I have been fiercely loyal to Evvia Estiatorio since I walked through its beautiful doors over a decade ago. I have always appreciated their intimate setting. They really have mastered the balance between an upscale feel with a humble attitude across all aspects of the restaurant. Their decor is cohesive and classy, not overtly loud. The restaurant is lit well enough to see your food and company, but dim enough to not feel like you are one of many in a crowd. Their service and ambiance follow the same nature, subtle but attentive and effective. I think for any of us when we spend the time and money to eat somewhere nice, we really appreciate consistent food, service, and ambiance. Evvia hits on every aspect, and they have truly earned all the rave reviews they have received over the years!

My happy belly hitters include:

Appetizers:
- Octapodaki tou Yiorgou - traditional grilled octopus with lemon, oregano & olive oil. I don’t think I have ever eaten at Evvia without ordering the Octapodaki. It is beautifully cooked and nearly melts in your mouth. It’s a simple dish, seasoned with just lemon and olive oil, grilled ever so slightly. It’s a game-changer for sure. I have yet to try any other octopus more tender than this one. It is a must-order
- Arnisia Plevrakia - grilled lamb riblets with lemon & oregano. If nobody wants to commit to a full lamb entree, I recommend ordering these! It is a smaller portion, less of a commitment. Just promise me you won’t leave the restaurant without trying something with lamb!
- Tiganita Kalamarakia - crispy calamari with lemon garlic aioli & spicy pepper aioli. One can never go wrong with crispy calamari - EVER. I enjoyed both sauces, and usually ask for extra lemon to squeeze on top of the calamari, it rounds out the richness of the sauces
- Taramosalata: melitzanosalata or Tzatziki served with house made pita bread. Tzatziki is a cucumber yogurt base, while Melitzanosalata is eggplant-based. I love them both but my life was at stake, I would choose Tzatziki just because I am a huge gyro fan and those are smothered with tzatziki! Their pita bread is amazing too. I definitely appreciate bread with some density, and if it’s grilled too?! Sign me up, buttercup!
Entrees: If it’s your first time, I highly recommend sharing 1 lamb and 1 sea bass entree with a buddy. It allows (1) trying what Greek food is known for and (2) balancing out your meal in regards to the flavor profile
- Arnisia Paidakia: rib-cut, mesquite-grilled lamb chops with olive oil lemon roasted potatoes. HANDS DOWN, MY MOST ORDERED ITEM. I don’t know how they get the lamb to not be gamey, it’s some kind of sorcery I’m sure of it. This masterpiece is grilled to medium-rare perfection and finished with olive oil and lemon. I appreciate that tangy finish so much, it cuts the richness well and keeps me coming back for more
- Kokinisto me Manestra: Lamb shank braised in aromatic spices with orzo & myzithra cheese. This lamb shake is slow roasted for what seems like a century by the time it gets to you. Fall off the bone, melt in your mouth, goodness gracious, just order it! Orzo pasta is a gift from whatever God you may or may not believe in. It’s a cross between rice and pasta. The saucy lamb shank is literally wallowing in this orzo pasta, absolutely phenomenal
- Psari Psito - Grilled whole fish with lemon-oregano vinaigrette & horta. Evvia will usually give you several options of fish, but the Mediterranean Seabass is the most popular by far! This dish is delicate, classy, and highly revered
- Souvla Tis Emeras: rotisserie special of the day, and the last few times I had been, it was the lamb and nobody was upset by that! Another popular rotisserie would be the
- Kotopoulo Souvlas: lemon-oregano rotisserie chicken with fasolakia & Evvia potatoes, which I would recommend if you’re not big on lamb
- Vegetarian: Ravioli: roasted eggplant, pepper, feta & ricotta ravioli with mushrooms, onions, spinach & cheese sauce. I am not a vegetarian, but I promise you there was not a single crumb of cheese left on my friend’s plate and she did a happy wiggle upon the first bite
Dessert
- Galaktoboureko: Traditional phyllo wrapped vanilla bean semolina custard with pistachio ice cream. GOOD LORD. It sounds simple, but let me tell ya darlin’ it is a freaking dream. The moment I took a bite, I was hit with a surge of energy that woke me up from the yummy wine I was having
- Baklava: Traditional baklava drizzled with honey syrup served with vanilla ice cream. I am a total sucker for baklava, especially if there’s a scoop of ice cream involved! I really appreciate the cooked-down walnuts and the slight sweetness from the honey. The spices really round out this dessert, making it just the perfect little bite of heaven

Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time if you can, this place gets crowded for good reason! Especially if you’re looking for an intimate setting where you can have a quality conversation, Evvia is perfect.