot but it is usually full. The seating is also packed in rather tight. It is BYOB, so bring a bottle and enjoy! read more

Pithari Taverna - Greek Near Me - Highland Park, New Jersey

Relaxed casual good ambience. Friendly staff Good choices in the menu Efficient service Delicious food - tasty and good portion sizes Prices have gone up a little recently, but that seems to be keeping with the overall prices increases we are seeing everywhere. Parking is limited and can be challenging during peak hours. read more

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We've been coming to Pithari for many year, bringing friends and family. We've always loved it. This review is specifically regarding this last weekend. I'd met with the owner, Gianni, to go over catering options for a baby shower I was hosting in my home. He could not have been more accommodating, flexible, professional and supportive of all my requests and concerns. He takes tremendous pride in his restaurant and all associated with it. The party was a huge success, and the food was delicious and plentiful. I'm not even sure how many times I was asked from where we catered and was told how much the food was enjoyed by all. I highly recommend getting food catered from Pithari. You and your guests will not be disappointed. read more

I have been going to Pithari for years, but as of today no more I placed an order for a Chicken Gyros and they charged me 7.95 FOR EXTRA SAUCE. I was told that extra sauce was being billed as an appetizer. Enjoy your profit you just lost a decade long Highland Park customer. I will miss eating there, and after supporting your establishment through the pandemic this is disgraceful. read more

Pithari Taverna - Greek Near Me - Highland Park, New Jersey

We came here with some friends. It's been a while since we've been here. The last time we came here, everything was delicious. We ordered Tzatziki which is yogurt, cucumber and garlic dip; Skordalia which is garlic dip to start with. As usual, the dips were delicious and garlicky. Our friends ordered Arni Yiouvetsi which is slowly cooked lamb shank in a homemade tomato sauce over orzo, Greek pasta, or Greek spaghetti. They loved it and devoured the entire entree. I stole a bite from them and liked it a lot, also. I'm not a fan of lamb but this was good. I ordered the Spicy kalamarakia which fried calamari, tossed in spicy banana, peppers, pickled cherry peppers and cherry tomatoes. It's from the appetizers section. I didn't know what to choose. I figure share the app with everyone and stick my fork into their entrees! LOL. The calamari was crispy, delicious and spicy! I loved every bite of it. Daughter ordered the Pastitsio which is baked Greek pasta, ground beef, and bechamel. That was ok. I usually don't care for the béchamel sauce but daughter liked it a lot. She, especially, loved the ground beef in the entree. Lastly, Hubs had the Aegean seafood platter which is shrimp, mussels, scallops, and calamari sautéed in wine and homemade tomato sauce, over whole wheat, spaghetti, or rice. He opted for rice. As usual, he loved it. He's more of a seafood guy. He thought everything was perfectly cooked and not overcooked. Service was quick and friendly. Will definitely come back again to try other items on the menu! read more