This place was pretty yumtastic. I came here with Jill and another couple. We did wait awhile, but I can't really fault the restaurant for so many people wanting to eat there. We started off with the sampler appetizer comprised of humus, eggplant stuff and some kind of yogurt thing - along with a bowl of the best pita-ish bread i have ever eaten. It was soooo good. Then, I got the greek pizza. It was fantastic. Basic a big, hot, cheezy gyro. Totally filled me up with deliciousness. Everyone else's meals looked pretty good too. I have a feeling that we will be getting this carryout (to avoid the seating line) many times in the future :) read more

Having lived in Greece for 2 years I can honestly say this is the best Greek "taverna" style food in Baltimore, hands down. Everything on the menu is a must try. They only use the freshest ingredients and everything is made to order. Word to the wise- come early or late if you don't want to wait. They don't take credit cards or reservations. Once you've eaten there you'll know why this is truly the best Greek taverna in town. James read more

Great little restaurant! I went last weekend, on August 24 to be precise. We went early to avoid waiting in the 45 minute long lines that other reviewers have described. But I think being the weekend before Labor Day weekend, everyone was out of town anyway. At about 5.30 we had one group before us, who were eventually seated, and then we waited maybe 10 or so minutes for a table to open. There were people in the waiting area the rest of the night steady, but no huge crowds. So go during a holiday! Decor is basic. It's BYO and CASH ONLY. And no rezzies. But the food is on the money. The fried calamari was crisp and tender. The saganaki was warm and gooey. I didn't love the dressing as much as others did-it was OK--but the salad was good. I had the garlic shrimp and grilled halloumi app and it was delicious. We were all stuffed but I made us split a baklava and it was so worth it. The whole thing was about $28/person before tip, so really reasonable for good portions of good food. We strolled Greektown after dinner and a local said she prefers Zorba's. I looked at their menu and the food photos (ew! looks like slop on a plate compared to the presentation at Samos) and am 110% confident we went to the right place. read more

See all

What can I say about this place I've been eating here for over 30 years and it hasn't changed a bit the food is excellent the service is great the tzatziki is the best I've ever had in my life and the homemade iced tea is the bomb read more

See all

Kind of far from downtown Baltimore but definitely worth a trip out once in a while. You definitely want to call ahead and make a reservation if you're not planning on takeout. The wait is ridiculous as this is the kind of place that people sit back, have a few drinks (note: BYOB), and loiter to their hearts' content. Those annoyances aside, the food is fantastic--very flavorful and enough to last a couple meals. If you want a little taste of everything I'd recommend the combination platter, sampler trio, and of course, baklava. As everyone else has mentioned, this is a cash-only establishment, so have your Andrew Jacksons ready. read more

Samos Restaurant - Kitchen - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

See all

I think this is a very accurate description of yelp's "A-OK" classification of 3-stars. I came here after the many great reviews--plus I love Gyros more than almost any food. The neighborhood is...well, let's just say that it's in the 'true' Baltimore. Interestingly, the restaurant is totally normal and not at all sketchy once youre inside. We came in at around 8 on a Friday and sat right down and ordered! The waitress was pretty friendly and I definitely felt the family vibe from this place. We ended up getting a sharing a greek salad, 2 gyros, and a side of fries. The salad was pretty good and plenty big! We got the small salad and it was plenty as a side salad for us. The dressing was great (but nothing unique) too! When we got our food and not our fries, the waitress didn't mention our fries and left too quickly for me to say anything. After waiting a few minutes, the waitress didn't come back so I went back to the kitchen to ask her. Apparently she forgot to put in the order, so she had them make a fresh batch and they got to us 5 minutes later. Not a huge deal, but she didn't really apologize, didn't comp the fries, and in the end, the fries were pretty flavorless. The gyros, though, were great! They had plenty of meat, good (but maybe too much?) tzatziki sauce, and fresh vegetables. I would probably come back for gyros alone! Overall, I was 'ho-hum' about this place. The service wasn't the best (and definitely not the location), but the gyros lived up to expectation. I was hoping for greatness, but unfortunately it was just another greek-american place that I only might go to if I'm in the area and crave a gyro. I wouldn't go out of your way for this pace, unless your bored with the 'great cuisine' that Baltimore has to offer. read more

If you live in Baltimore and have never eaten at Samos then you haven't lived! The food is great, get there early for a reason. Also, BYOB which is a double-plus! The gyros are delicious and the hummus makes for a great appetizer/side dish. I get carry-out frequently. Well priced! Downside: No credit cards accepted, take cash! read more

I've put off reviewing this place for too long, because I'm not sure how to do it justice. My only complaint is that they only take cash, and the ATM in the back is highway robbery. Other than that, I can't think of a single reason to complain about this brilliant restaurant. Walking in the first time, and every time after, I always feel welcomed. And sitting down and looking at the menu is always overwhelming. Why? Because everything looks so good! And everything I've tried has been amazing. My favorites: the appetizer trio with tzatziki sauce, olive tapenade, and hummus. I had to ask for more pita (a wonder itself) to finish it all! Their gyro is pretty amazing, but the shrimp with rice blew my mind! As did their spinach pie, which I was expecting to be amazing, and discovered to be impossible not to inhale! Be careful, because the food at this place will have you overeating every time unless you hold yourself back. It's some of the best food I've ever eaten, and definitely the best In Baltimore. I'm surprised (but not about to complain) that their prices aren't outrageous! Did I mention they have amazing service? And that there's an open kitchen? Forget crabs, Baltimore should be known for its Greek food! read more

LoML and I have been meaning to get over here to try this place out, since it's gotten such high reviews on Yelp. I never actually knew about this place until I came here, because it's not on the "main drag" of Eastern Avenue where all of the other Greek restaurants are - this one is tucked away on the corner of Oldham and Fleet smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood. We came in at about 4pm on a Friday - there was literally no one there and the servers were cleaning up. The first thing that struck me about Samos is how unpretentious it is. I don't know what I had expected - tablecloths, candles, dainty wine glasses - but this place isn't like that at ALL, which of course makes me VERY happy. We waited for a bit to be seated, and the servers were cracking jokes in their indomitable East Baltimore way - I was getting that fuzzy warm "I'm in an old-school Baltimore business" feeling. Hey, any time a server has the nerve to crack jokes about how they'll only kill the flies on THEIR side of the restaurant today - man, you just gotta love it. We didn't order much because of the rumors of very large helpings here - hummus for both of us to share, a tiropita (cheese pie) and lemon-roasted potatoes for me and shrimp haloumi for LoML, along with two of the largest fountain drinks I've ever seen in my life! The hummus was rich and creamy, with HOT pita slices and veggies as go-withs. I was immediately impressed when the rest of the food came almost immediately after - and it didn't disappoint. The tiropita was flaky on the outside and stuffed full of tender cheeses on the inside. It was hot and salty and totally delicious. But the star of the show was those roasted potatoes. Ladies and gentlemen, these were some of the very best roasted potatoes I've ever tasted. Firm, tender, very lemony-tasting - they were just awesome. While LoML didn't like the tiropita, he shared in that potato goodness with me, and I was happy to let him. As for his shrimp haroumi - oh, my, did he enjoy that. The shrimp were ginormous! And the cheese was light, but very pleasing to the palate, along with the rice pilaf. We ordered baklava for dessert, but we both found it a tad bit too sweet (and it also had a bit too much nut filling). One serving to share is probably more than enough. We both actually filled up pretty quickly on just the mezze, so I can't imagine what a full platter would be like here. Come hungry!!! The service was wonderful. There was a bit of a delay in a drink refill, so the server actually took it completely off the bill, which I was NOT expecting. I think this is the first time that we've ever tipped 25 percent in a restaurant - but those ladies earned it. They really did. And I might mention that while we were the only diners when we came in - it filled up FAST by the time we left. I mean... really fast. As myriad other reviewers have noted, cash only. There's an ATM in the back. Highly recommended. We're coming back for sure. read more

CASH ONLY. This place was great. My parents, boyfriend and I chose it on a whim and took a chance. Everything is clearly homemade and really tastes like it. The lemonade was made in house, as was the iced tea. You could see them cutting the gyro meat when you walked in. We had a three spread platter as an appetizer. You can't go wrong with any three that you choose. Those who had the gyro or gyro platter loved them. I had some shrimp dish that was yummy as well. We also shared baklava and a light custard dessert in phyllo dough. Everything was just great. Service was never overbearing, or judgmental when we couldn't pronounce things (stupid Americans). We will absolutely be back but prepared with cash! read more

love this place. Flavorful food, lots of choices, noisy environment. The BYOB makes the liquor store across the street happy, but it's definitely better to bring a good bottle from home. Taramo salata, Tzaziki and Hummus are great, and the lamb is tender and juicy. On the negative side the place accept only cash (but they have an ATM located inside) read more

Went there last night with wife and kids. Food is amazing. We ate like pigs for only $39.. Food is amazing! The greek salad is so fresh and the Dolmades (grapeleaves) were so good, wolfed down all in under a minute. Been a favorite of ours. Tendency is to overeat because the food is really great read more

Knowing that I lived only minutes away a friend was shocked that I had never been here. The very next day my wife and I went for a mid-afternoon lunch. We started with the lentil soup, which had been recommended by our friend, and it was easily the best we had ever had. We also had three of the various dips which came which cut raw veggies and fresh hot pita bread. Again, each was great. For the main course my wife got grilled shrimp and I a gyro. Again fantastic. We have been back several times since and have never been disappointed. The mixed grill for two is outstanding as well. The place is relatively small and always busy so try to go off hours as we do. Waitstaff is friendly despite being very busy. It's a BYOB I think (can't remember if we ever brought any alcohol or not.) Important to know is that it is cash only. read more

The best Greek food I've had in my life! Hot, fresh and delicious. The restaurant is clean, they have take out available.

Best Greek food in Bmore. Hands down. Good food, good service, good value. No matter what you order, start with the spread sampler. We chose the Tzatziki, Melitzanosalata (roasted eggplant), and Hummus. The eggplant was absolutely incredible. Next time I'll probably replace the hummus with the Olive Tapenade. Not that the hummus wasn't good, it was just the weakest of the 3, and I enjoy tapenades. The warm pita served with the spreads was so so good. I could eat a plate of it on its own. My friend and I both got the Samos Special Salad with chicken as our main course. Its basically their house Greek w your choice of meat. Dressing was great, veggies were fresh, and portions were generous. The waitress was great about providing extra sides of the yummy dressing for our leftovers as well. Some people may be put off by the wait at Samos. But its a small restaurant with great food, of course tons of people want to eat there! They don't take reservations, so if the wait it going to be an issue for you, order your food to go. I watched a few people do this while we waited for our table, and their food was typically ready in less than 10 minutes. While we didn't drink, most others in the restaurant were taking advantage of the BYOB policy. I believe they charge $2 per person if you do partake. Also, be warned, Samos is CASH ONLY. Can't wait to go back soon and try out more of the menu. I hear that the "tour", a $22/person sampling of most the menu, is a must try. Likely will not eat all day before just to make room for it all! read more

After staring at the Greek salad pic displayed on the review page, I decided to give this place a try. I'm a very picky eater and know how good food should taste. I ventured to this place last Friday (12/14/12) and ordered the SHRIMP SOUVLAKI PLATTER 18.95 that consist of Two garlic shrimp sticks, grilled and seasoned with lemon-butter. Served with Greek salad, pita bread, roasted vegetables, and your choice of oven roasted potatoes or rice pilaf. For my side, I opted for the rice pilaf and veggies and it came with a nice side helping of the Greek salad. I ordered my meal to go. The wait was maybe around 20 mins but it's a Friday night and they were busy with seated orders and carry out orders. Make sure you have cash, because they don't accept credit cards but there's an ATM on site just in case. Anyway, I received my order and was looking for the aroma and didn't smell anything but after like 10 mins in my car, the scent started infusing my vehicle and I couldn't wait to get home. If the smell was anything like the taste, I just knew I was in for a treat. Got home and started digging in. OMG...everything was delicious. The shrimp were cooked thoroughly and seasoned just right. The rice, oh my, I should have asked for a double or triple helping. I could eat the rice just as a main course. It was yummy. The mixed veggies (carrots, zucchini, squash, and string beans) were sweet. Oh, don't let me start on the awesome Pita bread. Nice and soft and just plain good. Nothing in my order was bland. I can't wait to return and try other items on the menu and I will be back very soon. Delicious :). read more

We were in baltimore. we were visiting a friend with a 5 week old baby. we were hungry. the friend pointed us here and we got takeout. 2 gyros, 1 combination plate, and 1 grilled octopodi were ordered. the portion sizes were very generous. the gyros were stuffed with meat and then overflowing with veggies. the combination plate had great variety. there was chicken, and veggies, and dip, and pita. i think the weakest thing on the combo plate was the grapeleaves and it was large and delicious anyway. and then there was the octopus. it was perfectly cooked with crispy suckers and juicy tentacles. the grilled flavor came through but there wasn't any sign of toughness. i'm back in st. louis and i'm drooling thinking about this octopus. it alone makes this place deserve 5 stars. while we waited for our takeout order, i flipped through the menu. i really need to visit balitmore again so i can try the fish here... read more

Far and away Baltimore's best Greek food. Family run and welcoming, they serve up all your favorite Greek treats. Homemade soups, great gyros and lamb. Don't miss the octopodi (grilled octopus). Bring plenty of cash because they don't take credit cards. BYOB with $2.50 pp corkage, take that Harbour East! read more

Great Authentic Greek food! I have dined here and carried out, and always enjoyed my experience here. I absolutely love the gyros here! Also the Tzatsiki is a great side to have on hand if you're just craving a snack/light meal. My favorite, however, is the salad dressing here (which you can buy by the bottle (5 bucks) to carry out). It is the best dressing I have ever had in my life! To all my fellow salad eaters out there, you know how dressing can make or break your salad! Try this one! read more

They have authentic Greek food. It was soooooo good! I had the lamb and chicken. The pita bread was so buttery we ordered some to go! The tzatziki sauce was good, the Greek salad was great. I loved the house salad dressing too. Our food was out in no time. I will definitely go back. read more

Visited this restaurant twice. The dishes taste good and the quality of the food is great! Will recommend this restaurant to my friends. read more

*Droooool. Dolmades, spanokopita. Lamb chops, chicken souvalki, gyro. The bread....o-m-g. Homemade dressing. Small space but cozy and cute. read more

Great great greek restaurant. A little strange that when you walk in, there's not really a hostess, just a pad on the counter that you sign your name and how many people - a little weird the first time you go and don't know what's going on though. As for the food, everything I've had which includes gyros, calamari, spanikopita, chicken soulvaki, greek salad has been delicious. Service is always good as well. My only complaint is that they do not accept credit/debit cards, and for someone like me that never carries cash, that can be a problem. Also like most of Greektown, they're not open on Sundays, which always seems to be when I'm craving a gyro!! read more

Samos makes me happy. Samos makes me happy because they literally have the best lamb chops... ever. They also make me happy because they offer a perfect little combo plate that includes lamb chops and some delicious sides. Some friends of mine now live closer to Samos... which means I'll be stopping by more often. I really enjoy this place, and I'm so happy they've brought the price of the lamb chops combo down (that made me not like the place as much...) read more

Tried the the tour of samos which consists of the following (off the website): Greek salad, tzatziki and pita, fried kalamari, spinach pie, chicken souvlaki, dolmades, lamb chops, garlic shrimp, gyro, roasted potatoes 24.00 per person (minimum 2 people) Everything was pretty good and I was a big fan of the lamb. Not sure why everyone is head over heels for the kalamari. It was good, but nothing to brag about. The tour guarantees leftovers unless you are starving. I'd recommend avoiding the tour and just getting a few dishes to sample a la carte. The service here was sooooo slow (oblivious) we had to flag down a waitress to get a to-go box and then we had to go up front to get our check. The waitresses are nice but they just seem to be in their own little world. Lastly, avoid the baklava because it is not good. Baba's in fed hill has a much better one. $2 byob fee per person and cash only. Parking is hit or miss in the area. read more

They are amazing. The one thing to remember is that they only accept cash. But a trip to the ATM is so worth is for the best food ever. Their gyros are really good. I have had all of them, and they are all great. I remember thinking that they were a little stingy with the shrimp on the shrimp gyro, but it's fine. The other platters are good too, but the gyros are the best bang for your buck. read more

Been here at least 6 times over the last several years. CASH-only place but they do have an ATM inside. Their lamb chop, Souvlakis, gyros, and pastas and the salad as the appetizer... They are all great and flavorful. I took many of my friends over here, and they all loved this place. It is a tiny location and they do not take reservations, so try to get there little early to avoid the wait, especially on the weekends. read more

Samos Restaurant - Yum - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

See all

One word: Pita. Their pita is delicious, and you'll get it with almost everything on the menu. Be prepared to wait--but know you'll be waiting with a smile on your face, along with all the others lining the walls and craning their necks to see what others have ordered. Service is friendly and fast, CASH only, BYO! Can't be beat. read more

Definitely try the taste of Samos. Tried many things - everything is amazing. Remember that its BYOB and cash only. read more

I struggled over how many stars to give. The food was great and the staff was very friendly. Moreover, the restaurant was authentic Baltimore Greektown. However, BYOB, cash only, and a long wait for a table knocked it down to three stars. Oh, and they didn't have any noticeable air conditioning when it was 105 degrees outside - literally. It had to have been 85 degrees inside, at the least. They also were out of pastitsio - which I was really looking forward to. Probably because they were about to close for a week and didn't want to make extra. Understandable but still disappointing. Will probably go back in the winter when, hopefully, the heat will be working and they'll have everything on the menu. But I'll call first next time. read more

**BYOB & Cash only** I finally made it to Samos after sleeping on it for the past 5 years. I now see why it's rated as the best Greek restaurant in Baltimore. It's located in historic Greektown, which isn't exactly the loveliest neighborhood but safe enough to walk a couple blocks if you have to. And you will likely have to because parking is a bit of a beeotch around there. Also, they don't take reservations so you may want to get there early or else you'll have to wait a bit. All of that just might deter you from Samos, but don't let it because the food is fantastic. My wife and I ordered the "Taste of Samos", which serves two people for $22.50 each. Without boring you to death with every food item I'll just say that it pretty much sums up their entire menu in 3 waves starting with salad and pita bread and finishing with samples of multiple entrées. Everything was delicious and it is more than enough food for two. It may not be the kind of place you'd take a first date, but it's certainly one of those places you'll crave regularly. I'm certain I will. read more

I must say, this place is overrated. If it's Baltimore standards, then 4.5/5 stars. If it's somewhere else, like NYC, its more like 3/5. I ordered the grape leaf appetizer a month ago, really disappointed. Soggy, no taste. straight disappointment. Yes, the gyros are good, but not great. If you are in the east coast, feel free to hit up Tanoreen in Brooklyn, NYC. It's similar price, if not cheaper but a lot better, at least 4.5 or 4.75/5 NYC standards. read more

The shrimp haloumi is is awesome. If you have never had haloumi cheese before, it squeaks when you chew on it and is full of awesome. Just make sure you get it grilled, not fried. 4 stars for being too expensive. read more

Food was so delicious the first time I tried Samos, I went back a few months later. This time I remembered to bring a bottle of wine and cash. Last time I had the bronzino. I decided to try the Chilean sea bass this time to try something different...which turned out to be a mistake. Between Chilean sea bass and bronzino, bronzino is the way to go. Chilean Sea bass didn't have much flavor - but the fish itself is not that flavorful to begin with. Their greek salad is very good. I love their pita bread. read more

Samos Restaurant - Went back again and of course ordered the grilled octopus again - still amazing! - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

See all

Ohhh man! 5 stars, 10/10, 2 thumbs up, and a Medal of Honor. I don't like Greek food, but my buddies went there. Had the 3 spread sampler and the combination platter. Worth it. Be on the look out; it's in a neighborhood and the sign is small read more

40 minute wait was soooooooo worth it. The price was reasonable, and the food quality was exquisite ! DOLMADES (beef and rice wrapped in grape leaves) are one of my favourite greek dishes, then we had the greek salad, spanakopita (spinach pie) was delicious, and our entrees were gyro platter and chicken/lamb soulvaki platter. Go. Go now. read more

I live within walking distance from here and believe me when I say -- I walk by just to see if there isn't a 100 people waiting. Food is amazing. Good prices. Service is good. Sometimes slow but never slow enough to complain. Get the grilled octopus! Even if you think you don't like octopus, just get it. Promise. read more

The best Greek restaurant ever! Everything here is amazingly good! Ordered 7 dishes: dip trio (we picked eggplant, olive, and tzatziki), spanakopita, shrimp and haloumi, grapeleaves, sliced gyro pita wrap, Souvlaki platter, and the Greek pizza. Will definitely come back again read more

Samos Restaurant - Greek Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This is absolutely the best Greek restaurant in Baltimore. It is in the heart of so called Greek town. You should not wait something like a little Italy settings in the area but with little Greek grocery shops and coffee shops it is a piece of Greece. the restaurant does not look fancy but absolutely cosy. Service is always good and people are friendly. Food is really good especially if you like Mediterranean food. I am originally from Turkey and i must admit that it tastes even better at Samos. If you are a fan of Greek food and if you are hungry my recommendation is tour of Samos. It has salad with tasty homemade dressing, fried calamari, grape leaves, tzatsiki, grilled shrimp, gyro, chicken soulvaki , spinach pie and their special potatoes. BYOB is also a plus for this place. I cant wait to be there again read more

Seriously one of the best local greek restaurants in Baltimore. Quick and casual. Take out or eat in. Cash only. If you are looking to eat in for dinner, the place doesn't seat many, so get there early. You can't call for reservations so JUST GET THERE EARLY! Prices are great and it's BYOB. read more