I love the food. They stacked the plate with food and I regretted getting appetizer. I didn't have a problem with the waiter. I thought the service was great.
(5)
Al P.
Very good Greek food with crafts of decent wine. All for a very reasonable price in a hot tourist area. A very enjoyable dinner.
(5)
Stephen L.
Two words: Baklava Cheesecake. Need I say more...okay. I had the gyro and my wife had the hummus plate, both were wonderful. The service was excellent. If you are on the square in St. Augustine, take a stroll down to Athena.
(5)
Sean D.
My wife and I both love Greek food. We order the hummus appetizer it was good but I have had better store bought hummus. I ordered the greek salad and she ordered a chicken and rice soup to go along with our Gyros. My salad was rather bland and as one reviewer stated before had a lot of oil on it. My wifes soup looked and tasted like something out of a can. The Gyros were equally disappointing. The meat was supposed to be beef and lamb. What we got was some very dry processed meat that I guess contained beef and lamb. Over all it was a very disappointing meal. In there part of saint Augustine there are plenty of great restaurants. Save yourself some indigestion and go somewhere else
(2)
Guillermo A.
This place was great. Had the gyro combo platter. Tasted great and it was a perfect portion. Not a lot like other places that overdo it with substandard food. I thought it was phenomenal. It was also open on Christmas.
(5)
Joe C.
It was a Friday night and every place we wanted to eat at had an hour wait so after strolling through the plaza we saw this place was mostly empty so we thought we'd give it a try. I've had my share of Greek food myself and wasn't expecting anything great . I ordered the chicken souvlaki combo & my wife ordered the Spanakopita combo. They were both tasty and well seasoned. They also have the Galaktoboureko dessert which was quite good too. All in all I would say they could give you more meat for the price, though it's not Astoria NY but for St Augustine, it's Greek enough.
(3)
Julius V.
A quick lunch in St. Augustine on the way to Melbourne, here in Florida. Athena is situated near the base of the famous Lion Bridge. You can't beat the scenery and the quaint atmosphere of the location, here in the nation's oldest city. The restaurant is clean and has a typical Greek decor and atmosphere. The food is all right, for a quick lunch. However, I would not recommend for dinner. It's a bit pricey for the lack of freshness of the food.
(3)
Matthew J.
Awesome! Amazing! Quality food for great price!
(5)
Ayanna B.
I like this place a lot. Not just for the gyros. Not just for the warm humus plate. Not just for the lamb dinner. I love it because they serve breakfast on the weekends. That is full service! Go there if you want some authentic fare at a good price. But ask for ice with your soda.
(4)
Joel B.
Had breakfast here and enjoyed it. Quality was good and so were the prices. If your in the area looking for breakfast, give it a try.
(4)
Jim B.
I was walking around St Augustine and spotted Athena Restaurant. I love Mediterranean food and decided to stop in for a late lunch. It is nice inside, clean and has cool murals and atmosphere. The hostess was friendly and cute too. We were seated right away. The waiter was patient while I was trying to decide on what to have. The Amstel draft beer was cold and tasty. The tomato barley soup was fantastic. The small Greek salad was delicious and fresh. The Gyro was very tasty and the meat had great flavor. I really enjoyed Athena Restaurant. I'm looking forward to visit this place again on my next trip through St Augustine. (There is a Yelp listing for Cafe Athena and it is the same place.) I've posted some photos from my visit.
(4)
Steve G.
We were in on a Sunday early evening. St. Augustine was pretty quiet this evening overall, and the restaurant was empty. So... I can say we had really good service! :) My wife had the Greek Specialty Combo with chicken. Came with chicken shawarma and a large Greek salad. It was a really large serving. I did look over the previous reviews and was a little skeptical about the food and serving sizes... but to be fair... the portions we both had were very large. I had the gyro platter...with fries. Again, lots of lamb. Very good. I was happy with Athena Restaurant. The other dishes on the menu look good, and we have not found a ton of places locally that serve some of these plates. So, we will most likely be back when we get down to St. Augustine again.
(4)
Jeff F.
wonderful breakfast place. they serve lunch and dinner as well but we were in search for a place to eat breakfast after walking on a sunday and came across this place. It was great
(4)
Jocelyn S.
Food was really good and served nice and hot! However service was not that great it took forever to receive our food there was one waiter and he worked but another lady was just standing around and not even helping!
(3)
Nydia M.
The chicken gyro platter was really tasty with the perfect amount of tzatziki sauce. But the calamari appetizer. Dear Lord, why did you let us order that?! It was rubbery and fell into our vulnerable touristy stomachs like a pile of bricks. Never again. Service was ok.
(2)
Kayler F.
Unfortunately this place is a bust. The only good thing on their menu is the hummus platter. The hummus is wonderful. But everything else I've tried from this place lacks flavor and taste stale. The gyro meat is terrible and always dry. :(
(2)
Jason M.
The place was really neat. It was in the middle of the town center. We had lunch and the service was just a little slow. Not bad though. Total bill for 4 of us was $48.00 with water and not including tip. I had breakfast. It was really good. We were all happy with the experience and it is certainly recommended.
(4)
Betty B.
The flaming goat cheese was amazing! Definitely worth the trip to the restahrant just for that.
(4)
Naty K.
Finding ourselves hungry and within the vicinity of this Greek restaurant, my friend and I decided to give it a try, thanks to its Yelp rating. We stood around waiting for a table, though not for too long, and were sat at a booth. We waited a bit to get a menu, apparently, there was some miscommunication as to who would be waiting on us. Once that was clarified, we placed our orders of the leg of lamb special. Once our meals arrived, confusion set in once again, as I was expecting an actual leg, like a lamb shank, not slices of lamb. I was not impressed with the seasoning either, as it was bland, and Greek food is known for being flavorful. Overall, for me, it was a "meh", as in it could be a lot worse, but it could also be a lot better, so I'd say it was average. My friend thought it was okay, but readily agreed that we'd had better back in South Florida. The desserts were great, however, and generously portioned. I don't know if there is really such a thing as Greek rice pudding as I have never seen that on a menu -- not in the U.S. nor in Europe -- so the authenticity factor may be low, but it was very sweet and delicious, regardless.
(3)
Cecelia B.
Good little breakfast place-haven't eaten any other meal there. Family run with cozy atmosphere. The corn beef hash is homemade and some of the best I've ever had.
(4)
Tiffany L.
The food was good, but there isn't really air conditioning in here :( and the drinks are chinsey on ice. 5 stars for air conditioning on a hot summer day.
(4)
Don E.
I have been to St. Augustine a half a dozen times over the last 15 years. There are so many places to eat and they are all pretty good, but I want you to know that we always make it a point to eat here. It is authentic, well prepared, and just fabulous. Take the time to stop in. Great Choice for some Greek food.
(5)
S K.
Not a fan. Had the moussaka. Not the best. Also service wasn't the best. They forgot an order and then said we never placed it. Can't say much about it. A lot to be desired.
(2)
Gregory M.
This place was amazing. The ambiance is perfect. Right in the middle of the historic district. One of the best lamb shanks I have ever had. Spinach Pie was really good. Great meal to end a great day. Opa!!!
(4)
Claudia D.
We visit St Augustine quite often and this was our second and LAST time at this restaurant. The first time we ate here years ago, it was great. But not anymore. The prices are ridiculously high for the amount of food you get and the service is just non existent. I ordered the gyro, which comes with no sides for $10 bucks, and hardly any meat. My hubby ordered the moussaka which was good but $15 and no sides either. Not worth it at all. Then when we were ready to pay, the server decided to add a much more than decent tip to our check! Really? I don't think so. I don't recommend this place unless you like to pay too much for your food and enjoy being taken advantage of by your server. We will not return.
(1)
Susan Y.
Had the greek chicken with salad. Very good! A lot of food for the money and the restaurant was quiet - a rarity in old town! I would eat here again.
(4)
Brad M.
The Food is Amazing! I recommend this to anyone looking for some good tasty Greek food in St. Augustine! Delicious! I had a pita that was amazing and then I went there another time and had the spanikopita. The desserts are just as good as the main meals! My wife gets the Greek Salad which is delicious and huge! You definitely get the bang for your buck here! This place is a favorite of ours. I admit the atmosphere and service isn't always up to par but the food is worth it.
(5)
Cardeen M.
The food is decent but not for the price. The portions are far too small for the cost. Would not recommend for groups or for parties that include children. I'd suggest finding a restaurant off the beaten path to get more bang for your buck.
(3)
Keely P.
The main dishes are so yumm, but the sides (veggies, salad) could be better seasoned. Good core Greek Food!
(3)
Jeff K.
It was a quick lunch, so I'll make it a quicker-than usual review. We were in a bit of a hurry and stopped here for lunch because it was nearby. I ordered a reuben sandwich (an odd menu item considering the restaurant), and it was okay but not really worth coming back for. We also ordered the skordalia because we have a Greek place near our house that made us fall in love with skordalia, and now whenever its on the menu we have to get it. This may have been our least favorite skordalia ever. If there was anything in it besides raw garlic, you couldn't tell. Because it tasted like mashed up raw garlic. Skordalia is supposed to be heavy on garlic, I get that. And I LOVE me some garlic. This was just WAY over the top. My wife stopped eating it after about the third bite. I went further because I didn't want to waste it, but stopped when my sandwich arrived. Twenty minutes later, after finishing my sandwich and leaving the restaurant, my mouth was still burning from the garlic.
(2)
Food L.
We're vegetarian and loved our food!! The Greek pizza was amazing, has creamed spinach well seasoned. Also the hummus sandwich was excellent, and the fried cheese appetizer. Our friends got the chicken and really liked it as well. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Heidi F.
The Athena Restaurant allows the St John's County Chamber of Commerce to come in on a regular basis with a party of 20-25 people for lunch with the full understanding that they are not going to tip whichever lucky server gets chosen to wait on them. Shame on the St John's County Chamber, and shame on the owners of this establishment.
(1)
Chris C.
Was there with family last night, we shared a large Greek salad which was excellent, a bottle of wine, nicely presented by the polite and cheerful server. I had the Moussaka which was excellent, my companions had the Greek chicken and a combination platter.. the food was all nicely prepared and presented. The mixed grilled vegetables that came with the Greek chicken were nicely dressed with some of their bright green Frixa olive oil. The restaurant was warm and inviting. I will look forward to my next visit.
(4)
Brad K.
We actually really liked this place. Nice quaint inside. The picture of the gyro and salad with banana pepper that someone uploaded looks exactly like the plate we were served. It's not the best greek in FLA, but we did find it to be the best greek in St. Augustine. Plus the location is right. You can walk downtown area and go here for lunch or dinner. Great location actually. Will get some pictures next time we visit.
(4)
Gizelle A.
Great menu, tasty food, pleasant environment, weird waiter. That's to sum it up. We stumbled across this place after an afternoon stroll around St. Augustine. Wanted a place that was not loud, had no smokers in close proximity and had interesting food - so there came Athena! Coming in, I was pleasantly surprised - nice light decor with wall art showing sea scenes and ships. Very nice for lunch. We ordered a pita as an appetizer and that was miniature (in size, not in price) - it was sliced in 4 pieces that were each barely a bite. But it tasted great. Then we got the gyros. Portions were decent for lunch - mind it, I did eat all of mine! We didn't get desert but they had my beloved baklava! Our waiter was very strange - he was making a huge effort to distance himself from the establishment and when we complimented the restaurant he replied "Thank you but it's not mine..I just work here." His manners were very..may I say....Eastern European..and ..surprise..he actually is one as he told us later! So that explained it :) Bottom line is he brought the food so we got through that part. I would go back next time we are in St. Augustine
(4)
Lynn Z.
The Pastitsio here was tasteless, overcooked and with a paper-thin bechamel top. Salad was blah oily with no vinegar. Dolmathes were underspiced tasted like the canned ones you can get at a grocery. Nothing at this place hinted at the incredible joy that is Greek cuisine. Very disappointed. Service was good, considering there was no other diners at the time. you would only expect that. The decor was 70's look with booths with boards on sides to act as a coat hanger. Just an old, tired look to it. Worth coming back..... Don't think so.
(2)
Anonymous T.
The best Greek food you will get in Saint Augustine. Service could be a little better , but you get outstanding food at a very decent price with large portions.
(4)
M. P.
3 & 1/2 stars really. I don't care for Greek food, despite being part Greek. I wasn't looking forward to coming here but was pleasantly surprised. The service was great and the food was quite good. The Gyro combo among other dishes were not only tasty but very filling I'd recommend asking for salad dressing on the side or you'll have a BP oil spill on the bottom of your plate.
(3)
Jaime S.
My family had a delicious meal here last night. The food was light, fresh and delicious. My wife and I shared the chicken kabobs and chicken souvlaki. My parents enjoyed the lamb and beef gyro. The pitas tasted fresh made and the tsatsiki sauce was one of the best I've ever tasted. I wouldn't be surprised if they made their own yogurt. Don't forget desert either. the baklava cheesecake is ridiculous. Highly recommend the locals frequenting this place. It is a gem.
(5)
Matt S.
Nice and relaxing
(4)
Annie T.
Oh man, the food here was so good I'm still dreaming about two weeks later. I got one of the combos and my plate came loaded with chicken souvlaki (perfectly seasoned and tender), pita and tzatziki, a dolmades, and a Greek salad. Everything was utterly delicious. My service was the only thing keeping me from giving Cafe Athena 5 stars. I dine solo a lot and I'm used to lackluster service because of that, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I was seated all the way at the back of the restaurant despite several open tables closer to the front and my waitress did the bare minimum. A pity, because my meal really was worth 5 stars.
(4)
Sam S.
Great Greek food. The flaming cheese is delicious! Definitely try the chicken souvlaki!
(5)
Dawen H.
Awesome steaks!!! nice locations! will visit again.
(4)
Antonella Y.
As a Greek food lover and knowledgeable first hand in what it should taste like, I think this place is OK. We came here on a week-night and it wasn't busy at all. The decor is rather dated and the set up is that of a restaurant/diner. The staff is very friendly and accommodating, and the menu is what one would expect of the typical Greek restaurant. I ordered the mixed plate gyro which came with Greek salad, dolmada, and tzatziki. I thought the food was nothing special or extraordinary. I noticed a lot of high reviews for this place, and was very disappointed after tasting the food. I've been eating Greek food since my teenage years--over 25 years, and have spent a few months in Greece and tasted the food there, I've also been to some great Greek restaurants in New York City and in Montreal Canada, and this, isn't one of them. If you're hungry and need a quick bite, this place is fine, but don't expect fine "Greek Cuisine" cause this isn't it!
(2)
Dia D.
This is a nice restaurant with friendly service and reasonable prices. The food was fine and it was close to our hotel (the Hilton). This wasn't the best Greek food I've ever had, but it was far from the worst. My husband had the sampler platter and I had dolmades and taramosalata with warm pita.
(3)
Lisa M.
Went for breakfast food was good.Service could have been better just not well organized.Homemade cornbeef hash and biscuits are worth a mention.
(3)
Ed K.
This restaurant located in the Historic District, just a stroll from the plaza ,is a fantastic place to eat....we went there on a Friday night and there was no wait.....the staff was very friendly.....I had the Pastisio....it had just the right combo of meat and noodles, to bechamel......when in Saint Augustine, ya gotta eat here....
(4)
Longwood R.
We stopped here for dinner during the very busy St. Augustine Nights of Lights. I wish I could give this place a higher rating, but the food was lackluster and the prices were tourist-inflated. The gyro combo I had was uneventful, a small portion considering the dinner hour. The accompanying salad (served on the same plate) was ok. Wife enjoyed her moussaka, older son's chicken kebab was passable. Maybe during another time of the year it might of been a better experience, but Nights of Lights in general was not a festive experience for us...St. Augustine needs to provide some more genuine holiday spirit and lighten up on the trolleys.
(2)
Christina B.
The service was excellent and the food was too good to be true. Fair prices and quaint atmosphere. Absolutely love it. Will come back next time I'm in St. Augustine!!
(5)
Megan H.
Great breakfast! Homemade corned beef hash adds bonus points in my book. The lunch menu has some traditional Greek items and all are authentic. The grape leaves are tender and perfect. And if you're in the mood for an old fashioned hamburger, don't be afraid, they can knock that out pretty well too.
(4)
Adam F.
Off main square in St. Augustine. No wait. Food was very good. Best stuffed grape leaves I have ever had. Good lunch place within walking distance to everything.
(4)
Amanda D.
I was not very impressed with this place. We came into the restaurant because it looked busy as we walked by, and generally, a busy restaurant is a good restaurant. Our server was inattentive, and although the place was full of patrons, there were also four waitstaff. The prices were on the high side, as in $15 - $20 per plate average, although our drinking cups were plastic, and we ate off a plastic tablecloth. The cleanliness of the place leaves a lot to be desired. I had the pastitsio, which came with a bowl of marinara sauce on the side. The dish was good, although the bowl of sauce provided neither a beautiful nor tasty addition. My husband had the gyro combination. The gyro was nothing but a pile of dried out lamb piled on top of two pieces of pita bread. It had no toppings, and was not even assembled as a gyro. It did come with a little plastic cup of too-thick tzaziki sauce. We left this restaurant $40 less in our pockets, and still hungry. Two stars for a very nice location in a beautiful city.
(2)
Randy J.
I have only had breakfast here. An omelette -- w/ spinach and feta is good. I could be rating this place high... They could be 3-star... but I like the fact that they are "just a restuarant/cafe" type of place tucked in amongst other business' in the old part of the oldest town in North America. The food is tasty -- the bacon cooked like Goldilocks porridge... meaning it was juuust right. Good omellette, and coffee that wasn't sitting on a hot plate for 4 hours and oh yeah, unpretentious and unhurried service; well, that is harder to find, so I got to give 'em four stars. Place is definitely Greek -- all the employees are. I talked to the waitress and this place is in fact a "family/friends of family" ran biz.
(4)
Paul R.
People were very nice. I had the Gyro, it was good. The Greek salad was great. Very authentic, lots of olive oil, flavor came from the salad not the dressing.
(3)
Jason F.
My wife and I stopped at Cafe Athena for lunch during our day-long stay in historic St. Augustine. After having walked around the city aimlessly for about 45 minutes in 95 degree heat, we were seated quickly and provided with much needed icy cold glasses of water. Hungry as well as thirsty, my wife ordered the chicken souvlaki gyro and I ordered a greek salad topped with grilled chicken. We hoped this meal would be somewhat light and healthy. We were dead wrong. Unbelievably, my wife's gyro had seemingly vanished under a puddle of tzatziki. She was forced to engage in some amateur archaeology just to find her chicken and veggies. What's more, the tzatziki tasted more like sour cream than greek yogurt. My greek salad, at first, looked great -- until I found that there was more dressing in the bowl than lettuce. I used about a half dozen napkins to soak up oil from my salad, but still ended up with a pain in my stomach that required me to continuously munch on Tums from the quirky Lightner Museum to the grand Castillo de San Marcos. How unfortunate. I wouldn't recommend dining at the Cafe Athena in St. Augustine, but if you do I strongly suggest asking for the sauce, dressing, or tzatziki on the side.
(2)
Peter W.
get the combo - excellent. I had the lamb shank with orzo ... not so hot. overall we had 2 great meals.
(4)
Amanda C.
We ate here while on vacation in St. Augustine. The food was great... the service was not so great though. First off, the food. It was amazing. We both had gyro's and they were huge. Great portion size for the price. The service wasn't so good. The restaurant is really tiny, yet it took them quite a while to notice we were there. After we were sat, our waitress wasn't that attentive. All in all, we're happy we got to eat the great Greek food and I recall the price being very fair. The location is also great. Parking wasn't so hot as it was in downtown historic St. Augustine. But, they can't really help that.
(4)
Julie B.
The food was excellent! We had the dinner specials of Greek Chicken (to be clear, this was HALF a chicken that lasted me two meals!) and Roasted Lamb. The potatoes were amazing as well. The only problem was the two servers seemed stretched too thin across the restaurant, leaving us feeling a little ignored.
(4)
maz b.
the breakfast can be very good here, but the waitress who has an east european accent is bitchy and you dont want to go here if she is working. But the other girls are fine....the omelette is good and homefries are very good and coffee is good, free parking in this district until 10 am.
(3)
Sarah G.
What a great little spot. I've been going to Athena's for years. The food is absolutely great and the prices are very good. It is a smaller restaurant, which I find refreshing and charming.
(4)
Kelley T.
Ate here for lunch on a local's recommendation and was not disappointed. The menu featured many classic greek dishes for a reasonable price, along with more american dishes and a kiddie menu. Ordered the gyro combo which came with gyro and a fresh hot pita, tzatziki and a delicious fully loaded Greek salad for $13.95. Make sure you save room for the baklava cheesecake! It was amazing and drizzled with delicious honey. The other members of my party ordered baklava which was great, and according to them the Greek coffee was pretty good too. If I was in the area again I would definitely go back here.
(4)
Gregory M.
This place was amazing. The ambiance is perfect. Right in the middle of the historic district. One of the best lamb shanks I have ever had. Spinach Pie was really good. Great meal to end a great day. Opa!!!
(4)
Khoua H.
I love the food. They stacked the plate with food and I regretted getting appetizer. I didn't have a problem with the waiter. I thought the service was great.
(5)
Al P.
Very good Greek food with crafts of decent wine. All for a very reasonable price in a hot tourist area. A very enjoyable dinner.
(5)
Stephen L.
Two words: Baklava Cheesecake. Need I say more...okay. I had the gyro and my wife had the hummus plate, both were wonderful. The service was excellent. If you are on the square in St. Augustine, take a stroll down to Athena.
(5)
Betty B.
The flaming goat cheese was amazing! Definitely worth the trip to the restahrant just for that.
(4)
Naty K.
Finding ourselves hungry and within the vicinity of this Greek restaurant, my friend and I decided to give it a try, thanks to its Yelp rating. We stood around waiting for a table, though not for too long, and were sat at a booth. We waited a bit to get a menu, apparently, there was some miscommunication as to who would be waiting on us. Once that was clarified, we placed our orders of the leg of lamb special. Once our meals arrived, confusion set in once again, as I was expecting an actual leg, like a lamb shank, not slices of lamb. I was not impressed with the seasoning either, as it was bland, and Greek food is known for being flavorful. Overall, for me, it was a "meh", as in it could be a lot worse, but it could also be a lot better, so I'd say it was average. My friend thought it was okay, but readily agreed that we'd had better back in South Florida. The desserts were great, however, and generously portioned. I don't know if there is really such a thing as Greek rice pudding as I have never seen that on a menu -- not in the U.S. nor in Europe -- so the authenticity factor may be low, but it was very sweet and delicious, regardless.
(3)
Jim B.
I was walking around St Augustine and spotted Athena Restaurant. I love Mediterranean food and decided to stop in for a late lunch. It is nice inside, clean and has cool murals and atmosphere. The hostess was friendly and cute too. We were seated right away. The waiter was patient while I was trying to decide on what to have. The Amstel draft beer was cold and tasty. The tomato barley soup was fantastic. The small Greek salad was delicious and fresh. The Gyro was very tasty and the meat had great flavor. I really enjoyed Athena Restaurant. I'm looking forward to visit this place again on my next trip through St Augustine. (There is a Yelp listing for Cafe Athena and it is the same place.) I've posted some photos from my visit.
(4)
Steve G.
We were in on a Sunday early evening. St. Augustine was pretty quiet this evening overall, and the restaurant was empty. So... I can say we had really good service! :) My wife had the Greek Specialty Combo with chicken. Came with chicken shawarma and a large Greek salad. It was a really large serving. I did look over the previous reviews and was a little skeptical about the food and serving sizes... but to be fair... the portions we both had were very large. I had the gyro platter...with fries. Again, lots of lamb. Very good. I was happy with Athena Restaurant. The other dishes on the menu look good, and we have not found a ton of places locally that serve some of these plates. So, we will most likely be back when we get down to St. Augustine again.
(4)
Jeff F.
wonderful breakfast place. they serve lunch and dinner as well but we were in search for a place to eat breakfast after walking on a sunday and came across this place. It was great
(4)
Jocelyn S.
Food was really good and served nice and hot! However service was not that great it took forever to receive our food there was one waiter and he worked but another lady was just standing around and not even helping!
(3)
Nydia M.
The chicken gyro platter was really tasty with the perfect amount of tzatziki sauce. But the calamari appetizer. Dear Lord, why did you let us order that?! It was rubbery and fell into our vulnerable touristy stomachs like a pile of bricks. Never again. Service was ok.
(2)
Kayler F.
Unfortunately this place is a bust. The only good thing on their menu is the hummus platter. The hummus is wonderful. But everything else I've tried from this place lacks flavor and taste stale. The gyro meat is terrible and always dry. :(
(2)
Jason M.
The place was really neat. It was in the middle of the town center. We had lunch and the service was just a little slow. Not bad though. Total bill for 4 of us was $48.00 with water and not including tip. I had breakfast. It was really good. We were all happy with the experience and it is certainly recommended.
(4)
Claudia D.
We visit St Augustine quite often and this was our second and LAST time at this restaurant. The first time we ate here years ago, it was great. But not anymore. The prices are ridiculously high for the amount of food you get and the service is just non existent. I ordered the gyro, which comes with no sides for $10 bucks, and hardly any meat. My hubby ordered the moussaka which was good but $15 and no sides either. Not worth it at all. Then when we were ready to pay, the server decided to add a much more than decent tip to our check! Really? I don't think so. I don't recommend this place unless you like to pay too much for your food and enjoy being taken advantage of by your server. We will not return.
(1)
Susan Y.
Had the greek chicken with salad. Very good! A lot of food for the money and the restaurant was quiet - a rarity in old town! I would eat here again.
(4)
Brad M.
The Food is Amazing! I recommend this to anyone looking for some good tasty Greek food in St. Augustine! Delicious! I had a pita that was amazing and then I went there another time and had the spanikopita. The desserts are just as good as the main meals! My wife gets the Greek Salad which is delicious and huge! You definitely get the bang for your buck here! This place is a favorite of ours. I admit the atmosphere and service isn't always up to par but the food is worth it.
(5)
Cardeen M.
The food is decent but not for the price. The portions are far too small for the cost. Would not recommend for groups or for parties that include children. I'd suggest finding a restaurant off the beaten path to get more bang for your buck.
(3)
Keely P.
The main dishes are so yumm, but the sides (veggies, salad) could be better seasoned. Good core Greek Food!
(3)
Cecelia B.
Good little breakfast place-haven't eaten any other meal there. Family run with cozy atmosphere. The corn beef hash is homemade and some of the best I've ever had.
(4)
Tiffany L.
The food was good, but there isn't really air conditioning in here :( and the drinks are chinsey on ice. 5 stars for air conditioning on a hot summer day.
(4)
Don E.
I have been to St. Augustine a half a dozen times over the last 15 years. There are so many places to eat and they are all pretty good, but I want you to know that we always make it a point to eat here. It is authentic, well prepared, and just fabulous. Take the time to stop in. Great Choice for some Greek food.
(5)
S K.
Not a fan. Had the moussaka. Not the best. Also service wasn't the best. They forgot an order and then said we never placed it. Can't say much about it. A lot to be desired.
(2)
Jeff K.
It was a quick lunch, so I'll make it a quicker-than usual review. We were in a bit of a hurry and stopped here for lunch because it was nearby. I ordered a reuben sandwich (an odd menu item considering the restaurant), and it was okay but not really worth coming back for. We also ordered the skordalia because we have a Greek place near our house that made us fall in love with skordalia, and now whenever its on the menu we have to get it. This may have been our least favorite skordalia ever. If there was anything in it besides raw garlic, you couldn't tell. Because it tasted like mashed up raw garlic. Skordalia is supposed to be heavy on garlic, I get that. And I LOVE me some garlic. This was just WAY over the top. My wife stopped eating it after about the third bite. I went further because I didn't want to waste it, but stopped when my sandwich arrived. Twenty minutes later, after finishing my sandwich and leaving the restaurant, my mouth was still burning from the garlic.
(2)
Food L.
We're vegetarian and loved our food!! The Greek pizza was amazing, has creamed spinach well seasoned. Also the hummus sandwich was excellent, and the fried cheese appetizer. Our friends got the chicken and really liked it as well. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Sean D.
My wife and I both love Greek food. We order the hummus appetizer it was good but I have had better store bought hummus. I ordered the greek salad and she ordered a chicken and rice soup to go along with our Gyros. My salad was rather bland and as one reviewer stated before had a lot of oil on it. My wifes soup looked and tasted like something out of a can. The Gyros were equally disappointing. The meat was supposed to be beef and lamb. What we got was some very dry processed meat that I guess contained beef and lamb. Over all it was a very disappointing meal. In there part of saint Augustine there are plenty of great restaurants. Save yourself some indigestion and go somewhere else
(2)
Guillermo A.
This place was great. Had the gyro combo platter. Tasted great and it was a perfect portion. Not a lot like other places that overdo it with substandard food. I thought it was phenomenal. It was also open on Christmas.
(5)
Joe C.
It was a Friday night and every place we wanted to eat at had an hour wait so after strolling through the plaza we saw this place was mostly empty so we thought we'd give it a try. I've had my share of Greek food myself and wasn't expecting anything great . I ordered the chicken souvlaki combo & my wife ordered the Spanakopita combo. They were both tasty and well seasoned. They also have the Galaktoboureko dessert which was quite good too. All in all I would say they could give you more meat for the price, though it's not Astoria NY but for St Augustine, it's Greek enough.
(3)
Julius V.
A quick lunch in St. Augustine on the way to Melbourne, here in Florida. Athena is situated near the base of the famous Lion Bridge. You can't beat the scenery and the quaint atmosphere of the location, here in the nation's oldest city. The restaurant is clean and has a typical Greek decor and atmosphere. The food is all right, for a quick lunch. However, I would not recommend for dinner. It's a bit pricey for the lack of freshness of the food.
(3)
Chris C.
Was there with family last night, we shared a large Greek salad which was excellent, a bottle of wine, nicely presented by the polite and cheerful server. I had the Moussaka which was excellent, my companions had the Greek chicken and a combination platter.. the food was all nicely prepared and presented. The mixed grilled vegetables that came with the Greek chicken were nicely dressed with some of their bright green Frixa olive oil. The restaurant was warm and inviting. I will look forward to my next visit.
(4)
Brad K.
We actually really liked this place. Nice quaint inside. The picture of the gyro and salad with banana pepper that someone uploaded looks exactly like the plate we were served. It's not the best greek in FLA, but we did find it to be the best greek in St. Augustine. Plus the location is right. You can walk downtown area and go here for lunch or dinner. Great location actually. Will get some pictures next time we visit.
(4)
Gizelle A.
Great menu, tasty food, pleasant environment, weird waiter. That's to sum it up. We stumbled across this place after an afternoon stroll around St. Augustine. Wanted a place that was not loud, had no smokers in close proximity and had interesting food - so there came Athena! Coming in, I was pleasantly surprised - nice light decor with wall art showing sea scenes and ships. Very nice for lunch. We ordered a pita as an appetizer and that was miniature (in size, not in price) - it was sliced in 4 pieces that were each barely a bite. But it tasted great. Then we got the gyros. Portions were decent for lunch - mind it, I did eat all of mine! We didn't get desert but they had my beloved baklava! Our waiter was very strange - he was making a huge effort to distance himself from the establishment and when we complimented the restaurant he replied "Thank you but it's not mine..I just work here." His manners were very..may I say....Eastern European..and ..surprise..he actually is one as he told us later! So that explained it :) Bottom line is he brought the food so we got through that part. I would go back next time we are in St. Augustine
(4)
Lynn Z.
The Pastitsio here was tasteless, overcooked and with a paper-thin bechamel top. Salad was blah oily with no vinegar. Dolmathes were underspiced tasted like the canned ones you can get at a grocery. Nothing at this place hinted at the incredible joy that is Greek cuisine. Very disappointed. Service was good, considering there was no other diners at the time. you would only expect that. The decor was 70's look with booths with boards on sides to act as a coat hanger. Just an old, tired look to it. Worth coming back..... Don't think so.
(2)
M. P.
3 & 1/2 stars really. I don't care for Greek food, despite being part Greek. I wasn't looking forward to coming here but was pleasantly surprised. The service was great and the food was quite good. The Gyro combo among other dishes were not only tasty but very filling I'd recommend asking for salad dressing on the side or you'll have a BP oil spill on the bottom of your plate.
(3)
Jaime S.
My family had a delicious meal here last night. The food was light, fresh and delicious. My wife and I shared the chicken kabobs and chicken souvlaki. My parents enjoyed the lamb and beef gyro. The pitas tasted fresh made and the tsatsiki sauce was one of the best I've ever tasted. I wouldn't be surprised if they made their own yogurt. Don't forget desert either. the baklava cheesecake is ridiculous. Highly recommend the locals frequenting this place. It is a gem.
(5)
Matt S.
Nice and relaxing
(4)
Anonymous T.
The best Greek food you will get in Saint Augustine. Service could be a little better , but you get outstanding food at a very decent price with large portions.
(4)
Paul R.
People were very nice. I had the Gyro, it was good. The Greek salad was great. Very authentic, lots of olive oil, flavor came from the salad not the dressing.
(3)
Jason F.
My wife and I stopped at Cafe Athena for lunch during our day-long stay in historic St. Augustine. After having walked around the city aimlessly for about 45 minutes in 95 degree heat, we were seated quickly and provided with much needed icy cold glasses of water. Hungry as well as thirsty, my wife ordered the chicken souvlaki gyro and I ordered a greek salad topped with grilled chicken. We hoped this meal would be somewhat light and healthy. We were dead wrong. Unbelievably, my wife's gyro had seemingly vanished under a puddle of tzatziki. She was forced to engage in some amateur archaeology just to find her chicken and veggies. What's more, the tzatziki tasted more like sour cream than greek yogurt. My greek salad, at first, looked great -- until I found that there was more dressing in the bowl than lettuce. I used about a half dozen napkins to soak up oil from my salad, but still ended up with a pain in my stomach that required me to continuously munch on Tums from the quirky Lightner Museum to the grand Castillo de San Marcos. How unfortunate. I wouldn't recommend dining at the Cafe Athena in St. Augustine, but if you do I strongly suggest asking for the sauce, dressing, or tzatziki on the side.
(2)
Peter W.
get the combo - excellent. I had the lamb shank with orzo ... not so hot. overall we had 2 great meals.
(4)
Longwood R.
We stopped here for dinner during the very busy St. Augustine Nights of Lights. I wish I could give this place a higher rating, but the food was lackluster and the prices were tourist-inflated. The gyro combo I had was uneventful, a small portion considering the dinner hour. The accompanying salad (served on the same plate) was ok. Wife enjoyed her moussaka, older son's chicken kebab was passable. Maybe during another time of the year it might of been a better experience, but Nights of Lights in general was not a festive experience for us...St. Augustine needs to provide some more genuine holiday spirit and lighten up on the trolleys.
(2)
Antonella Y.
As a Greek food lover and knowledgeable first hand in what it should taste like, I think this place is OK. We came here on a week-night and it wasn't busy at all. The decor is rather dated and the set up is that of a restaurant/diner. The staff is very friendly and accommodating, and the menu is what one would expect of the typical Greek restaurant. I ordered the mixed plate gyro which came with Greek salad, dolmada, and tzatziki. I thought the food was nothing special or extraordinary. I noticed a lot of high reviews for this place, and was very disappointed after tasting the food. I've been eating Greek food since my teenage years--over 25 years, and have spent a few months in Greece and tasted the food there, I've also been to some great Greek restaurants in New York City and in Montreal Canada, and this, isn't one of them. If you're hungry and need a quick bite, this place is fine, but don't expect fine "Greek Cuisine" cause this isn't it!
(2)
Annie T.
Oh man, the food here was so good I'm still dreaming about two weeks later. I got one of the combos and my plate came loaded with chicken souvlaki (perfectly seasoned and tender), pita and tzatziki, a dolmades, and a Greek salad. Everything was utterly delicious. My service was the only thing keeping me from giving Cafe Athena 5 stars. I dine solo a lot and I'm used to lackluster service because of that, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I was seated all the way at the back of the restaurant despite several open tables closer to the front and my waitress did the bare minimum. A pity, because my meal really was worth 5 stars.
(4)
Sam S.
Great Greek food. The flaming cheese is delicious! Definitely try the chicken souvlaki!
(5)
Dawen H.
Awesome steaks!!! nice locations! will visit again.
(4)
Dia D.
This is a nice restaurant with friendly service and reasonable prices. The food was fine and it was close to our hotel (the Hilton). This wasn't the best Greek food I've ever had, but it was far from the worst. My husband had the sampler platter and I had dolmades and taramosalata with warm pita.
(3)
Lisa M.
Went for breakfast food was good.Service could have been better just not well organized.Homemade cornbeef hash and biscuits are worth a mention.
(3)
Ed K.
This restaurant located in the Historic District, just a stroll from the plaza ,is a fantastic place to eat....we went there on a Friday night and there was no wait.....the staff was very friendly.....I had the Pastisio....it had just the right combo of meat and noodles, to bechamel......when in Saint Augustine, ya gotta eat here....
(4)
Christina B.
The service was excellent and the food was too good to be true. Fair prices and quaint atmosphere. Absolutely love it. Will come back next time I'm in St. Augustine!!
(5)
Joel B.
Had breakfast here and enjoyed it. Quality was good and so were the prices. If your in the area looking for breakfast, give it a try.
(4)
Heidi F.
The Athena Restaurant allows the St John's County Chamber of Commerce to come in on a regular basis with a party of 20-25 people for lunch with the full understanding that they are not going to tip whichever lucky server gets chosen to wait on them. Shame on the St John's County Chamber, and shame on the owners of this establishment.
(1)
Megan H.
Great breakfast! Homemade corned beef hash adds bonus points in my book. The lunch menu has some traditional Greek items and all are authentic. The grape leaves are tender and perfect. And if you're in the mood for an old fashioned hamburger, don't be afraid, they can knock that out pretty well too.
(4)
Adam F.
Off main square in St. Augustine. No wait. Food was very good. Best stuffed grape leaves I have ever had. Good lunch place within walking distance to everything.
(4)
Amanda D.
I was not very impressed with this place. We came into the restaurant because it looked busy as we walked by, and generally, a busy restaurant is a good restaurant. Our server was inattentive, and although the place was full of patrons, there were also four waitstaff. The prices were on the high side, as in $15 - $20 per plate average, although our drinking cups were plastic, and we ate off a plastic tablecloth. The cleanliness of the place leaves a lot to be desired. I had the pastitsio, which came with a bowl of marinara sauce on the side. The dish was good, although the bowl of sauce provided neither a beautiful nor tasty addition. My husband had the gyro combination. The gyro was nothing but a pile of dried out lamb piled on top of two pieces of pita bread. It had no toppings, and was not even assembled as a gyro. It did come with a little plastic cup of too-thick tzaziki sauce. We left this restaurant $40 less in our pockets, and still hungry. Two stars for a very nice location in a beautiful city.
(2)
Randy J.
I have only had breakfast here. An omelette -- w/ spinach and feta is good. I could be rating this place high... They could be 3-star... but I like the fact that they are "just a restuarant/cafe" type of place tucked in amongst other business' in the old part of the oldest town in North America. The food is tasty -- the bacon cooked like Goldilocks porridge... meaning it was juuust right. Good omellette, and coffee that wasn't sitting on a hot plate for 4 hours and oh yeah, unpretentious and unhurried service; well, that is harder to find, so I got to give 'em four stars. Place is definitely Greek -- all the employees are. I talked to the waitress and this place is in fact a "family/friends of family" ran biz.
(4)
Kelley T.
Ate here for lunch on a local's recommendation and was not disappointed. The menu featured many classic greek dishes for a reasonable price, along with more american dishes and a kiddie menu. Ordered the gyro combo which came with gyro and a fresh hot pita, tzatziki and a delicious fully loaded Greek salad for $13.95. Make sure you save room for the baklava cheesecake! It was amazing and drizzled with delicious honey. The other members of my party ordered baklava which was great, and according to them the Greek coffee was pretty good too. If I was in the area again I would definitely go back here.
(4)
Julie B.
The food was excellent! We had the dinner specials of Greek Chicken (to be clear, this was HALF a chicken that lasted me two meals!) and Roasted Lamb. The potatoes were amazing as well. The only problem was the two servers seemed stretched too thin across the restaurant, leaving us feeling a little ignored.
(4)
maz b.
the breakfast can be very good here, but the waitress who has an east european accent is bitchy and you dont want to go here if she is working. But the other girls are fine....the omelette is good and homefries are very good and coffee is good, free parking in this district until 10 am.
(3)
Amanda C.
We ate here while on vacation in St. Augustine. The food was great... the service was not so great though. First off, the food. It was amazing. We both had gyro's and they were huge. Great portion size for the price. The service wasn't so good. The restaurant is really tiny, yet it took them quite a while to notice we were there. After we were sat, our waitress wasn't that attentive. All in all, we're happy we got to eat the great Greek food and I recall the price being very fair. The location is also great. Parking wasn't so hot as it was in downtown historic St. Augustine. But, they can't really help that.
(4)
Sarah G.
What a great little spot. I've been going to Athena's for years. The food is absolutely great and the prices are very good. It is a smaller restaurant, which I find refreshing and charming.
(4)
M B.
This is St. Augustines take on Greek cuisine. Serving Breakfast, lunch, and dinner they offer a wide aray of delicacies. Such as: Kebobs, Gyros with steak or chicken, lamb, soups and salads of the area, and of course wine and beer. The service was prompt and courteous upon seating. Throughout the meal our waitress was always checking in with us to see if everything was good. From the booth where we were sitting it gave us a nice view Downtown St. Augustine Square. This is a small restaurant and I can only assume that it would get crowded fast, but the food was fresh and the wine kept pouring. Over all i would enjoy this place as an everyday eatery shop for a friendly and casual lunch or dinner.
(3)
C P.
I love this restaurant. The food is great and reasonably priced. My favorite is the lemon chicken and rice soup. It tastes like it is made by an old Greek grandma. Guaranteed to heal what ails you.
(5)
Matthew J.
Awesome! Amazing! Quality food for great price!
(5)
Ayanna B.
I like this place a lot. Not just for the gyros. Not just for the warm humus plate. Not just for the lamb dinner. I love it because they serve breakfast on the weekends. That is full service! Go there if you want some authentic fare at a good price. But ask for ice with your soda.
(4)
M B.
This is St. Augustines take on Greek cuisine. Serving Breakfast, lunch, and dinner they offer a wide aray of delicacies. Such as: Kebobs, Gyros with steak or chicken, lamb, soups and salads of the area, and of course wine and beer. The service was prompt and courteous upon seating. Throughout the meal our waitress was always checking in with us to see if everything was good. From the booth where we were sitting it gave us a nice view Downtown St. Augustine Square. This is a small restaurant and I can only assume that it would get crowded fast, but the food was fresh and the wine kept pouring. Over all i would enjoy this place as an everyday eatery shop for a friendly and casual lunch or dinner.
(3)
C P.
I love this restaurant. The food is great and reasonably priced. My favorite is the lemon chicken and rice soup. It tastes like it is made by an old Greek grandma. Guaranteed to heal what ails you.
(5)
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Address :14 Cathedral Pl
Saint Augustine, FL, 32084
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Greek food is a fine melody of the finest pressed olive oil, fresh fermented bread, colorful vegetables, juicy meat, sea food all cooked in spices and fresh rosemary. The people from Greek were great scholars who aimed to excel in everything they do. The results are quite visible in their food as they are the inventors of olive oil which is beneficial to health. Greeks also made different type of wines from the best quality of grapes fermented in controlled environment.
Today, you can find hundreds of restaurants offering authentic Greek food or popularly termed as Mediterranean cuisine in New York city alone. People wait in line to taste the exotic Greek dishes like saganaki, taramasalata, souvlaki, loukoumades, spanakopita, moussaka, and many more. One thing which most people like about these authentic Greek dishes is abundant use of lemon juice, olive oil, fresh rosemary and sea salt. A smart mix of few ingredients can virtually take you on the pebble streets of beautiful city of Greece.
For those who don't have time to enjoy fine dining should try tasting the famous souvlaki with pita which is type of meat dish, also a trademark Greek fast food. For those who are vegetarian, or vegan can try different versions of Greek Salad. So, if you wish to enjoy a hearty yet healthy meal that tastes divine then try dining at the best Greek restaurant in your city. Greek cuisine not only tastes good but also help maintain your body in a natural way through healthy diet.
Khoua H.
I love the food. They stacked the plate with food and I regretted getting appetizer. I didn't have a problem with the waiter. I thought the service was great.
(5)Al P.
Very good Greek food with crafts of decent wine. All for a very reasonable price in a hot tourist area. A very enjoyable dinner.
(5)Stephen L.
Two words: Baklava Cheesecake. Need I say more...okay. I had the gyro and my wife had the hummus plate, both were wonderful. The service was excellent. If you are on the square in St. Augustine, take a stroll down to Athena.
(5)Sean D.
My wife and I both love Greek food. We order the hummus appetizer it was good but I have had better store bought hummus. I ordered the greek salad and she ordered a chicken and rice soup to go along with our Gyros. My salad was rather bland and as one reviewer stated before had a lot of oil on it. My wifes soup looked and tasted like something out of a can. The Gyros were equally disappointing. The meat was supposed to be beef and lamb. What we got was some very dry processed meat that I guess contained beef and lamb. Over all it was a very disappointing meal. In there part of saint Augustine there are plenty of great restaurants. Save yourself some indigestion and go somewhere else
(2)Guillermo A.
This place was great. Had the gyro combo platter. Tasted great and it was a perfect portion. Not a lot like other places that overdo it with substandard food. I thought it was phenomenal. It was also open on Christmas.
(5)Joe C.
It was a Friday night and every place we wanted to eat at had an hour wait so after strolling through the plaza we saw this place was mostly empty so we thought we'd give it a try. I've had my share of Greek food myself and wasn't expecting anything great . I ordered the chicken souvlaki combo & my wife ordered the Spanakopita combo. They were both tasty and well seasoned. They also have the Galaktoboureko dessert which was quite good too. All in all I would say they could give you more meat for the price, though it's not Astoria NY but for St Augustine, it's Greek enough.
(3)Julius V.
A quick lunch in St. Augustine on the way to Melbourne, here in Florida. Athena is situated near the base of the famous Lion Bridge. You can't beat the scenery and the quaint atmosphere of the location, here in the nation's oldest city. The restaurant is clean and has a typical Greek decor and atmosphere. The food is all right, for a quick lunch. However, I would not recommend for dinner. It's a bit pricey for the lack of freshness of the food.
(3)Matthew J.
Awesome! Amazing! Quality food for great price!
(5)Ayanna B.
I like this place a lot. Not just for the gyros. Not just for the warm humus plate. Not just for the lamb dinner. I love it because they serve breakfast on the weekends. That is full service! Go there if you want some authentic fare at a good price. But ask for ice with your soda.
(4)Joel B.
Had breakfast here and enjoyed it. Quality was good and so were the prices. If your in the area looking for breakfast, give it a try.
(4)Jim B.
I was walking around St Augustine and spotted Athena Restaurant. I love Mediterranean food and decided to stop in for a late lunch. It is nice inside, clean and has cool murals and atmosphere. The hostess was friendly and cute too. We were seated right away. The waiter was patient while I was trying to decide on what to have. The Amstel draft beer was cold and tasty. The tomato barley soup was fantastic. The small Greek salad was delicious and fresh. The Gyro was very tasty and the meat had great flavor. I really enjoyed Athena Restaurant. I'm looking forward to visit this place again on my next trip through St Augustine. (There is a Yelp listing for Cafe Athena and it is the same place.) I've posted some photos from my visit.
(4)Steve G.
We were in on a Sunday early evening. St. Augustine was pretty quiet this evening overall, and the restaurant was empty. So... I can say we had really good service! :) My wife had the Greek Specialty Combo with chicken. Came with chicken shawarma and a large Greek salad. It was a really large serving. I did look over the previous reviews and was a little skeptical about the food and serving sizes... but to be fair... the portions we both had were very large. I had the gyro platter...with fries. Again, lots of lamb. Very good. I was happy with Athena Restaurant. The other dishes on the menu look good, and we have not found a ton of places locally that serve some of these plates. So, we will most likely be back when we get down to St. Augustine again.
(4)Jeff F.
wonderful breakfast place. they serve lunch and dinner as well but we were in search for a place to eat breakfast after walking on a sunday and came across this place. It was great
(4)Jocelyn S.
Food was really good and served nice and hot! However service was not that great it took forever to receive our food there was one waiter and he worked but another lady was just standing around and not even helping!
(3)Nydia M.
The chicken gyro platter was really tasty with the perfect amount of tzatziki sauce. But the calamari appetizer. Dear Lord, why did you let us order that?! It was rubbery and fell into our vulnerable touristy stomachs like a pile of bricks. Never again. Service was ok.
(2)Kayler F.
Unfortunately this place is a bust. The only good thing on their menu is the hummus platter. The hummus is wonderful. But everything else I've tried from this place lacks flavor and taste stale. The gyro meat is terrible and always dry. :(
(2)Jason M.
The place was really neat. It was in the middle of the town center. We had lunch and the service was just a little slow. Not bad though. Total bill for 4 of us was $48.00 with water and not including tip. I had breakfast. It was really good. We were all happy with the experience and it is certainly recommended.
(4)Betty B.
The flaming goat cheese was amazing! Definitely worth the trip to the restahrant just for that.
(4)Naty K.
Finding ourselves hungry and within the vicinity of this Greek restaurant, my friend and I decided to give it a try, thanks to its Yelp rating. We stood around waiting for a table, though not for too long, and were sat at a booth. We waited a bit to get a menu, apparently, there was some miscommunication as to who would be waiting on us. Once that was clarified, we placed our orders of the leg of lamb special. Once our meals arrived, confusion set in once again, as I was expecting an actual leg, like a lamb shank, not slices of lamb. I was not impressed with the seasoning either, as it was bland, and Greek food is known for being flavorful. Overall, for me, it was a "meh", as in it could be a lot worse, but it could also be a lot better, so I'd say it was average. My friend thought it was okay, but readily agreed that we'd had better back in South Florida. The desserts were great, however, and generously portioned. I don't know if there is really such a thing as Greek rice pudding as I have never seen that on a menu -- not in the U.S. nor in Europe -- so the authenticity factor may be low, but it was very sweet and delicious, regardless.
(3)Cecelia B.
Good little breakfast place-haven't eaten any other meal there. Family run with cozy atmosphere. The corn beef hash is homemade and some of the best I've ever had.
(4)Tiffany L.
The food was good, but there isn't really air conditioning in here :( and the drinks are chinsey on ice. 5 stars for air conditioning on a hot summer day.
(4)Don E.
I have been to St. Augustine a half a dozen times over the last 15 years. There are so many places to eat and they are all pretty good, but I want you to know that we always make it a point to eat here. It is authentic, well prepared, and just fabulous. Take the time to stop in. Great Choice for some Greek food.
(5)S K.
Not a fan. Had the moussaka. Not the best. Also service wasn't the best. They forgot an order and then said we never placed it. Can't say much about it. A lot to be desired.
(2)Gregory M.
This place was amazing. The ambiance is perfect. Right in the middle of the historic district. One of the best lamb shanks I have ever had. Spinach Pie was really good. Great meal to end a great day. Opa!!!
(4)Claudia D.
We visit St Augustine quite often and this was our second and LAST time at this restaurant. The first time we ate here years ago, it was great. But not anymore. The prices are ridiculously high for the amount of food you get and the service is just non existent. I ordered the gyro, which comes with no sides for $10 bucks, and hardly any meat. My hubby ordered the moussaka which was good but $15 and no sides either. Not worth it at all. Then when we were ready to pay, the server decided to add a much more than decent tip to our check! Really? I don't think so. I don't recommend this place unless you like to pay too much for your food and enjoy being taken advantage of by your server. We will not return.
(1)Susan Y.
Had the greek chicken with salad. Very good! A lot of food for the money and the restaurant was quiet - a rarity in old town! I would eat here again.
(4)Brad M.
The Food is Amazing! I recommend this to anyone looking for some good tasty Greek food in St. Augustine! Delicious! I had a pita that was amazing and then I went there another time and had the spanikopita. The desserts are just as good as the main meals! My wife gets the Greek Salad which is delicious and huge! You definitely get the bang for your buck here! This place is a favorite of ours. I admit the atmosphere and service isn't always up to par but the food is worth it.
(5)Cardeen M.
The food is decent but not for the price. The portions are far too small for the cost. Would not recommend for groups or for parties that include children. I'd suggest finding a restaurant off the beaten path to get more bang for your buck.
(3)Keely P.
The main dishes are so yumm, but the sides (veggies, salad) could be better seasoned. Good core Greek Food!
(3)Jeff K.
It was a quick lunch, so I'll make it a quicker-than usual review. We were in a bit of a hurry and stopped here for lunch because it was nearby. I ordered a reuben sandwich (an odd menu item considering the restaurant), and it was okay but not really worth coming back for. We also ordered the skordalia because we have a Greek place near our house that made us fall in love with skordalia, and now whenever its on the menu we have to get it. This may have been our least favorite skordalia ever. If there was anything in it besides raw garlic, you couldn't tell. Because it tasted like mashed up raw garlic. Skordalia is supposed to be heavy on garlic, I get that. And I LOVE me some garlic. This was just WAY over the top. My wife stopped eating it after about the third bite. I went further because I didn't want to waste it, but stopped when my sandwich arrived. Twenty minutes later, after finishing my sandwich and leaving the restaurant, my mouth was still burning from the garlic.
(2)Food L.
We're vegetarian and loved our food!! The Greek pizza was amazing, has creamed spinach well seasoned. Also the hummus sandwich was excellent, and the fried cheese appetizer. Our friends got the chicken and really liked it as well. Will definitely be back!
(5)Heidi F.
The Athena Restaurant allows the St John's County Chamber of Commerce to come in on a regular basis with a party of 20-25 people for lunch with the full understanding that they are not going to tip whichever lucky server gets chosen to wait on them. Shame on the St John's County Chamber, and shame on the owners of this establishment.
(1)Chris C.
Was there with family last night, we shared a large Greek salad which was excellent, a bottle of wine, nicely presented by the polite and cheerful server. I had the Moussaka which was excellent, my companions had the Greek chicken and a combination platter.. the food was all nicely prepared and presented. The mixed grilled vegetables that came with the Greek chicken were nicely dressed with some of their bright green Frixa olive oil. The restaurant was warm and inviting. I will look forward to my next visit.
(4)Brad K.
We actually really liked this place. Nice quaint inside. The picture of the gyro and salad with banana pepper that someone uploaded looks exactly like the plate we were served. It's not the best greek in FLA, but we did find it to be the best greek in St. Augustine. Plus the location is right. You can walk downtown area and go here for lunch or dinner. Great location actually. Will get some pictures next time we visit.
(4)Gizelle A.
Great menu, tasty food, pleasant environment, weird waiter. That's to sum it up. We stumbled across this place after an afternoon stroll around St. Augustine. Wanted a place that was not loud, had no smokers in close proximity and had interesting food - so there came Athena! Coming in, I was pleasantly surprised - nice light decor with wall art showing sea scenes and ships. Very nice for lunch. We ordered a pita as an appetizer and that was miniature (in size, not in price) - it was sliced in 4 pieces that were each barely a bite. But it tasted great. Then we got the gyros. Portions were decent for lunch - mind it, I did eat all of mine! We didn't get desert but they had my beloved baklava! Our waiter was very strange - he was making a huge effort to distance himself from the establishment and when we complimented the restaurant he replied "Thank you but it's not mine..I just work here." His manners were very..may I say....Eastern European..and ..surprise..he actually is one as he told us later! So that explained it :) Bottom line is he brought the food so we got through that part. I would go back next time we are in St. Augustine
(4)Lynn Z.
The Pastitsio here was tasteless, overcooked and with a paper-thin bechamel top. Salad was blah oily with no vinegar. Dolmathes were underspiced tasted like the canned ones you can get at a grocery. Nothing at this place hinted at the incredible joy that is Greek cuisine. Very disappointed. Service was good, considering there was no other diners at the time. you would only expect that. The decor was 70's look with booths with boards on sides to act as a coat hanger. Just an old, tired look to it. Worth coming back..... Don't think so.
(2)Anonymous T.
The best Greek food you will get in Saint Augustine. Service could be a little better , but you get outstanding food at a very decent price with large portions.
(4)M. P.
3 & 1/2 stars really. I don't care for Greek food, despite being part Greek. I wasn't looking forward to coming here but was pleasantly surprised. The service was great and the food was quite good. The Gyro combo among other dishes were not only tasty but very filling I'd recommend asking for salad dressing on the side or you'll have a BP oil spill on the bottom of your plate.
(3)Jaime S.
My family had a delicious meal here last night. The food was light, fresh and delicious. My wife and I shared the chicken kabobs and chicken souvlaki. My parents enjoyed the lamb and beef gyro. The pitas tasted fresh made and the tsatsiki sauce was one of the best I've ever tasted. I wouldn't be surprised if they made their own yogurt. Don't forget desert either. the baklava cheesecake is ridiculous. Highly recommend the locals frequenting this place. It is a gem.
(5)Matt S.
Nice and relaxing
(4)Annie T.
Oh man, the food here was so good I'm still dreaming about two weeks later. I got one of the combos and my plate came loaded with chicken souvlaki (perfectly seasoned and tender), pita and tzatziki, a dolmades, and a Greek salad. Everything was utterly delicious. My service was the only thing keeping me from giving Cafe Athena 5 stars. I dine solo a lot and I'm used to lackluster service because of that, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I was seated all the way at the back of the restaurant despite several open tables closer to the front and my waitress did the bare minimum. A pity, because my meal really was worth 5 stars.
(4)Sam S.
Great Greek food. The flaming cheese is delicious! Definitely try the chicken souvlaki!
(5)Dawen H.
Awesome steaks!!! nice locations! will visit again.
(4)Antonella Y.
As a Greek food lover and knowledgeable first hand in what it should taste like, I think this place is OK. We came here on a week-night and it wasn't busy at all. The decor is rather dated and the set up is that of a restaurant/diner. The staff is very friendly and accommodating, and the menu is what one would expect of the typical Greek restaurant. I ordered the mixed plate gyro which came with Greek salad, dolmada, and tzatziki. I thought the food was nothing special or extraordinary. I noticed a lot of high reviews for this place, and was very disappointed after tasting the food. I've been eating Greek food since my teenage years--over 25 years, and have spent a few months in Greece and tasted the food there, I've also been to some great Greek restaurants in New York City and in Montreal Canada, and this, isn't one of them. If you're hungry and need a quick bite, this place is fine, but don't expect fine "Greek Cuisine" cause this isn't it!
(2)Dia D.
This is a nice restaurant with friendly service and reasonable prices. The food was fine and it was close to our hotel (the Hilton). This wasn't the best Greek food I've ever had, but it was far from the worst. My husband had the sampler platter and I had dolmades and taramosalata with warm pita.
(3)Lisa M.
Went for breakfast food was good.Service could have been better just not well organized.Homemade cornbeef hash and biscuits are worth a mention.
(3)Ed K.
This restaurant located in the Historic District, just a stroll from the plaza ,is a fantastic place to eat....we went there on a Friday night and there was no wait.....the staff was very friendly.....I had the Pastisio....it had just the right combo of meat and noodles, to bechamel......when in Saint Augustine, ya gotta eat here....
(4)Longwood R.
We stopped here for dinner during the very busy St. Augustine Nights of Lights. I wish I could give this place a higher rating, but the food was lackluster and the prices were tourist-inflated. The gyro combo I had was uneventful, a small portion considering the dinner hour. The accompanying salad (served on the same plate) was ok. Wife enjoyed her moussaka, older son's chicken kebab was passable. Maybe during another time of the year it might of been a better experience, but Nights of Lights in general was not a festive experience for us...St. Augustine needs to provide some more genuine holiday spirit and lighten up on the trolleys.
(2)Christina B.
The service was excellent and the food was too good to be true. Fair prices and quaint atmosphere. Absolutely love it. Will come back next time I'm in St. Augustine!!
(5)Megan H.
Great breakfast! Homemade corned beef hash adds bonus points in my book. The lunch menu has some traditional Greek items and all are authentic. The grape leaves are tender and perfect. And if you're in the mood for an old fashioned hamburger, don't be afraid, they can knock that out pretty well too.
(4)Adam F.
Off main square in St. Augustine. No wait. Food was very good. Best stuffed grape leaves I have ever had. Good lunch place within walking distance to everything.
(4)Amanda D.
I was not very impressed with this place. We came into the restaurant because it looked busy as we walked by, and generally, a busy restaurant is a good restaurant. Our server was inattentive, and although the place was full of patrons, there were also four waitstaff. The prices were on the high side, as in $15 - $20 per plate average, although our drinking cups were plastic, and we ate off a plastic tablecloth. The cleanliness of the place leaves a lot to be desired. I had the pastitsio, which came with a bowl of marinara sauce on the side. The dish was good, although the bowl of sauce provided neither a beautiful nor tasty addition. My husband had the gyro combination. The gyro was nothing but a pile of dried out lamb piled on top of two pieces of pita bread. It had no toppings, and was not even assembled as a gyro. It did come with a little plastic cup of too-thick tzaziki sauce. We left this restaurant $40 less in our pockets, and still hungry. Two stars for a very nice location in a beautiful city.
(2)Randy J.
I have only had breakfast here. An omelette -- w/ spinach and feta is good. I could be rating this place high... They could be 3-star... but I like the fact that they are "just a restuarant/cafe" type of place tucked in amongst other business' in the old part of the oldest town in North America. The food is tasty -- the bacon cooked like Goldilocks porridge... meaning it was juuust right. Good omellette, and coffee that wasn't sitting on a hot plate for 4 hours and oh yeah, unpretentious and unhurried service; well, that is harder to find, so I got to give 'em four stars. Place is definitely Greek -- all the employees are. I talked to the waitress and this place is in fact a "family/friends of family" ran biz.
(4)Paul R.
People were very nice. I had the Gyro, it was good. The Greek salad was great. Very authentic, lots of olive oil, flavor came from the salad not the dressing.
(3)Jason F.
My wife and I stopped at Cafe Athena for lunch during our day-long stay in historic St. Augustine. After having walked around the city aimlessly for about 45 minutes in 95 degree heat, we were seated quickly and provided with much needed icy cold glasses of water. Hungry as well as thirsty, my wife ordered the chicken souvlaki gyro and I ordered a greek salad topped with grilled chicken. We hoped this meal would be somewhat light and healthy. We were dead wrong. Unbelievably, my wife's gyro had seemingly vanished under a puddle of tzatziki. She was forced to engage in some amateur archaeology just to find her chicken and veggies. What's more, the tzatziki tasted more like sour cream than greek yogurt. My greek salad, at first, looked great -- until I found that there was more dressing in the bowl than lettuce. I used about a half dozen napkins to soak up oil from my salad, but still ended up with a pain in my stomach that required me to continuously munch on Tums from the quirky Lightner Museum to the grand Castillo de San Marcos. How unfortunate. I wouldn't recommend dining at the Cafe Athena in St. Augustine, but if you do I strongly suggest asking for the sauce, dressing, or tzatziki on the side.
(2)Peter W.
get the combo - excellent. I had the lamb shank with orzo ... not so hot. overall we had 2 great meals.
(4)Amanda C.
We ate here while on vacation in St. Augustine. The food was great... the service was not so great though. First off, the food. It was amazing. We both had gyro's and they were huge. Great portion size for the price. The service wasn't so good. The restaurant is really tiny, yet it took them quite a while to notice we were there. After we were sat, our waitress wasn't that attentive. All in all, we're happy we got to eat the great Greek food and I recall the price being very fair. The location is also great. Parking wasn't so hot as it was in downtown historic St. Augustine. But, they can't really help that.
(4)Julie B.
The food was excellent! We had the dinner specials of Greek Chicken (to be clear, this was HALF a chicken that lasted me two meals!) and Roasted Lamb. The potatoes were amazing as well. The only problem was the two servers seemed stretched too thin across the restaurant, leaving us feeling a little ignored.
(4)maz b.
the breakfast can be very good here, but the waitress who has an east european accent is bitchy and you dont want to go here if she is working. But the other girls are fine....the omelette is good and homefries are very good and coffee is good, free parking in this district until 10 am.
(3)Sarah G.
What a great little spot. I've been going to Athena's for years. The food is absolutely great and the prices are very good. It is a smaller restaurant, which I find refreshing and charming.
(4)Kelley T.
Ate here for lunch on a local's recommendation and was not disappointed. The menu featured many classic greek dishes for a reasonable price, along with more american dishes and a kiddie menu. Ordered the gyro combo which came with gyro and a fresh hot pita, tzatziki and a delicious fully loaded Greek salad for $13.95. Make sure you save room for the baklava cheesecake! It was amazing and drizzled with delicious honey. The other members of my party ordered baklava which was great, and according to them the Greek coffee was pretty good too. If I was in the area again I would definitely go back here.
(4)Gregory M.
This place was amazing. The ambiance is perfect. Right in the middle of the historic district. One of the best lamb shanks I have ever had. Spinach Pie was really good. Great meal to end a great day. Opa!!!
(4)Khoua H.
I love the food. They stacked the plate with food and I regretted getting appetizer. I didn't have a problem with the waiter. I thought the service was great.
(5)Al P.
Very good Greek food with crafts of decent wine. All for a very reasonable price in a hot tourist area. A very enjoyable dinner.
(5)Stephen L.
Two words: Baklava Cheesecake. Need I say more...okay. I had the gyro and my wife had the hummus plate, both were wonderful. The service was excellent. If you are on the square in St. Augustine, take a stroll down to Athena.
(5)Betty B.
The flaming goat cheese was amazing! Definitely worth the trip to the restahrant just for that.
(4)Naty K.
Finding ourselves hungry and within the vicinity of this Greek restaurant, my friend and I decided to give it a try, thanks to its Yelp rating. We stood around waiting for a table, though not for too long, and were sat at a booth. We waited a bit to get a menu, apparently, there was some miscommunication as to who would be waiting on us. Once that was clarified, we placed our orders of the leg of lamb special. Once our meals arrived, confusion set in once again, as I was expecting an actual leg, like a lamb shank, not slices of lamb. I was not impressed with the seasoning either, as it was bland, and Greek food is known for being flavorful. Overall, for me, it was a "meh", as in it could be a lot worse, but it could also be a lot better, so I'd say it was average. My friend thought it was okay, but readily agreed that we'd had better back in South Florida. The desserts were great, however, and generously portioned. I don't know if there is really such a thing as Greek rice pudding as I have never seen that on a menu -- not in the U.S. nor in Europe -- so the authenticity factor may be low, but it was very sweet and delicious, regardless.
(3)Jim B.
I was walking around St Augustine and spotted Athena Restaurant. I love Mediterranean food and decided to stop in for a late lunch. It is nice inside, clean and has cool murals and atmosphere. The hostess was friendly and cute too. We were seated right away. The waiter was patient while I was trying to decide on what to have. The Amstel draft beer was cold and tasty. The tomato barley soup was fantastic. The small Greek salad was delicious and fresh. The Gyro was very tasty and the meat had great flavor. I really enjoyed Athena Restaurant. I'm looking forward to visit this place again on my next trip through St Augustine. (There is a Yelp listing for Cafe Athena and it is the same place.) I've posted some photos from my visit.
(4)Steve G.
We were in on a Sunday early evening. St. Augustine was pretty quiet this evening overall, and the restaurant was empty. So... I can say we had really good service! :) My wife had the Greek Specialty Combo with chicken. Came with chicken shawarma and a large Greek salad. It was a really large serving. I did look over the previous reviews and was a little skeptical about the food and serving sizes... but to be fair... the portions we both had were very large. I had the gyro platter...with fries. Again, lots of lamb. Very good. I was happy with Athena Restaurant. The other dishes on the menu look good, and we have not found a ton of places locally that serve some of these plates. So, we will most likely be back when we get down to St. Augustine again.
(4)Jeff F.
wonderful breakfast place. they serve lunch and dinner as well but we were in search for a place to eat breakfast after walking on a sunday and came across this place. It was great
(4)Jocelyn S.
Food was really good and served nice and hot! However service was not that great it took forever to receive our food there was one waiter and he worked but another lady was just standing around and not even helping!
(3)Nydia M.
The chicken gyro platter was really tasty with the perfect amount of tzatziki sauce. But the calamari appetizer. Dear Lord, why did you let us order that?! It was rubbery and fell into our vulnerable touristy stomachs like a pile of bricks. Never again. Service was ok.
(2)Kayler F.
Unfortunately this place is a bust. The only good thing on their menu is the hummus platter. The hummus is wonderful. But everything else I've tried from this place lacks flavor and taste stale. The gyro meat is terrible and always dry. :(
(2)Jason M.
The place was really neat. It was in the middle of the town center. We had lunch and the service was just a little slow. Not bad though. Total bill for 4 of us was $48.00 with water and not including tip. I had breakfast. It was really good. We were all happy with the experience and it is certainly recommended.
(4)Claudia D.
We visit St Augustine quite often and this was our second and LAST time at this restaurant. The first time we ate here years ago, it was great. But not anymore. The prices are ridiculously high for the amount of food you get and the service is just non existent. I ordered the gyro, which comes with no sides for $10 bucks, and hardly any meat. My hubby ordered the moussaka which was good but $15 and no sides either. Not worth it at all. Then when we were ready to pay, the server decided to add a much more than decent tip to our check! Really? I don't think so. I don't recommend this place unless you like to pay too much for your food and enjoy being taken advantage of by your server. We will not return.
(1)Susan Y.
Had the greek chicken with salad. Very good! A lot of food for the money and the restaurant was quiet - a rarity in old town! I would eat here again.
(4)Brad M.
The Food is Amazing! I recommend this to anyone looking for some good tasty Greek food in St. Augustine! Delicious! I had a pita that was amazing and then I went there another time and had the spanikopita. The desserts are just as good as the main meals! My wife gets the Greek Salad which is delicious and huge! You definitely get the bang for your buck here! This place is a favorite of ours. I admit the atmosphere and service isn't always up to par but the food is worth it.
(5)Cardeen M.
The food is decent but not for the price. The portions are far too small for the cost. Would not recommend for groups or for parties that include children. I'd suggest finding a restaurant off the beaten path to get more bang for your buck.
(3)Keely P.
The main dishes are so yumm, but the sides (veggies, salad) could be better seasoned. Good core Greek Food!
(3)Cecelia B.
Good little breakfast place-haven't eaten any other meal there. Family run with cozy atmosphere. The corn beef hash is homemade and some of the best I've ever had.
(4)Tiffany L.
The food was good, but there isn't really air conditioning in here :( and the drinks are chinsey on ice. 5 stars for air conditioning on a hot summer day.
(4)Don E.
I have been to St. Augustine a half a dozen times over the last 15 years. There are so many places to eat and they are all pretty good, but I want you to know that we always make it a point to eat here. It is authentic, well prepared, and just fabulous. Take the time to stop in. Great Choice for some Greek food.
(5)S K.
Not a fan. Had the moussaka. Not the best. Also service wasn't the best. They forgot an order and then said we never placed it. Can't say much about it. A lot to be desired.
(2)Jeff K.
It was a quick lunch, so I'll make it a quicker-than usual review. We were in a bit of a hurry and stopped here for lunch because it was nearby. I ordered a reuben sandwich (an odd menu item considering the restaurant), and it was okay but not really worth coming back for. We also ordered the skordalia because we have a Greek place near our house that made us fall in love with skordalia, and now whenever its on the menu we have to get it. This may have been our least favorite skordalia ever. If there was anything in it besides raw garlic, you couldn't tell. Because it tasted like mashed up raw garlic. Skordalia is supposed to be heavy on garlic, I get that. And I LOVE me some garlic. This was just WAY over the top. My wife stopped eating it after about the third bite. I went further because I didn't want to waste it, but stopped when my sandwich arrived. Twenty minutes later, after finishing my sandwich and leaving the restaurant, my mouth was still burning from the garlic.
(2)Food L.
We're vegetarian and loved our food!! The Greek pizza was amazing, has creamed spinach well seasoned. Also the hummus sandwich was excellent, and the fried cheese appetizer. Our friends got the chicken and really liked it as well. Will definitely be back!
(5)Sean D.
My wife and I both love Greek food. We order the hummus appetizer it was good but I have had better store bought hummus. I ordered the greek salad and she ordered a chicken and rice soup to go along with our Gyros. My salad was rather bland and as one reviewer stated before had a lot of oil on it. My wifes soup looked and tasted like something out of a can. The Gyros were equally disappointing. The meat was supposed to be beef and lamb. What we got was some very dry processed meat that I guess contained beef and lamb. Over all it was a very disappointing meal. In there part of saint Augustine there are plenty of great restaurants. Save yourself some indigestion and go somewhere else
(2)Guillermo A.
This place was great. Had the gyro combo platter. Tasted great and it was a perfect portion. Not a lot like other places that overdo it with substandard food. I thought it was phenomenal. It was also open on Christmas.
(5)Joe C.
It was a Friday night and every place we wanted to eat at had an hour wait so after strolling through the plaza we saw this place was mostly empty so we thought we'd give it a try. I've had my share of Greek food myself and wasn't expecting anything great . I ordered the chicken souvlaki combo & my wife ordered the Spanakopita combo. They were both tasty and well seasoned. They also have the Galaktoboureko dessert which was quite good too. All in all I would say they could give you more meat for the price, though it's not Astoria NY but for St Augustine, it's Greek enough.
(3)Julius V.
A quick lunch in St. Augustine on the way to Melbourne, here in Florida. Athena is situated near the base of the famous Lion Bridge. You can't beat the scenery and the quaint atmosphere of the location, here in the nation's oldest city. The restaurant is clean and has a typical Greek decor and atmosphere. The food is all right, for a quick lunch. However, I would not recommend for dinner. It's a bit pricey for the lack of freshness of the food.
(3)Chris C.
Was there with family last night, we shared a large Greek salad which was excellent, a bottle of wine, nicely presented by the polite and cheerful server. I had the Moussaka which was excellent, my companions had the Greek chicken and a combination platter.. the food was all nicely prepared and presented. The mixed grilled vegetables that came with the Greek chicken were nicely dressed with some of their bright green Frixa olive oil. The restaurant was warm and inviting. I will look forward to my next visit.
(4)Brad K.
We actually really liked this place. Nice quaint inside. The picture of the gyro and salad with banana pepper that someone uploaded looks exactly like the plate we were served. It's not the best greek in FLA, but we did find it to be the best greek in St. Augustine. Plus the location is right. You can walk downtown area and go here for lunch or dinner. Great location actually. Will get some pictures next time we visit.
(4)Gizelle A.
Great menu, tasty food, pleasant environment, weird waiter. That's to sum it up. We stumbled across this place after an afternoon stroll around St. Augustine. Wanted a place that was not loud, had no smokers in close proximity and had interesting food - so there came Athena! Coming in, I was pleasantly surprised - nice light decor with wall art showing sea scenes and ships. Very nice for lunch. We ordered a pita as an appetizer and that was miniature (in size, not in price) - it was sliced in 4 pieces that were each barely a bite. But it tasted great. Then we got the gyros. Portions were decent for lunch - mind it, I did eat all of mine! We didn't get desert but they had my beloved baklava! Our waiter was very strange - he was making a huge effort to distance himself from the establishment and when we complimented the restaurant he replied "Thank you but it's not mine..I just work here." His manners were very..may I say....Eastern European..and ..surprise..he actually is one as he told us later! So that explained it :) Bottom line is he brought the food so we got through that part. I would go back next time we are in St. Augustine
(4)Lynn Z.
The Pastitsio here was tasteless, overcooked and with a paper-thin bechamel top. Salad was blah oily with no vinegar. Dolmathes were underspiced tasted like the canned ones you can get at a grocery. Nothing at this place hinted at the incredible joy that is Greek cuisine. Very disappointed. Service was good, considering there was no other diners at the time. you would only expect that. The decor was 70's look with booths with boards on sides to act as a coat hanger. Just an old, tired look to it. Worth coming back..... Don't think so.
(2)M. P.
3 & 1/2 stars really. I don't care for Greek food, despite being part Greek. I wasn't looking forward to coming here but was pleasantly surprised. The service was great and the food was quite good. The Gyro combo among other dishes were not only tasty but very filling I'd recommend asking for salad dressing on the side or you'll have a BP oil spill on the bottom of your plate.
(3)Jaime S.
My family had a delicious meal here last night. The food was light, fresh and delicious. My wife and I shared the chicken kabobs and chicken souvlaki. My parents enjoyed the lamb and beef gyro. The pitas tasted fresh made and the tsatsiki sauce was one of the best I've ever tasted. I wouldn't be surprised if they made their own yogurt. Don't forget desert either. the baklava cheesecake is ridiculous. Highly recommend the locals frequenting this place. It is a gem.
(5)Matt S.
Nice and relaxing
(4)Anonymous T.
The best Greek food you will get in Saint Augustine. Service could be a little better , but you get outstanding food at a very decent price with large portions.
(4)Paul R.
People were very nice. I had the Gyro, it was good. The Greek salad was great. Very authentic, lots of olive oil, flavor came from the salad not the dressing.
(3)Jason F.
My wife and I stopped at Cafe Athena for lunch during our day-long stay in historic St. Augustine. After having walked around the city aimlessly for about 45 minutes in 95 degree heat, we were seated quickly and provided with much needed icy cold glasses of water. Hungry as well as thirsty, my wife ordered the chicken souvlaki gyro and I ordered a greek salad topped with grilled chicken. We hoped this meal would be somewhat light and healthy. We were dead wrong. Unbelievably, my wife's gyro had seemingly vanished under a puddle of tzatziki. She was forced to engage in some amateur archaeology just to find her chicken and veggies. What's more, the tzatziki tasted more like sour cream than greek yogurt. My greek salad, at first, looked great -- until I found that there was more dressing in the bowl than lettuce. I used about a half dozen napkins to soak up oil from my salad, but still ended up with a pain in my stomach that required me to continuously munch on Tums from the quirky Lightner Museum to the grand Castillo de San Marcos. How unfortunate. I wouldn't recommend dining at the Cafe Athena in St. Augustine, but if you do I strongly suggest asking for the sauce, dressing, or tzatziki on the side.
(2)Peter W.
get the combo - excellent. I had the lamb shank with orzo ... not so hot. overall we had 2 great meals.
(4)Longwood R.
We stopped here for dinner during the very busy St. Augustine Nights of Lights. I wish I could give this place a higher rating, but the food was lackluster and the prices were tourist-inflated. The gyro combo I had was uneventful, a small portion considering the dinner hour. The accompanying salad (served on the same plate) was ok. Wife enjoyed her moussaka, older son's chicken kebab was passable. Maybe during another time of the year it might of been a better experience, but Nights of Lights in general was not a festive experience for us...St. Augustine needs to provide some more genuine holiday spirit and lighten up on the trolleys.
(2)Antonella Y.
As a Greek food lover and knowledgeable first hand in what it should taste like, I think this place is OK. We came here on a week-night and it wasn't busy at all. The decor is rather dated and the set up is that of a restaurant/diner. The staff is very friendly and accommodating, and the menu is what one would expect of the typical Greek restaurant. I ordered the mixed plate gyro which came with Greek salad, dolmada, and tzatziki. I thought the food was nothing special or extraordinary. I noticed a lot of high reviews for this place, and was very disappointed after tasting the food. I've been eating Greek food since my teenage years--over 25 years, and have spent a few months in Greece and tasted the food there, I've also been to some great Greek restaurants in New York City and in Montreal Canada, and this, isn't one of them. If you're hungry and need a quick bite, this place is fine, but don't expect fine "Greek Cuisine" cause this isn't it!
(2)Annie T.
Oh man, the food here was so good I'm still dreaming about two weeks later. I got one of the combos and my plate came loaded with chicken souvlaki (perfectly seasoned and tender), pita and tzatziki, a dolmades, and a Greek salad. Everything was utterly delicious. My service was the only thing keeping me from giving Cafe Athena 5 stars. I dine solo a lot and I'm used to lackluster service because of that, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I was seated all the way at the back of the restaurant despite several open tables closer to the front and my waitress did the bare minimum. A pity, because my meal really was worth 5 stars.
(4)Sam S.
Great Greek food. The flaming cheese is delicious! Definitely try the chicken souvlaki!
(5)Dawen H.
Awesome steaks!!! nice locations! will visit again.
(4)Dia D.
This is a nice restaurant with friendly service and reasonable prices. The food was fine and it was close to our hotel (the Hilton). This wasn't the best Greek food I've ever had, but it was far from the worst. My husband had the sampler platter and I had dolmades and taramosalata with warm pita.
(3)Lisa M.
Went for breakfast food was good.Service could have been better just not well organized.Homemade cornbeef hash and biscuits are worth a mention.
(3)Ed K.
This restaurant located in the Historic District, just a stroll from the plaza ,is a fantastic place to eat....we went there on a Friday night and there was no wait.....the staff was very friendly.....I had the Pastisio....it had just the right combo of meat and noodles, to bechamel......when in Saint Augustine, ya gotta eat here....
(4)Christina B.
The service was excellent and the food was too good to be true. Fair prices and quaint atmosphere. Absolutely love it. Will come back next time I'm in St. Augustine!!
(5)Joel B.
Had breakfast here and enjoyed it. Quality was good and so were the prices. If your in the area looking for breakfast, give it a try.
(4)Heidi F.
The Athena Restaurant allows the St John's County Chamber of Commerce to come in on a regular basis with a party of 20-25 people for lunch with the full understanding that they are not going to tip whichever lucky server gets chosen to wait on them. Shame on the St John's County Chamber, and shame on the owners of this establishment.
(1)Megan H.
Great breakfast! Homemade corned beef hash adds bonus points in my book. The lunch menu has some traditional Greek items and all are authentic. The grape leaves are tender and perfect. And if you're in the mood for an old fashioned hamburger, don't be afraid, they can knock that out pretty well too.
(4)Adam F.
Off main square in St. Augustine. No wait. Food was very good. Best stuffed grape leaves I have ever had. Good lunch place within walking distance to everything.
(4)Amanda D.
I was not very impressed with this place. We came into the restaurant because it looked busy as we walked by, and generally, a busy restaurant is a good restaurant. Our server was inattentive, and although the place was full of patrons, there were also four waitstaff. The prices were on the high side, as in $15 - $20 per plate average, although our drinking cups were plastic, and we ate off a plastic tablecloth. The cleanliness of the place leaves a lot to be desired. I had the pastitsio, which came with a bowl of marinara sauce on the side. The dish was good, although the bowl of sauce provided neither a beautiful nor tasty addition. My husband had the gyro combination. The gyro was nothing but a pile of dried out lamb piled on top of two pieces of pita bread. It had no toppings, and was not even assembled as a gyro. It did come with a little plastic cup of too-thick tzaziki sauce. We left this restaurant $40 less in our pockets, and still hungry. Two stars for a very nice location in a beautiful city.
(2)Randy J.
I have only had breakfast here. An omelette -- w/ spinach and feta is good. I could be rating this place high... They could be 3-star... but I like the fact that they are "just a restuarant/cafe" type of place tucked in amongst other business' in the old part of the oldest town in North America. The food is tasty -- the bacon cooked like Goldilocks porridge... meaning it was juuust right. Good omellette, and coffee that wasn't sitting on a hot plate for 4 hours and oh yeah, unpretentious and unhurried service; well, that is harder to find, so I got to give 'em four stars. Place is definitely Greek -- all the employees are. I talked to the waitress and this place is in fact a "family/friends of family" ran biz.
(4)Kelley T.
Ate here for lunch on a local's recommendation and was not disappointed. The menu featured many classic greek dishes for a reasonable price, along with more american dishes and a kiddie menu. Ordered the gyro combo which came with gyro and a fresh hot pita, tzatziki and a delicious fully loaded Greek salad for $13.95. Make sure you save room for the baklava cheesecake! It was amazing and drizzled with delicious honey. The other members of my party ordered baklava which was great, and according to them the Greek coffee was pretty good too. If I was in the area again I would definitely go back here.
(4)Julie B.
The food was excellent! We had the dinner specials of Greek Chicken (to be clear, this was HALF a chicken that lasted me two meals!) and Roasted Lamb. The potatoes were amazing as well. The only problem was the two servers seemed stretched too thin across the restaurant, leaving us feeling a little ignored.
(4)maz b.
the breakfast can be very good here, but the waitress who has an east european accent is bitchy and you dont want to go here if she is working. But the other girls are fine....the omelette is good and homefries are very good and coffee is good, free parking in this district until 10 am.
(3)Amanda C.
We ate here while on vacation in St. Augustine. The food was great... the service was not so great though. First off, the food. It was amazing. We both had gyro's and they were huge. Great portion size for the price. The service wasn't so good. The restaurant is really tiny, yet it took them quite a while to notice we were there. After we were sat, our waitress wasn't that attentive. All in all, we're happy we got to eat the great Greek food and I recall the price being very fair. The location is also great. Parking wasn't so hot as it was in downtown historic St. Augustine. But, they can't really help that.
(4)Sarah G.
What a great little spot. I've been going to Athena's for years. The food is absolutely great and the prices are very good. It is a smaller restaurant, which I find refreshing and charming.
(4)M B.
This is St. Augustines take on Greek cuisine. Serving Breakfast, lunch, and dinner they offer a wide aray of delicacies. Such as: Kebobs, Gyros with steak or chicken, lamb, soups and salads of the area, and of course wine and beer. The service was prompt and courteous upon seating. Throughout the meal our waitress was always checking in with us to see if everything was good. From the booth where we were sitting it gave us a nice view Downtown St. Augustine Square. This is a small restaurant and I can only assume that it would get crowded fast, but the food was fresh and the wine kept pouring. Over all i would enjoy this place as an everyday eatery shop for a friendly and casual lunch or dinner.
(3)C P.
I love this restaurant. The food is great and reasonably priced. My favorite is the lemon chicken and rice soup. It tastes like it is made by an old Greek grandma. Guaranteed to heal what ails you.
(5)Matthew J.
Awesome! Amazing! Quality food for great price!
(5)Ayanna B.
I like this place a lot. Not just for the gyros. Not just for the warm humus plate. Not just for the lamb dinner. I love it because they serve breakfast on the weekends. That is full service! Go there if you want some authentic fare at a good price. But ask for ice with your soda.
(4)M B.
This is St. Augustines take on Greek cuisine. Serving Breakfast, lunch, and dinner they offer a wide aray of delicacies. Such as: Kebobs, Gyros with steak or chicken, lamb, soups and salads of the area, and of course wine and beer. The service was prompt and courteous upon seating. Throughout the meal our waitress was always checking in with us to see if everything was good. From the booth where we were sitting it gave us a nice view Downtown St. Augustine Square. This is a small restaurant and I can only assume that it would get crowded fast, but the food was fresh and the wine kept pouring. Over all i would enjoy this place as an everyday eatery shop for a friendly and casual lunch or dinner.
(3)C P.
I love this restaurant. The food is great and reasonably priced. My favorite is the lemon chicken and rice soup. It tastes like it is made by an old Greek grandma. Guaranteed to heal what ails you.
(5)