Cafe Athena Reviews

No waiting, friendly service, very good food, nice atmosphere. Very family friendly for larger groups. Large selection on the menu. Best Greek food in Pacific Beach.

I had a Mediterranean salad with salmon & it was absolutely delicious. I had a very nice glass of Pinot Noir. And the DESSERT, which I can't pronounce, but 3 homemade phillo dough with a fabulous orange filling was so heavenly, I ate the entire dessert even though I was already full. This is a definite stop when u visit San Diego. Not downtown, located on Garnet St. in a strip mall. A hidden gem.

We were transported to Greece via this wonderful restaurant on Garnet Ave- It is located in a strip mall and the restaurant is called Cafe Athena-which might give you the impression it's a small sidewalk affair-with street parking.. Not the case-the SIT DOWN RESTAURANT is located in a strip mall actually with plenty of parking-and quite a bit of seating. We ate an early dinner on Sunday evening that was a slow family affair. The FOOD was suberb-fresh salads with homemade fresh dressings-plenty of olives tomatoes- I shared the Grecian Feast combination plate which gave me a taste of several dishes-Bourekia,Dolmas, loved the Briami (oven roasted vegetables with almost a savory tomato based sauce on them, gyros, rice- plenty of food for 2. Service is friendly but SLOW but this food is to be enjoyed with conversation and not rushed so don't be in a hurry..otherwise this might not be the place for you. I took off one star on the service only because even when all the plates had been clearly empty for a while..no one came to clear them-so sometimes the delay felt uncomfortable..almost like we had to go find someone to order desert! There are at least 3 sections to the restaurant which helps you still feel you are in a small family run cafe by the sea-wondeful paintings around the room-and I felt they tried to seat everyone so conversation could happen easily-did not feel like I was near anyone-almost felt like I had the restaurant to our group of 6. Price was affordable for such good Greek food-the combo platter and a salad was about $20 for 2 people so very affordable! If I lived closer I would eat here often but I highly recommend this place if you are in the area-it's worth seeking out-and I will be the next time I am in SanDiego!

The food here is excellent. I've gone twice in the past week. The chicken pita's are the bomb. The service is OK. I'll have to agree with Warrior44 on that one. But the food is definitely worth the visit.

"We've eaten here several times over the last few years and ate there last night. The food is delicious and the servings are certainly big enough for another night. The chicken kabobs are scrumptious and are accompanied by rice pilaf and briyani. Both of these dishes are superb also. The pita bread comes with tzatziki sauce that can't be beat. I've also had the chicken aioli sandwich and enjoyed that also. The moussaka is also delicious and we've had it several times. Usually the service is impeccable and the atmosphere is classy. Last night our salad came later than usual but that has only happened once. We've eaten there many times and will continue to do so."

We (my family of 5, including one child) were on the beach in Mission Bay, suddenly seized with a craving for Greek food. Sadly, really good Greek food is hard to get in the Phoenix area. We looked up on Trip Advisor and found this place. We ordered Moussaka, Pastichio, skodalia, hummus, baba ganoush, dolmades, gyros, and a kids gyros plate to take out. It was delicious. It was the best skordalia I have had in years (and I've tried making it, as well). The dolmades were unbelievable, with just the right dash of lemon. The whole meal really hit the spot, and we couldn't believe what a gem this was. Great Greek food.

Cafe Athena is authentic and consistently grand. The service is always excellent, but more importantly, the food is always fabulous. This time I had the lentil soup and found that I loved it even more than the Avgolemono Chicken Soup with Rice which is what I always got in the past. The salads, the pita, the sandwiches, the main courses - all are worth getting. If only our stomachs were bigger!

A great spot for Greek food in PB. Healthy, quick and authentic, this restaurant provides everything you would want in a greek dinner.

Very good gyro plate lots of meat 1 plate will make 2 meals assuming you eat reasonably normal portions. great taziki sauce as well.

Both family-friendly and very attentive service were our experience as we delighted in celebrating our 48th year. As we have come to expect, the Greek repast was fresh and scrumtious. The rosemary potatoes go well with any meal. We'll be back again and again.

I had my dinner while I was staying in Pacific Beach. I had Kefta plate which was minced meat patties with tomato and spices, potato with rosemarie, Hummus, Tabouli and pita bread. The plate is huge so you need to eat it when you are starving. The Pita was warm not really fresh. However, I enjoyed the meal. I have never had authentic tabouli as I had in Cafe Athena. I will be back soon.

If you are looking for a romantic evening, a fancy dining room, a view, or cutting edge cuisine, look elsewhere. If you want a variety of very tasty Greek favorites at a reasonable price, a well-trained serving staff, and no parking issues, Cafe Athena might just be perfect for you. Our lunch party of seven was pleased with each dish ordered (gyros sandwich, chicken souvlaki, moussaka--all attractive, tasty, generous portions), and our server, Amanda, could not have been more attentive, friendly or helpful. Oh...save room for their chocolate mousse; it got rave reviewsl! All in all, Cafe Athena provides a very pleasant dining experience for lunch or dinner.

We visit here all the time. They have a Chicken Souvlaki that is excellent. We get a greek salad with it and its just perfect. The chicken is so tender and is wrapped up in a pita bread with fresh onions tomatoes and tzatziki sauce. They service is pretty good, nothing spectacular but really its not bad so we don't really care. We go there for the food and its great! We will continue to go and highly recommend this place!

I had the beef gyro, it was good, my friend had the falafel plate, she enjoyed it too. It is located in a strip mall, so you have to look for it, plenty of free parking.

Menu with most things you would expect in a Greek restaurant: souvlaki, gyros, hummus, tsatsiki. The food is fairly standard; it's a good place to take people who don't want anything too exotic, and there is plenty of foods that kids would like. A dining experience it is not!

One the best to have Greek food. The place is clean and the food is excellent. The price is reasonable. They have happy hour daily from 3-6 pm.

Reasonable prices, great food, a definite must

Chicken kebab, rice, pita bread and hummus are to die for. Quite reasonably priced and decent ambience.

At a recent lunch, four of us ordered differently and all were very pleased with the quality of the food. One of the best mousakas not cooked at home! Nice atmosphere (for a shopping center), very good service, reasonable prices.

Ate here recently while visiting family. The hummus was very good and the Greek salad was perfect. Other family members got Gyro sandwiches, and the lamb shank. Everyone enjoyed their meal, including a couple of the desserts. This was my second visit and it is definitely on my list to visit again the next time I am in town.

Delicious Food, Great Service, with modern/casual ambiance. Nice location near lots of nightlife. Ordered the hummus, calamari, scorpion shrimp, and chocolate moos. 10/10 for all four!!! Server was prompt, friendly, and professional. Great portions, and cooked to perfection. Greek food is hard to perfect. Highly recommend!!

Went there twice in a very nice setting quite new from what I was told. Had a delicious taziki entrée... flat bred which is a delicious type of pizza... also tasted different types of grilled vegetables and salads.

There are several good Greek restaurants in San Diego but this has become my favorite. I eat lunch here about once a month, usually with a group of friends (one of whom is Greek), all of whom like it as much as I do. The avgolemono soup is the best I've had outside Greece. The gyros, either as a pita sandwich or as a full entree, is always tender and delicious. All the other standard Greek dishes are equally good. The service is always very good and very friendly. The restaurant is located in a shopping center, so parking is close and easy. The room has just been redone, and is quite open and airy, for a comfortable atmosphere. It's a popular place, but not overcrowded, and never a feeling of being rushed. Check it out.

We've lived in this neighborhood for almost 20 years. We haven't been to this place in at least 10 yrs. We may not return for another 10. The food is alright but the service is terrible and the prices are high considering what's served. For $7.49 we were served a reasonable size dish with the smallest amount of Baba Ghannuj they could spread across the dish to cover it, along with some pita. The Skordalia for $5.89 was much less flavorful and skimpy once again. The large Greek salad for $8.79 was served WITHOUT anything to serve it with, without almost ANY dressing, AND without the pita bread that it was supposed to be served with. It was a DRY salad. How unappetizing. We had to ask our server for utensils. We had to ask for salt and pepper. We overheard the table beside us complaining about the inedible dry fish entree they ordered. This is NOT an inexpensive restaurant. This is NOT a new restaurant. This is NOT a restaurant that seems to appreciate it customers. We gave it another chance and they blew it.

Friends took us to Cafe Athena a couple of weeks ago and it was more than a pleasant surprise. You wouldn't expect a place this good tucked in the corner of a shopping mall at the beach, but here it was. The decor and atmosphere were inviting and the food and service was excellent. This was a Saturday night and although Cafe Athena was full, there was no wait to be seated and the food came quickly. Highly recommended.

The meal was great, the restaurant was very busy. Service was slow because of so many people. There were four of us and as always the food was great. Greek Salad delicious, we had the steak kabob and it was very tuff but the rest was wonderful. The woman bathroom is not ADA compliant and we had a handicapped lady with us. There was no water at the sink, the handles just turned and turned. You had to flush toilets several times.

We stay in San Diego for one month each year and always eat here several times. The food is consistently good, the servings are large and the service is impeccable. We have always been please with our dinner. It's casual yet formal a fine dining experience while wearing shorts or jeans.

It is always refreshing to come back to this neat restaurant. Food is good and reasonably priced. Their chicken skewer dinner is great with plenty of interesting items to fill you up. Dining outside on the patio is a delight for those warm evenings and several options for the fussy as well.

Many choices on the menu for everyone - they have meat dishes, vegetarian and vegan dishes too. They also have a big variety of Greek dishes, beyond what you might see at a smaller Greek restaurant. The portions are large enough and the food is tasty. The pita bread was hot and fresh tasting too. In our experience the service could be better - we dined when they weren't very busy yet the waitress was unable to keep up - we had to ask more than once for everything we needed. The appetizer and the main dishes all showed up at the same time, which was a disappointment as we didn't get to enjoy the appetizer. So you might want to order the appetizer first then order your entrees after a while (in case this is a problem with their kitchen and not our waitress).

Been here twice this week and everything I've gotten has been really amazing! Definitely my new favorite!

Our family of 5 ate dinner here. We are staying at the Hyatt on Mission Bay and didn't feel like venturing far for dinner (had toured all over San Diego earlier in the day). Restaurant was listed on our hotel's list of Restaurants in SD. It was approx 10 minutes away. We were happily surprised with the place and the food. It is tucked in a cluster of shoppes. The restaurant is bright and airy. Service was quick and the food was served pretty quickly. We tried the soups (Puréed cream of tomato), Greek Salads (some with Gyro meat, some plain). The feta cheese was extremely creamy and fresh (not the hard, crumbly, overly salted stuff you get in many places). The kids ordered grilled chicken with rice pilaf and tzaziki sauce. All of our meals were delicious. Portions were a nice size. Our dinners with coffees for a family of 5 came to $57. Pretty reasonable for SD. We'd definitely go back if we could.

The atmosphere inside was cozy and welcoming. We ordered a variety of food to share and sample. Everything was delicious. We plan going back for more meals. Our friend is into wines and brought a bottle for nominal corkage fee. The wine was perfect with the food. We had a wonderful lunch and didn't feel rushed to leave. Overall pleasant experience.

Was closed for a private party. Beware of the hours posted they might not actually be open for business on a Friday evening. We went quite a distance out of our way to go there.

We really enjoyed a nice meal at Cafe Athena on a recent Sunday afternoon when ten of us stopped in. The staff had no problem accommodating our large group and the quick service made all of us feel welcome. The Hummos and Spanaki Lemonato appetizer dips were outstanding and the Avgolemono soup was delicious! Everyone in the group also enjoyed their Greek Gyro or Chicken dinners and the prices were reasonable. We'll return again!

I eat lunch regularly at this Pacific Beach restaurant and am always satisfied. The owners redid the interior a couple of years ago, and it now is very ioen and spacious. Everything I've had there is tasty, but I especially like the gyros plate and the avgolemono soup.

Went with a large family group and ended up being at two tables. The service was just fair, even with two servers. They weren’t that busy as it was only 5 pm so unsure why service so poor. They were trying to encourage diners as a large section was under renovation. However, the food was very good and the portions were generous. Several family members had to go boxes. The Greek and Mediterranean salads with grilled chicken were perfect, but another salad was only fair. Had mostly rice and very little lettuce. I think the menu description was misleading.

Good Greek food here. Check into Yelp and you get a free appetizer! The hummus was amazing! The pita was so warm and delicious. I got the gyro sandwich which was really good. All in all, whenever I'm in PB area and I'm craving Greek food, I'll be back. Their outdoor patio is dog friendly!

Went there with a large family group (11). Servers were attentive and courteous. Menu is really expansive and very Mediterranean. I ordered Spinach Pistatio casserole with a side of ratatouille and it was awesome! We had several appetizers--hummus, babaganoush, calamari--all very tasty and well prepared. I even enjoyed my second Mythos Greek beer (the first was in Athena 3 years ago). The restaurant has shed its classical Greek cafe interior (you know, blue and white) for a more modern look. I think it works! Overall, a great experience dining and catching up with family.

Went here on a recommendation and we were a little disappointed with the food. Some things were good, some were not, and in general just okay. We have several Greek relatives in the family who prepare fabulous Greek food, so we know what genuine Greek food should be. Therefor if you're looking for good authentic Greek food I wouldn't recommend this particular restaurant.

My husband and I ate here recently while visiting in Pacific Beach. We loved this restaurant, and plan to come back during our stay here. My husband had the half-chicken, and I had the chicken kebob. Everything was delicious and beautifully prepared. We also shared a Mediterranean salad. The vegetable were fresh and crisp and the dressing was wonderful. Our server was very helpful, friendly, and attentive. On a cold, rainy, stormy February night, this place really hit the spot!

We stopped in for a lunch, following the Zagat guide review and we were not disappointed. Excellent stuffed pita special, roasted eggplant with ground seasoned lamb and tomatoes. My lunch partner had a beef gyro which was also excellent. We liked the food, the ambiance, the service was excellent and the restaurant was very clean. We went back 2 more times, once for their 'prix fixe menu' on an evening and aqain for lunch. Each time were very pleased with the experience. wre

My server did not seem like she wanted to be there. She was not at all enthusiastic and did the minimum when it came to service. The food on the other hand was fantastic. I would go there again but again it would be solo all by myself haha. I would not invite friends or family or recommend groups due to lack of good service. I'd be embarrassed to invite somewhere there with service like that. She was just distant. Not at all enthusiastic.

This is a pleasant, informal Greek restaurant that has been there a long time in Pacific Beach and has a sister place, also very good (Apollonia) in the Costa Verde Center. There's an excellent variety of veg and vegan dishes, good salads, and tasty shrimp, chicken and lamb dishes. Prices are reasonable. Service is OK, atmosphere OK. Lots of parking.

Other than the gyros, nothing else worth ordering. Not as good as its sister restaurant. Service better than average but not as good as very good.The sole waitress covers too many tables.

We stumbled on the Cafe Athena looking for the adjacent FedEx. The lentil soup was delicious and the main dishes - Yemista and a Falafel sandwich - were excellent! We were in a bit of hurry and the food did take time to prepare, but it was well worth the wait! The meal was quite affordable and the decor transported me back to those little cafes at the base of the Acropolis. Next time you're in the neighborhood in a Greek state of mind, stop in for a little sumptuous fare.

This is our “ go to “ place for Greek/Mediterranean food. We have never had a bad meal here. The wait staff is courteous and takes care of orders and requests in a timely manner, the food is prepared as requested, and the portions are generous. Our favorite items include the hummus, tzatiki, gyros and chicken souvlakia.

Spent a few days in San Diego during June and wanted to check out this restaurant because it sounded as if I could get good Greek food here. It's tucked away in a little strip center in an area of town where I used to live 30 yrs. ago --- didn't recognize the place at all. This place looks very inviting and has indoor or patio dining. I opted for indoor to enjoy the A/C, and when I walked inside, it was like being in Greece all over again. The walls are the bright white of so many of the Greek islands and coastal towns, and the Greek music in the background added to the ambience. Since I was there for lunch (and I eat light at lunch), I planned to order one of their salads and iced tea but was pleasantly surprised to find Boutari wines on the menu --- which I ordered instead of iced tea. The small Greek salad with grilled chicken was very good. Would've ordered the large, but wanted to save room for dessert. Had the house special dessert which takes 10 extra minutes to prepare, but it was worth the wait --- absolute heaven!! Recommended this place to all my friends still living in the SD area who like Greek and will definitely return here for future meals when returning to the SD area.

They did not hAve the combination plate listed online so i went with the moussaka- big mistake, small piece ,tough eggplant ,mostly skin, some overcooked beans and some kind if rice or grain. I left hungry. Asked for more bread , never came. My husband had the lamb which he liked. To top it off they had problems with the credit card machine so we had to pay cash. Never again.

We spent a few days in San Diego and hit lots of good spots. Had some great food in Little Italy, good appys in La Jolla, nice dinner downtown. Wanted to just do something laid back and neighborhood but no more tacos. Checked tripadvisor and settled on Cafe Athena figuring if it didn't work out we were in Pacific Beach and there were lot's of choices. It turned out to be the best meal I had all week. This is not your regular gyros and kebab wrap Greek place. It was in a corner mall type area and we were a little worried about that but the place was inviting, comfortable and the menu was out of the ordinary. You don't often see saganaki and taramasalata on the menu in a small neighborhood place and it got better and better. The food was amazing and the service was warm and friendly. There was so much food I brought it back to the hotel for lunch and had another taste bud explosion the next day even when it was cold. Do try this when you are tired of tourist traps and tacos. Try this when you want great food, great service and something a little out of the ordinary in an ordinary neighborhood type place.

I can't say too much about it since I only ate once here. Jose really likes the jiros. I had hummus and a salad. They were delicious though.

I've eaten lunch here many times and always enjoyed it. Good food, nice surroundings, excellent service, easy parking. I recently went there for for dinner with friends for the first time. It was good in most respects, but the dinner crowd apparently is a lot chattier than the lunch crowd, and the acoustics of the room make it so loud it is almost impossible to carry on a conversation without shouting. It's a little better in the bar area. So, I recommend it, but I wouldn't go there again in the evening.

What a great discovery. EVERYTHING about Cafe Athena is wonderful. Impeccable service (thanks Sergio), delightful ambiance and amazing food. We did a combo of happy hour items and off the regular dinner menu. This place has been in business for almost 35 years….that is the best testament. Our new go-to-Greek restaurant in San Diego. Don’t miss this place.

Very good. The food was good as was the service. We both had the falafel which was wonderful. The atmosphere was very pleasant.

Do you need a 20$ snack to share with your lover and a bottle of wine? Yeah, you do. Do you then need to have it every time you come back to Pacific Beach for the next 20 years of your life? Also, yes. Cafe Athena has been here for the majority of my life and it has remained just as fabulous as always. Not only are the gyros fantastic, but the combination of Baba Ghannouj with Fassoulia on Pita Bread (2 separate dishes) is a taste I crave, CAN’T find anywhere else, and MUST have every time I visit home. And the baklava - oh sweet Zeus the baklava ❤️ I really don’t think I have ever had it better in all my baklava eating life. Get some. Your tastebuds and your belly will thank you. Also, you can now order online, pay when you pick it up - quick, easy, accurate :)

The food is really good. I've tried several dishes and always come back to the skewered chicken,cooked just right. Really tender and such a big plate,I usually take part home for next day.

Chicken was burned had no flavor . worst Greek food I ever had it is not cheep as well. We had to wait 1 hour due to waiter could not figured what table to use. We were visiting from NY with kids and we all went to bed hungry. Don't go here

we don't go as often as we'd like, but no matter how long between visits it is consistently good in every way

My friend has been telling me about this place for years and I finally went. Couldn't be more satisfied. Everything we ordered was delicious. The restaurant itself isn't all that glamorous inside but you can eat outside on the patio as well. The service was average but with excellent wine and fresh tasty food it didn't really matter.

Stopped here for lunch on a Wednesday. The weather was beautiful so sat outside. My dining companion and I each had a Greek salad and the chicken souvlaki. Everything was fresh and tasty. Note that the restaurant is located in the middle of a shopping plaza near the FedEx store.

For more than a decade we have treated ourselves to the tasty offerings of Athena. Dependably fresh dishes and servers that treat you like you are the only patrons there make our dining experience unmatched in Pacific Beach. Whether served out-of-doors or in the cozy dining rooms, the large windows make it a Greek Island retreat. The quiet surroundings and the surprisingly low prices bring us back about once a month.

A few years ago we were living in La Jolla and often went to Cafe Athena in San Diego (PB area). It was always enjoyable with good service and very good food. Recently we were back and took a guest to lunch there and "just like the good old days" the service was fine and the food was delicious. The avgolemono soup is, I think, as good as home made and every entree I've had there was fine. I will be happy to return when and if we get back to the area.

Now Cafe Athena. I eat here several times a month as it reminds me of my trip to Santorini. Great food, atmosphere, and service. Outside dining is very dog friendly.

I ate here with a group of friends and enjoyed the experience greatly. The food was excellent. Our crowd choose mostly from the quite plentiful vegetarian options and everything was prepared very well and presented very attractively. Our waitress proved attentive and offered able service. I enjoyed the decor, featuring oil paintings of Greek islands, ones that were a cut above the usual and some of them lit very nicely. Prices seems appropriate for the quality of food, setting and service.

Cafe Athena is located in a shopping center in Pacific Beach. There is lots of parking in the large lot. serves authentic Greek food. It has been recently remodeled and has a chic, modern look. The food is delicious: fresh, colorful, and nutritious. We liked the hummus, tabouleh, and kabobs. The servers are friendly and the prices are reasonable.

Best Greek food I've had, and I've tried a lot. I keep coming back, and PB has become a bit of a pain to drive in and out of now that's so hip. :-| Cafe Athena makes it worth it! You won't regret it. Not super fancy, but casual, nice atmosphere.

The lamb and beef are what you expect from a good Greek restaurant. But the chicken couscous is out of this world. The chicken is cooked to perfection and the vegetables actually add great taste to the dish. The Harissa sauce is incredibly savory and mildly spicy. It's served on the side, do it yourself for more or less spice. Generous portions. Cafe-style table seating inside with a front patio and a couple of tables for outdoor eating. Bright and cheerful inside. A great place for lunch.

We only ordered two appetizers, one donair and a small side Greek salad. The two of us could not finish as the portions were large. Delicious and we will be going back again while we are in San Diego this week - some of the best Greek food we have had.

We enjoyed a late lunch on a Monday. Restaurant not busy at that time, which was alright with us. Had the Gyro and Moussaka, which were so authentic we couldn't believe it. The wine list is ample and pours appropriate. Would definitely return as it is one of the best restaurants for Greek food in San Diego.

Food was outstanding. Avgolomono soup, some of the best I've had. The fried potatoes were cooked and seasoned to perfection. And the Chicken souvlaki was also about the best I've had. I don't know how they got the chicken so perfectly seasoned and tender. Service left a bit to be desired. I was seated promptly by an ultra-friendly hostess. On business travel, dining alone, I was seated at a high top in the vicinity of the bar. This apparently to the displeasure of the bartender. I sat for about 15 minutes before ordering. I saw the hostess telling the bartender to serve me, and I did not see a happy look on his face. In the end, the the food was great and the quantities met expectations.

We spent a week in the San Diego area and this restaurant was our favorite. My chicken dish was very good (so rare to find good chicken!), including the potatoes, and vegetables. The setting is good / casual, and this might be a bit of a weakness. This being said, the price is reasonable, and we will definitely return next time we visit San Diego!

Great spot for takeout. Creamy hummus with pitas, tasty Mediterranean salad had fresh greens, feta, and sun dried tomatoes. The chicken couscous was delicious. Tender chicken breast with carrots, zucchini, onions, tomatoes couscous and flavorful sauce. Big enough portion to share. Service was good and food was well packaged. Easy parking In off street lot. WRKMRJ

While visiting San Diego, My sister and her husband brought me to their favorite neighborhood restaurant and it was delightful. Very efficient and friendly service and a charming atmosphere. I ordered a Greek Salad with chicken and a glass of Pino Noir wine. Both were excellent. A fine place to return to when I next visit.

This is a great little restaurant - especially if you're looking for tasty Greek food. Tucked away in a small strip style mall with a few other restaurants, it's a pleasant place for lunch. The Gyros and the stuffed grape leaves are my personal favorites but just about everything on the menu is great. They do have a take out menu, which is great if you want to get food for a picnic by the ocean. The only reason I'm not rating this restaurant as "excellent" is because I've had occaisonal problems with the service. Generally, that's not a problem - but it does seem that towards the beginning or end of the lunch hour the wait staff isn't quite up to speed.

This is a place you can go to several times. The atmosphere is acceptable to everyone...medium lighting; the food is mostly very good. Two people can easily dine for $30 (without alcohol). Service is kind and attentive. We especially enjoyed the moussaka, which is among the best I have tasted. Many people come for the pita, but it is not to my liking....it is a little like a pancake but it is a big seller for them. They do take out as well and offer a happy hour with discounted beverages. It is located on Garnet, immediately south of Lamont, in the shopping center.

First time here and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I won a gift certificate for Restaurant week through FB. I've never had Greek food so I was worried that I wouldn't like it. But after this experience I will definitely will come back again. I had the Greek salad and the Beef Kabob. The pieces of beef were tender and had a great taste to them. I can't complain about anything when I comes to this restaurant. Can't wait to come here again and try something new.

We were greeted by a Cincinatti transplant. She was the perfect beginning to a wonderful meal. The service was spot on and I felt like family. The small greek salad was wonderful and not small at all. The perfect amount of dressing. The gyro was very good. The humus was really good. We'll be back.

We visit San Diego for a month every year and, since this is my aunt's favorite restaurant, we stop here several times each visit. We have tried several dishes and have never been disappointed. The service is impeccable, the food is delicious, the setting is intimate and has always exceeded our expectations (although by now our expectations of this excellent restaurant are pretty high.) We look forward to our next visit.

WoW ! Thé chef nailed it ! Every single dish was super delicious. Both soups the tomato basil and the lentil were tasty and the chicken couscous was out of this planet, also the beef kabob.

Our visiting friends from Santa Barbara were charmed with the fresh, authentic Greek cuisine as we chatted in the cozy dining room. The spacious feeling afforded by the big windows connected us with the couples at the sidewalk tables, where the candles twinkled in the fading light. A charming evening.

Good food, price is right, but not a good wine list

Camping nearby... Decided on dinner out. Our second time...we love this place...Great Greek food and good service! Highly recommend it!

My husband and I dine here often as a couple and with friends. We've brought out of town guests as well and everyone has enjoyed it. There is sure to be something on the menu to please everyone including vegetarian and heart healthy items. Our favorites are the mediterranean salad, cretan salmon, and especially the moussaka. We have ordered trays of the moussaka to bring home to finish baking to serve at parties several times, and it is always popular. They also do catering and banquets. It's located in a strip mall in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego and may be a bit difficult to find the first time, but there is plenty of free parking.The atmosphere is casual and friendly and they can accomodate groups. It's also a good spot for lunch. There are a few tables outside.

Wow! We tried them through eat 24, and OMG! They're on our go to list from now on. My BF got the gyro with a side of potatoes, and I got meatballs with rosemary potatoes. We both had the chocolate pudding. Everything that is gf is labeled clearly, and everything they brought us was delish.

Exceptional! Authentic, delicious food. Generous portions and reasonably priced. Our server, Laura was stellar!

I love the fact that this Greek place has so many vegetarian options, in fact they include it in the name of the restaurant. We only had a variety of appetizers/tapas that were all more than delicous. All food is of the highest quality and the dessert to die for. Highly recommended!

We took the family out for a Greek dinner & decided to try Cafe Athena in PB. The decore was a little out dated (lots of 80ish oak). Our waitress was very friendly & helpful. We ordered several appetizers to share & then everyone ordered an entre. The eggplant dip was good, the hummus soso, the clalmari (which we generally love) was inedible. We all tried one bite and let the rest untouched. The other dishes were ok. There is so much potential, this could be an amazing Greek restaurant. It felt to us like maybe the owners or chef had burnt out. Such a shame, it could be great!

Happened upon this restaurant while visiting San Diego ! Authentic Greek menu, combined with a wonderful Greek salad.... The servings were good sized from start to finish, and the service was top notch ! Our server , Laura, was very pleasant and took the time to explain the entrees to us.....We would return just to visit with her again !

I arrived before my friend and was seated at a very small table, next to a wall, nothing to look at that was attractive or interesting. My friend refused to sit there and we moved to a better location on our own. The waiter never said a word. The food was passable, the eggplant. There was one dish with a predominant spice of salt, no subtlety, just salt. The hummus was quite good as was the pita.

We were visiting from northern CA and went back two nights in a row. Our grandson claims its the best mac and cheese ever. I had the fire roasted eggplant, and it has so much flavor. You won’t be disappointed.

This restaurant consistently is ranked one of the best in San Diego and for good reason. It's excellent quality food and service - and a good value. The Happy Hour specials are a n especially good value - $3 for hummus or other apps, $6 for a glass of wine etc. There are several bad reviews for this restaurant - they either don't like or know Greek food very well - or had a bad experience that one night. We love Greek cuisine and are somewhat deprived of that living in a medium sized town in Oregon - so we really enjoy these experiences in the 'big' city - especially when it's as good as this one. Serving sizes were average, and we felt that it was priced right - a good value. Ambiance is OK - it's in a strip mall and the restaurant has a nice feel. Nothing special - but nice. The Greek island art was a nice touch. We had several apps off the happy hour menu, then shared a combination plate with a variety of traditional entrees. Baclava for dessert of course which was wonderful. Top notch experience - and we'll be back.

Very good Greek food at a very reasonable price. A mile up Garnet Street from the beach with lots of parking (which is sometimes hard to come by in San Diego).

Went with other's suggestions and not disappointed. Food was absolutely excellent. I had Chicken Couscous. Great flavor, and nice portions. Go, you will enjoy it.

The spanakopita and the lemon soup were nice. The lamb was also tasty. The service was great. The disappointing part was the Octopus which was greasy, over-fried, and thus, not very tasty. AND other than salmon they had no fish. What kind of Greek restaurant does not serve Lavraki?

I have been coming to this place for over 20 yrs. My recent visit was delicious. Had a variety of appetizers and dinner entrees that I shared with friends. The tazaki appetizer, sagannaki were fantastic, pita very fresh and hot. The spinach pastisito was delicious. Love this place and will be going back again very soon. The only complaint was the size of the baklava which was very tiny, great tasting but too small.

This little place is literally in a strip mall sort of area of Pacific Beach. Kind of tucked away as far as location, but if you find it, you will probably enjoy a great meal there. It's healthy and they have a large menu. They have terrific salads and I mostly go there when I am in the area to order the one-of-a-kind salmon dolmas. They are the best and I haven't found any other places that have them as good as Cafe Athena! This restaurant also has another location up the hill near UCSD campus, but I like this little hidden spot better.

Ignore the fact it is in a strip mall, Cafe Athena has great food! Menu has a wide variety of options for our family which includes a vegetarian as well as someone who does not eat red meat. Highly recommend the avgolemono soup, Greek salad (a large is enough for three adults to share), and falafel plate. Order the lemonade!

Tucked in the back of a strip mall in Pacific Beach, Cafe Athena offers indoor and dog-friendly outdoor patio dining. Standout menu offerings include hummus with warm, fresh pita bread, dolmades, salmon dolma, avgolemono soup, grilled veggie wrap, Apollo's Flatbread, and my personal favorite, Imam Bayildi (eggplant stuffed with raisins, walnuts and tomatoes). Service is prompt, warm and friendly - and they love the dogs that join their humans on the patio!

We were in San Diego last week for a family vacation. We had eaten at Café Athena on a previous trip to San Diego a few years ago and enjoyed it so much we thought we'd return. We had forgotten how large the portions are for what you pay. We started with calamari, which, although inexpensive and a huge amount, was overcooked and not enjoyable in the least. Our ten-year old son got a large Greek salad and it was perhaps the biggest salad we have ever seen. It was very good, but we should have been informed that it was enormous [enough for two adults to be honest]. A waste of food in our minds. My wife and I both ordered the Riginato which is a half-chicken with a few sides. Again, price point was fantastic, but the chicken was overcooked. Perhaps we were there on a bad night, but the food this time around was not as good as on our previous visit. We might give it another shot when we return to San Diego, but there are so many other food options that you may wish to try elsewhere.

Food very good, chicken and especially beef on skewer, was so tender and had great flavor. Dolmades (grape leaves) stuffed with rice and beef or rice or salmon were really good also. Avgolemono soup very good too. Waiter Esteban was very attentive and very nice.

Great Greek food, extensive menu. We had the hummus appetizer, calamari appetizer, greek burger, gyro, and a few other things. ALL were excellent, good flavor! The service was OK, not the greatest but not bad. In a crowded strip mall, so parking was a bear, but it was worth it. Really good authentic Greek food!