Kokkari (Small fishing village on the islands of Samos in the Aegean Sea) is a long standing Greek restaurant in San Francisco’s Financial District – Jackson Square area. Our last visit was summer 2026, so it was time for some refreshing of our memories. Why did we dine here? – To get a sense of how this restaurant has survived the test of time. Summary – Kokkari still packs them in. The food is very good as is the atmosphere. Insider Tip – Come for lunch if you’re on a budget or get a drink at the bar. Cuisine – Greek Chef – Erik Cosselmon (Rose Pistola) Location – Financial District Opened – 1998 Decor, Vibe – Kokkari has beautiful rustic, earthy decor that has changed very little. A large rotisserie is the center piece of the first room, along with a medium sized bar area. The back dining room is more comfortable as it is partitioned away from people standing next to the bar. We came on a weekday night for dinner and found the place packed with well dressed, middle-aged, Financial District types. No hipsters here! Kokkari Menu Kokkari’s Menu changes from time to time but features their […]

This post originally from Kokkari Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Why did we dine here? – Taverna is a recently opened Greek restaurant in Palo Alto by some alumni of nearby Evvia restaurant. They brought in a Chef from Village Pub to execute their dream. We had good experiences at Evvia so we decided to give this less formal place a try. Insider Tip – Loud restaurant, so be prepared. Almost out of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Not for a quiet dinner. Cuisine – American Location – Palo Alto near University Ave Opened – 2018 Service – Taverna had good service for such a small place. Clearly they are trying to keep up a warm cozy family atmosphere. Verdict – Taverna stands out for decent Greek cuisine although prices are not cheap. It is less formal than Evvia although the sound level is quite high. The lamb costs as much as Evvia. Guess they figure that Evvia is so hard to get into, the spillover would come here for more casual cheaper fare.. (Hey its Palo Alto, who said it was inexpensive) Is this restaurant worth a 5 minute drive? Yes. 30 minute? Maybe. 1 Hour? No Taverna Signature Dishes – Octopus, Lamb rib chop, Souvlaki Taverna’s Menu is […]

This post originally from Taverna, Palo Alto

Why did we dine here? – Evvia is the sister restaurant of popular Kokkari in San Francisco. Our last visit here was over 10 years ago, so it was time for a refresher. Reservations are not easy to come by at this small restaurant, just off University Avenue. As they put it: Named after the largest island in Greece, Evvia, serves food prepared using the freshest, season ingredients, combining traditional Hellenic flavors with a contemporary sensibility. Dishes are simple, yet flavorful, allowing the ingredients to take center stage. Insider Tip – Reserve Early Cuisine – Mediterranean – Greek Location – Downtown Palo Alto Opened – 2004 Service – Evvia is a small restaurant with lots of servers running around, helping kick the service to a high level. Verdict – Evvia and its sister restaurant Kokkari, are must visit spots for those who like Greek food and especially lamb. Is this restaurant worth a 5 minute drive? Yes. 30 minute? Yes. 1 Hour? Maybe. Evvia Signature Dishes – Lamb Chops, Octopus, Lamb Riblets Evvia’s Menu is pretty wide ranging with lots of cooking using their beautiful oven. Website Evvia Menu Evvia Food Picks: Mojito ($10) was strong and well made. Anginares […]

This post originally from Evvia Estiatorio, Palo Alto