Taverna was on of my best meals of 2025. Great honest food, great atmosphere and great people. Did I mention reasonable prices (not cheap but fair). Ask to sit upstairs on the roof (enclosed in glass for cold days). Biggest hit for appetizer was stuffed eggplant, but the grape leaves and trio of spreads and pita were also solid choices. I ordered the lamb burger with village Greek salad - great meal. If I lived in the area, This would be a staple. Gardner read more

The rooftop patio is the reason to come here. It has that breezy Mediterranean vibe that makes for a really nice place to sit outside, have a drink, and enjoy the weather. We started with the saganaki and hummus, then decided to go all in and order the Grecian Feast for two. In hindsight, that was a lot of food after already getting starters. Definitely come hungry or plan to split the feast with 3. The platter itself is huge and comes with a dip, rice, salad and your choice of meats and/or seafood. The highlights for us were the spicy feta and the salmon, both of which had great flavor. The lowlight was the chicken, which was way overcooked and ended up tough and pretty tasteless. Service unfortunately dragged the experience down quite a bit. It felt like we waited about 15 minutes before anyone came by with menus, then another 15 minutes before our drink orders were taken. Once we finally ordered everything, the food actually came out fairly quickly. But by the end of the meal we were basically hunting for our server. At one point we both separately went to the bathroom (including a trip to the one downstairs) and still had not seen our server to try to get the check. Overall, come for the rooftop atmosphere, but I would recommend ordering all of your drinks and food at once so you can just sit back and enjoy the patio without waiting around for service. read more

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We had a really lovely dinner at Tavern Agora and would happily go back. For appetizers we ordered the grape leaves, spicy feta dip, and hummus. All three were excellent. The flavors were bright and well balanced, and everything tasted fresh. The spicy feta in particular had just the right amount of heat. For my entrée I had the lamb chops, which were cooked beautifully and seasoned really well. My wife ordered the more traditional shawarma and loved it. The kitchen clearly knows how to handle spices -- everything came out hot, flavorful, and well prepared. One thing we appreciated was the effort to accommodate different dietary preferences. They offer gluten-free pita (Greek pita bread) and also have several thoughtful mocktail options for those of us who don't drink but still enjoy a well-crafted beverage. Service was strong throughout the meal. Our server checked in regularly, kept water glasses filled, and offered helpful suggestions without being intrusive. The only downside was the seating delay. We had a reservation but still waited about 15 minutes because the kitchen was backed up. Not a huge issue, but enough to note. The atmosphere is very nice overall. Inside feels classy and comfortable, and the rooftop patio looks like it would be fantastic on a warm evening. I would probably skip the tables right out front due to road noise. Next time I'm planning to try the lamb shank, which seems to be one of their specialties. Overall I'd call it a 4.5-star experience, but since Yelp makes you choose, I'm giving it 4 stars because of the seating delay and the lack of gluten-free dessert options. Still -- great food, great service, and definitely a place we'd return to. read more

Taverna Agora - Outside menu - Greek Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I absolutely love Taverna Agora and recommend it to anyone who is visiting the area. I recently came with a friend for lunch on a Tuesday. It was busier than I would have expected on a weekday. My friend and I had to wait quite a while for the server to come to take our drink order, then our entree order, and then to top off our waters. Ultimately, we ended up having to ask the manager numerous times for things since we kept seeing him walk by. He was very helpful. I got the Greek Lemonade cocktail. When it came out, it looked like a cranberry vodka, but indeed tasted like a lovely lemonade cocktail. My friend and I split the dips trio, which was delicious, and then both of us had the chicken gyro pita. Their chicken gyro pita is so good, and so are the french fries that come with it. We really enjoyed our lunch and were able to get in and out in an hour. Definitely a great place to stop in for lunch or dinner. read more

Taverna Agora - Greek Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Visited for a graduation lunch and from the get go the experience was positive. We were arriving late due to traffic and no issue. The drinks, appetizers and lunch was perfect. This family style restaurant is well worth the visit! read more

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I really enjoyed the Mediterranean food here. It reminded me of Crete and Greece where you get a huge portion of fresh food. We started with the hummus and zucchini cakes. Decent hummus but I highly recommend the zucchini cakes. Then we went for the Grecian grill which includes the Greek village salad which we loved because of the huge tomato's and cucumber slices. The grilled meats were not memorable but delicious. Ambiance was like a mom and pop Greek restaurant so we love it. read more

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Came here for Mother's Day and our server was very nice and attentive. All of the food was really good. The flavors were colorful and fresh. The chicken skewer from my entrée was juicy and flavorful, which made it really disappointing to try the pork skewer. It tasted like nothing but char and it was dry. Aside from that, it was great. We sat in the upstairs area, which was a sunroom, and the lighting/ambiance was wonderful. read more

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Went for lunch... Greek old fashion with baklava syrup was delicious . Had the spicy feta appt, chicken slouvaki platter and the gyro platter. Spicy feta app was not that spicy and very tasty. Chicken was well seasoned and gyro meat was tender and tasty. Need to return for dinner ! read more

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We decided late on Sunday to have dinner at Tavern Agora and we were both so glad that we did!! We were seated right away on the beautiful rooftop. It was such a perfect night to be outside. Jordan J was our server and she was wonderful! We started with cocktails and the traditional sampler. Everything on the sampler was so fresh and delicious. The spanakopita was amazing, the calamari was fresh and fried perfectly, the tzatziki was perfection! For our entree's, I had the Shrimp Souvlaki Dinner and my daughter ordered the Fisherman's Seafood Linguine. We both enjoyed our meals and were so glad we chose to have dinner at Tavern Agora. It was the perfect evening from start to finish. Everything was so fresh and delicious. read more

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Excellent dinner for 5. We all thoroughly enjoyed our dinner last week. We ordered a lot of food. First arrived an order of the Trio Dips of Tzatziki, sun-dried tomato hummus, and spicy feta spread and pita. We opted for a Greek Dinner for 5 which included Greek village sausage (loukaniko), herb marinated lamb chops, chicken souvlaki, and shrimp souvlaki. Served with Greek village salad, green beans, roasted lemon potatoes, pita, and tzatziki. Cost was $37 per person. The feast started arriving first came the Trio of Dips with soft warm pita. All were delicious and the favorite one was the spicy feta spread. Then the major food started being served...we ordered too much food. A really huge platter of meats and shrimp arrived. Ten perfectly grilled lamb chops. Not one morsel of lamb was left. I thought the weak link would be the grilled sausage but I was wrong. It was delicious. I just couldn't stop eating it. I gave up shrimp for more sausage. I was told the shrimp were tasty with the grilled char. Others loved the chicken. Needless to say there was no protein left. Plenty of tzatziki, pita, green beans, potatoes and Greek salad made their way home for leftovers. Service was great. Prices were reasonable for the amount of food we received. Highly recommend and definitely make a reservation in advance. Taverna Agora was packed when we left at 7:00PM after a 2 hour feast. read more

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Came to Taverna for Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week. They have a both lunch and dinner specials but be sure to ask for the Restaurant Week menu. I started off with the Halara cocktail, essentially a hibiscus infused margarita. It's both strong in liquor and strong in a floral notes. There are three options for each dinner course, I had the stuffed eggplant, lamb tips and orzo and for dessert the orange cake which the waitress recommended. Overall a solid meal but I wish both the eggplant and the lamb tips had a little more salt and seasoning. Dessert was my favorite, the cake was very moist. The waitress was very attentive and the restaurant was packed by 7pm. There are both indoor and outdoor seating but if weather permits I'd highly recommend the rooftop. There's a good breeze from the fans and a nice view to Hillsborough Street. read more

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Waited 45 minutes to get seated for my birthday reservation of 6. I watched at least 50-100 people walk in without reservations for tables 2-5 people and get seated immediately including splitting a table of 8 to two fours to accommodate new customers. The restaurant claimed they were waiting for our table to open up but there was plenty of 4 top tables that they could've combined to accommodate. Food was okay but not worth the wait. Extremely disappointing service and off-putting for me. No other complaints from the waiter, food, or ambiance otherwise. I'd expect a wait for a walk-in but 45 minutes for a reservation is pretty ridiculous. read more

Taverna Agora - Front desk - Greek Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The server (Lexi) and her trainee were outstanding!! Very attentive to our needs. The place was deceiving from the outside. Looked small but when you get in it's big! Great decoration. Great lighting. Clean. The music was loud enough to hear, but we were able to carry out a normal conversation. Calamari, main dishes, salads and desserts were amazing. Orange cake, lemon cake, baklava and baklava cheesecake. All were delicious. Lemon cake was the clear winner. Highly recommend this place!!! read more

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If the food was horrible I would still be tempted to give it 5 stars because the service was so good, thank YOU LYNNE!!! What an amazing meal and experience! Everything is good and they clearly care! You won't be disappointed! Get the lemon chicken soup, we got two to go as well! read more

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Easter brunch was fantastic! Great variety and delicious for a fair price. We will be back.

It's a cute little place! They don't have their own parking, but they do have street parking and a paid parking lot across the street. I was greeted and seated immediately even though i had to wait for the other 2 people in my party. Our server was really friendly. The food was good other than the burger my sister got. It's a bit expensive so I would probably only go back because my mom loves it. read more

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We attended for their monthly Greek night and had so much fun! The service was excellent, ambiance is warm, just like you were in Greece. And the food is incredible- I have never been disappointed. The Mykonos pasta is delicious! As are the dips and pita! read more

Taverna Agora - Moscow mule - Greek Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Service was slow but the food was fantastic! Inside is a step into the Mediterranean, the ambiance was great! We would definitely come back.

From the moment we walked in, everything--from the food to the service to the ambiance--was absolutely perfect. I was in town for work, and a coworker highly recommended this spot. I'm so glad she did--and equally glad she suggested making a reservation, as it definitely gets busy. We were lucky to be seated upstairs on a beautiful evening, and it truly felt like being transported to a Greek island. The breeze, the aromas, and the relaxed, charming setting all came together to create a magical atmosphere. We started with the Traditional Sampler, which was a fantastic introduction to the menu's bold and authentic flavors. The spanakopita and the meatballs were especially delicious, but honestly, everything on the plate was a hit. Since there were only two of us, we saved room for dessert--and I'm glad we did. I chose the Limoncello cake, which was light, bright, and the perfect end to the meal. Next time, I've got my eye on the baklava cheesecake. Our server was attentive but never intrusive, giving us plenty of time and space to enjoy our evening and conversation. If you're in town, this place is a must. I'll definitely be back! read more

We came for a late-evening snack, but I didn't love what we tasted. I wasn't a huge fan of the eggplant and I usually love anything eggplant. The sauce just tasted a little bit odd. The sampler was pretty good-my favorite thing from the whole meal was the spanakopita. I think we would need to come back and try some different things. Maybe we will ask what the favorites and best sellers are. read more

Taverna Agora - Stuffed eggplant - Greek Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Great ambiance, nice atmosphere, and the service was excellent. This restaurant has a very homie vibe while making you feel as though you've been transported to another location. Tried the Fisherman's seafood Linguini and it was exquisite. Would highly recommend! read more

Taverna Agora - Fishermans Seafood Linguine - Greek Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great place for brunch! The rooftop is beautiful and has a great aesthetic, luckily I went when the weather was great! I got a Greek salad and it was absolutely delicious, it tasted so refreshing and even though I'm not a huge raw tomato person I very much enjoyed it with the dressing and rest of the ingredients. Our server was nice and helpful and suggested the doughnuts which my friend loved definitely recommend as a place to check out for brunch or lunch if you enjoy Greek food. read more

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We took the kids, one of whom has multiple severe food allergies, and our server and the restaurant's attention to our orders were impeccable. We ordered the family feast for three of us to share while our kiddo ordered an allergy-friendly meal separately just to be extra safe to avoid any potential cross contamination. Everything was delicious and it was so much food, but most importantly, our kiddo was able to safely enjoy a delicious meal that was different than the usual options he has at other restaurants. The greek salad was honestly my favorite part, but the shrimp skewers and meatballs took a very close second. He had the lamchops, lemon potatoes, and green beans -- and ate all of it! Highly recommend and will be back! read more

Took my husband here for a surprise birthday celebration, and it turned out to be such a memorable evening! The vibe is amazing -- you truly feel like you've been transported to Greece. From the décor to the music and overall atmosphere, everything felt special. The staff were friendly, attentive, and really helped make the evening smooth and enjoyable. The belly dancing was the highlight of the night -- so fun and lively! It added such a unique, festive touch and made the whole experience even more worthwhile Food wise, chicken Platter - Absolutely delicious! Generous portions, great flavors, and beautifully presented. Lamb Shank - This one wasn't really our thing -- a bit too heavy on the tomato flavor for our taste. Might be an acquired flavor, but just not for us. Orange Cake - A sweet surprise! It was free for the birthday person, and it was light, zesty, and the perfect end to the meal. Total cherry on top! All in all, it was a fantastic evening. Great food, warm service, fun entertainment, and thoughtful birthday touches. I can't wait to go back again! read more

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The service is amazing! The food is phenomenal and perfectly portioned and you can tell the ingredients are fresh! I recommend eating upstairs because the vibes are beautiful out here. read more

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Update, The business owner commented on my review to say "please email me so that I can resolve this with you", which I did. I got an auto reply "Thank you for your request. A ticket has been created and a support representative will be reviewing your request and will send you a response in 24-48 hours. If this is an urgent matter, please call your area or department manager" Spoiler alert, 48hrs passed with no response. All I'll say about this place is Caveat Emptor. read more

Great day for lunch and I just had to try the Mykonos Chicken Penne. It was so yummy and had left overs to take home. Service was great and we got to sit upstairs where we had the nice warm sun. First time to have lunch here and I highly recommend it. read more

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Large restaurant with rooftop and indoor seating. Rooftop was beautiful and filled with real plants. Friendly staff who took great care of our big group. Lamb burger was moist and delicious. Lots of great appetizer options to share. Drinks were well made. Would come back. read more

Taverna Agora - Lamb Burger Lunch - Greek Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Delicious food and such a cute patio! The servers were attentive and friendly and love that they offer mobile pay. Grew up in a Greek household and I'm pretty picky with my Greek food, but this was delicious! read more

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Food was OUTSTANDING, they close at 11, we had a party of 9 and walked in at 10:15, we asked was it too late to be seated, they told us no. We were the only people in the restaurant but they treated us as if we rented out the restaurant! The service was OUTSTANDING, FOOD DELICIOUS, our waitress Rebecca gave IMPECCABLE service, they did not short change us at all, you want authentic Greek food and in Raleigh.... check them out! And look for Rebecca! read more

Taverna Agora - Lobster Scallops and Shrimp Linguine - Greek Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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This is an updated review! We came on a Sunday for brunch and sat right at the bar. I tried the gyro hash and did the carafe of pineapple mimosas. The mimosa was good of course. The hash was like the perfect size amount for my hunger that morning. It has two eggs on top with potato's, gyro and some other things in it. Glad I came back for a second time and tried something different. read more

Taverna Agora - Pineapple mimosas carafe - Greek Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I'm usually pretty stingy with my 5-star ratings but this outing gets no complaints from me. Parking was a breeze, though I had a wait a couple minutes for someone to open up a spot for me. Worth it - I parked right outside the restaurant! The host let us pick our own table by the airy front door. Thomas the server was laid back and cool. I had the Chopped Marouli Salad. That's romaine, mix of fresh herbs, Manouri cheese, red wine vinaigrette - but no cheese for me. It was heavy on the oil, but that's okay. Then there was the Gemista. Slow-roasted tomato and bell pepper, filled with rice, tomato, fresh herbs. Served with seasonal vegetables. In this case, the "seasonal vegetables" was string beans. It was the highlight of the meal. My niece had the grilled salmon, which I did not try. We were wrapping up to leave when Thomas asked if we wanted dessert. We said no, though this was a late birthday dinner for me. Hearing that, Thomas informed that birthday customers get a free dessert. Since "free" is my favorite word, I ordered the Limoncello Cake - lemon cake with lemon cream frosting. It was delicious, as was the Greek Coffee. However, that coffee packed a real punch. Great place! Go tonight! A. read more

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We have come here a few times with other couples and have always had great experiences. We are always fortunate enough to get rooftop dining with a fun view and decor. Baklava cheesecake is delicious! Staff was attentive and food is fresh and flavorful. read more

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Lovely ambience close to the North Carolina General Assembly. Beautifully decorated space for a Greek restaurant with a delicious lunch of gyro served with salad, tzatziki and perfect hot fries. Service was good and food came out quickly. read more

My family and I had a lovely dining experience enjoying one of my favorite cuisines ... Greek! And it all began on the upstairs terrace ... an open air dining area that was very inviting. Regarding the menu, there were many wonderful options to choose from, which made it difficult to decide, but we were up for the challenge! We started with the Spicy Feta Spread and the Stuffed Eggplant. Very tasty! For our entrees, we went family style and ordered the Gemista (stuffed tomato and green pepper), Pork Souvlaki Platter, and the Lamb Chops. Everything was amazing! And we had just enough room for dessert, so we shared a Baklava Cheesecake. Yum! Of course, I washed all this food down with a lovely Greek beer. I believe a return visit is in my future. read more

Stopped by for a late lunch with a big group and the folks at Taverna were very accommodating. We sat in the upstairs greenhouse which is so beautiful, bright and open. We ordered a couple of cocktails which were very yummy. I highly recommend the mixed berry mule. I ordered the lunch gyro with a side salad. It was very good and fresh. Ate everything! One member in our party went for the moussaka and absolutely devoured it. We had a great lunch and excellent service. Definitely try this place as it is something different to try. You won't be disappointed! read more

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Ordered takeout which was promptly processed. While I waited enjoyed a beer . Friendly atmosphere nice decor. Beer was nice and cold. Looking forward to trying the rooftop dining experience. read more

Husbands birthday celebration and we caught the belly dancer night Fun great service food aexcellent! read more

Mon restaurant préféré est Taverna Agora parce que j'aime beaucoup le poulet avec le riz. J'aime la cuisine méditerranéenne. J'adore très l'ambiance et la couleur bleue des tables! La serveuse est très professionnelle et charmante! read more

Nothing not to LOVE about this place. The meal was perfect all the way through from the first sip of a cocktail to the dessert. Service was great. If you have the time, reserve your table well in advance to ensure you can eat on the top level, however; the seating matters the least when the food is this food. Such a nice ambiance that makes you forget you're in downtown Raleigh. Highly recommend for both adventurous and picky eaters. read more