I don't know if I've been spoiled by Greek restaurants in other towns but man, I felt really bad making my husband drive almost an hour to come here. First off, I love Greek food. The best Greek food I've had in North America is in Toronto, along Danforth, so that's what I was measuring Messinas against. So maybe it isn't a fair comparison, since Toronto has a sizable Greek population. My husband had the mixed grill ($18.95) and I had what they called the gyro souvlaki ($12.95). We also ordered hummus ($4.95) for an appetizer. I had a sinking feeling when the hummus arrived in a plastic cup, and was hard-ish, like it's been in the fridge for a couple of days. Yup, sure enough it tasted like it too. The accompanying pita was stale. The gyro was salty, greasy and kind of nasty. The souvlaki was dry. The Tzaziki was weird, tasted more of sour cream than yogurt and no cucumbers. The Greek salad was below average -- the iceberg lettuce was a little limp, there was only 1 olive on the whole plate and the feta didn't really taste like anything. My husband said the lamb chops in his mixed grill tasted like it was frozen not fresh, but that the grilled chicken was OK. I ordered an iced tea and it tasted like it was mixed from instant powder. Not good. Unfortunately this restaurant wasn't worth the drive. Wish it was.
(2)
Sabrina S.
Excellent every time. I can't remember ever being disappointed by what I have ordered. Calamari, dolmadas, the gyro plate, pizza, moussaka, spanakopita. I have never managed to make it to dessert so I can't comment on that. The husband eats there at least twice a month on the sly. Yeah and I agree with another reviewer . . . it's a Greek/Italian restaurant not just Greek though I think their Greek dishes are stronger.
(5)
Aleck B.
Few things in life make me happier than Greek food, and among those is *good* Greek food! So I was super-happy when I left Messina's! I'd been in the area for two years, and for some reason had never discovered the place. Well, I'm going to have to make myself a regular there now. We went in not knowing exactly what to expect. My wife had the gyro wrap, and I went for the gyro/souvlaki combo plate. Mine came with a salad, and its flavor was a sign of good things to come. The gyro wrap came out so stuffed that it was almost impossible to finish (but my wife said that it was so good that she almost couldn't stop eating), and my combo was fantastic. The gyro meat was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and the souvlaki was juicy and delicious. And the portions were *huge* -- I was actually looking forward to trying dessert, but by the time I tore myself away from the entree, I was so stuffed I couldn't even consider it. This place is definitely a hidden gem. If you enjoy Greek food, you owe it to yourself to stop in!
(5)
Alayne W.
Dolmades were some of the best I ever had. The food is very very good and prices are reasonable. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Oliver M.
This is an update to my earlier review. I need to single out one of the waiters at Messina's for outstanding service. We've had Wayne as a waiter several times and he's always attentive and helpful. His humor is a little dry, but he is always ready to answer questions and offer suggestions. This past Friday he recommended a Greek wine that was a real treat for my wife. She's the wine connoisseur and was looking for a wine we had while in Greece a couple of years ago. Wayne's suggestion of a wine made with a specific type grape grown only in Greece was right on target. So, thank you Wayne. We'll see you again soon.
(5)
Kim S.
Our experience with Messinas and the young manager was horrible!!!!! We had to wait a very long time to be served, and it wasn't even that busy. After our food was finally served, (pizza being very greasy and cheese totally falling off the slices) my daughter had to go to the bathroom. I took her in there, and after she went, she really needed to wash her hands, but there was NO soap!! :O All they had was a big bottle of hand sanitizer on the counter instead. How disgusting!!!! Hand sanitizer does NOT replace soap, especially after you have gone to the bathroom. I was so grossed out knowing that any employees/cooks that went to the bathroom did not properly wash their hands with soap, that I immediately complained to the manager. He was fairly young, perhaps the owners son. I told him how disgusting it was not to have soap in the bathroom, and probably a health code violation. People could get sick from that. He did not appreciate me saying that and actually told me that I hurt his feelings. Are you kidding me?? I hurt HIS feelings?? He was very rude, and told us to leave. Needless to say, we will NEVER return there. I should have reported them to the health inspector.
(1)
Cindy V.
Great food! Great service! Great ambiance! I traveled to Greece last year and fell in love with the gyros. When I was suddenly craving for a really nice gyro, I found this restaurant off of Yelp. My friend and I were seated right away. Our server was very friendly and came to ask if we needed anything every few minutes without it being annoying. We ordered the spinach pie plate and the Greek gyro. Omg it was delicious! It definitely satisfied my craving and brought me back to my summer in Greece. We will be heading back without a doubt!
(5)
Suhana A.
I went there after work craving for gyro. This place is close to my house. It's on busy street Lawrenceville Hwy. Inside is clean and nice. I was seated right away. The menu looks great. Many items, many choices. It is a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant so I am not sure why pizza and subs are on the menu. Anyways I knew what I wanted. I ordered gyro. It came pretty fast in five minutes. It's authentic and pretty good. Next time I'm craving gyro I will return. Price is reasonable.
(4)
Tiff H.
Whenever I'm in the Norcross area on a Sunday night (which is basically every Sunday night) and I'm tired of the same good things, you gotta branch out. We found Messina's, which turned out to be God's gift to broke people. I ordered a gyro wrap with fries as my side. The menu is pretty diverse, with an interesting dichotomy of Mediterranean and Italian. The chicken Alfredo versus the kebabs. I realized that it's actually not that odd, to a European, but at the same time, our server had a heavy southern accent so I doubt she gives it much thought, although the owner maybe did. Portions are reasonable for the price they charge. I left the restaurant $10 poorer, but only after eating my sizable gyro wrap and fries, and left tip. My gyro wasn't bad, just wish there were less lettuce and tzatziki sauce that tasted more like tzatziki instead of ranch. The fries were a poor choice on my part: dry and flavorless. I was craving fries and these disappointed me. Will I come back? Maybe, but not for the fries or gyro. The chicken Alfredo, on the other hand, looks and smells hearty and delicious.
(3)
Alicia C.
Had lunch here on Sunday for the first time. Business was fairly busy and we were seated within a minute of arriving. We both ordered a gyro with a side of fries, and received our food rather quickly. Both the gyro and fries were delicious. Although if I had to change something about the gyro, it would be to either add more tzatziki sauce in the gyro or serve a side of tzatziki sauce with the plate. Over all, pleasant experience!
(4)
Lesly W.
Came in today based on a coworker's recommendation and was super excited to find a Mediterranean restaurant nearby work. Unfortunately, I was not too impressed. I ordered the Chicken Panini with Greek Potatoes to go. The waiter/hostess was not the friendliest and it made me feel kind of awkward. He didn't smile,say hello and looked like he was over the day. The Greek potatoes was a boiled a red potato sliced into fourths and was actually the best part of my plate. The bread and spinach on the sandwich was delicious but the chicken was rubbery and tough. I couldn't tell if it was frozen and was microwaved after or if it was fried and microwaved later. Either way, it tasted so gross and was really tough to eat through. Kind of disappointing as I had to throw away my food, wasted a couple of dollars, and had to pick up something else to eat because I was on lunch break and starving. The food was mediocre at best. I might come back to this place if I want a salad or hummus because these are pretty safe items that can't really get screwed up..
(2)
Hashtronaut L.
Best Greek food in gwinnett! Been eating here for years. Staff is over the top friendly. Food is always exactly what you want. I'll be back over and over. Don't change on me!
(5)
Tran N.
I love this place to satisfy my mediterranean food cravings. It's one of those places where I can venture out from one of my usual Korean or American fares. The lunch specials here at Messinas are of great value and very filling with generous portions. I really like the Messina's plate, it is a gyro plate that comes with a side salad, pita bread, choice of boiled potatoes or french fries, and a choice of provolone or feta cheese. I also got to try one of their pasta dishes, which was the mushroom ravioli with added shrimp for an extra minimal charge. I liked both dishes for the few times I came here. Service is a definite hit or miss. I never had "bad" service here, everyone here has been nice. It is just the luck of having the appropriate amount of time to have your food being brought out.Overall, a great authentic mediterranean place to try!
(4)
C M.
This place is consistent with the quality of their cocking n service. To start we share Spanakopita (real good) then Wife had the Vegetarian Chicken Casserole n I had the Lamb Gyro with Greek Potatoes n Greek Salad. We both agree by sharing our plates that taste freshness n preparation of our plates where excellent.
(5)
Lou G.
"If you think about it, Greek food isn't that far from Italian food. They share a spice palette. [Chews] And what a civilization is the Greeks'. [Chews some more] They gave us science, democracy... and little cubes of charred meat that taste like sweat." [Spits out kabob] Sheldon Cooper, Big Bang Theory We came to Messina's for Greek, but left having Italian! The menu has a good mix of both cuisines. I ordered the Eggplant Il Forno. The cheese used in the baked dish was a white cheddar as opposed to traditional parmagian or mozzarella. The eggplant was also cut thicker than typical Italian fare. Overall a great dish. My friend had the Italian Sausage, and just felt it needed more sauce. Pasta was an additional $2 charge for each dish, which kind of sucks. Both entrees were served with a pretty simple garlic bread and a house salad that was way overdressed. There are a lot of Greek and Italian vegetarian options at Messinas. Service was friendly. Wine specials included a few at $2.50 a glass. Overall A-OK!
(3)
Dionisio R.
Messinas plate , without words, best gyro plate in town Excellent desert perfect for couples Very good instrumental music Excellent staff Great for couple
(5)
Shelby M.
Went to Messina's last night for the first time and it was even better than expected! I love Greek food and this place has it all. I got a platter with gyro meat and pork tenderloin. The pork tenderloin was on point and cooked perfectly. The Greek potatoes and fresh pita were also delicious, as well as the typical Greek salad served beforehand. Our server was nice and very attentive. We will be back!
(4)
Dr.Foodgasms F.
Excellent food. Prices range from $7-$15 depending on your choice. They have a wide variety of options. I am not a panini fan but I tried their sausage panini as suggested by the waitress and I am glad i did. It was excellent!! Very tasty and soft and tender. Souvlaki on pita is what I try at all Greek restaurants and this was excellent also. A bit messy but thats good as they pack it up well. Both portions are very good and as a guy that enjoys eating- it is an excellent balance of price and great taste. Will be back to try more!
(5)
Mayar K.
One of my favorite restaurants in Georgia. This place has great customer service. Food has always been good everytime I come here. I almost tried everything on the menu. Some dishes are hidden and not too many people order them but I would suggest ordering one pound of Gyro for about $10, if you are coming with a group of people, and add some sides to that or a dip. Also the pizza is very traditional but delicious. I think this place needs to remodel the seats and tables and add more lights to make the place more attractive. Also the bathrooms need some more improvement
(5)
Melodie M.
ABSOLUTELY A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Spanakopita! My first time trying it and was beyond addicted. Such a cute, small, intimate place to have great food. The prices are very reasonable for the quality. I moved out of the area but make the trip back willingly
(5)
Karina R.
Our boss bought us lunch from Messina's the other day & I have to say it was very delicious. I ordered a gyro with the Greek potatoes. The gyro was delicious, it had just enough meat, lettuce & onions. The meat was juicy & had lots of flavor. The potatoes were also good.. only thing is they should be smaller & there should be more instead of 3 huge potatoes. I definitely would like to actually dine in which I plan to do soon.
(4)
Mandy R.
I come here whenever my grandma is in town and we love it! We had their gyros, steak, pizza, salads and their pasta is good too! We haven't had anything we dislike yet. We usually order the gyro place and we love it
(4)
Amanda D.
I LOVE messinas! Best gyros in town! The service is great! The owners are nice! (They used to be around a lot, I haven't seen them in a while). Pizzas are great too!! Greek salads are yummy too!! I really hope they are making a great profit for the business because every time I drive by, the parking lot is empty. I would love to see it completely packed. The food is just delicious!
(5)
E E.
Since my first visit we've ordered carry out pizza which is great at a reasonable price. However we went back recently to dine in. We ordered pizza with gyro meat and feta cheese and it was really good. The new craft beer they (and other neighborhood eateries) are hawking with enthusiasm was a bit flat. Although our server was knowledgeable about the beer he was not very attentive beyond refilling my water once. We sat so long, another man came by to ask if we wanted a to-go box, then our waiter hurriedly slapped our ticket down without asking about dessert. Another thing - we sat in a different area, away from the bar and the noise of the patrons echoed in there. Background music was drowned out so I felt like I was in a school cafeteria.
(3)
Justin C.
This review is for a to go order. Had the greek salad with shrimp and chicken. Loved that they separated the warm protein from the salad, so that the protein didn't wilt the lettuce. Salad was very fresh and crisp! Shrimp was flavorful and cooked perfectly...I hate overcooked shrimp. Can't wait to dine in next time!
(5)
Aseel K.
We love this place, tasty food at a resonable price. The service is fast, however it could be slightly improved to become more personable.
(5)
Terry J.
Great food. Love the Alfredo with chicken. Also the Lasagna and the Greek salad. Even though we have only been here twice now, it is a place where we will return many times. The saganaki is a little saltier than other places, and a little thicker, but it is still good over their garlic bread.
(4)
Michelle C.
Ordered the chicken on pita with fries. Used grubhub to place the order for pickup. The food is usually very good here. This time the sandwich was as good as always. But the fries were over cooked. Some workers must not be very used to how to handle orders coming from grubhub because I added notes, for example no onion and extra sauce, but they were not read. The waitress who brought out my food didn't not know I didn't yet pay and would have let me leave with a free meal. Three stars instead of 4 because of the fries and the kinks that still need to be worked out with customers placing orders through grubhub.
(3)
CJ R.
Amazing food. Quiet atmosphere. Great staff, they always make sure your drink is full.
(5)
Angela Q.
Awesome gyros! They are delicious and I would have to say pretty authentic. I should definitely try some of the other items they have to offer but its hard to stray from their gyros.
(4)
Bryan S.
Great food normally eat here for lunch - love the Gyro plate - and you have to get the Opah - fried cheese - it is to die for....good service - great food and plenty of it - I always leave satisfied.
(4)
Kara B.
The only reason I gave this review of three stars is because I have eaten there many times and had a wonderful time-- great food, usually great service. Twice, however, I have gotten take out orders and been very disappointed. I ordered a medium pizza with feta cheese, black olives and gyro meat. It's my fault that I didn't look at the pizza before leaving but it was something I had had there before, dine-in. It looked awful. There was plenty of gyro meat that had been put on top, almost as an afterthought. There were plenty of black olives (which I do love) but no feta cheese that I could taste. There was very little cheese in general but lots of marinara sauce. Maybe it was my fault; I was there late afternoon, an off time. I will continue to dine at Messina's but never again will I order a meal to go.
(3)
Chad C.
I was doing some last minute Christmas shopping this afternoon and decided to grab some carryout for the family. I happened to see Messinas on the way to the store, so I figured i would give it a try. I am EXTREMELY happy with my decision! Starting with the "cooked to perfection" calamari, to my wife's Messina burger, to my gyro souvlaki plate, to my son's chicken fingers, all were excellent! Now, I grew up in New York and since moving to the Atlanta area nearly 15 years ago I have struggled to find an even passable canoli, (my favorite here has got to be from Alpine Bakery in Alpharetta), but Messinas has restored my faith that there are some hidden gems still to be found around Atlanta. My wife hit the nail on the head after several bites of her Messina burger, (she initially could not put it down long enough to talk), she turned to me and said "This is where we are going next date night!"
(5)
Richard R.
1.27.2012 - Today's visit was based on the suggestion of a few people who knew the area far better than I. I ordered the lunch special which was the Messina Plate. Basically this is a gyros plate with a choice of fries or greek potatoes. Typical of most Greek restaurants I have visited, they like to cut your pita bread into sections. I requested to have mine delivered whole so I could build my own Gyros. I'm pretty certain the pita bread was home made, which was a really nice surprise. However, I expected a little more meat and a lot more french fries than I received. That being said, I was still very full after completing my meal, so I suppose the portions were correct. The Tzatziki sauce was very good, and they gave me a huge slab of feta cheese. My only complaint was the did not include onions with my lettuce and tomato. Also, the Coke I ordered was not very strong on carbonation and borderline flat. My total meal was under $11 and the best part was the Gyros meat was authentic in flavor and not the typical Mall copycat version. It's a solid choice for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Jami G.
After reading some of the reviews, I had in my mind that the service might be lacking - and it was. Upon walking in the restaurant, we were greeted by wait staff and seated rather quickly. And then left to sit and wait and wait....... It was Friday evening and the place wasn't slammed or anything - just that taking orders was done when the wait staff was ready, not when the customer was. So, I ordered the gyro platter and my guest had a pizza. Pizza was really good. Lots of flavor in the sauce and the crust was soft. Really nice. Wish I would have ordered that instead of the gyro platter I had. Way too much cracked pepper on the salad. The dressing was a vinegar and oil type with a ratio that was way too much vinegar. Edible but something I wouldn't order again. The gyro platter wasn't anything to brag about. Portions were on the smallish side. Except for the potatoes. Those were large chunks and filled up the platter well enough to make it look like the portions were generous. I don't recall that the server returned to check on us. The tip we left was a gift, she certainly didn't earn it. I might return for the pizza, but then again, maybe not. I don't appreciate being made to wait to have my order taken. So maybe a take-out pizza would work best for me because I don't see the wait staff changing their ways or their speed. An additional tip: Consider paying in cash because it took awhile for the server to run my credit card and return with the card and the receipt. And by awhile, I mean more than 10 minutes - because that's about how long she spent chatting with someone who was leaving.
(2)
Patrick M.
A very good restaurant, It's web page says the best in Lilburn and I tend to agree. I've actually eaten here several times and three times in the last two weeks. The service is normally good, they do get very busy on the weekends (dinner and Sunday lunch). The best dish for meat lovers (I am one) is the Gyro Souvlaki. a Mound of Gyro meat and pork tenderloin grilled to perfection. I made the mistake of a side salad to start and desert after. They also most had to get other patrons to carry me out I was so full. My next trip I promise I'll try an Italian dish, they look amazing when going by to another table.
(4)
Britton B.
The fries were dry and the fried cheese and ravioli were somewhat cold and stiff in the middle. The gyro's on the other hand were f******* spectacular. Definitely, would get the gyros again, and maybe try something else for a side and appetizer
(4)
Mechel C.
Im a big lover of Greek food but was sadly disappointed in this restaurant. The lamb just was bland to me and my wine when served was in a glass just out of the washer. At least it was a clean glass, but please, you don't serve white wine in a warm glass people! My dinner companion was not pleased either with the meal. As I looked around the dining room I noticed most of the customers were eating pizza. So maybe pizza would have been the better choice. Not writing it off just yet, in the future, maybe I will try their pizza.
(3)
Jeff L.
Nice place. Had a great pizza and the service was good. The place was clean and everyone was friendly. I will go back.
(4)
Kerry M.
I see four stars, and I just do not get it. Expensive, mediocre slop at its finest. The service was absent on our first visit in many years. We ordered a gyro, chicken parmesan, salads, and Greek potatoes. The salads were nice, the house dressing watery but OK. The gyro was made very well, but at $7, a bit steep. The potatoes was a boiled red potato. One potato sliced into thirds. Flavorless overpriced mush. The chicken was so tough we agreed it had been fried then microwaved to be reheated. It would be difficult to make breast meat tougher. They did not pound the meat, so it cooked unevenly. The pasta was soft, and WAY over sauced. The bread served was dipped in grease, sprinkled with Italian seasoning, and stuffed in the sea of flaccid pasta. Our waters never filled, our entrees finished before we saw our server again after delivery. Thank goodness we got a 50% off groupon type deal. We would not return even if it was half off.
(2)
Lisa C.
If you are in to Greek food, Messinas is the place for you!! I've been twice and each time had a good experience. The servers are friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is chilled and relaxed. The prices are fair and the food is good!! Tip, as of right now: If you are planning on going and want to sit on the patio, I wouldn't recommend at this time. The patio area is being bombarded by dust and sand that's being kicked up by the wind. The source is all of the construction thats going on on the street.
(5)
CA S.
Amazing chicken pita with excellent French fries. Cannoli for dessert! This is our third visit and it's worth the drive. Our server was friendly and even though service was slightly slower due to a large party I'll continue to come back.
(4)
Mike M.
I was disappointed. I had high hopes for this restaurant. I'm sure it's a good place, but I don't know if I want to try the experience all over again. I got to the restaurant and went in for lunch. It was a pleasant place. I was greeted warmly and taken to my table. I had my drink order taken. Since I hadn't been there before, I asked for a couple of minutes to look over the menu. Nobody ever came back. Granted, a large party arrived, but I saw other wait staff in the area and no one stopped to take my order. I was in there about 25 min. total, Since I had wasted most of my lunch hour, I had to settle for McDonalds. That added insult to injury! I'm not trying to make people avoid this place. It just didn't work out for me. I'm not sure I'm willing to give it another shot, though.
(2)
Yoomee H.
I'm happy to say that I tried and liked this place! It was my birthday dinner which was on 09/14/13 (Friday) but my birthday was on the 11th. Anyways, my birthday dinner was with my family and we had a big table. Anyways, onto the food and the experience! The experience I had was fabulous! I read some reviews for this place and was sort of afraid of how the waiters or waitresses would be like.. but the waitress we had was great! She didn't really come check on us, because we were taking a while to choose which entree we wanted. Finally, we were all set to order. I had the Greek Combo which came with 2 cheese pies, spinach pie, moussaka, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), side salad (Greek). It was a lot of food! Honestly, I didn't think this plate would fill me up, but OH-EM-GEE it did! I had to take the leftovers home as well. I tried a bit of my dad's side pasta and boy! was it delicious! But I was a little bit disappointed how the dolmades tasted here. It didn't taste the same as the ones I had in other Mediterranean restaurants. This dolmades had a sausage wrapped in grape leaves and it wasn't very sour. Where's the lemon "ka-pow" taste? Greek Combo - $12.95 And also, I was very confused when I ordered my Greek Combo plate, because on the menu it says "All Dinner Entrees Are Served With A Side Salad And Your Choice Of Greek Potatoes, French-fries, Spaghetti Pasta, Grilled Or Steamed Vegetables, Grilled Or Steamed Broccoli, Spanakopita, Or Stuffed Grape-leaves". But I didn't get my pasta that I wanted. My waitress told me that I could only SUBSTITUTE my Greek Salad for something else.. well.. that's definitely NOT what the menu says at all. The moussaka tasted a bit sweet and it tasted weird, but I enjoyed it. It probably tasted sweet, because of the type of spice they used for this dish. I tasted cinnamon spice. Hmm... maybe it was my imagination? What do you guys think for those who tried this dish..? I want to come back to this place, but not to order Mediterranean cuisines but to try out all the Italian cuisines they serve here.
(3)
Heather N.
The good reviews must be based on local alternatives, because this place is not better than three stars, food was really 2.5. Nice service, decent gyro and gross big lumpy potatoes. Greeks salad was BAD-overdressed, wilty, cheap shaved cheese. Cheers-
(2)
Nicki K.
Overall, restaurant was more Italian than Greek, main attraction for me was the belly dancer but she didn't come to our table much so didn't get a picture of her. I was very disappointed with the lack of interaction with the belly dancer cause I've been to other restaurants that had belly dancers and they were fun. Next time, I just have to know what kind of meat is in my dish! I do not like beef or lamb! I didn't think twice to ask what kind of meat was in my dish. I ordered the Greek combo. I didn't see beef or lamb listed. I was disappointed overall. But my non meat dishes were good. I will not come back, even though, it was just not a bad experience, it's not good enough for me to want to come back, that's all
(3)
De T.
Ordered a lamb wrap and fried calamari to go. Fried squid had a frozen freezer taste to it. Lamb wrap was ok. Not the very best, but alright. Lamb wrap was $7. Fried squid was $8.
(3)
Sheehan T.
The main mistake I made with Messina's was to order Italian at a primarily Greek restaurant. My girlfriend and I were craving Italian for lunch and she told me of a place right in front of her house. The name of the restaurant on the signboard actually says "Messina's Greek & Italian", so reluctantly, I decided to give it a go. The atmosphere itself was great, as they creatively renovated what seemed like a former fast food joint into a sit down restaurant. However the Italian menu selections were very limited compared to any other restaurant. Nevertheless, I ordered lasagna and my girlfriend settled with the spaghetti parmesan. Since it was lunch, we both ordered half instead of the whole, however for about 7 bucks for each entree I did not expect such a small portion. To top it off, the pasta in the lasagna was a bit chewy and burnt, and the marinara sauce in the spaghetti parmasen was a bit watery. Yet, when I was waiting for the check I saw a waiter bring out 2 dishes of what seemed like the most mouth watering gyros I've ever seen, therefore I would imagine from all the positive reviews that the restaurant's Greek food was up to par. I really hope that the place works on it's Italian menu soon, since it does advertise itself as a Greek AND Italian restaurant.
(3)
Andrew T.
I've been to Messina's a few times with the family and always enjoyed it. I vacillate between the gyro wrap and the gyro plate; both are great, depending on what kind of mood I'm in. The saganaki is also good and paired with a gyro is really all you need for a good Greek meal.
(4)
Mei L.
This place is really good. I came here with a few friends for lunch and the service was great. I had the caesar salad with grilled chicken. The portion was huge and I couldn't even finish it. It tasted really good and the romaine was fresh (picture is posted), unlike some of the other caesar salads that I've had at other restaurants. My friends had the calamari, greek salad, and gyro wrap. The calamari was perfectly lightly breaded and the marina sauce tasted like it was homemade with chunks of tomatoes.. yum! I hate it when calamari is too breaded, but this was perfect. I'm not into greek salads but my friend swears it's the best she's ever had. The meat in the gyro was tender and topped off with an amazing tzaziki sauce. I'd definitely go here again!
(5)
Maria O.
Every time I go here it is amazing. The gyro meat is so god with their sauce. It does not get any better than that! My kids and husband like their Italian side with great lasagna and pizza. You will come back for more if you go!
(5)
Cliff G.
Excellent food and great service. My girlfriend and I have come here quite a few times and each time we've had a pleasant experience. I've tried their cheese pizza, spaghetti and chicken gyro and was well pleased with all of them. I highly recommend this restaurant and am confident that you will enjoy it as well.
(5)
john s.
The food is consistantly excellent. The portions are generous and I wish them much success.
(4)
Sara H.
Despite having loved this restaurant in the past, after last night, I would never set foot in it again. Our service was terrible. Items that were ordered never made it to the table and asking about them didn't do anything as the waitress would just say that she would bring it and then disappear for extended periods. At one point it took my sister over 10 minutes to get her refill. When the main courses finally did arrive, 2 of the items that came weren't at all what was ordered. Rather than to simply correct the mistake and provide what was ordered, the staff became combative. The other waitress came over and asked if there was an issue and we gave her a quick summary of what was happening. Instead of offering to try and make things right or apologising, the waitress pulled out a menu and started trying to scold the people who had received the wrong main course because she said they ordered incorrectly, rather than it being an issue of the order being taken incorrectly. At that point, we asked for the check, our waitress disappeared and made a point of serving other tables around us while ignoring the request for the check. Rather than wait any longer, we put some money on the table and attempted to leave. The manager suddenly appears and started asking what was wrong, however instead of listening to anything we were saying, he kept saying the issue was our fault. We went out into the parking lot and were followed by the manager yelling that he was going to call the police on us because we had tried to leave without paying the check. When it was pointed out the check never came and money was left on the table, the manager admitted he hadn't actually bothered to check the table for the money. That didn't stop him from becoming increasingly abusive, wherein I told him I would call the police myself. He then insisted that the entire bill be paid. The amount on it included the main courses that were never eaten, the food ordered that never appeared, etc. He finally agreed to remove several items from the bill and we paid the difference. On the way home, it was noticed that the items that were said to have been taken off the bill never were, and what the manager had swiped the credit card for was the original amount. A call was placed to the restaurant saying that we wanted our money back, which the manager refused to do. The manager was informed that if we didn't receive a refund for the difference that we would file a police report for theft. That seemed to be enough to get him to agree to refund the money, even though he made several comments about how supposedly his best friend was the Lilburn chief of police and would cover up or quash any charges. Other customers in our section were also getting horrible service. A couple seated caddy corner to us was also having issues getting what they ordered. A man, who had come to pick up a to go order, heard what was said by the manager to us and asked to have his order cancelled and left.
(1)
Todd D.
I have driven by the place a hundred times and never thought about stopping in so a few nights ago the family was looking for something close to home to try. We went through the usual suspects and decided on a new spot. This place came up as a decent place. So we show up and walk in and and are promptly greeted and seated. Start off with a decent sweet tea and order the calamari. Not bad it was tubes and tentacles with a marinara sauce which is the standard fare. Yes I know this is a Greek place but I was craving lasagna so I got that and the wife got the gyro which was very good even though it had a little too much lettuce in it. Overall a good experience and we will go back soon since it is close to the house.
(4)
Reginald W.
Unfortunately, I cannot agree with the other reviewers who have reviewed this restaurant. Perhaps by comparison with other restaurants available in the immediate vicinity this place stands out but my impression was that anything on the menu that wasn't Greek rated much lower than food at even some of the franchise restaurants I so despise, such as Olive Garden (admittedly, one of the better franchises). The hot Greek dishes, spanakopita and fried cheese were quite good but that's where it left off. The lettuce in the Greek salad was somewhat over-marinated or wilted from age, the tomatoes were grocery store grade stuff, not even Romano and the feta cheese was not even as good as stuff that might be bought at Kroger. With regard to the Italian dishes, the wild mushroom ravioli was so coated with glue-like white sauce and the pasta so thick and heavy that the barely filled inside of most could have been wet cardboard and it wouldn't have mattered. On a positive note, the restaurant was very clean and our server was okay, though the server at the neighboring table seemed more attentive and interested. The "artwork", however, looked like something bought at an Interior R Us type establishment. All in all, I see no reason to go back and my wife agreed. There's a reason we live in Chamblee and not further out.
(2)
David H.
Originally, this place was called Kalamata. At that point in time, it was a Greek restaurant that had a reputation up in Gwinnett for good, authentic, Greek cuisine. A few years ago, one of the employees bought the restaurant and continued the tradition of making good Greek food. He did however, add a number of Italian selections as well, and that's why Messinas is called a Mediterranean restaurant. The restaurant has the ambiance of a family style restaurant, and has the price tag to back it up. Most of the menu is right around $10. For newcomers, I suggest trying the Greek Combo. With it you get a taste of a number of Greek selections, including moussaka, spanikopita, tyropita, and dolma. Good food, good prices, what more can you expect out of a restaurant? Did I mention that about twice a month they have belly dancers? If you want to make an event of it, call ahead, they can tell you which nights the dancers are there.
(4)
Jonathan M.
Wow, what a great little restaurant! If you like good Italian and Greek fare in a family friendly atmosphere, this is the place. The service was good, the food was even better. They had some items on the menu I had never heard of, like Italian Casserole, and it was delicious. We will definitely be regulars here, and that says a lot for me! The only disappointing part were the bathrooms. :)
(4)
Preston S.
Few things in life are better than a good gyro wrap, and the one I just had from Messina's was awesome. Very good calamari too. Their location is unfortunate; I wish they had the money to move to a nicer area and really see what this place could be. As it is, I'll still be coming back regularly.
(4)
Prince V.
This place is not good. Americanized Mediterranean food. Not authentic at all. Its just bad. Food was nasty.
(1)
Surge P.
I was driving around on Saturday night looking for something to get into and I noticed this small little greek and italian restaurant sign and I said to myself...ummm.. I need to check this out since I like greek food. anyway, on Sunday after Church, I decided to check it out...But let me tell you, that's the best Greek food I've had since my company moved me from Orlando, FL to ATL. I had the" half Lasagna portion and Chicken on Pitta fully loaded (of course,the chicken on pitta was for to go) :). For as much as I'd like to eat it all but I could not. :). Anyway, don't expect anything grandiose from this place except for some GREAT food. Waiter was very polite and attentive. If you're looking for fancy windows and mirrors, this is not the place for you. It seems like this place runs by a family. All i can say is to go check it out!!!!
(5)
Patrick D.
Better than expected food. Nothing too fancy, just good food and great service.
(4)
Sherie W.
This is my second visit, and it was equal in excellence. This place does Greek right - fresh, great Greek salad, all entrees done with great attention to detail and quality. Try it!
(5)
Cyndi R.
This restaurant is great. The food is fresh and they have a big variety of food, Italian, Greek, American. Yum Yum We eat lunch here usually twice a week. Thier daily lunch specials are very affordable and very filling. You won't regret trying this place, it will become one of your regular places to stop and eat.
(5)
Watson L.
For Lilburn it's pretty good. Had multiple times on the menu and all were great. Service is a bit slow but everything else is great.
(4)
Jesse J.
We love to go to Messina's when we are in the mood for some good greek food. We usually end up here on the first Saturday night of the month when they have belly dancing. I love the Dolmades and the Mousakka. I like the fact that if I am in the mood for Italian I can get that there too. The Chicken Parm is really good (not as good as mine, but nobodies is). I love a greek salad every now and then and they have really good ones. The wait staff is always the same which I really like in a restaurant. I like to see a familiar face when I go out to eat. I also like a full glass of tea and they never let mine get low.
(4)
Connie P.
My friend, who is Greek, and my partner, who is Italian, and myself really enjoy the food here!
(5)
Kelly B.
My favorite Greek restaurant when I crave a terrific GYRO! The wait staff is warm and welcoming and are very attentive. The takeout is quick too! The prices are reasonable and all the food is great!
(5)
Megan H.
Absolutely the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. I made a reservation for a large party two weeks ago via their website and called yesterday to confirm. When we arrived, our table had been given to another party.We waited for a very long time, watching our waitress work very hard to keep up with the volume of customers. Several tables left without even ordering. After waiting over an hour for our meals, I finally asked to speak to a manager. The manager refused to discount our meals or take responsibility for only having scheduled 2 staff members for the entire front of the restaurant (which was full). He began yelling at me and my party, saying we "need{ed} to have common sense" because there are lots of schools in the area. Clearly, he did not have this sense when scheduling the bare minimum number of staff members. He then yelled across the restaurant that he did not need my business. We ended up having to take our meals to go, but I did not feel comfortable eating it after the confrontation with the manager. If he is willing to yell at customers in the middle of a crowded restaurant, who knows what we was willing to do to my food before it came to my table. I have heard many good things about this restaurant, but this is my first experience here. I will definitely not go back, and I sincerely hope this manager has some sort of repercussions for his vile behavior.
(1)
Dawn W.
Honestly I have not been here in a few months, but I wanted to write a review since they are in my neighborhood and I like their food. It is a Mediterranean restaurant and I have to say I love their Italian menu. I never was much for Greek food (although they do have a good gyro with tziki sauce). My favorite dish is the eggplant parm. So very good! This is a neighborhood restaurant, nothing fancy. I do not know if they have a to-go menu but that would be a good idea.
(4)
Theo S.
Great food. Very much a Greek place to eat. I love every dish plus the pizza is very good
(5)
Daoloi P.
Great food, very nice atmosphere, & decent prices! Loved it & it's local! Check it out!!!
(5)
Melissa P.
The service is great! Everyone has to try the Messinas' Salad. It's like a gyro in a plate! The dressing tastes home made. Good, not great, selection of wine. The location is kind of hard to get to if you are driving towards Lawrenceville. Great restaurant all together!
(5)
MoMo J.
Moussaka - delicious!! Gyro wrap - ask them to put lamb only (they put beef in it as well, but I don't care too much for that in my gyros) Eggplant casserole - definitely one of my favorites! It is so flavorful especially with the side of garlic bread!
(4)
Brenda M.
I have been here a couple of times, once for lunch and once for dinner. Shrimp pasta was good for dinner but service was extremely slow. For lunch, the chicken wrap was mediocre and the greek potatoes were greasy and nothing special. Service was slow this time too. Probably will not go back.
Our experience with Messinas and the young manager was horrible!!!!! We had to wait a very long time to be served, and it wasn't even that busy. After our food was finally served, (pizza being very greasy and cheese totally falling off the slices) my daughter had to go to the bathroom. I took her in there, and after she went, she really needed to wash her hands, but there was NO soap!! :O All they had was a big bottle of hand sanitizer on the counter instead. How disgusting!!!! Hand sanitizer does NOT replace soap, especially after you have gone to the bathroom. I was so grossed out knowing that any employees/cooks that went to the bathroom did not properly wash their hands with soap, that I immediately complained to the manager. He was fairly young, perhaps the owners son. I told him how disgusting it was not to have soap in the bathroom, and probably a health code violation. People could get sick from that. He did not appreciate me saying that and actually told me that I hurt his feelings. Are you kidding me?? I hurt HIS feelings?? He was very rude, and told us to leave. Needless to say, we will NEVER return there. I should have reported them to the health inspector.
(1)
Oliver M.
This is an update to my earlier review. I need to single out one of the waiters at Messina's for outstanding service. We've had Wayne as a waiter several times and he's always attentive and helpful. His humor is a little dry, but he is always ready to answer questions and offer suggestions. This past Friday he recommended a Greek wine that was a real treat for my wife. She's the wine connoisseur and was looking for a wine we had while in Greece a couple of years ago. Wayne's suggestion of a wine made with a specific type grape grown only in Greece was right on target. So, thank you Wayne. We'll see you again soon.
(5)
Lou G.
"If you think about it, Greek food isn't that far from Italian food. They share a spice palette. [Chews] And what a civilization is the Greeks'. [Chews some more] They gave us science, democracy... and little cubes of charred meat that taste like sweat." [Spits out kabob] Sheldon Cooper, Big Bang Theory We came to Messina's for Greek, but left having Italian! The menu has a good mix of both cuisines. I ordered the Eggplant Il Forno. The cheese used in the baked dish was a white cheddar as opposed to traditional parmagian or mozzarella. The eggplant was also cut thicker than typical Italian fare. Overall a great dish. My friend had the Italian Sausage, and just felt it needed more sauce. Pasta was an additional $2 charge for each dish, which kind of sucks. Both entrees were served with a pretty simple garlic bread and a house salad that was way overdressed. There are a lot of Greek and Italian vegetarian options at Messinas. Service was friendly. Wine specials included a few at $2.50 a glass. Overall A-OK!
(3)
Dionisio R.
Messinas plate , without words, best gyro plate in town Excellent desert perfect for couples Very good instrumental music Excellent staff Great for couple
(5)
Kara B.
The only reason I gave this review of three stars is because I have eaten there many times and had a wonderful time-- great food, usually great service. Twice, however, I have gotten take out orders and been very disappointed. I ordered a medium pizza with feta cheese, black olives and gyro meat. It's my fault that I didn't look at the pizza before leaving but it was something I had had there before, dine-in. It looked awful. There was plenty of gyro meat that had been put on top, almost as an afterthought. There were plenty of black olives (which I do love) but no feta cheese that I could taste. There was very little cheese in general but lots of marinara sauce. Maybe it was my fault; I was there late afternoon, an off time. I will continue to dine at Messina's but never again will I order a meal to go.
(3)
Tiff H.
Whenever I'm in the Norcross area on a Sunday night (which is basically every Sunday night) and I'm tired of the same good things, you gotta branch out. We found Messina's, which turned out to be God's gift to broke people. I ordered a gyro wrap with fries as my side. The menu is pretty diverse, with an interesting dichotomy of Mediterranean and Italian. The chicken Alfredo versus the kebabs. I realized that it's actually not that odd, to a European, but at the same time, our server had a heavy southern accent so I doubt she gives it much thought, although the owner maybe did. Portions are reasonable for the price they charge. I left the restaurant $10 poorer, but only after eating my sizable gyro wrap and fries, and left tip. My gyro wasn't bad, just wish there were less lettuce and tzatziki sauce that tasted more like tzatziki instead of ranch. The fries were a poor choice on my part: dry and flavorless. I was craving fries and these disappointed me. Will I come back? Maybe, but not for the fries or gyro. The chicken Alfredo, on the other hand, looks and smells hearty and delicious.
(3)
Alicia C.
Had lunch here on Sunday for the first time. Business was fairly busy and we were seated within a minute of arriving. We both ordered a gyro with a side of fries, and received our food rather quickly. Both the gyro and fries were delicious. Although if I had to change something about the gyro, it would be to either add more tzatziki sauce in the gyro or serve a side of tzatziki sauce with the plate. Over all, pleasant experience!
(4)
Lesly W.
Came in today based on a coworker's recommendation and was super excited to find a Mediterranean restaurant nearby work. Unfortunately, I was not too impressed. I ordered the Chicken Panini with Greek Potatoes to go. The waiter/hostess was not the friendliest and it made me feel kind of awkward. He didn't smile,say hello and looked like he was over the day. The Greek potatoes was a boiled a red potato sliced into fourths and was actually the best part of my plate. The bread and spinach on the sandwich was delicious but the chicken was rubbery and tough. I couldn't tell if it was frozen and was microwaved after or if it was fried and microwaved later. Either way, it tasted so gross and was really tough to eat through. Kind of disappointing as I had to throw away my food, wasted a couple of dollars, and had to pick up something else to eat because I was on lunch break and starving. The food was mediocre at best. I might come back to this place if I want a salad or hummus because these are pretty safe items that can't really get screwed up..
(2)
Cindy V.
Great food! Great service! Great ambiance! I traveled to Greece last year and fell in love with the gyros. When I was suddenly craving for a really nice gyro, I found this restaurant off of Yelp. My friend and I were seated right away. Our server was very friendly and came to ask if we needed anything every few minutes without it being annoying. We ordered the spinach pie plate and the Greek gyro. Omg it was delicious! It definitely satisfied my craving and brought me back to my summer in Greece. We will be heading back without a doubt!
(5)
Hashtronaut L.
Best Greek food in gwinnett! Been eating here for years. Staff is over the top friendly. Food is always exactly what you want. I'll be back over and over. Don't change on me!
(5)
Tran N.
I love this place to satisfy my mediterranean food cravings. It's one of those places where I can venture out from one of my usual Korean or American fares. The lunch specials here at Messinas are of great value and very filling with generous portions. I really like the Messina's plate, it is a gyro plate that comes with a side salad, pita bread, choice of boiled potatoes or french fries, and a choice of provolone or feta cheese. I also got to try one of their pasta dishes, which was the mushroom ravioli with added shrimp for an extra minimal charge. I liked both dishes for the few times I came here. Service is a definite hit or miss. I never had "bad" service here, everyone here has been nice. It is just the luck of having the appropriate amount of time to have your food being brought out.Overall, a great authentic mediterranean place to try!
(4)
Karina R.
Our boss bought us lunch from Messina's the other day & I have to say it was very delicious. I ordered a gyro with the Greek potatoes. The gyro was delicious, it had just enough meat, lettuce & onions. The meat was juicy & had lots of flavor. The potatoes were also good.. only thing is they should be smaller & there should be more instead of 3 huge potatoes. I definitely would like to actually dine in which I plan to do soon.
(4)
Terry J.
Great food. Love the Alfredo with chicken. Also the Lasagna and the Greek salad. Even though we have only been here twice now, it is a place where we will return many times. The saganaki is a little saltier than other places, and a little thicker, but it is still good over their garlic bread.
(4)
Michelle C.
Ordered the chicken on pita with fries. Used grubhub to place the order for pickup. The food is usually very good here. This time the sandwich was as good as always. But the fries were over cooked. Some workers must not be very used to how to handle orders coming from grubhub because I added notes, for example no onion and extra sauce, but they were not read. The waitress who brought out my food didn't not know I didn't yet pay and would have let me leave with a free meal. Three stars instead of 4 because of the fries and the kinks that still need to be worked out with customers placing orders through grubhub.
(3)
CJ R.
Amazing food. Quiet atmosphere. Great staff, they always make sure your drink is full.
(5)
Amanda D.
I LOVE messinas! Best gyros in town! The service is great! The owners are nice! (They used to be around a lot, I haven't seen them in a while). Pizzas are great too!! Greek salads are yummy too!! I really hope they are making a great profit for the business because every time I drive by, the parking lot is empty. I would love to see it completely packed. The food is just delicious!
(5)
E E.
Since my first visit we've ordered carry out pizza which is great at a reasonable price. However we went back recently to dine in. We ordered pizza with gyro meat and feta cheese and it was really good. The new craft beer they (and other neighborhood eateries) are hawking with enthusiasm was a bit flat. Although our server was knowledgeable about the beer he was not very attentive beyond refilling my water once. We sat so long, another man came by to ask if we wanted a to-go box, then our waiter hurriedly slapped our ticket down without asking about dessert. Another thing - we sat in a different area, away from the bar and the noise of the patrons echoed in there. Background music was drowned out so I felt like I was in a school cafeteria.
(3)
Chad C.
I was doing some last minute Christmas shopping this afternoon and decided to grab some carryout for the family. I happened to see Messinas on the way to the store, so I figured i would give it a try. I am EXTREMELY happy with my decision! Starting with the "cooked to perfection" calamari, to my wife's Messina burger, to my gyro souvlaki plate, to my son's chicken fingers, all were excellent! Now, I grew up in New York and since moving to the Atlanta area nearly 15 years ago I have struggled to find an even passable canoli, (my favorite here has got to be from Alpine Bakery in Alpharetta), but Messinas has restored my faith that there are some hidden gems still to be found around Atlanta. My wife hit the nail on the head after several bites of her Messina burger, (she initially could not put it down long enough to talk), she turned to me and said "This is where we are going next date night!"
(5)
Britton B.
The fries were dry and the fried cheese and ravioli were somewhat cold and stiff in the middle. The gyro's on the other hand were f******* spectacular. Definitely, would get the gyros again, and maybe try something else for a side and appetizer
(4)
Richard R.
1.27.2012 - Today's visit was based on the suggestion of a few people who knew the area far better than I. I ordered the lunch special which was the Messina Plate. Basically this is a gyros plate with a choice of fries or greek potatoes. Typical of most Greek restaurants I have visited, they like to cut your pita bread into sections. I requested to have mine delivered whole so I could build my own Gyros. I'm pretty certain the pita bread was home made, which was a really nice surprise. However, I expected a little more meat and a lot more french fries than I received. That being said, I was still very full after completing my meal, so I suppose the portions were correct. The Tzatziki sauce was very good, and they gave me a huge slab of feta cheese. My only complaint was the did not include onions with my lettuce and tomato. Also, the Coke I ordered was not very strong on carbonation and borderline flat. My total meal was under $11 and the best part was the Gyros meat was authentic in flavor and not the typical Mall copycat version. It's a solid choice for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Jami G.
After reading some of the reviews, I had in my mind that the service might be lacking - and it was. Upon walking in the restaurant, we were greeted by wait staff and seated rather quickly. And then left to sit and wait and wait....... It was Friday evening and the place wasn't slammed or anything - just that taking orders was done when the wait staff was ready, not when the customer was. So, I ordered the gyro platter and my guest had a pizza. Pizza was really good. Lots of flavor in the sauce and the crust was soft. Really nice. Wish I would have ordered that instead of the gyro platter I had. Way too much cracked pepper on the salad. The dressing was a vinegar and oil type with a ratio that was way too much vinegar. Edible but something I wouldn't order again. The gyro platter wasn't anything to brag about. Portions were on the smallish side. Except for the potatoes. Those were large chunks and filled up the platter well enough to make it look like the portions were generous. I don't recall that the server returned to check on us. The tip we left was a gift, she certainly didn't earn it. I might return for the pizza, but then again, maybe not. I don't appreciate being made to wait to have my order taken. So maybe a take-out pizza would work best for me because I don't see the wait staff changing their ways or their speed. An additional tip: Consider paying in cash because it took awhile for the server to run my credit card and return with the card and the receipt. And by awhile, I mean more than 10 minutes - because that's about how long she spent chatting with someone who was leaving.
(2)
Patrick M.
A very good restaurant, It's web page says the best in Lilburn and I tend to agree. I've actually eaten here several times and three times in the last two weeks. The service is normally good, they do get very busy on the weekends (dinner and Sunday lunch). The best dish for meat lovers (I am one) is the Gyro Souvlaki. a Mound of Gyro meat and pork tenderloin grilled to perfection. I made the mistake of a side salad to start and desert after. They also most had to get other patrons to carry me out I was so full. My next trip I promise I'll try an Italian dish, they look amazing when going by to another table.
(4)
Mandy R.
I come here whenever my grandma is in town and we love it! We had their gyros, steak, pizza, salads and their pasta is good too! We haven't had anything we dislike yet. We usually order the gyro place and we love it
(4)
Aseel K.
We love this place, tasty food at a resonable price. The service is fast, however it could be slightly improved to become more personable.
(5)
Justin C.
This review is for a to go order. Had the greek salad with shrimp and chicken. Loved that they separated the warm protein from the salad, so that the protein didn't wilt the lettuce. Salad was very fresh and crisp! Shrimp was flavorful and cooked perfectly...I hate overcooked shrimp. Can't wait to dine in next time!
(5)
Angela Q.
Awesome gyros! They are delicious and I would have to say pretty authentic. I should definitely try some of the other items they have to offer but its hard to stray from their gyros.
(4)
Bryan S.
Great food normally eat here for lunch - love the Gyro plate - and you have to get the Opah - fried cheese - it is to die for....good service - great food and plenty of it - I always leave satisfied.
(4)
Lisa C.
If you are in to Greek food, Messinas is the place for you!! I've been twice and each time had a good experience. The servers are friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is chilled and relaxed. The prices are fair and the food is good!! Tip, as of right now: If you are planning on going and want to sit on the patio, I wouldn't recommend at this time. The patio area is being bombarded by dust and sand that's being kicked up by the wind. The source is all of the construction thats going on on the street.
(5)
CA S.
Amazing chicken pita with excellent French fries. Cannoli for dessert! This is our third visit and it's worth the drive. Our server was friendly and even though service was slightly slower due to a large party I'll continue to come back.
(4)
Mike M.
I was disappointed. I had high hopes for this restaurant. I'm sure it's a good place, but I don't know if I want to try the experience all over again. I got to the restaurant and went in for lunch. It was a pleasant place. I was greeted warmly and taken to my table. I had my drink order taken. Since I hadn't been there before, I asked for a couple of minutes to look over the menu. Nobody ever came back. Granted, a large party arrived, but I saw other wait staff in the area and no one stopped to take my order. I was in there about 25 min. total, Since I had wasted most of my lunch hour, I had to settle for McDonalds. That added insult to injury! I'm not trying to make people avoid this place. It just didn't work out for me. I'm not sure I'm willing to give it another shot, though.
(2)
Kerry M.
I see four stars, and I just do not get it. Expensive, mediocre slop at its finest. The service was absent on our first visit in many years. We ordered a gyro, chicken parmesan, salads, and Greek potatoes. The salads were nice, the house dressing watery but OK. The gyro was made very well, but at $7, a bit steep. The potatoes was a boiled red potato. One potato sliced into thirds. Flavorless overpriced mush. The chicken was so tough we agreed it had been fried then microwaved to be reheated. It would be difficult to make breast meat tougher. They did not pound the meat, so it cooked unevenly. The pasta was soft, and WAY over sauced. The bread served was dipped in grease, sprinkled with Italian seasoning, and stuffed in the sea of flaccid pasta. Our waters never filled, our entrees finished before we saw our server again after delivery. Thank goodness we got a 50% off groupon type deal. We would not return even if it was half off.
(2)
Megan H.
Absolutely the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. I made a reservation for a large party two weeks ago via their website and called yesterday to confirm. When we arrived, our table had been given to another party.We waited for a very long time, watching our waitress work very hard to keep up with the volume of customers. Several tables left without even ordering. After waiting over an hour for our meals, I finally asked to speak to a manager. The manager refused to discount our meals or take responsibility for only having scheduled 2 staff members for the entire front of the restaurant (which was full). He began yelling at me and my party, saying we "need{ed} to have common sense" because there are lots of schools in the area. Clearly, he did not have this sense when scheduling the bare minimum number of staff members. He then yelled across the restaurant that he did not need my business. We ended up having to take our meals to go, but I did not feel comfortable eating it after the confrontation with the manager. If he is willing to yell at customers in the middle of a crowded restaurant, who knows what we was willing to do to my food before it came to my table. I have heard many good things about this restaurant, but this is my first experience here. I will definitely not go back, and I sincerely hope this manager has some sort of repercussions for his vile behavior.
(1)
Dawn W.
Honestly I have not been here in a few months, but I wanted to write a review since they are in my neighborhood and I like their food. It is a Mediterranean restaurant and I have to say I love their Italian menu. I never was much for Greek food (although they do have a good gyro with tziki sauce). My favorite dish is the eggplant parm. So very good! This is a neighborhood restaurant, nothing fancy. I do not know if they have a to-go menu but that would be a good idea.
(4)
Theo S.
Great food. Very much a Greek place to eat. I love every dish plus the pizza is very good
(5)
Melissa P.
The service is great! Everyone has to try the Messinas' Salad. It's like a gyro in a plate! The dressing tastes home made. Good, not great, selection of wine. The location is kind of hard to get to if you are driving towards Lawrenceville. Great restaurant all together!
(5)
MoMo J.
Moussaka - delicious!! Gyro wrap - ask them to put lamb only (they put beef in it as well, but I don't care too much for that in my gyros) Eggplant casserole - definitely one of my favorites! It is so flavorful especially with the side of garlic bread!
(4)
Brenda M.
I have been here a couple of times, once for lunch and once for dinner. Shrimp pasta was good for dinner but service was extremely slow. For lunch, the chicken wrap was mediocre and the greek potatoes were greasy and nothing special. Service was slow this time too. Probably will not go back.
(2)
Daoloi P.
Great food, very nice atmosphere, & decent prices! Loved it & it's local! Check it out!!!
(5)
Mechel C.
Im a big lover of Greek food but was sadly disappointed in this restaurant. The lamb just was bland to me and my wine when served was in a glass just out of the washer. At least it was a clean glass, but please, you don't serve white wine in a warm glass people! My dinner companion was not pleased either with the meal. As I looked around the dining room I noticed most of the customers were eating pizza. So maybe pizza would have been the better choice. Not writing it off just yet, in the future, maybe I will try their pizza.
(3)
Jeff L.
Nice place. Had a great pizza and the service was good. The place was clean and everyone was friendly. I will go back.
(4)
Yoomee H.
I'm happy to say that I tried and liked this place! It was my birthday dinner which was on 09/14/13 (Friday) but my birthday was on the 11th. Anyways, my birthday dinner was with my family and we had a big table. Anyways, onto the food and the experience! The experience I had was fabulous! I read some reviews for this place and was sort of afraid of how the waiters or waitresses would be like.. but the waitress we had was great! She didn't really come check on us, because we were taking a while to choose which entree we wanted. Finally, we were all set to order. I had the Greek Combo which came with 2 cheese pies, spinach pie, moussaka, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), side salad (Greek). It was a lot of food! Honestly, I didn't think this plate would fill me up, but OH-EM-GEE it did! I had to take the leftovers home as well. I tried a bit of my dad's side pasta and boy! was it delicious! But I was a little bit disappointed how the dolmades tasted here. It didn't taste the same as the ones I had in other Mediterranean restaurants. This dolmades had a sausage wrapped in grape leaves and it wasn't very sour. Where's the lemon "ka-pow" taste? Greek Combo - $12.95 And also, I was very confused when I ordered my Greek Combo plate, because on the menu it says "All Dinner Entrees Are Served With A Side Salad And Your Choice Of Greek Potatoes, French-fries, Spaghetti Pasta, Grilled Or Steamed Vegetables, Grilled Or Steamed Broccoli, Spanakopita, Or Stuffed Grape-leaves". But I didn't get my pasta that I wanted. My waitress told me that I could only SUBSTITUTE my Greek Salad for something else.. well.. that's definitely NOT what the menu says at all. The moussaka tasted a bit sweet and it tasted weird, but I enjoyed it. It probably tasted sweet, because of the type of spice they used for this dish. I tasted cinnamon spice. Hmm... maybe it was my imagination? What do you guys think for those who tried this dish..? I want to come back to this place, but not to order Mediterranean cuisines but to try out all the Italian cuisines they serve here.
(3)
Heather N.
The good reviews must be based on local alternatives, because this place is not better than three stars, food was really 2.5. Nice service, decent gyro and gross big lumpy potatoes. Greeks salad was BAD-overdressed, wilty, cheap shaved cheese. Cheers-
(2)
Nicki K.
Overall, restaurant was more Italian than Greek, main attraction for me was the belly dancer but she didn't come to our table much so didn't get a picture of her. I was very disappointed with the lack of interaction with the belly dancer cause I've been to other restaurants that had belly dancers and they were fun. Next time, I just have to know what kind of meat is in my dish! I do not like beef or lamb! I didn't think twice to ask what kind of meat was in my dish. I ordered the Greek combo. I didn't see beef or lamb listed. I was disappointed overall. But my non meat dishes were good. I will not come back, even though, it was just not a bad experience, it's not good enough for me to want to come back, that's all
(3)
De T.
Ordered a lamb wrap and fried calamari to go. Fried squid had a frozen freezer taste to it. Lamb wrap was ok. Not the very best, but alright. Lamb wrap was $7. Fried squid was $8.
(3)
Sheehan T.
The main mistake I made with Messina's was to order Italian at a primarily Greek restaurant. My girlfriend and I were craving Italian for lunch and she told me of a place right in front of her house. The name of the restaurant on the signboard actually says "Messina's Greek & Italian", so reluctantly, I decided to give it a go. The atmosphere itself was great, as they creatively renovated what seemed like a former fast food joint into a sit down restaurant. However the Italian menu selections were very limited compared to any other restaurant. Nevertheless, I ordered lasagna and my girlfriend settled with the spaghetti parmesan. Since it was lunch, we both ordered half instead of the whole, however for about 7 bucks for each entree I did not expect such a small portion. To top it off, the pasta in the lasagna was a bit chewy and burnt, and the marinara sauce in the spaghetti parmasen was a bit watery. Yet, when I was waiting for the check I saw a waiter bring out 2 dishes of what seemed like the most mouth watering gyros I've ever seen, therefore I would imagine from all the positive reviews that the restaurant's Greek food was up to par. I really hope that the place works on it's Italian menu soon, since it does advertise itself as a Greek AND Italian restaurant.
(3)
Andrew T.
I've been to Messina's a few times with the family and always enjoyed it. I vacillate between the gyro wrap and the gyro plate; both are great, depending on what kind of mood I'm in. The saganaki is also good and paired with a gyro is really all you need for a good Greek meal.
(4)
Mei L.
This place is really good. I came here with a few friends for lunch and the service was great. I had the caesar salad with grilled chicken. The portion was huge and I couldn't even finish it. It tasted really good and the romaine was fresh (picture is posted), unlike some of the other caesar salads that I've had at other restaurants. My friends had the calamari, greek salad, and gyro wrap. The calamari was perfectly lightly breaded and the marina sauce tasted like it was homemade with chunks of tomatoes.. yum! I hate it when calamari is too breaded, but this was perfect. I'm not into greek salads but my friend swears it's the best she's ever had. The meat in the gyro was tender and topped off with an amazing tzaziki sauce. I'd definitely go here again!
(5)
Maria O.
Every time I go here it is amazing. The gyro meat is so god with their sauce. It does not get any better than that! My kids and husband like their Italian side with great lasagna and pizza. You will come back for more if you go!
(5)
Cliff G.
Excellent food and great service. My girlfriend and I have come here quite a few times and each time we've had a pleasant experience. I've tried their cheese pizza, spaghetti and chicken gyro and was well pleased with all of them. I highly recommend this restaurant and am confident that you will enjoy it as well.
(5)
john s.
The food is consistantly excellent. The portions are generous and I wish them much success.
(4)
Sara H.
Despite having loved this restaurant in the past, after last night, I would never set foot in it again. Our service was terrible. Items that were ordered never made it to the table and asking about them didn't do anything as the waitress would just say that she would bring it and then disappear for extended periods. At one point it took my sister over 10 minutes to get her refill. When the main courses finally did arrive, 2 of the items that came weren't at all what was ordered. Rather than to simply correct the mistake and provide what was ordered, the staff became combative. The other waitress came over and asked if there was an issue and we gave her a quick summary of what was happening. Instead of offering to try and make things right or apologising, the waitress pulled out a menu and started trying to scold the people who had received the wrong main course because she said they ordered incorrectly, rather than it being an issue of the order being taken incorrectly. At that point, we asked for the check, our waitress disappeared and made a point of serving other tables around us while ignoring the request for the check. Rather than wait any longer, we put some money on the table and attempted to leave. The manager suddenly appears and started asking what was wrong, however instead of listening to anything we were saying, he kept saying the issue was our fault. We went out into the parking lot and were followed by the manager yelling that he was going to call the police on us because we had tried to leave without paying the check. When it was pointed out the check never came and money was left on the table, the manager admitted he hadn't actually bothered to check the table for the money. That didn't stop him from becoming increasingly abusive, wherein I told him I would call the police myself. He then insisted that the entire bill be paid. The amount on it included the main courses that were never eaten, the food ordered that never appeared, etc. He finally agreed to remove several items from the bill and we paid the difference. On the way home, it was noticed that the items that were said to have been taken off the bill never were, and what the manager had swiped the credit card for was the original amount. A call was placed to the restaurant saying that we wanted our money back, which the manager refused to do. The manager was informed that if we didn't receive a refund for the difference that we would file a police report for theft. That seemed to be enough to get him to agree to refund the money, even though he made several comments about how supposedly his best friend was the Lilburn chief of police and would cover up or quash any charges. Other customers in our section were also getting horrible service. A couple seated caddy corner to us was also having issues getting what they ordered. A man, who had come to pick up a to go order, heard what was said by the manager to us and asked to have his order cancelled and left.
(1)
Todd D.
I have driven by the place a hundred times and never thought about stopping in so a few nights ago the family was looking for something close to home to try. We went through the usual suspects and decided on a new spot. This place came up as a decent place. So we show up and walk in and and are promptly greeted and seated. Start off with a decent sweet tea and order the calamari. Not bad it was tubes and tentacles with a marinara sauce which is the standard fare. Yes I know this is a Greek place but I was craving lasagna so I got that and the wife got the gyro which was very good even though it had a little too much lettuce in it. Overall a good experience and we will go back soon since it is close to the house.
(4)
Alice Y.
I don't know if I've been spoiled by Greek restaurants in other towns but man, I felt really bad making my husband drive almost an hour to come here. First off, I love Greek food. The best Greek food I've had in North America is in Toronto, along Danforth, so that's what I was measuring Messinas against. So maybe it isn't a fair comparison, since Toronto has a sizable Greek population. My husband had the mixed grill ($18.95) and I had what they called the gyro souvlaki ($12.95). We also ordered hummus ($4.95) for an appetizer. I had a sinking feeling when the hummus arrived in a plastic cup, and was hard-ish, like it's been in the fridge for a couple of days. Yup, sure enough it tasted like it too. The accompanying pita was stale. The gyro was salty, greasy and kind of nasty. The souvlaki was dry. The Tzaziki was weird, tasted more of sour cream than yogurt and no cucumbers. The Greek salad was below average -- the iceberg lettuce was a little limp, there was only 1 olive on the whole plate and the feta didn't really taste like anything. My husband said the lamb chops in his mixed grill tasted like it was frozen not fresh, but that the grilled chicken was OK. I ordered an iced tea and it tasted like it was mixed from instant powder. Not good. Unfortunately this restaurant wasn't worth the drive. Wish it was.
(2)
Sabrina S.
Excellent every time. I can't remember ever being disappointed by what I have ordered. Calamari, dolmadas, the gyro plate, pizza, moussaka, spanakopita. I have never managed to make it to dessert so I can't comment on that. The husband eats there at least twice a month on the sly. Yeah and I agree with another reviewer . . . it's a Greek/Italian restaurant not just Greek though I think their Greek dishes are stronger.
(5)
Aleck B.
Few things in life make me happier than Greek food, and among those is *good* Greek food! So I was super-happy when I left Messina's! I'd been in the area for two years, and for some reason had never discovered the place. Well, I'm going to have to make myself a regular there now. We went in not knowing exactly what to expect. My wife had the gyro wrap, and I went for the gyro/souvlaki combo plate. Mine came with a salad, and its flavor was a sign of good things to come. The gyro wrap came out so stuffed that it was almost impossible to finish (but my wife said that it was so good that she almost couldn't stop eating), and my combo was fantastic. The gyro meat was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and the souvlaki was juicy and delicious. And the portions were *huge* -- I was actually looking forward to trying dessert, but by the time I tore myself away from the entree, I was so stuffed I couldn't even consider it. This place is definitely a hidden gem. If you enjoy Greek food, you owe it to yourself to stop in!
(5)
Alayne W.
Dolmades were some of the best I ever had. The food is very very good and prices are reasonable. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Reginald W.
Unfortunately, I cannot agree with the other reviewers who have reviewed this restaurant. Perhaps by comparison with other restaurants available in the immediate vicinity this place stands out but my impression was that anything on the menu that wasn't Greek rated much lower than food at even some of the franchise restaurants I so despise, such as Olive Garden (admittedly, one of the better franchises). The hot Greek dishes, spanakopita and fried cheese were quite good but that's where it left off. The lettuce in the Greek salad was somewhat over-marinated or wilted from age, the tomatoes were grocery store grade stuff, not even Romano and the feta cheese was not even as good as stuff that might be bought at Kroger. With regard to the Italian dishes, the wild mushroom ravioli was so coated with glue-like white sauce and the pasta so thick and heavy that the barely filled inside of most could have been wet cardboard and it wouldn't have mattered. On a positive note, the restaurant was very clean and our server was okay, though the server at the neighboring table seemed more attentive and interested. The "artwork", however, looked like something bought at an Interior R Us type establishment. All in all, I see no reason to go back and my wife agreed. There's a reason we live in Chamblee and not further out.
(2)
David H.
Originally, this place was called Kalamata. At that point in time, it was a Greek restaurant that had a reputation up in Gwinnett for good, authentic, Greek cuisine. A few years ago, one of the employees bought the restaurant and continued the tradition of making good Greek food. He did however, add a number of Italian selections as well, and that's why Messinas is called a Mediterranean restaurant. The restaurant has the ambiance of a family style restaurant, and has the price tag to back it up. Most of the menu is right around $10. For newcomers, I suggest trying the Greek Combo. With it you get a taste of a number of Greek selections, including moussaka, spanikopita, tyropita, and dolma. Good food, good prices, what more can you expect out of a restaurant? Did I mention that about twice a month they have belly dancers? If you want to make an event of it, call ahead, they can tell you which nights the dancers are there.
(4)
Jonathan M.
Wow, what a great little restaurant! If you like good Italian and Greek fare in a family friendly atmosphere, this is the place. The service was good, the food was even better. They had some items on the menu I had never heard of, like Italian Casserole, and it was delicious. We will definitely be regulars here, and that says a lot for me! The only disappointing part were the bathrooms. :)
(4)
Preston S.
Few things in life are better than a good gyro wrap, and the one I just had from Messina's was awesome. Very good calamari too. Their location is unfortunate; I wish they had the money to move to a nicer area and really see what this place could be. As it is, I'll still be coming back regularly.
(4)
Prince V.
This place is not good. Americanized Mediterranean food. Not authentic at all. Its just bad. Food was nasty.
(1)
Surge P.
I was driving around on Saturday night looking for something to get into and I noticed this small little greek and italian restaurant sign and I said to myself...ummm.. I need to check this out since I like greek food. anyway, on Sunday after Church, I decided to check it out...But let me tell you, that's the best Greek food I've had since my company moved me from Orlando, FL to ATL. I had the" half Lasagna portion and Chicken on Pitta fully loaded (of course,the chicken on pitta was for to go) :). For as much as I'd like to eat it all but I could not. :). Anyway, don't expect anything grandiose from this place except for some GREAT food. Waiter was very polite and attentive. If you're looking for fancy windows and mirrors, this is not the place for you. It seems like this place runs by a family. All i can say is to go check it out!!!!
(5)
Patrick D.
Better than expected food. Nothing too fancy, just good food and great service.
(4)
Sherie W.
This is my second visit, and it was equal in excellence. This place does Greek right - fresh, great Greek salad, all entrees done with great attention to detail and quality. Try it!
(5)
Cyndi R.
This restaurant is great. The food is fresh and they have a big variety of food, Italian, Greek, American. Yum Yum We eat lunch here usually twice a week. Thier daily lunch specials are very affordable and very filling. You won't regret trying this place, it will become one of your regular places to stop and eat.
(5)
Watson L.
For Lilburn it's pretty good. Had multiple times on the menu and all were great. Service is a bit slow but everything else is great.
(4)
Jesse J.
We love to go to Messina's when we are in the mood for some good greek food. We usually end up here on the first Saturday night of the month when they have belly dancing. I love the Dolmades and the Mousakka. I like the fact that if I am in the mood for Italian I can get that there too. The Chicken Parm is really good (not as good as mine, but nobodies is). I love a greek salad every now and then and they have really good ones. The wait staff is always the same which I really like in a restaurant. I like to see a familiar face when I go out to eat. I also like a full glass of tea and they never let mine get low.
(4)
Connie P.
My friend, who is Greek, and my partner, who is Italian, and myself really enjoy the food here!
(5)
Kelly B.
My favorite Greek restaurant when I crave a terrific GYRO! The wait staff is warm and welcoming and are very attentive. The takeout is quick too! The prices are reasonable and all the food is great!
(5)
Shelby M.
Went to Messina's last night for the first time and it was even better than expected! I love Greek food and this place has it all. I got a platter with gyro meat and pork tenderloin. The pork tenderloin was on point and cooked perfectly. The Greek potatoes and fresh pita were also delicious, as well as the typical Greek salad served beforehand. Our server was nice and very attentive. We will be back!
(4)
Suhana A.
I went there after work craving for gyro. This place is close to my house. It's on busy street Lawrenceville Hwy. Inside is clean and nice. I was seated right away. The menu looks great. Many items, many choices. It is a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant so I am not sure why pizza and subs are on the menu. Anyways I knew what I wanted. I ordered gyro. It came pretty fast in five minutes. It's authentic and pretty good. Next time I'm craving gyro I will return. Price is reasonable.
(4)
Dr.Foodgasms F.
Excellent food. Prices range from $7-$15 depending on your choice. They have a wide variety of options. I am not a panini fan but I tried their sausage panini as suggested by the waitress and I am glad i did. It was excellent!! Very tasty and soft and tender. Souvlaki on pita is what I try at all Greek restaurants and this was excellent also. A bit messy but thats good as they pack it up well. Both portions are very good and as a guy that enjoys eating- it is an excellent balance of price and great taste. Will be back to try more!
(5)
Mayar K.
One of my favorite restaurants in Georgia. This place has great customer service. Food has always been good everytime I come here. I almost tried everything on the menu. Some dishes are hidden and not too many people order them but I would suggest ordering one pound of Gyro for about $10, if you are coming with a group of people, and add some sides to that or a dip. Also the pizza is very traditional but delicious. I think this place needs to remodel the seats and tables and add more lights to make the place more attractive. Also the bathrooms need some more improvement
(5)
Melodie M.
ABSOLUTELY A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Spanakopita! My first time trying it and was beyond addicted. Such a cute, small, intimate place to have great food. The prices are very reasonable for the quality. I moved out of the area but make the trip back willingly
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Alice Y.
I don't know if I've been spoiled by Greek restaurants in other towns but man, I felt really bad making my husband drive almost an hour to come here. First off, I love Greek food. The best Greek food I've had in North America is in Toronto, along Danforth, so that's what I was measuring Messinas against. So maybe it isn't a fair comparison, since Toronto has a sizable Greek population. My husband had the mixed grill ($18.95) and I had what they called the gyro souvlaki ($12.95). We also ordered hummus ($4.95) for an appetizer. I had a sinking feeling when the hummus arrived in a plastic cup, and was hard-ish, like it's been in the fridge for a couple of days. Yup, sure enough it tasted like it too. The accompanying pita was stale. The gyro was salty, greasy and kind of nasty. The souvlaki was dry. The Tzaziki was weird, tasted more of sour cream than yogurt and no cucumbers. The Greek salad was below average -- the iceberg lettuce was a little limp, there was only 1 olive on the whole plate and the feta didn't really taste like anything. My husband said the lamb chops in his mixed grill tasted like it was frozen not fresh, but that the grilled chicken was OK. I ordered an iced tea and it tasted like it was mixed from instant powder. Not good. Unfortunately this restaurant wasn't worth the drive. Wish it was.
(2)Sabrina S.
Excellent every time. I can't remember ever being disappointed by what I have ordered. Calamari, dolmadas, the gyro plate, pizza, moussaka, spanakopita. I have never managed to make it to dessert so I can't comment on that. The husband eats there at least twice a month on the sly. Yeah and I agree with another reviewer . . . it's a Greek/Italian restaurant not just Greek though I think their Greek dishes are stronger.
(5)Aleck B.
Few things in life make me happier than Greek food, and among those is *good* Greek food! So I was super-happy when I left Messina's! I'd been in the area for two years, and for some reason had never discovered the place. Well, I'm going to have to make myself a regular there now. We went in not knowing exactly what to expect. My wife had the gyro wrap, and I went for the gyro/souvlaki combo plate. Mine came with a salad, and its flavor was a sign of good things to come. The gyro wrap came out so stuffed that it was almost impossible to finish (but my wife said that it was so good that she almost couldn't stop eating), and my combo was fantastic. The gyro meat was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and the souvlaki was juicy and delicious. And the portions were *huge* -- I was actually looking forward to trying dessert, but by the time I tore myself away from the entree, I was so stuffed I couldn't even consider it. This place is definitely a hidden gem. If you enjoy Greek food, you owe it to yourself to stop in!
(5)Alayne W.
Dolmades were some of the best I ever had. The food is very very good and prices are reasonable. Definitely recommend.
(4)Oliver M.
This is an update to my earlier review. I need to single out one of the waiters at Messina's for outstanding service. We've had Wayne as a waiter several times and he's always attentive and helpful. His humor is a little dry, but he is always ready to answer questions and offer suggestions. This past Friday he recommended a Greek wine that was a real treat for my wife. She's the wine connoisseur and was looking for a wine we had while in Greece a couple of years ago. Wayne's suggestion of a wine made with a specific type grape grown only in Greece was right on target. So, thank you Wayne. We'll see you again soon.
(5)Kim S.
Our experience with Messinas and the young manager was horrible!!!!! We had to wait a very long time to be served, and it wasn't even that busy. After our food was finally served, (pizza being very greasy and cheese totally falling off the slices) my daughter had to go to the bathroom. I took her in there, and after she went, she really needed to wash her hands, but there was NO soap!! :O All they had was a big bottle of hand sanitizer on the counter instead. How disgusting!!!! Hand sanitizer does NOT replace soap, especially after you have gone to the bathroom. I was so grossed out knowing that any employees/cooks that went to the bathroom did not properly wash their hands with soap, that I immediately complained to the manager. He was fairly young, perhaps the owners son. I told him how disgusting it was not to have soap in the bathroom, and probably a health code violation. People could get sick from that. He did not appreciate me saying that and actually told me that I hurt his feelings. Are you kidding me?? I hurt HIS feelings?? He was very rude, and told us to leave. Needless to say, we will NEVER return there. I should have reported them to the health inspector.
(1)Cindy V.
Great food! Great service! Great ambiance! I traveled to Greece last year and fell in love with the gyros. When I was suddenly craving for a really nice gyro, I found this restaurant off of Yelp. My friend and I were seated right away. Our server was very friendly and came to ask if we needed anything every few minutes without it being annoying. We ordered the spinach pie plate and the Greek gyro. Omg it was delicious! It definitely satisfied my craving and brought me back to my summer in Greece. We will be heading back without a doubt!
(5)Suhana A.
I went there after work craving for gyro. This place is close to my house. It's on busy street Lawrenceville Hwy. Inside is clean and nice. I was seated right away. The menu looks great. Many items, many choices. It is a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant so I am not sure why pizza and subs are on the menu. Anyways I knew what I wanted. I ordered gyro. It came pretty fast in five minutes. It's authentic and pretty good. Next time I'm craving gyro I will return. Price is reasonable.
(4)Tiff H.
Whenever I'm in the Norcross area on a Sunday night (which is basically every Sunday night) and I'm tired of the same good things, you gotta branch out. We found Messina's, which turned out to be God's gift to broke people. I ordered a gyro wrap with fries as my side. The menu is pretty diverse, with an interesting dichotomy of Mediterranean and Italian. The chicken Alfredo versus the kebabs. I realized that it's actually not that odd, to a European, but at the same time, our server had a heavy southern accent so I doubt she gives it much thought, although the owner maybe did. Portions are reasonable for the price they charge. I left the restaurant $10 poorer, but only after eating my sizable gyro wrap and fries, and left tip. My gyro wasn't bad, just wish there were less lettuce and tzatziki sauce that tasted more like tzatziki instead of ranch. The fries were a poor choice on my part: dry and flavorless. I was craving fries and these disappointed me. Will I come back? Maybe, but not for the fries or gyro. The chicken Alfredo, on the other hand, looks and smells hearty and delicious.
(3)Alicia C.
Had lunch here on Sunday for the first time. Business was fairly busy and we were seated within a minute of arriving. We both ordered a gyro with a side of fries, and received our food rather quickly. Both the gyro and fries were delicious. Although if I had to change something about the gyro, it would be to either add more tzatziki sauce in the gyro or serve a side of tzatziki sauce with the plate. Over all, pleasant experience!
(4)Lesly W.
Came in today based on a coworker's recommendation and was super excited to find a Mediterranean restaurant nearby work. Unfortunately, I was not too impressed. I ordered the Chicken Panini with Greek Potatoes to go. The waiter/hostess was not the friendliest and it made me feel kind of awkward. He didn't smile,say hello and looked like he was over the day. The Greek potatoes was a boiled a red potato sliced into fourths and was actually the best part of my plate. The bread and spinach on the sandwich was delicious but the chicken was rubbery and tough. I couldn't tell if it was frozen and was microwaved after or if it was fried and microwaved later. Either way, it tasted so gross and was really tough to eat through. Kind of disappointing as I had to throw away my food, wasted a couple of dollars, and had to pick up something else to eat because I was on lunch break and starving. The food was mediocre at best. I might come back to this place if I want a salad or hummus because these are pretty safe items that can't really get screwed up..
(2)Hashtronaut L.
Best Greek food in gwinnett! Been eating here for years. Staff is over the top friendly. Food is always exactly what you want. I'll be back over and over. Don't change on me!
(5)Tran N.
I love this place to satisfy my mediterranean food cravings. It's one of those places where I can venture out from one of my usual Korean or American fares. The lunch specials here at Messinas are of great value and very filling with generous portions. I really like the Messina's plate, it is a gyro plate that comes with a side salad, pita bread, choice of boiled potatoes or french fries, and a choice of provolone or feta cheese. I also got to try one of their pasta dishes, which was the mushroom ravioli with added shrimp for an extra minimal charge. I liked both dishes for the few times I came here. Service is a definite hit or miss. I never had "bad" service here, everyone here has been nice. It is just the luck of having the appropriate amount of time to have your food being brought out.Overall, a great authentic mediterranean place to try!
(4)C M.
This place is consistent with the quality of their cocking n service. To start we share Spanakopita (real good) then Wife had the Vegetarian Chicken Casserole n I had the Lamb Gyro with Greek Potatoes n Greek Salad. We both agree by sharing our plates that taste freshness n preparation of our plates where excellent.
(5)Lou G.
"If you think about it, Greek food isn't that far from Italian food. They share a spice palette. [Chews] And what a civilization is the Greeks'. [Chews some more] They gave us science, democracy... and little cubes of charred meat that taste like sweat." [Spits out kabob] Sheldon Cooper, Big Bang Theory We came to Messina's for Greek, but left having Italian! The menu has a good mix of both cuisines. I ordered the Eggplant Il Forno. The cheese used in the baked dish was a white cheddar as opposed to traditional parmagian or mozzarella. The eggplant was also cut thicker than typical Italian fare. Overall a great dish. My friend had the Italian Sausage, and just felt it needed more sauce. Pasta was an additional $2 charge for each dish, which kind of sucks. Both entrees were served with a pretty simple garlic bread and a house salad that was way overdressed. There are a lot of Greek and Italian vegetarian options at Messinas. Service was friendly. Wine specials included a few at $2.50 a glass. Overall A-OK!
(3)Dionisio R.
Messinas plate , without words, best gyro plate in town Excellent desert perfect for couples Very good instrumental music Excellent staff Great for couple
(5)Shelby M.
Went to Messina's last night for the first time and it was even better than expected! I love Greek food and this place has it all. I got a platter with gyro meat and pork tenderloin. The pork tenderloin was on point and cooked perfectly. The Greek potatoes and fresh pita were also delicious, as well as the typical Greek salad served beforehand. Our server was nice and very attentive. We will be back!
(4)Dr.Foodgasms F.
Excellent food. Prices range from $7-$15 depending on your choice. They have a wide variety of options. I am not a panini fan but I tried their sausage panini as suggested by the waitress and I am glad i did. It was excellent!! Very tasty and soft and tender. Souvlaki on pita is what I try at all Greek restaurants and this was excellent also. A bit messy but thats good as they pack it up well. Both portions are very good and as a guy that enjoys eating- it is an excellent balance of price and great taste. Will be back to try more!
(5)Mayar K.
One of my favorite restaurants in Georgia. This place has great customer service. Food has always been good everytime I come here. I almost tried everything on the menu. Some dishes are hidden and not too many people order them but I would suggest ordering one pound of Gyro for about $10, if you are coming with a group of people, and add some sides to that or a dip. Also the pizza is very traditional but delicious. I think this place needs to remodel the seats and tables and add more lights to make the place more attractive. Also the bathrooms need some more improvement
(5)Melodie M.
ABSOLUTELY A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Spanakopita! My first time trying it and was beyond addicted. Such a cute, small, intimate place to have great food. The prices are very reasonable for the quality. I moved out of the area but make the trip back willingly
(5)Karina R.
Our boss bought us lunch from Messina's the other day & I have to say it was very delicious. I ordered a gyro with the Greek potatoes. The gyro was delicious, it had just enough meat, lettuce & onions. The meat was juicy & had lots of flavor. The potatoes were also good.. only thing is they should be smaller & there should be more instead of 3 huge potatoes. I definitely would like to actually dine in which I plan to do soon.
(4)Mandy R.
I come here whenever my grandma is in town and we love it! We had their gyros, steak, pizza, salads and their pasta is good too! We haven't had anything we dislike yet. We usually order the gyro place and we love it
(4)Amanda D.
I LOVE messinas! Best gyros in town! The service is great! The owners are nice! (They used to be around a lot, I haven't seen them in a while). Pizzas are great too!! Greek salads are yummy too!! I really hope they are making a great profit for the business because every time I drive by, the parking lot is empty. I would love to see it completely packed. The food is just delicious!
(5)E E.
Since my first visit we've ordered carry out pizza which is great at a reasonable price. However we went back recently to dine in. We ordered pizza with gyro meat and feta cheese and it was really good. The new craft beer they (and other neighborhood eateries) are hawking with enthusiasm was a bit flat. Although our server was knowledgeable about the beer he was not very attentive beyond refilling my water once. We sat so long, another man came by to ask if we wanted a to-go box, then our waiter hurriedly slapped our ticket down without asking about dessert. Another thing - we sat in a different area, away from the bar and the noise of the patrons echoed in there. Background music was drowned out so I felt like I was in a school cafeteria.
(3)Justin C.
This review is for a to go order. Had the greek salad with shrimp and chicken. Loved that they separated the warm protein from the salad, so that the protein didn't wilt the lettuce. Salad was very fresh and crisp! Shrimp was flavorful and cooked perfectly...I hate overcooked shrimp. Can't wait to dine in next time!
(5)Aseel K.
We love this place, tasty food at a resonable price. The service is fast, however it could be slightly improved to become more personable.
(5)Terry J.
Great food. Love the Alfredo with chicken. Also the Lasagna and the Greek salad. Even though we have only been here twice now, it is a place where we will return many times. The saganaki is a little saltier than other places, and a little thicker, but it is still good over their garlic bread.
(4)Michelle C.
Ordered the chicken on pita with fries. Used grubhub to place the order for pickup. The food is usually very good here. This time the sandwich was as good as always. But the fries were over cooked. Some workers must not be very used to how to handle orders coming from grubhub because I added notes, for example no onion and extra sauce, but they were not read. The waitress who brought out my food didn't not know I didn't yet pay and would have let me leave with a free meal. Three stars instead of 4 because of the fries and the kinks that still need to be worked out with customers placing orders through grubhub.
(3)CJ R.
Amazing food. Quiet atmosphere. Great staff, they always make sure your drink is full.
(5)Angela Q.
Awesome gyros! They are delicious and I would have to say pretty authentic. I should definitely try some of the other items they have to offer but its hard to stray from their gyros.
(4)Bryan S.
Great food normally eat here for lunch - love the Gyro plate - and you have to get the Opah - fried cheese - it is to die for....good service - great food and plenty of it - I always leave satisfied.
(4)Kara B.
The only reason I gave this review of three stars is because I have eaten there many times and had a wonderful time-- great food, usually great service. Twice, however, I have gotten take out orders and been very disappointed. I ordered a medium pizza with feta cheese, black olives and gyro meat. It's my fault that I didn't look at the pizza before leaving but it was something I had had there before, dine-in. It looked awful. There was plenty of gyro meat that had been put on top, almost as an afterthought. There were plenty of black olives (which I do love) but no feta cheese that I could taste. There was very little cheese in general but lots of marinara sauce. Maybe it was my fault; I was there late afternoon, an off time. I will continue to dine at Messina's but never again will I order a meal to go.
(3)Chad C.
I was doing some last minute Christmas shopping this afternoon and decided to grab some carryout for the family. I happened to see Messinas on the way to the store, so I figured i would give it a try. I am EXTREMELY happy with my decision! Starting with the "cooked to perfection" calamari, to my wife's Messina burger, to my gyro souvlaki plate, to my son's chicken fingers, all were excellent! Now, I grew up in New York and since moving to the Atlanta area nearly 15 years ago I have struggled to find an even passable canoli, (my favorite here has got to be from Alpine Bakery in Alpharetta), but Messinas has restored my faith that there are some hidden gems still to be found around Atlanta. My wife hit the nail on the head after several bites of her Messina burger, (she initially could not put it down long enough to talk), she turned to me and said "This is where we are going next date night!"
(5)Richard R.
1.27.2012 - Today's visit was based on the suggestion of a few people who knew the area far better than I. I ordered the lunch special which was the Messina Plate. Basically this is a gyros plate with a choice of fries or greek potatoes. Typical of most Greek restaurants I have visited, they like to cut your pita bread into sections. I requested to have mine delivered whole so I could build my own Gyros. I'm pretty certain the pita bread was home made, which was a really nice surprise. However, I expected a little more meat and a lot more french fries than I received. That being said, I was still very full after completing my meal, so I suppose the portions were correct. The Tzatziki sauce was very good, and they gave me a huge slab of feta cheese. My only complaint was the did not include onions with my lettuce and tomato. Also, the Coke I ordered was not very strong on carbonation and borderline flat. My total meal was under $11 and the best part was the Gyros meat was authentic in flavor and not the typical Mall copycat version. It's a solid choice for lunch or dinner.
(4)Jami G.
After reading some of the reviews, I had in my mind that the service might be lacking - and it was. Upon walking in the restaurant, we were greeted by wait staff and seated rather quickly. And then left to sit and wait and wait....... It was Friday evening and the place wasn't slammed or anything - just that taking orders was done when the wait staff was ready, not when the customer was. So, I ordered the gyro platter and my guest had a pizza. Pizza was really good. Lots of flavor in the sauce and the crust was soft. Really nice. Wish I would have ordered that instead of the gyro platter I had. Way too much cracked pepper on the salad. The dressing was a vinegar and oil type with a ratio that was way too much vinegar. Edible but something I wouldn't order again. The gyro platter wasn't anything to brag about. Portions were on the smallish side. Except for the potatoes. Those were large chunks and filled up the platter well enough to make it look like the portions were generous. I don't recall that the server returned to check on us. The tip we left was a gift, she certainly didn't earn it. I might return for the pizza, but then again, maybe not. I don't appreciate being made to wait to have my order taken. So maybe a take-out pizza would work best for me because I don't see the wait staff changing their ways or their speed. An additional tip: Consider paying in cash because it took awhile for the server to run my credit card and return with the card and the receipt. And by awhile, I mean more than 10 minutes - because that's about how long she spent chatting with someone who was leaving.
(2)Patrick M.
A very good restaurant, It's web page says the best in Lilburn and I tend to agree. I've actually eaten here several times and three times in the last two weeks. The service is normally good, they do get very busy on the weekends (dinner and Sunday lunch). The best dish for meat lovers (I am one) is the Gyro Souvlaki. a Mound of Gyro meat and pork tenderloin grilled to perfection. I made the mistake of a side salad to start and desert after. They also most had to get other patrons to carry me out I was so full. My next trip I promise I'll try an Italian dish, they look amazing when going by to another table.
(4)Britton B.
The fries were dry and the fried cheese and ravioli were somewhat cold and stiff in the middle. The gyro's on the other hand were f******* spectacular. Definitely, would get the gyros again, and maybe try something else for a side and appetizer
(4)Mechel C.
Im a big lover of Greek food but was sadly disappointed in this restaurant. The lamb just was bland to me and my wine when served was in a glass just out of the washer. At least it was a clean glass, but please, you don't serve white wine in a warm glass people! My dinner companion was not pleased either with the meal. As I looked around the dining room I noticed most of the customers were eating pizza. So maybe pizza would have been the better choice. Not writing it off just yet, in the future, maybe I will try their pizza.
(3)Jeff L.
Nice place. Had a great pizza and the service was good. The place was clean and everyone was friendly. I will go back.
(4)Kerry M.
I see four stars, and I just do not get it. Expensive, mediocre slop at its finest. The service was absent on our first visit in many years. We ordered a gyro, chicken parmesan, salads, and Greek potatoes. The salads were nice, the house dressing watery but OK. The gyro was made very well, but at $7, a bit steep. The potatoes was a boiled red potato. One potato sliced into thirds. Flavorless overpriced mush. The chicken was so tough we agreed it had been fried then microwaved to be reheated. It would be difficult to make breast meat tougher. They did not pound the meat, so it cooked unevenly. The pasta was soft, and WAY over sauced. The bread served was dipped in grease, sprinkled with Italian seasoning, and stuffed in the sea of flaccid pasta. Our waters never filled, our entrees finished before we saw our server again after delivery. Thank goodness we got a 50% off groupon type deal. We would not return even if it was half off.
(2)Lisa C.
If you are in to Greek food, Messinas is the place for you!! I've been twice and each time had a good experience. The servers are friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is chilled and relaxed. The prices are fair and the food is good!! Tip, as of right now: If you are planning on going and want to sit on the patio, I wouldn't recommend at this time. The patio area is being bombarded by dust and sand that's being kicked up by the wind. The source is all of the construction thats going on on the street.
(5)CA S.
Amazing chicken pita with excellent French fries. Cannoli for dessert! This is our third visit and it's worth the drive. Our server was friendly and even though service was slightly slower due to a large party I'll continue to come back.
(4)Mike M.
I was disappointed. I had high hopes for this restaurant. I'm sure it's a good place, but I don't know if I want to try the experience all over again. I got to the restaurant and went in for lunch. It was a pleasant place. I was greeted warmly and taken to my table. I had my drink order taken. Since I hadn't been there before, I asked for a couple of minutes to look over the menu. Nobody ever came back. Granted, a large party arrived, but I saw other wait staff in the area and no one stopped to take my order. I was in there about 25 min. total, Since I had wasted most of my lunch hour, I had to settle for McDonalds. That added insult to injury! I'm not trying to make people avoid this place. It just didn't work out for me. I'm not sure I'm willing to give it another shot, though.
(2)Yoomee H.
I'm happy to say that I tried and liked this place! It was my birthday dinner which was on 09/14/13 (Friday) but my birthday was on the 11th. Anyways, my birthday dinner was with my family and we had a big table. Anyways, onto the food and the experience! The experience I had was fabulous! I read some reviews for this place and was sort of afraid of how the waiters or waitresses would be like.. but the waitress we had was great! She didn't really come check on us, because we were taking a while to choose which entree we wanted. Finally, we were all set to order. I had the Greek Combo which came with 2 cheese pies, spinach pie, moussaka, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), side salad (Greek). It was a lot of food! Honestly, I didn't think this plate would fill me up, but OH-EM-GEE it did! I had to take the leftovers home as well. I tried a bit of my dad's side pasta and boy! was it delicious! But I was a little bit disappointed how the dolmades tasted here. It didn't taste the same as the ones I had in other Mediterranean restaurants. This dolmades had a sausage wrapped in grape leaves and it wasn't very sour. Where's the lemon "ka-pow" taste? Greek Combo - $12.95 And also, I was very confused when I ordered my Greek Combo plate, because on the menu it says "All Dinner Entrees Are Served With A Side Salad And Your Choice Of Greek Potatoes, French-fries, Spaghetti Pasta, Grilled Or Steamed Vegetables, Grilled Or Steamed Broccoli, Spanakopita, Or Stuffed Grape-leaves". But I didn't get my pasta that I wanted. My waitress told me that I could only SUBSTITUTE my Greek Salad for something else.. well.. that's definitely NOT what the menu says at all. The moussaka tasted a bit sweet and it tasted weird, but I enjoyed it. It probably tasted sweet, because of the type of spice they used for this dish. I tasted cinnamon spice. Hmm... maybe it was my imagination? What do you guys think for those who tried this dish..? I want to come back to this place, but not to order Mediterranean cuisines but to try out all the Italian cuisines they serve here.
(3)Heather N.
The good reviews must be based on local alternatives, because this place is not better than three stars, food was really 2.5. Nice service, decent gyro and gross big lumpy potatoes. Greeks salad was BAD-overdressed, wilty, cheap shaved cheese. Cheers-
(2)Nicki K.
Overall, restaurant was more Italian than Greek, main attraction for me was the belly dancer but she didn't come to our table much so didn't get a picture of her. I was very disappointed with the lack of interaction with the belly dancer cause I've been to other restaurants that had belly dancers and they were fun. Next time, I just have to know what kind of meat is in my dish! I do not like beef or lamb! I didn't think twice to ask what kind of meat was in my dish. I ordered the Greek combo. I didn't see beef or lamb listed. I was disappointed overall. But my non meat dishes were good. I will not come back, even though, it was just not a bad experience, it's not good enough for me to want to come back, that's all
(3)De T.
Ordered a lamb wrap and fried calamari to go. Fried squid had a frozen freezer taste to it. Lamb wrap was ok. Not the very best, but alright. Lamb wrap was $7. Fried squid was $8.
(3)Sheehan T.
The main mistake I made with Messina's was to order Italian at a primarily Greek restaurant. My girlfriend and I were craving Italian for lunch and she told me of a place right in front of her house. The name of the restaurant on the signboard actually says "Messina's Greek & Italian", so reluctantly, I decided to give it a go. The atmosphere itself was great, as they creatively renovated what seemed like a former fast food joint into a sit down restaurant. However the Italian menu selections were very limited compared to any other restaurant. Nevertheless, I ordered lasagna and my girlfriend settled with the spaghetti parmesan. Since it was lunch, we both ordered half instead of the whole, however for about 7 bucks for each entree I did not expect such a small portion. To top it off, the pasta in the lasagna was a bit chewy and burnt, and the marinara sauce in the spaghetti parmasen was a bit watery. Yet, when I was waiting for the check I saw a waiter bring out 2 dishes of what seemed like the most mouth watering gyros I've ever seen, therefore I would imagine from all the positive reviews that the restaurant's Greek food was up to par. I really hope that the place works on it's Italian menu soon, since it does advertise itself as a Greek AND Italian restaurant.
(3)Andrew T.
I've been to Messina's a few times with the family and always enjoyed it. I vacillate between the gyro wrap and the gyro plate; both are great, depending on what kind of mood I'm in. The saganaki is also good and paired with a gyro is really all you need for a good Greek meal.
(4)Mei L.
This place is really good. I came here with a few friends for lunch and the service was great. I had the caesar salad with grilled chicken. The portion was huge and I couldn't even finish it. It tasted really good and the romaine was fresh (picture is posted), unlike some of the other caesar salads that I've had at other restaurants. My friends had the calamari, greek salad, and gyro wrap. The calamari was perfectly lightly breaded and the marina sauce tasted like it was homemade with chunks of tomatoes.. yum! I hate it when calamari is too breaded, but this was perfect. I'm not into greek salads but my friend swears it's the best she's ever had. The meat in the gyro was tender and topped off with an amazing tzaziki sauce. I'd definitely go here again!
(5)Maria O.
Every time I go here it is amazing. The gyro meat is so god with their sauce. It does not get any better than that! My kids and husband like their Italian side with great lasagna and pizza. You will come back for more if you go!
(5)Cliff G.
Excellent food and great service. My girlfriend and I have come here quite a few times and each time we've had a pleasant experience. I've tried their cheese pizza, spaghetti and chicken gyro and was well pleased with all of them. I highly recommend this restaurant and am confident that you will enjoy it as well.
(5)john s.
The food is consistantly excellent. The portions are generous and I wish them much success.
(4)Sara H.
Despite having loved this restaurant in the past, after last night, I would never set foot in it again. Our service was terrible. Items that were ordered never made it to the table and asking about them didn't do anything as the waitress would just say that she would bring it and then disappear for extended periods. At one point it took my sister over 10 minutes to get her refill. When the main courses finally did arrive, 2 of the items that came weren't at all what was ordered. Rather than to simply correct the mistake and provide what was ordered, the staff became combative. The other waitress came over and asked if there was an issue and we gave her a quick summary of what was happening. Instead of offering to try and make things right or apologising, the waitress pulled out a menu and started trying to scold the people who had received the wrong main course because she said they ordered incorrectly, rather than it being an issue of the order being taken incorrectly. At that point, we asked for the check, our waitress disappeared and made a point of serving other tables around us while ignoring the request for the check. Rather than wait any longer, we put some money on the table and attempted to leave. The manager suddenly appears and started asking what was wrong, however instead of listening to anything we were saying, he kept saying the issue was our fault. We went out into the parking lot and were followed by the manager yelling that he was going to call the police on us because we had tried to leave without paying the check. When it was pointed out the check never came and money was left on the table, the manager admitted he hadn't actually bothered to check the table for the money. That didn't stop him from becoming increasingly abusive, wherein I told him I would call the police myself. He then insisted that the entire bill be paid. The amount on it included the main courses that were never eaten, the food ordered that never appeared, etc. He finally agreed to remove several items from the bill and we paid the difference. On the way home, it was noticed that the items that were said to have been taken off the bill never were, and what the manager had swiped the credit card for was the original amount. A call was placed to the restaurant saying that we wanted our money back, which the manager refused to do. The manager was informed that if we didn't receive a refund for the difference that we would file a police report for theft. That seemed to be enough to get him to agree to refund the money, even though he made several comments about how supposedly his best friend was the Lilburn chief of police and would cover up or quash any charges. Other customers in our section were also getting horrible service. A couple seated caddy corner to us was also having issues getting what they ordered. A man, who had come to pick up a to go order, heard what was said by the manager to us and asked to have his order cancelled and left.
(1)Todd D.
I have driven by the place a hundred times and never thought about stopping in so a few nights ago the family was looking for something close to home to try. We went through the usual suspects and decided on a new spot. This place came up as a decent place. So we show up and walk in and and are promptly greeted and seated. Start off with a decent sweet tea and order the calamari. Not bad it was tubes and tentacles with a marinara sauce which is the standard fare. Yes I know this is a Greek place but I was craving lasagna so I got that and the wife got the gyro which was very good even though it had a little too much lettuce in it. Overall a good experience and we will go back soon since it is close to the house.
(4)Reginald W.
Unfortunately, I cannot agree with the other reviewers who have reviewed this restaurant. Perhaps by comparison with other restaurants available in the immediate vicinity this place stands out but my impression was that anything on the menu that wasn't Greek rated much lower than food at even some of the franchise restaurants I so despise, such as Olive Garden (admittedly, one of the better franchises). The hot Greek dishes, spanakopita and fried cheese were quite good but that's where it left off. The lettuce in the Greek salad was somewhat over-marinated or wilted from age, the tomatoes were grocery store grade stuff, not even Romano and the feta cheese was not even as good as stuff that might be bought at Kroger. With regard to the Italian dishes, the wild mushroom ravioli was so coated with glue-like white sauce and the pasta so thick and heavy that the barely filled inside of most could have been wet cardboard and it wouldn't have mattered. On a positive note, the restaurant was very clean and our server was okay, though the server at the neighboring table seemed more attentive and interested. The "artwork", however, looked like something bought at an Interior R Us type establishment. All in all, I see no reason to go back and my wife agreed. There's a reason we live in Chamblee and not further out.
(2)David H.
Originally, this place was called Kalamata. At that point in time, it was a Greek restaurant that had a reputation up in Gwinnett for good, authentic, Greek cuisine. A few years ago, one of the employees bought the restaurant and continued the tradition of making good Greek food. He did however, add a number of Italian selections as well, and that's why Messinas is called a Mediterranean restaurant. The restaurant has the ambiance of a family style restaurant, and has the price tag to back it up. Most of the menu is right around $10. For newcomers, I suggest trying the Greek Combo. With it you get a taste of a number of Greek selections, including moussaka, spanikopita, tyropita, and dolma. Good food, good prices, what more can you expect out of a restaurant? Did I mention that about twice a month they have belly dancers? If you want to make an event of it, call ahead, they can tell you which nights the dancers are there.
(4)Jonathan M.
Wow, what a great little restaurant! If you like good Italian and Greek fare in a family friendly atmosphere, this is the place. The service was good, the food was even better. They had some items on the menu I had never heard of, like Italian Casserole, and it was delicious. We will definitely be regulars here, and that says a lot for me! The only disappointing part were the bathrooms. :)
(4)Preston S.
Few things in life are better than a good gyro wrap, and the one I just had from Messina's was awesome. Very good calamari too. Their location is unfortunate; I wish they had the money to move to a nicer area and really see what this place could be. As it is, I'll still be coming back regularly.
(4)Prince V.
This place is not good. Americanized Mediterranean food. Not authentic at all. Its just bad. Food was nasty.
(1)Surge P.
I was driving around on Saturday night looking for something to get into and I noticed this small little greek and italian restaurant sign and I said to myself...ummm.. I need to check this out since I like greek food. anyway, on Sunday after Church, I decided to check it out...But let me tell you, that's the best Greek food I've had since my company moved me from Orlando, FL to ATL. I had the" half Lasagna portion and Chicken on Pitta fully loaded (of course,the chicken on pitta was for to go) :). For as much as I'd like to eat it all but I could not. :). Anyway, don't expect anything grandiose from this place except for some GREAT food. Waiter was very polite and attentive. If you're looking for fancy windows and mirrors, this is not the place for you. It seems like this place runs by a family. All i can say is to go check it out!!!!
(5)Patrick D.
Better than expected food. Nothing too fancy, just good food and great service.
(4)Sherie W.
This is my second visit, and it was equal in excellence. This place does Greek right - fresh, great Greek salad, all entrees done with great attention to detail and quality. Try it!
(5)Cyndi R.
This restaurant is great. The food is fresh and they have a big variety of food, Italian, Greek, American. Yum Yum We eat lunch here usually twice a week. Thier daily lunch specials are very affordable and very filling. You won't regret trying this place, it will become one of your regular places to stop and eat.
(5)Watson L.
For Lilburn it's pretty good. Had multiple times on the menu and all were great. Service is a bit slow but everything else is great.
(4)Jesse J.
We love to go to Messina's when we are in the mood for some good greek food. We usually end up here on the first Saturday night of the month when they have belly dancing. I love the Dolmades and the Mousakka. I like the fact that if I am in the mood for Italian I can get that there too. The Chicken Parm is really good (not as good as mine, but nobodies is). I love a greek salad every now and then and they have really good ones. The wait staff is always the same which I really like in a restaurant. I like to see a familiar face when I go out to eat. I also like a full glass of tea and they never let mine get low.
(4)Connie P.
My friend, who is Greek, and my partner, who is Italian, and myself really enjoy the food here!
(5)Kelly B.
My favorite Greek restaurant when I crave a terrific GYRO! The wait staff is warm and welcoming and are very attentive. The takeout is quick too! The prices are reasonable and all the food is great!
(5)Megan H.
Absolutely the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. I made a reservation for a large party two weeks ago via their website and called yesterday to confirm. When we arrived, our table had been given to another party.We waited for a very long time, watching our waitress work very hard to keep up with the volume of customers. Several tables left without even ordering. After waiting over an hour for our meals, I finally asked to speak to a manager. The manager refused to discount our meals or take responsibility for only having scheduled 2 staff members for the entire front of the restaurant (which was full). He began yelling at me and my party, saying we "need{ed} to have common sense" because there are lots of schools in the area. Clearly, he did not have this sense when scheduling the bare minimum number of staff members. He then yelled across the restaurant that he did not need my business. We ended up having to take our meals to go, but I did not feel comfortable eating it after the confrontation with the manager. If he is willing to yell at customers in the middle of a crowded restaurant, who knows what we was willing to do to my food before it came to my table. I have heard many good things about this restaurant, but this is my first experience here. I will definitely not go back, and I sincerely hope this manager has some sort of repercussions for his vile behavior.
(1)Dawn W.
Honestly I have not been here in a few months, but I wanted to write a review since they are in my neighborhood and I like their food. It is a Mediterranean restaurant and I have to say I love their Italian menu. I never was much for Greek food (although they do have a good gyro with tziki sauce). My favorite dish is the eggplant parm. So very good! This is a neighborhood restaurant, nothing fancy. I do not know if they have a to-go menu but that would be a good idea.
(4)Theo S.
Great food. Very much a Greek place to eat. I love every dish plus the pizza is very good
(5)Daoloi P.
Great food, very nice atmosphere, & decent prices! Loved it & it's local! Check it out!!!
(5)Melissa P.
The service is great! Everyone has to try the Messinas' Salad. It's like a gyro in a plate! The dressing tastes home made. Good, not great, selection of wine. The location is kind of hard to get to if you are driving towards Lawrenceville. Great restaurant all together!
(5)MoMo J.
Moussaka - delicious!! Gyro wrap - ask them to put lamb only (they put beef in it as well, but I don't care too much for that in my gyros) Eggplant casserole - definitely one of my favorites! It is so flavorful especially with the side of garlic bread!
(4)Brenda M.
I have been here a couple of times, once for lunch and once for dinner. Shrimp pasta was good for dinner but service was extremely slow. For lunch, the chicken wrap was mediocre and the greek potatoes were greasy and nothing special. Service was slow this time too. Probably will not go back.
(2)C M.
Nice to be back. We started with Spanakopita for Appetizer; a Must Have to eat They are Delicious. Then Wife had Gyro Plate & I order Souvlaki on Pita Wrap, plus Greek Salad & extra Pita Bread. After the Spanakopita server brought me the Greek Salad (cool, fresh the way I like it) after I finish the Salad then Server brought our entrée. We both enjoyed our Delicious Lunch.
(5)Kim S.
Our experience with Messinas and the young manager was horrible!!!!! We had to wait a very long time to be served, and it wasn't even that busy. After our food was finally served, (pizza being very greasy and cheese totally falling off the slices) my daughter had to go to the bathroom. I took her in there, and after she went, she really needed to wash her hands, but there was NO soap!! :O All they had was a big bottle of hand sanitizer on the counter instead. How disgusting!!!! Hand sanitizer does NOT replace soap, especially after you have gone to the bathroom. I was so grossed out knowing that any employees/cooks that went to the bathroom did not properly wash their hands with soap, that I immediately complained to the manager. He was fairly young, perhaps the owners son. I told him how disgusting it was not to have soap in the bathroom, and probably a health code violation. People could get sick from that. He did not appreciate me saying that and actually told me that I hurt his feelings. Are you kidding me?? I hurt HIS feelings?? He was very rude, and told us to leave. Needless to say, we will NEVER return there. I should have reported them to the health inspector.
(1)Oliver M.
This is an update to my earlier review. I need to single out one of the waiters at Messina's for outstanding service. We've had Wayne as a waiter several times and he's always attentive and helpful. His humor is a little dry, but he is always ready to answer questions and offer suggestions. This past Friday he recommended a Greek wine that was a real treat for my wife. She's the wine connoisseur and was looking for a wine we had while in Greece a couple of years ago. Wayne's suggestion of a wine made with a specific type grape grown only in Greece was right on target. So, thank you Wayne. We'll see you again soon.
(5)Lou G.
"If you think about it, Greek food isn't that far from Italian food. They share a spice palette. [Chews] And what a civilization is the Greeks'. [Chews some more] They gave us science, democracy... and little cubes of charred meat that taste like sweat." [Spits out kabob] Sheldon Cooper, Big Bang Theory We came to Messina's for Greek, but left having Italian! The menu has a good mix of both cuisines. I ordered the Eggplant Il Forno. The cheese used in the baked dish was a white cheddar as opposed to traditional parmagian or mozzarella. The eggplant was also cut thicker than typical Italian fare. Overall a great dish. My friend had the Italian Sausage, and just felt it needed more sauce. Pasta was an additional $2 charge for each dish, which kind of sucks. Both entrees were served with a pretty simple garlic bread and a house salad that was way overdressed. There are a lot of Greek and Italian vegetarian options at Messinas. Service was friendly. Wine specials included a few at $2.50 a glass. Overall A-OK!
(3)Dionisio R.
Messinas plate , without words, best gyro plate in town Excellent desert perfect for couples Very good instrumental music Excellent staff Great for couple
(5)Kara B.
The only reason I gave this review of three stars is because I have eaten there many times and had a wonderful time-- great food, usually great service. Twice, however, I have gotten take out orders and been very disappointed. I ordered a medium pizza with feta cheese, black olives and gyro meat. It's my fault that I didn't look at the pizza before leaving but it was something I had had there before, dine-in. It looked awful. There was plenty of gyro meat that had been put on top, almost as an afterthought. There were plenty of black olives (which I do love) but no feta cheese that I could taste. There was very little cheese in general but lots of marinara sauce. Maybe it was my fault; I was there late afternoon, an off time. I will continue to dine at Messina's but never again will I order a meal to go.
(3)Tiff H.
Whenever I'm in the Norcross area on a Sunday night (which is basically every Sunday night) and I'm tired of the same good things, you gotta branch out. We found Messina's, which turned out to be God's gift to broke people. I ordered a gyro wrap with fries as my side. The menu is pretty diverse, with an interesting dichotomy of Mediterranean and Italian. The chicken Alfredo versus the kebabs. I realized that it's actually not that odd, to a European, but at the same time, our server had a heavy southern accent so I doubt she gives it much thought, although the owner maybe did. Portions are reasonable for the price they charge. I left the restaurant $10 poorer, but only after eating my sizable gyro wrap and fries, and left tip. My gyro wasn't bad, just wish there were less lettuce and tzatziki sauce that tasted more like tzatziki instead of ranch. The fries were a poor choice on my part: dry and flavorless. I was craving fries and these disappointed me. Will I come back? Maybe, but not for the fries or gyro. The chicken Alfredo, on the other hand, looks and smells hearty and delicious.
(3)Alicia C.
Had lunch here on Sunday for the first time. Business was fairly busy and we were seated within a minute of arriving. We both ordered a gyro with a side of fries, and received our food rather quickly. Both the gyro and fries were delicious. Although if I had to change something about the gyro, it would be to either add more tzatziki sauce in the gyro or serve a side of tzatziki sauce with the plate. Over all, pleasant experience!
(4)Lesly W.
Came in today based on a coworker's recommendation and was super excited to find a Mediterranean restaurant nearby work. Unfortunately, I was not too impressed. I ordered the Chicken Panini with Greek Potatoes to go. The waiter/hostess was not the friendliest and it made me feel kind of awkward. He didn't smile,say hello and looked like he was over the day. The Greek potatoes was a boiled a red potato sliced into fourths and was actually the best part of my plate. The bread and spinach on the sandwich was delicious but the chicken was rubbery and tough. I couldn't tell if it was frozen and was microwaved after or if it was fried and microwaved later. Either way, it tasted so gross and was really tough to eat through. Kind of disappointing as I had to throw away my food, wasted a couple of dollars, and had to pick up something else to eat because I was on lunch break and starving. The food was mediocre at best. I might come back to this place if I want a salad or hummus because these are pretty safe items that can't really get screwed up..
(2)Cindy V.
Great food! Great service! Great ambiance! I traveled to Greece last year and fell in love with the gyros. When I was suddenly craving for a really nice gyro, I found this restaurant off of Yelp. My friend and I were seated right away. Our server was very friendly and came to ask if we needed anything every few minutes without it being annoying. We ordered the spinach pie plate and the Greek gyro. Omg it was delicious! It definitely satisfied my craving and brought me back to my summer in Greece. We will be heading back without a doubt!
(5)Hashtronaut L.
Best Greek food in gwinnett! Been eating here for years. Staff is over the top friendly. Food is always exactly what you want. I'll be back over and over. Don't change on me!
(5)Tran N.
I love this place to satisfy my mediterranean food cravings. It's one of those places where I can venture out from one of my usual Korean or American fares. The lunch specials here at Messinas are of great value and very filling with generous portions. I really like the Messina's plate, it is a gyro plate that comes with a side salad, pita bread, choice of boiled potatoes or french fries, and a choice of provolone or feta cheese. I also got to try one of their pasta dishes, which was the mushroom ravioli with added shrimp for an extra minimal charge. I liked both dishes for the few times I came here. Service is a definite hit or miss. I never had "bad" service here, everyone here has been nice. It is just the luck of having the appropriate amount of time to have your food being brought out.Overall, a great authentic mediterranean place to try!
(4)Karina R.
Our boss bought us lunch from Messina's the other day & I have to say it was very delicious. I ordered a gyro with the Greek potatoes. The gyro was delicious, it had just enough meat, lettuce & onions. The meat was juicy & had lots of flavor. The potatoes were also good.. only thing is they should be smaller & there should be more instead of 3 huge potatoes. I definitely would like to actually dine in which I plan to do soon.
(4)Terry J.
Great food. Love the Alfredo with chicken. Also the Lasagna and the Greek salad. Even though we have only been here twice now, it is a place where we will return many times. The saganaki is a little saltier than other places, and a little thicker, but it is still good over their garlic bread.
(4)Michelle C.
Ordered the chicken on pita with fries. Used grubhub to place the order for pickup. The food is usually very good here. This time the sandwich was as good as always. But the fries were over cooked. Some workers must not be very used to how to handle orders coming from grubhub because I added notes, for example no onion and extra sauce, but they were not read. The waitress who brought out my food didn't not know I didn't yet pay and would have let me leave with a free meal. Three stars instead of 4 because of the fries and the kinks that still need to be worked out with customers placing orders through grubhub.
(3)CJ R.
Amazing food. Quiet atmosphere. Great staff, they always make sure your drink is full.
(5)Amanda D.
I LOVE messinas! Best gyros in town! The service is great! The owners are nice! (They used to be around a lot, I haven't seen them in a while). Pizzas are great too!! Greek salads are yummy too!! I really hope they are making a great profit for the business because every time I drive by, the parking lot is empty. I would love to see it completely packed. The food is just delicious!
(5)E E.
Since my first visit we've ordered carry out pizza which is great at a reasonable price. However we went back recently to dine in. We ordered pizza with gyro meat and feta cheese and it was really good. The new craft beer they (and other neighborhood eateries) are hawking with enthusiasm was a bit flat. Although our server was knowledgeable about the beer he was not very attentive beyond refilling my water once. We sat so long, another man came by to ask if we wanted a to-go box, then our waiter hurriedly slapped our ticket down without asking about dessert. Another thing - we sat in a different area, away from the bar and the noise of the patrons echoed in there. Background music was drowned out so I felt like I was in a school cafeteria.
(3)Chad C.
I was doing some last minute Christmas shopping this afternoon and decided to grab some carryout for the family. I happened to see Messinas on the way to the store, so I figured i would give it a try. I am EXTREMELY happy with my decision! Starting with the "cooked to perfection" calamari, to my wife's Messina burger, to my gyro souvlaki plate, to my son's chicken fingers, all were excellent! Now, I grew up in New York and since moving to the Atlanta area nearly 15 years ago I have struggled to find an even passable canoli, (my favorite here has got to be from Alpine Bakery in Alpharetta), but Messinas has restored my faith that there are some hidden gems still to be found around Atlanta. My wife hit the nail on the head after several bites of her Messina burger, (she initially could not put it down long enough to talk), she turned to me and said "This is where we are going next date night!"
(5)Britton B.
The fries were dry and the fried cheese and ravioli were somewhat cold and stiff in the middle. The gyro's on the other hand were f******* spectacular. Definitely, would get the gyros again, and maybe try something else for a side and appetizer
(4)Richard R.
1.27.2012 - Today's visit was based on the suggestion of a few people who knew the area far better than I. I ordered the lunch special which was the Messina Plate. Basically this is a gyros plate with a choice of fries or greek potatoes. Typical of most Greek restaurants I have visited, they like to cut your pita bread into sections. I requested to have mine delivered whole so I could build my own Gyros. I'm pretty certain the pita bread was home made, which was a really nice surprise. However, I expected a little more meat and a lot more french fries than I received. That being said, I was still very full after completing my meal, so I suppose the portions were correct. The Tzatziki sauce was very good, and they gave me a huge slab of feta cheese. My only complaint was the did not include onions with my lettuce and tomato. Also, the Coke I ordered was not very strong on carbonation and borderline flat. My total meal was under $11 and the best part was the Gyros meat was authentic in flavor and not the typical Mall copycat version. It's a solid choice for lunch or dinner.
(4)Jami G.
After reading some of the reviews, I had in my mind that the service might be lacking - and it was. Upon walking in the restaurant, we were greeted by wait staff and seated rather quickly. And then left to sit and wait and wait....... It was Friday evening and the place wasn't slammed or anything - just that taking orders was done when the wait staff was ready, not when the customer was. So, I ordered the gyro platter and my guest had a pizza. Pizza was really good. Lots of flavor in the sauce and the crust was soft. Really nice. Wish I would have ordered that instead of the gyro platter I had. Way too much cracked pepper on the salad. The dressing was a vinegar and oil type with a ratio that was way too much vinegar. Edible but something I wouldn't order again. The gyro platter wasn't anything to brag about. Portions were on the smallish side. Except for the potatoes. Those were large chunks and filled up the platter well enough to make it look like the portions were generous. I don't recall that the server returned to check on us. The tip we left was a gift, she certainly didn't earn it. I might return for the pizza, but then again, maybe not. I don't appreciate being made to wait to have my order taken. So maybe a take-out pizza would work best for me because I don't see the wait staff changing their ways or their speed. An additional tip: Consider paying in cash because it took awhile for the server to run my credit card and return with the card and the receipt. And by awhile, I mean more than 10 minutes - because that's about how long she spent chatting with someone who was leaving.
(2)Patrick M.
A very good restaurant, It's web page says the best in Lilburn and I tend to agree. I've actually eaten here several times and three times in the last two weeks. The service is normally good, they do get very busy on the weekends (dinner and Sunday lunch). The best dish for meat lovers (I am one) is the Gyro Souvlaki. a Mound of Gyro meat and pork tenderloin grilled to perfection. I made the mistake of a side salad to start and desert after. They also most had to get other patrons to carry me out I was so full. My next trip I promise I'll try an Italian dish, they look amazing when going by to another table.
(4)Mandy R.
I come here whenever my grandma is in town and we love it! We had their gyros, steak, pizza, salads and their pasta is good too! We haven't had anything we dislike yet. We usually order the gyro place and we love it
(4)Aseel K.
We love this place, tasty food at a resonable price. The service is fast, however it could be slightly improved to become more personable.
(5)Justin C.
This review is for a to go order. Had the greek salad with shrimp and chicken. Loved that they separated the warm protein from the salad, so that the protein didn't wilt the lettuce. Salad was very fresh and crisp! Shrimp was flavorful and cooked perfectly...I hate overcooked shrimp. Can't wait to dine in next time!
(5)Angela Q.
Awesome gyros! They are delicious and I would have to say pretty authentic. I should definitely try some of the other items they have to offer but its hard to stray from their gyros.
(4)Bryan S.
Great food normally eat here for lunch - love the Gyro plate - and you have to get the Opah - fried cheese - it is to die for....good service - great food and plenty of it - I always leave satisfied.
(4)Lisa C.
If you are in to Greek food, Messinas is the place for you!! I've been twice and each time had a good experience. The servers are friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is chilled and relaxed. The prices are fair and the food is good!! Tip, as of right now: If you are planning on going and want to sit on the patio, I wouldn't recommend at this time. The patio area is being bombarded by dust and sand that's being kicked up by the wind. The source is all of the construction thats going on on the street.
(5)CA S.
Amazing chicken pita with excellent French fries. Cannoli for dessert! This is our third visit and it's worth the drive. Our server was friendly and even though service was slightly slower due to a large party I'll continue to come back.
(4)Mike M.
I was disappointed. I had high hopes for this restaurant. I'm sure it's a good place, but I don't know if I want to try the experience all over again. I got to the restaurant and went in for lunch. It was a pleasant place. I was greeted warmly and taken to my table. I had my drink order taken. Since I hadn't been there before, I asked for a couple of minutes to look over the menu. Nobody ever came back. Granted, a large party arrived, but I saw other wait staff in the area and no one stopped to take my order. I was in there about 25 min. total, Since I had wasted most of my lunch hour, I had to settle for McDonalds. That added insult to injury! I'm not trying to make people avoid this place. It just didn't work out for me. I'm not sure I'm willing to give it another shot, though.
(2)Kerry M.
I see four stars, and I just do not get it. Expensive, mediocre slop at its finest. The service was absent on our first visit in many years. We ordered a gyro, chicken parmesan, salads, and Greek potatoes. The salads were nice, the house dressing watery but OK. The gyro was made very well, but at $7, a bit steep. The potatoes was a boiled red potato. One potato sliced into thirds. Flavorless overpriced mush. The chicken was so tough we agreed it had been fried then microwaved to be reheated. It would be difficult to make breast meat tougher. They did not pound the meat, so it cooked unevenly. The pasta was soft, and WAY over sauced. The bread served was dipped in grease, sprinkled with Italian seasoning, and stuffed in the sea of flaccid pasta. Our waters never filled, our entrees finished before we saw our server again after delivery. Thank goodness we got a 50% off groupon type deal. We would not return even if it was half off.
(2)Megan H.
Absolutely the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. I made a reservation for a large party two weeks ago via their website and called yesterday to confirm. When we arrived, our table had been given to another party.We waited for a very long time, watching our waitress work very hard to keep up with the volume of customers. Several tables left without even ordering. After waiting over an hour for our meals, I finally asked to speak to a manager. The manager refused to discount our meals or take responsibility for only having scheduled 2 staff members for the entire front of the restaurant (which was full). He began yelling at me and my party, saying we "need{ed} to have common sense" because there are lots of schools in the area. Clearly, he did not have this sense when scheduling the bare minimum number of staff members. He then yelled across the restaurant that he did not need my business. We ended up having to take our meals to go, but I did not feel comfortable eating it after the confrontation with the manager. If he is willing to yell at customers in the middle of a crowded restaurant, who knows what we was willing to do to my food before it came to my table. I have heard many good things about this restaurant, but this is my first experience here. I will definitely not go back, and I sincerely hope this manager has some sort of repercussions for his vile behavior.
(1)Dawn W.
Honestly I have not been here in a few months, but I wanted to write a review since they are in my neighborhood and I like their food. It is a Mediterranean restaurant and I have to say I love their Italian menu. I never was much for Greek food (although they do have a good gyro with tziki sauce). My favorite dish is the eggplant parm. So very good! This is a neighborhood restaurant, nothing fancy. I do not know if they have a to-go menu but that would be a good idea.
(4)Theo S.
Great food. Very much a Greek place to eat. I love every dish plus the pizza is very good
(5)Melissa P.
The service is great! Everyone has to try the Messinas' Salad. It's like a gyro in a plate! The dressing tastes home made. Good, not great, selection of wine. The location is kind of hard to get to if you are driving towards Lawrenceville. Great restaurant all together!
(5)MoMo J.
Moussaka - delicious!! Gyro wrap - ask them to put lamb only (they put beef in it as well, but I don't care too much for that in my gyros) Eggplant casserole - definitely one of my favorites! It is so flavorful especially with the side of garlic bread!
(4)Brenda M.
I have been here a couple of times, once for lunch and once for dinner. Shrimp pasta was good for dinner but service was extremely slow. For lunch, the chicken wrap was mediocre and the greek potatoes were greasy and nothing special. Service was slow this time too. Probably will not go back.
(2)Daoloi P.
Great food, very nice atmosphere, & decent prices! Loved it & it's local! Check it out!!!
(5)Mechel C.
Im a big lover of Greek food but was sadly disappointed in this restaurant. The lamb just was bland to me and my wine when served was in a glass just out of the washer. At least it was a clean glass, but please, you don't serve white wine in a warm glass people! My dinner companion was not pleased either with the meal. As I looked around the dining room I noticed most of the customers were eating pizza. So maybe pizza would have been the better choice. Not writing it off just yet, in the future, maybe I will try their pizza.
(3)Jeff L.
Nice place. Had a great pizza and the service was good. The place was clean and everyone was friendly. I will go back.
(4)Yoomee H.
I'm happy to say that I tried and liked this place! It was my birthday dinner which was on 09/14/13 (Friday) but my birthday was on the 11th. Anyways, my birthday dinner was with my family and we had a big table. Anyways, onto the food and the experience! The experience I had was fabulous! I read some reviews for this place and was sort of afraid of how the waiters or waitresses would be like.. but the waitress we had was great! She didn't really come check on us, because we were taking a while to choose which entree we wanted. Finally, we were all set to order. I had the Greek Combo which came with 2 cheese pies, spinach pie, moussaka, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), side salad (Greek). It was a lot of food! Honestly, I didn't think this plate would fill me up, but OH-EM-GEE it did! I had to take the leftovers home as well. I tried a bit of my dad's side pasta and boy! was it delicious! But I was a little bit disappointed how the dolmades tasted here. It didn't taste the same as the ones I had in other Mediterranean restaurants. This dolmades had a sausage wrapped in grape leaves and it wasn't very sour. Where's the lemon "ka-pow" taste? Greek Combo - $12.95 And also, I was very confused when I ordered my Greek Combo plate, because on the menu it says "All Dinner Entrees Are Served With A Side Salad And Your Choice Of Greek Potatoes, French-fries, Spaghetti Pasta, Grilled Or Steamed Vegetables, Grilled Or Steamed Broccoli, Spanakopita, Or Stuffed Grape-leaves". But I didn't get my pasta that I wanted. My waitress told me that I could only SUBSTITUTE my Greek Salad for something else.. well.. that's definitely NOT what the menu says at all. The moussaka tasted a bit sweet and it tasted weird, but I enjoyed it. It probably tasted sweet, because of the type of spice they used for this dish. I tasted cinnamon spice. Hmm... maybe it was my imagination? What do you guys think for those who tried this dish..? I want to come back to this place, but not to order Mediterranean cuisines but to try out all the Italian cuisines they serve here.
(3)Heather N.
The good reviews must be based on local alternatives, because this place is not better than three stars, food was really 2.5. Nice service, decent gyro and gross big lumpy potatoes. Greeks salad was BAD-overdressed, wilty, cheap shaved cheese. Cheers-
(2)Nicki K.
Overall, restaurant was more Italian than Greek, main attraction for me was the belly dancer but she didn't come to our table much so didn't get a picture of her. I was very disappointed with the lack of interaction with the belly dancer cause I've been to other restaurants that had belly dancers and they were fun. Next time, I just have to know what kind of meat is in my dish! I do not like beef or lamb! I didn't think twice to ask what kind of meat was in my dish. I ordered the Greek combo. I didn't see beef or lamb listed. I was disappointed overall. But my non meat dishes were good. I will not come back, even though, it was just not a bad experience, it's not good enough for me to want to come back, that's all
(3)De T.
Ordered a lamb wrap and fried calamari to go. Fried squid had a frozen freezer taste to it. Lamb wrap was ok. Not the very best, but alright. Lamb wrap was $7. Fried squid was $8.
(3)Sheehan T.
The main mistake I made with Messina's was to order Italian at a primarily Greek restaurant. My girlfriend and I were craving Italian for lunch and she told me of a place right in front of her house. The name of the restaurant on the signboard actually says "Messina's Greek & Italian", so reluctantly, I decided to give it a go. The atmosphere itself was great, as they creatively renovated what seemed like a former fast food joint into a sit down restaurant. However the Italian menu selections were very limited compared to any other restaurant. Nevertheless, I ordered lasagna and my girlfriend settled with the spaghetti parmesan. Since it was lunch, we both ordered half instead of the whole, however for about 7 bucks for each entree I did not expect such a small portion. To top it off, the pasta in the lasagna was a bit chewy and burnt, and the marinara sauce in the spaghetti parmasen was a bit watery. Yet, when I was waiting for the check I saw a waiter bring out 2 dishes of what seemed like the most mouth watering gyros I've ever seen, therefore I would imagine from all the positive reviews that the restaurant's Greek food was up to par. I really hope that the place works on it's Italian menu soon, since it does advertise itself as a Greek AND Italian restaurant.
(3)Andrew T.
I've been to Messina's a few times with the family and always enjoyed it. I vacillate between the gyro wrap and the gyro plate; both are great, depending on what kind of mood I'm in. The saganaki is also good and paired with a gyro is really all you need for a good Greek meal.
(4)Mei L.
This place is really good. I came here with a few friends for lunch and the service was great. I had the caesar salad with grilled chicken. The portion was huge and I couldn't even finish it. It tasted really good and the romaine was fresh (picture is posted), unlike some of the other caesar salads that I've had at other restaurants. My friends had the calamari, greek salad, and gyro wrap. The calamari was perfectly lightly breaded and the marina sauce tasted like it was homemade with chunks of tomatoes.. yum! I hate it when calamari is too breaded, but this was perfect. I'm not into greek salads but my friend swears it's the best she's ever had. The meat in the gyro was tender and topped off with an amazing tzaziki sauce. I'd definitely go here again!
(5)Maria O.
Every time I go here it is amazing. The gyro meat is so god with their sauce. It does not get any better than that! My kids and husband like their Italian side with great lasagna and pizza. You will come back for more if you go!
(5)Cliff G.
Excellent food and great service. My girlfriend and I have come here quite a few times and each time we've had a pleasant experience. I've tried their cheese pizza, spaghetti and chicken gyro and was well pleased with all of them. I highly recommend this restaurant and am confident that you will enjoy it as well.
(5)john s.
The food is consistantly excellent. The portions are generous and I wish them much success.
(4)Sara H.
Despite having loved this restaurant in the past, after last night, I would never set foot in it again. Our service was terrible. Items that were ordered never made it to the table and asking about them didn't do anything as the waitress would just say that she would bring it and then disappear for extended periods. At one point it took my sister over 10 minutes to get her refill. When the main courses finally did arrive, 2 of the items that came weren't at all what was ordered. Rather than to simply correct the mistake and provide what was ordered, the staff became combative. The other waitress came over and asked if there was an issue and we gave her a quick summary of what was happening. Instead of offering to try and make things right or apologising, the waitress pulled out a menu and started trying to scold the people who had received the wrong main course because she said they ordered incorrectly, rather than it being an issue of the order being taken incorrectly. At that point, we asked for the check, our waitress disappeared and made a point of serving other tables around us while ignoring the request for the check. Rather than wait any longer, we put some money on the table and attempted to leave. The manager suddenly appears and started asking what was wrong, however instead of listening to anything we were saying, he kept saying the issue was our fault. We went out into the parking lot and were followed by the manager yelling that he was going to call the police on us because we had tried to leave without paying the check. When it was pointed out the check never came and money was left on the table, the manager admitted he hadn't actually bothered to check the table for the money. That didn't stop him from becoming increasingly abusive, wherein I told him I would call the police myself. He then insisted that the entire bill be paid. The amount on it included the main courses that were never eaten, the food ordered that never appeared, etc. He finally agreed to remove several items from the bill and we paid the difference. On the way home, it was noticed that the items that were said to have been taken off the bill never were, and what the manager had swiped the credit card for was the original amount. A call was placed to the restaurant saying that we wanted our money back, which the manager refused to do. The manager was informed that if we didn't receive a refund for the difference that we would file a police report for theft. That seemed to be enough to get him to agree to refund the money, even though he made several comments about how supposedly his best friend was the Lilburn chief of police and would cover up or quash any charges. Other customers in our section were also getting horrible service. A couple seated caddy corner to us was also having issues getting what they ordered. A man, who had come to pick up a to go order, heard what was said by the manager to us and asked to have his order cancelled and left.
(1)Todd D.
I have driven by the place a hundred times and never thought about stopping in so a few nights ago the family was looking for something close to home to try. We went through the usual suspects and decided on a new spot. This place came up as a decent place. So we show up and walk in and and are promptly greeted and seated. Start off with a decent sweet tea and order the calamari. Not bad it was tubes and tentacles with a marinara sauce which is the standard fare. Yes I know this is a Greek place but I was craving lasagna so I got that and the wife got the gyro which was very good even though it had a little too much lettuce in it. Overall a good experience and we will go back soon since it is close to the house.
(4)Alice Y.
I don't know if I've been spoiled by Greek restaurants in other towns but man, I felt really bad making my husband drive almost an hour to come here. First off, I love Greek food. The best Greek food I've had in North America is in Toronto, along Danforth, so that's what I was measuring Messinas against. So maybe it isn't a fair comparison, since Toronto has a sizable Greek population. My husband had the mixed grill ($18.95) and I had what they called the gyro souvlaki ($12.95). We also ordered hummus ($4.95) for an appetizer. I had a sinking feeling when the hummus arrived in a plastic cup, and was hard-ish, like it's been in the fridge for a couple of days. Yup, sure enough it tasted like it too. The accompanying pita was stale. The gyro was salty, greasy and kind of nasty. The souvlaki was dry. The Tzaziki was weird, tasted more of sour cream than yogurt and no cucumbers. The Greek salad was below average -- the iceberg lettuce was a little limp, there was only 1 olive on the whole plate and the feta didn't really taste like anything. My husband said the lamb chops in his mixed grill tasted like it was frozen not fresh, but that the grilled chicken was OK. I ordered an iced tea and it tasted like it was mixed from instant powder. Not good. Unfortunately this restaurant wasn't worth the drive. Wish it was.
(2)Sabrina S.
Excellent every time. I can't remember ever being disappointed by what I have ordered. Calamari, dolmadas, the gyro plate, pizza, moussaka, spanakopita. I have never managed to make it to dessert so I can't comment on that. The husband eats there at least twice a month on the sly. Yeah and I agree with another reviewer . . . it's a Greek/Italian restaurant not just Greek though I think their Greek dishes are stronger.
(5)Aleck B.
Few things in life make me happier than Greek food, and among those is *good* Greek food! So I was super-happy when I left Messina's! I'd been in the area for two years, and for some reason had never discovered the place. Well, I'm going to have to make myself a regular there now. We went in not knowing exactly what to expect. My wife had the gyro wrap, and I went for the gyro/souvlaki combo plate. Mine came with a salad, and its flavor was a sign of good things to come. The gyro wrap came out so stuffed that it was almost impossible to finish (but my wife said that it was so good that she almost couldn't stop eating), and my combo was fantastic. The gyro meat was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and the souvlaki was juicy and delicious. And the portions were *huge* -- I was actually looking forward to trying dessert, but by the time I tore myself away from the entree, I was so stuffed I couldn't even consider it. This place is definitely a hidden gem. If you enjoy Greek food, you owe it to yourself to stop in!
(5)Alayne W.
Dolmades were some of the best I ever had. The food is very very good and prices are reasonable. Definitely recommend.
(4)Reginald W.
Unfortunately, I cannot agree with the other reviewers who have reviewed this restaurant. Perhaps by comparison with other restaurants available in the immediate vicinity this place stands out but my impression was that anything on the menu that wasn't Greek rated much lower than food at even some of the franchise restaurants I so despise, such as Olive Garden (admittedly, one of the better franchises). The hot Greek dishes, spanakopita and fried cheese were quite good but that's where it left off. The lettuce in the Greek salad was somewhat over-marinated or wilted from age, the tomatoes were grocery store grade stuff, not even Romano and the feta cheese was not even as good as stuff that might be bought at Kroger. With regard to the Italian dishes, the wild mushroom ravioli was so coated with glue-like white sauce and the pasta so thick and heavy that the barely filled inside of most could have been wet cardboard and it wouldn't have mattered. On a positive note, the restaurant was very clean and our server was okay, though the server at the neighboring table seemed more attentive and interested. The "artwork", however, looked like something bought at an Interior R Us type establishment. All in all, I see no reason to go back and my wife agreed. There's a reason we live in Chamblee and not further out.
(2)David H.
Originally, this place was called Kalamata. At that point in time, it was a Greek restaurant that had a reputation up in Gwinnett for good, authentic, Greek cuisine. A few years ago, one of the employees bought the restaurant and continued the tradition of making good Greek food. He did however, add a number of Italian selections as well, and that's why Messinas is called a Mediterranean restaurant. The restaurant has the ambiance of a family style restaurant, and has the price tag to back it up. Most of the menu is right around $10. For newcomers, I suggest trying the Greek Combo. With it you get a taste of a number of Greek selections, including moussaka, spanikopita, tyropita, and dolma. Good food, good prices, what more can you expect out of a restaurant? Did I mention that about twice a month they have belly dancers? If you want to make an event of it, call ahead, they can tell you which nights the dancers are there.
(4)Jonathan M.
Wow, what a great little restaurant! If you like good Italian and Greek fare in a family friendly atmosphere, this is the place. The service was good, the food was even better. They had some items on the menu I had never heard of, like Italian Casserole, and it was delicious. We will definitely be regulars here, and that says a lot for me! The only disappointing part were the bathrooms. :)
(4)Preston S.
Few things in life are better than a good gyro wrap, and the one I just had from Messina's was awesome. Very good calamari too. Their location is unfortunate; I wish they had the money to move to a nicer area and really see what this place could be. As it is, I'll still be coming back regularly.
(4)Prince V.
This place is not good. Americanized Mediterranean food. Not authentic at all. Its just bad. Food was nasty.
(1)Surge P.
I was driving around on Saturday night looking for something to get into and I noticed this small little greek and italian restaurant sign and I said to myself...ummm.. I need to check this out since I like greek food. anyway, on Sunday after Church, I decided to check it out...But let me tell you, that's the best Greek food I've had since my company moved me from Orlando, FL to ATL. I had the" half Lasagna portion and Chicken on Pitta fully loaded (of course,the chicken on pitta was for to go) :). For as much as I'd like to eat it all but I could not. :). Anyway, don't expect anything grandiose from this place except for some GREAT food. Waiter was very polite and attentive. If you're looking for fancy windows and mirrors, this is not the place for you. It seems like this place runs by a family. All i can say is to go check it out!!!!
(5)Patrick D.
Better than expected food. Nothing too fancy, just good food and great service.
(4)Sherie W.
This is my second visit, and it was equal in excellence. This place does Greek right - fresh, great Greek salad, all entrees done with great attention to detail and quality. Try it!
(5)Cyndi R.
This restaurant is great. The food is fresh and they have a big variety of food, Italian, Greek, American. Yum Yum We eat lunch here usually twice a week. Thier daily lunch specials are very affordable and very filling. You won't regret trying this place, it will become one of your regular places to stop and eat.
(5)Watson L.
For Lilburn it's pretty good. Had multiple times on the menu and all were great. Service is a bit slow but everything else is great.
(4)Jesse J.
We love to go to Messina's when we are in the mood for some good greek food. We usually end up here on the first Saturday night of the month when they have belly dancing. I love the Dolmades and the Mousakka. I like the fact that if I am in the mood for Italian I can get that there too. The Chicken Parm is really good (not as good as mine, but nobodies is). I love a greek salad every now and then and they have really good ones. The wait staff is always the same which I really like in a restaurant. I like to see a familiar face when I go out to eat. I also like a full glass of tea and they never let mine get low.
(4)Connie P.
My friend, who is Greek, and my partner, who is Italian, and myself really enjoy the food here!
(5)Kelly B.
My favorite Greek restaurant when I crave a terrific GYRO! The wait staff is warm and welcoming and are very attentive. The takeout is quick too! The prices are reasonable and all the food is great!
(5)Shelby M.
Went to Messina's last night for the first time and it was even better than expected! I love Greek food and this place has it all. I got a platter with gyro meat and pork tenderloin. The pork tenderloin was on point and cooked perfectly. The Greek potatoes and fresh pita were also delicious, as well as the typical Greek salad served beforehand. Our server was nice and very attentive. We will be back!
(4)Suhana A.
I went there after work craving for gyro. This place is close to my house. It's on busy street Lawrenceville Hwy. Inside is clean and nice. I was seated right away. The menu looks great. Many items, many choices. It is a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant so I am not sure why pizza and subs are on the menu. Anyways I knew what I wanted. I ordered gyro. It came pretty fast in five minutes. It's authentic and pretty good. Next time I'm craving gyro I will return. Price is reasonable.
(4)Dr.Foodgasms F.
Excellent food. Prices range from $7-$15 depending on your choice. They have a wide variety of options. I am not a panini fan but I tried their sausage panini as suggested by the waitress and I am glad i did. It was excellent!! Very tasty and soft and tender. Souvlaki on pita is what I try at all Greek restaurants and this was excellent also. A bit messy but thats good as they pack it up well. Both portions are very good and as a guy that enjoys eating- it is an excellent balance of price and great taste. Will be back to try more!
(5)Mayar K.
One of my favorite restaurants in Georgia. This place has great customer service. Food has always been good everytime I come here. I almost tried everything on the menu. Some dishes are hidden and not too many people order them but I would suggest ordering one pound of Gyro for about $10, if you are coming with a group of people, and add some sides to that or a dip. Also the pizza is very traditional but delicious. I think this place needs to remodel the seats and tables and add more lights to make the place more attractive. Also the bathrooms need some more improvement
(5)Melodie M.
ABSOLUTELY A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Spanakopita! My first time trying it and was beyond addicted. Such a cute, small, intimate place to have great food. The prices are very reasonable for the quality. I moved out of the area but make the trip back willingly
(5)