Oh my gosh!! I haven't had this much fun while out to dinner for quite some time! First, our server Bob was fantastic! He energetically encouraged me to try the Grilled Octopus, with Greek wine vinegar, tagetos, oregano and EVOO . The wine, also a recommendation, was a Greek chard. I wasn't sure how the two would work, but wow! A perfect marriage. My husband and I stopped here for our anniversary. We had our reception here 31 years ago, and wondered how different it was. It's a beautiful change with the blue and white colors, and servers ready to fill my water glass and whatever I need. Such a beautiful and comfortable ambience! My husband had the Avgolemono soup- he said it was delicious! For our meal, I ordered the Swai fish- baked in parchment paper- topped with rosemary, tomatoes, zucchini & tomatoes, served with rice (not potatoes- not sure why). It was steaming hot and delicious! I had an Italian Pinot Grigio, which topped off the meal. My hubby had the Salmon. He liked it. I heard our server singing Happy Birthday to another diner, and finished with OPA! I had so much fun with our server, the owners who came by our table and were soooo gracious! I would definitely recommend and come again! OPA!!!!
(5)
Haley G.
Went last Thanksgiving. SO GLAD I DID. Had an intimate dinner with just myself and my parents and was amazed by the selection and delicious taste of everything on the table. Much more classy than I expected, but how is that a bad thing? I look forward to my next trip (hopefully my parents will pay again!)
I haven't had such a great time dining out in a long while! I haven't been interested in Greek food, but at the insistence of my coworker, we tried this place and we love it! We had lots of food -- the roasted beet, a dip sampler (tzatziki, garlic, and split pea), the village salad, the Greek salad, the lemon roasted potatoes, the Yianni's chicken and the cod. It was ALL delicious! We will definitely be back! We may have even found a new favorite spot!
(5)
Mike W.
Celebrated my son's and beautiful daughter- in-law's wedding rehearsal at Yianni's. So glad we chose this venue. The food was spectacular and was only out shined by the service we received. The incredible pair assigned to our party managed to keep 26 of us very happy. The appetizers were delivered right on time and were worth the trip alone! Four awesome Dinner choices and my prime rib was cooked (lightly) to perfection!! Drink orders were always correct and the bartender pours a mean bourbon. Thank you guys- you rock
(5)
Michael L.
Ever found yourself implanted in an unfamiliar place, around 4pm, hungry, with a party and it's very windy outside, but you can't just sit in your car until 5pm, when every restaurant opens? That is how I stumbled into this place, as they were the only seemingly well reviewed place in Bethlehem, PA. Yes, they were open at 4pm, while all the other lovely place around town were still prepping for dinner. The lovely, well spoken, well mannered staff took us in and took us all the way to greece. This place is decorated with the famous blue and white and a beautiful patio that makes you feel away from PA. We ordered practically everything on the menu and some bottles of wine and cocktails, which all pleased well. The service was exceptional, mvp goes to the waitress. Didn't get her name, but she was half greek. She was spot on with service, kudos! The food is pretty good, nothing over the top, but the octopus is tops here, gender and exquisite. That was the highlight for me. The remaineder of the menu was similar to many greek joints in astoria queens, which doesn't excite me much. I'm not that big on Mediterranean food, could live without it. I recommend this place for the variety and clean service. They offer seafood, steak, gyros, lamb, pork, chicken and veggie dishes. There is something for everyone here.
(4)
Jessica R.
Loved the atmosphere. Their food was fresh. I was a little disappointed with the lemon orzo soup but the gyro, salad, and steak sandwich were cooked perfectly. If you are craving traditional Greek food, this is the spot to go.
(4)
Aaron J.
We came here due to the high ratings from TripAdvisor, OpenTable, and the like. I really don't understand what the hype is about. The bread was hard as a rock. It's a good thing we were given a sharp knife. The oil and spices were good. My wife got the octopus and said it was the best thing she ate there. She said her fish was overcooked. She said she has had better chicken soup in San Francisco (obviously). I had the beef and lamb gyro sandwich. I must say that it didn't wow me. I've had better. We made a reservation and arrived late. It wasn't busy at all. We waited a good bit and the hostess came over to ask if we had been waited on and we said no. She went to get the server. Once she got her then she was quite attentive afterwards. I guess for the Bethlehem area that this is the best option for Greek food. I just wasn't overly impressed. My wife wasn't either (even though I must admit she is a tough critic). Maybe we ordered the wrong food. I don't know.
(3)
Beverly S.
We finally decided to dine at this restaurant tonight after passing it for years. What a pleasant surprise! The Greek decor is very attractive and along with the Greek music provides an escape to the country of Greece. We made an online reservation for 6:30 PM and arrived on time. We were seated quickly. The wait staff was professional and very friendly, especially our waiter, Abed. He was efficient and very helpful (thank you Abed). It was extremely busy; the atmosphere was upbeat. My husband and I each ordered appetizers and a small Greek salad to share. For our main course, I had the spit roast lamb with Greek lemon potatoes and green beans. The lamb was tender and absolutely delicious. My husband decided on a seafood stew which was served with rice seasoned with a delicious sauce. We also ordered dessert. I must say one thing in addition to my comments above, the food was seasoned and cooked to perfection. I am a 'salt and pepper' person and did not need any seasonings added to my food. We will definitely be back to Yiannis in the near future. My only regret is that we hadn't tried it sooner.
(5)
Paul H.
Went back for a delicious lunch, grilled octopus and the best grape leaves I have ever had. The eggplant was excellent, service again excellent.
(5)
Barbara G.
Went for lunch last week and was disappointed. We have frequented this restsurant over the past few years and the food was not as tasty and the portios really shrank. I used to love this restaurant....such a shame.
(3)
B A.
Amazing! Plain and simple- AMAZING!
(5)
Jen M.
Yummy and fun! Been here about 5 times and have never been disappointed. Seats could be more comfortable but atmosphere is closest to Greek Islands you'll get in PA. Love the spicy feta cheese spread. Gotta get the flaming cheese too! Wait staff is great, probably some of the best I've ever experienced.
(4)
renee m.
Food and service were both a step below mediocre. We are taking our oldest to College and all love Greek food so thought this would be a great last meal with my son. We ordered salads, two steaks, one lamb dish and a sea food dish that were all overcooked and very bland. It was a very disappointing dinner and we paid about the same prices we had paid after eating fabulous meals in Philadelphia for the last 3 nights. Our waiter was nice but did not have the basics down. Our drink orders took a very long time, he did not clear our plates, an empty bread basket and a very large menu sat on our table for more than half the meal. We ordered a second round of drinks early but they did not come until we were almost done with our meal. I can't say we would ever try this place again. Very overpriced for mediocre service and food.
(2)
Joe w.
Special dinner with Friends last night and we decided to travel to the Bethlehem area. The group decided on Greek food and non of us had ever been here before. What a gem! Great food, great service, nice atmosphere. Definitely will be making another trip back. Try the hummas ampler
(4)
Nastassia P.
Just left with my friend.. First time here but definitely won't be my last! First of all, it's completely beautiful inside, we sat at the bar and meet Josh who is amazing. Super knowledgeable and a blast to talk to, gave great suggestions too! Everything was delicious... Definitely a great find!!!!
(5)
Jerry H.
One and a while I come into a place and just have a meal and experience so good it's bliss! This is that place the service is 10+ and the food breathtaking and don't even talk about dessert it was heaven!!! I have some of the best cooked lamb pork chicken I've ever had, this is hands down my new and only spot!! Drinks were amazing waitress was on point and very attentive. If you haven't been here then your missing a little piece of heaven on earth!!! I highly recommend it!
(5)
Ráhil S.
The server was really friendly, even the owner or manager was super helpful and made sure that everything was good on multiple occasions... The food was solid- nothing amazing, but just a good spot to go to (had the feta dip which was really good, eggplant for the entree which was good). A nice spot in a town that doesn't have a lot of variety
(3)
Zirvios K.
Nothing special for the name and the prices with tiny portions
(2)
Randall W.
Ordered the Moussaka. Very average! Bartender suggested a very nice glass of wine. But rating dropped to a one-star when the very average Moussaka came out cold in the middle. The solution was take it to the kitchen and microwave it. When it came back out it was a heap on the plate. Hot but nothing else. And not a real apology from anyone. Then they had the nerve to give me a bill for $30+.
(1)
Bill S.
The restaurant was very busy. Good sign! We liked the atmosphere. The bar area has some seating that looks very comfortable. We had some red Greek wine. It was a blend, and we enjoyed it. The wine glasses are the thick restaurant supply variety, and we think that takes away from a nice wine. We both had Gyros and a Greek salad. They were good, but we had to ask for vinegar to spice up the salad dressing. We also requested Taziki sauce for the Gyros. Better to have to little spice than to much. The service was very good, and friendly. We saw some other entrees at other tables that looked very good. Will try again.
(3)
Andrew B.
Casandra was the epitome of kindness, professionalism, and efficiency. This was my 1st time here, and it was better than I could have expected. I look forward to another visit, soon
(5)
Bill T.
Few places I've visited have had as much sincere interest, care and professional customer service as Yianni's. The exceptional customer service and friendliness exudes on every level, from the owner to the waiters and servers to the guy refilling our water glasses. Most impressive, really, was the waiter's sincere desire to make sure we had a satisfying meal. After the main course, he asked, "Did you want the check? Or were you interested in dessert?" Huh? In all my years dining I cannot remember ever being asked this question *in that order*. Clearly, the upselling took a backseat to exceptional customer service for this server. Astonishing, and in such a surprisingly happy way. The food was very good overall. The soup...God, I wish I could remember its name...but it was a chicken/egg drop hybrid soup and it was very tasty. The spreads were very good, especially the garlic spread and the spicy feta. The gyro meat was well seasoned but too dry for my tastes. The calamari was a bit rubbery. As mentioned in other reviews, the baklava ice cream was a nice unique treat. The decor is very pleasant, welcoming and engaging. I was intrigued by the stylish (but unused) sofas in the front, and wondered if they'd tolerate me parking myself there on weekdays with my laptop. I think I'd be a pretty happy person ordering light plates and Greek coffee and working there throughout the day. Yianni's has a great blend of exceptional customer service and a variety of inventive dishes that can keep customers coming back. In my family, we all have our favorite restaurants. My kids still love Terry's (a wonderful little Italian restaurant in Easton along the Delaware River) but I think my new favorite restaurant is Yianni's.
(5)
Barkly F.
Went here for dinner with another couple but if I knew they had a happy hour with oysters for $1 a piece, I'd have gotten there before 7 PM. We had appetizers of grape leaves and a kind of cheese but I forget the name. We all ordered a different dish for dinner but no one ordered a salad. Two of us had lamb, one had chicken and one had fish. No complaints at all and nothing left on our plates. Pretty darn good food !! Service was good too.
(4)
Bob A.
Anytime I have craving for Octopus or Avogolemono Soup, the only place for best and freshest is Yiannis Taverns.
(5)
Darcie G.
Now THAT was what I expected from Yiannis! My lamb was perfect and everyone's meal was delicious. Yes, we all tasted each others meals.
(5)
Leah N.
Food and our waiter was amazing. The only thing we didn't like was when the boy who was filling out water glasses slipped, the owner/manager made fun of him. Very unprofessional. It was an accident and he hadn't even made the spill in the first place! It's not nice to embarrass an employee in front of customers.
(4)
Lucia N.
Food is extremely tasty and the staff is friendly. I believe it's family owned and operated. My only complaint is the service is ALWAYS slow!! In my opinion the food is worth the wait tho. Another thing is parking is kind of weird in the parking lot so u might want to go a lil earlier than planned for a spot because there is no on street parking over there at all.
(4)
J G.
At Yiannis now Grilled octopus is simply great Only had appetizers this visit Great music. Great people. Alaina good bartender
(4)
Augie B.
Excellent dining experience. The food was outstanding, service couldn't have been better. Great decor and atmosphere. The only thing negative I can say is the chairs weren't very comfortable. I would suggest this place to anyone.
(4)
AJ J.
Food was good, but service was lacking. Went here during the lunch hour (place was nearly empty) and our waitress acted as if we were inconveniencing her the whole time.
(3)
Deniz C.
Few restaurants excite me with the same dishes. Every time I come here for lunch I order the white fish baked in a clay pot and every time I love it. For dinner I usually get the mixed meze platter (everything is so good) and lamb or seafood and they've always been wonderful. The baklava ice cream (or baklava, honestly) is a must for any baklava lover. The decor is very Greek and there's a nice slideshow of photos of Greece that is somehow not tacky. The music isn't Greek which is a little odd and this is the only aspect of the restaurant that I'd change. Excellent place for groups and celebrations. Definitely one of my top five restaurants in the Lehigh Valley.
(5)
Larry A.
My friend and I stopped in for a nice Sunday afternoon dinner. We shared an appetizer, Tuna tartare with avocado, which was excellent in both taste and presentation. I had the whole grilled snapper with lemon potatoes and steamed greens.The fish and potatoes were excellent but the greens were bland. I also had a beet salad, which was good, but lacked presentation.My friend had the Aegean seafood with a side of rice pilaf.The seafood was very flavorful and so was the broth but the rice pilaf was just white rice.For 10.00 you can drink all the Bloody Mary's you could drink, but the other cocktails were pricey. Restaurant had very nice atmosphere with live music. Want to come back and try their brunch.
(4)
Seana C.
This was my third visit to Yianni's and, so far, the only disappointing visit. I arrived with my friend, who I had previously dined with here, and were torn on the menu. We ordered the Elena cocktails, which were pretty good. As an appetizer, we had the Taverna Chips, which were excellent! We were torn on what to order as our entrees, but we both decided on the Aegean platter. The menu listed just about everything that was in the dish, except for the mystery fish, which our waitress couldn't even identify for us. It ended up tasting alright, but everything was severely overcooked. At this point, I was really second-guessing my decision to get this instead of the pastitsio or moussaka. The waitress asked how our meals were, so I let her know that my seafood was overcooked and she immediately sent the manager over. He offered to remake my food, but I rarely send anything back to be remade, so he comped dessert for us. Unfortunately, I ended up paying $23 for an entree that I could hardly eat, but I didn't expect a refund either. I'll chalk it up as a learning experience. As for the sides, the rice pilaf was essentially tasteless, but the beets were out of this world! Totally worth the $6! For dessert, we had baklava and baklava ice cream. They were both pretty good, but the baklava wasn't anything to write home about. It didn't seem to be very fresh. All in all, this place has some great food, so I'll be back, but I'll never order another seafood dish here. Stick to the traditional Greek dishes and you won't be disappointed!
(3)
Chris F.
We had a truly amazing meal at Yianni's. The staff is warm and welcoming, and the food is delicious and authentic. We started with the Spicy Feta spread and the charred octopus. The Feta was unbelievable and my wife is already trying to find it in our local supermarket (good luck hon). We had the Pasticio and the Lamb Shank and they were really amazing. Very generous portions too. Keep up the good work guys, we will be back!
(5)
Joan H.
Good service. Cute place. Bland food. Disappointed and wouldn't return unless for just a drink and an appetizer.
Second visit, this time with a large group. While most of those in my group are not very adventurous eaters, I used the size of my party as an excuse to order more appetizers: feta and olives, grilled octopus, calamari, and fried smelt. Having these choices locally is a big deal. Having good quality is a bigger deal and we enjoyed it. Tried moussaka for the first time. Loved it. My wife makes a meal of the pita and spreads which are too much for her alone, but I get to enjoy the next day :-) The staff was extremely friendly as in our previous visit. We'll definitely be back again. Maybe not wait a whole year this time.
(5)
Josh S.
Nice experience. Food was good, not amazing but good. Seabass was tasty, dips were good. Wine, eh. Wife had scallops and enjoyed them. Service was excellent. Atmosphere was nice, laid back but still classy. Overall, solid restaurant.
(4)
RB B.
We live almost an hour from here, but I wanted some good Greek food, and didn't want to hassle with traffic and parking in Center City Philadelphia. We were greeted into the warm restaurant by friendly smiles. The restaurant is lovely. Our server, Bobby, was wonderful! He was very attentive and polite. I had one of their non-alcoholic beverages which was a tasty cocktail of fresh muddled strawberries, basil, and lemon soda. My husband and I started by sharing a Greek salad, a trio of dips and the eggplant and zucchini chips. Absolutely delicious. I could have been happy ordering a couple additional appetizers and made all of that my meal. My husband ordered the salmon and I had the vegetarian Moussaka. The fish was a bit underwhelming...a flat piece from the tail end, which tends to get too dry on the grill. The Moussaka was delicious. I feasted on the leftovers the next day. Though it's a bit of drive for me, I'd definitely go back!
(4)
Kathryn R.
On a lark, decided at last minute to meet a friend and her granddaughter for a quick dinner before catching the train in Colmar. The service was amazingly improved. We throughly enjoyed the soft shell crabs while the granddaughter loved the lamb. Look forward to outdoor dining again when/if it ever stops raining.
(5)
Leigh F.
We had a great experience at Yianni's! The food was good and the service perfect. It was a last minute decision to go there on a Saturday night, (with our 6-year-old twins) and we were not really dressed for a nice restaurant, but we were treated so well. I love that you can sit outside. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Kaitlin L.
Had a great meal here Sunday night! We started with the spread trio. We chose the roe, eggplant, and garlic spreads. The garlic was my favorite and the eggplant was my least favorite. We each had a salad-he had the Greek and I had the beet salad. Both were great and fresh! I especially LOVED mine! For dinner we each got the pork gyros and they were excellent! My only gripe is that my water glass stood empty quite awhile. Other than that, the restaurant was beautiful, service was good and the food was great! Can't wait to return!
(5)
Jason H.
Everything about this place was incredible. The waiter had extensive knowledge of the menu, the wine list, and the history of the restaurant. We ordered a few different appetizers, my favorite being the homemade Greek Sausage. The main dishes were perfect and filling (the leg of lamb & Pastitsio), but we still had to get one of their awesome desserts. Definitely check out the Baklava ice cream, which is homemade as well. My wife and I are definitely returning soon!
(4)
Rhonda B.
Was at Yianni's last night with 6 girlfriends.....we reserved a space in the lounge area and everything was fantastic - service was great - they treated us like VIP'S! Server was very attentive and timing was spot on, we ordered apps and drinks, apps came out in a timely manner and everything tasted great - get the flaming cheese - they light the cheese table side and it's a real show! Manager stopped by to make sure everything was going well. We ended up closing the place down! This is my second visit there in the past three weeks - went there for brunch a few Sundays ago and best brunch dish I ever ate - Beans and eggs! Who knew! Thanks to EVERYONE at Yianni's Taverna for making our girls nite out the best possible experience!
(5)
Mark J.
Have passed this place several times and finally decided to stop and try it. The exterior is a little misleading because of the way the building is nestled into the surrounding area, but the interior is as well done as it can get. Fantastic atmosphere, the service was impeccable, and the food incredible from start to finish. Great selection on the ample menu and the service couldn't be more timely. Will definitely be back soon!
(5)
Brian R.
Service was very slow. 10 minutes before our orders were taken. The tzatziki sauce made our breath smell for days. The food gave me the runs. The meat was dry and not cooked properly. Not going back, not even if I was given a free meal.
(1)
Jenn F.
I'm giving this place 2 stars only because the wonderful Manager that was there tried really hard to rectify the issues. I feel like the cook is allergic to salt the gyro sandwich an apperently u have to ask for the sandwich or they bring u out a platter the meat did not look like gyro meat but like really thin steak with a lot of fat on it an really dry. The children ordered chicken strips an again bland an horribly over cooked the manager i think was Morricio was wonderful an gave us more food to take home but it was still horrible an very bland he even gave us a gift card but we will not be visting them again the waitress was very rude an looked down on us I will say after walking out of there we went to Theo's Gyros an they so made up for a almost ruined Father's day thank Theo's BTW i didn't even own a Yelp account until today
(2)
A G.
Had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner here with my son! Between the delicious food, attentive service (Cassandra) and the very festive atmosphere, it made for a very memorable evening. This was my third visit and as always, the food was excellent. We each had the veal, shrimp and lump crab which came with a side of rice pilaf. Portions here are not huge which I like. You leave feeling satisfied and not over stuffed. And even better you have enough room for dessert. We tried the the phyllo with creamy filling and candied orange peel. Excellent!
(5)
Emily B.
Great food and service. Go for lunch.
(3)
MaryLou Y.
The best Greek food around!!!
(4)
Sincerely H.
We have driven up and down 378 so many times and passed the restaurant and finally decided to stop. Wow. VERY impressive restaurant. Having been to Greece and regularly eat Greek food in Washington DC, I can attest that Yianni's is on point. Classic and bright decor.The restaurant (and bathroom) are very clean. Service attentive, polite, and hospitable. Apparent this is a family run restaurant. The menu is extensive- food and beverages. Homemade bread! The Taziki is delicious. We took lots of business cards and will give them out to friends and make recommendations. Expect to eat at Yianni's again!
(5)
Jessica S.
Excellent all around: food, service, atmosphere, drinks. I took a big group of friends who had never been and they were all impressed (and we had a wide variety of special diets and allergies represented at the table). Some of my favorites are the mezes, all of the spreads are very flavorful and I think they have some of the best grapeleaves I've ever tried.
(5)
Alie A.
I recently came to Yianni's for a bridal shower. Our menu was prix fixe for the occasion with a choice of a vegetarian or chicken lemon soup to start. The lemon chicken with orzo was creamy and fresh tasting. For our lunch entree, we were given the choice of a Greek salad with either salmon or chicken on top. The salmon was cooked to perfection and a huge portion. Fresh feta and calamata olives with a delicious house dressing. I'd recommend this place to anyone in the mood for good Greek food in the Valley.
(4)
Lyle D.
Gem of a restaurant. Formerly a fine dining establishment, Yianni's owner Helene, informed me that they recently moved towards a more family friendly style and pricing while maintaining top notch sourcing of ingredients. Recommend the gyro speciality plate. Lamb chops and fresh fish selections are ridiculous well prepared with table side filtering at request.
(5)
Theresa B.
Excellent service and food - will definitely be back.
(5)
Allison B.
My son frequented Yianni's when he attended near by Lehigh University. We have gone there for many family dinners. The food and the staff never disappoint. The tradition blue and white decor transports you to the Greek Isles, as you dine on tradition and modern Mediterranean food. Helene, Todd and the rest of the staff treat you like your special guests. They are currently making some upgrades to the building, inside and out; which will no doubt add to an already enjoyable dining experience. Yum!
(5)
Amanda R.
LOVE it here. Unique, fresh dishes and the best octopus in town. Leave room for dessert.. the baklava ice cream is to die for!
(5)
Jordan R.
Yianni's Taverna has everything I want at a Greek restaurant: taramasalata and saganaki. It might sound like I am easy to please, but it seems like it is really hard to get taramasalata in this area. Alright. Appetizers covered. For entrees, just about everything is really hard to pronounce and pretty good. It is difficult to right a review for the things that I ate because I could never spell them and their names were really hard to remember, but they were cooked well and very enjoyable. I remember that I ordered things with a lot of spinach. Deserts. Deserts is really quite nice because Yianni's really took the time to think about what was missing in the world of deserts and then they filled that latent need for me: baklava ice cream. They have some deal with a local ice cream bar in Coopersburg that involves, I can only assume, a lot secrets, masks, and code words like 'Fidelio' so that they can get their baklava chopped up and mixed into a batch of ice cream. On second though, maybe the deal isn't so Kubrick, but what it's product is just as weird and wonderfully sinful. Also, for a place that sells a lot of fish, Yianni's smells really clean, and that's nice too.
(4)
Lazarus G.
Yianni's is AWESOME, food just like my Greek grandmother used to make (maybe a tad bit better but let's keep that between us...) The saganaki is the best I've ever had, even better than you get in Greece. All of the dishes are fresh, portions generous and the staff and ownership are terrific, they really make you feel at home. I've been to a lot of Greek restaurants, here and in Greece, and this ranks among the best. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Linda K.
This was our second visit to Yanni's Taverena and it was just wonderful. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is cozy and authentic to Greece and they have a classy lounge to gather for appetizers and cocktails - it truly is a great place to go to for any occasion.
(5)
Matt S.
Stopped in while driving from Harrisburg to Long Island. Coming across 78, you really miss out on some of the cool little towns along the way, but we stumbled onto Yianni's and are quite thankful we did. We started off with a free flaming cheese appetizer (thanks, four square!), which was quite tasty. I had the gyro platter and my wife had the white fish in the tomato, parsley and onion sauce (all in a clay pot), and a side of tzatziki. The gyro platter was solid, while it wasn't the best I have ever had (it was a tad bit dried out), my wife's fish was quite tasty, and the tzatziki... oh, the tzatziki. Over the last eight months I have been on a personal mission to find the best tzatziki ever (or at least within driving distance). Today, I found a contender. Talk about cucumbery, garlicy goodness... I am tempted to drive from Long Island back to Bethlehem just for another round of tzatziki. Yianni's might be a little out of the way (if you are on 78), but it is well worth the drive, and quite tasty and beautiful inside (according to my wife, who notices such things).
(4)
Nina S.
Dinner is great at Yianni's Taverna... Breakfast, I'd skip it, not the place you'd want to go for breakfast. The omelets we ordered were pretty greasy and the 'Greek Islands Omelet' had not a trace of feta cheese, home fries were greasy as well. "Yianni's French Toast" must have been an old/stale bread that caused an upset stomach, not a good choice.
(1)
Perry M.
Dropped in for happy hour to watch a little March Madness and enjoy a Greek dinner at the Yianni's bar. This time was as good as the last. Meredity took good care of me with some Greek Syrah. Had Garides Keftiri (shrimp, red pepper & feta in filo) appetizer, Lavraki (whole snapper) as my entre and Loukamades (Greek doughnut equivalent to beignets or maybe sopapillas). Greek coffee to polish off the experience. Left stuffed. Yianni's is tucked away off of 378 and easy to miss. Don't though. The atmosphere is relaxing. The furniture was custom-made, imported from Greece. Dinner can be served anywhere in the restaurant: bar, lounge area or dining room. This is my new favorite when I travel to the area.
(5)
Cherie C.
Having been to greece, I have to say grandma in the kitchen at Yanni's is the real deal. The manager alwayz slips me extra spinach pie....he is the best. I have never had a bad meal here. Any time I am missing Greece, we go here for dinner and it doesn't seem so far away. Great job.
(5)
Heather M.
Went here to host a party of 50 after my dad's funeral. The service, food, and atmosphere were very good. All wait staff were friendly and provided quick service, including refills on drinks. They offered three dishes (beef, fish, or chicken) along with tea, water and coffee for a flat fee. We chose to not do an open bar, so people had the option to purchase an alcoholic beverage or soft drink. Todd was very helpful with organizing everything. All went smooth and there were no issues to interfere with our meal. Thank you for making a difficult day a bit easier.
(5)
Sabrina K.
Great food, but 2 out of 3 times the service has been terrible. They seem to be under staffed, and they could use some more training. We were forgotten when waiting for our table and again when waiting to order.
(3)
Jeremy T.
The food is excellent and very authentic. Everything on the menu that was sampled was fantastic. This is a place where you need to be patient for the food, everything is fresh so it takes time to prepare. The parking is plentiful and it is easy to find off of the highway. I would definitely go back again.
(4)
Danielle M.
Beautifully decorated restaurant with delicious Greek food. Waiter recommended the grilled Octopus tentacle which was very tender and simply dressed. Also enjoyed the beet with feta salad and some of my husband's tzatsiki (sp?). Excellent spot in the Lehigh Valley for lunch or dinner!
(4)
Pinar K.
We like Yiannis a lot. We usually eat octopus and grilled whole fish. They are great most of the time. This place has a nice decor, feels like you are actually closer to Aegen sea. The only provement would be a better chopped salad and better- warner bread. These things aside, this place is one of the good places to eat in Lehigh Valley.
(4)
Zarzuela K.
Driving back home and stopped here for a nice dinner. Fresh whole fish - fileted table-side, excellent grilled octopus appetizer. Also liked the lemon egg soup. Unexpected treat in the middle of seemingly nowhere (apologies to any locals if this isn't the middle of nowhere).
(5)
Charly J.
Wow. My hubby & I stopped in for a late lunch one afternoon on the weekend. We were right between the lunch & dinner crowd, so there was no waiting. We started w/ the 5-dip appetizer which was SOOOOO delicious. I'm not much for fish roe, but the Taramosalata dip was insanely good. The Tzatziki was so fresh, the Skordalia (garlic dip) was GARLICKY (just the way I like it!), the smoked feta dip (Tyrokafteri) was surprisingly good, & the Melitzanosalata (eggplant dip like Baba ghanoush) was a bit bland but still tasty (a little of the sea salt condiment at every table fixed that right up!). We could have just eaten the dips, served with seasoned pita bread, & a salad & that would have been a satisfying lunch. My hubby ordered the Pork Souvlaki Platter since neither of us had ever had a Greek dish made w/ pork, & I ordered the Chicken Gyro Platter. Both dishes were simply wonderful & very filling. The pork was very tender & perfectly seasoned. The chicken was juicy, flavorful, & had just the right amount of crunchy, grilled bits on the ends to make it one of the best prepared chicken dishes which I've had locally in a long time. The service was a little slow (it was between the lunch & dinner shifts) at first, but the quality of the food made up for this. Plus our friendly server kept the drinks coming thanks to their full bar. Hubby's martinis w/ Absolut were $10 & my Absoluts & cranberry juice were just $8. The food bill alone was just $40 plus tax & tip. A bit pricey for a lunch, but well worth it for dinner! We will be returning VERY SOON!
(5)
Layton D.
Festive atmosphere, good food and drink, very nicely appointed. Service was good and friendly, and prices are reasonable. Try it - I think you'll enjoy the experience.
(4)
J D.
Made a reservation on Mother's Day at 12:45... got seated at 1:25. Place overbooked. Was trying to order from the regular menu but was told it would take a lot longer. Since we already waited a long time to get seated we just ordered the Mother's Day pre fixe @ $36/person which we were told would be ready sooner. The Arctic Char and Lobster came out dry. People who ordered Lemonade got Lemon Water w/ sugar instead. Food took a long time to come anyway even when we ordered the pre fixe. Got out of the restaurant at 3:45... 3 hrs after our reservation. I would have given 1 star but we've been to this place before and it's a friendly, cozy place w/ good food and service usually. I guess the temptation of money pouring in on Mother's Day was too much to pass up and they tried to book as many reservations as possible. Revenue came at the expense of customers' experience that day unfortunately. Will be a while until we go back.
(2)
Mathew P.
This has to be one of the best restaurants in the Lehigh Valley!! The Veal Jessica was superb!! This is a first in my restaurant experience where veal was cooked just right and juicy. This is coming from a native New Yorker who has eaten in many NY Greek restaurants.
(5)
Art Q.
Took wife and son from lehigh univ here during family weekend. Not easy to find good restaurants in Bethlehem/Allentown area.... Saw a decent review of this one on Yelp. But as always...Caveat Emptor! Rather isolated and on its own , in a rather dark area on a hill, outside of S. Bethlehem . I gather the owners own the Rest. bldg and also an adjacent parking lot. It was on a Friday nt. so plenty of cars in rest parking lot. Figured...must be popular...Upon entering found rather cavernous room. Seemed kind of empty at 7:30 pm on a Friday.... Also has a very large bar/lounge area. Bar seemed to have a lot of older "regulars" hanging out but the large and presumably newly decorated lounge was empty. Sat down near a "grill area". Waiter came up and introduced himself...A bit to forward, and came across as not experienced...Immediately saw that the drinks, wine , even beer ( in Pa!) prices were quite high, so may be why lounge is empty . They must use their beer six pack price and wine full bottle price as the per glass price!! at ($7.00 for a 10 ounce mediocre beer and $10-12 for a very mediocre small glass of Merlot.) for such an average rest their wine and beer prices were very high , approaching what I consider top be "gouging" , ESP since they own the bldg and it is clearly a very low rent part if town in very low rent Bethlehem, Pa. Not far from low end housing. They have a lot of waiters (and maybe some owners/relatives running around?) here for the number of diners , Some appear to possibly be related to the owners? The first thing the waiter asked us was to order their expensive drinks , and then he listed their overpriced " specials" . I'm from ct /ny area , travel a lot, all over the world, and know what higher prices are , so I was surprised they were as high or higher than what I pay locally in NY/CT, since their rent and labor are I know are so much lower. Any way this did not sit well with me. On top of this, the tall , younger waiter clearly was either inexperienced or simply not suited to the task. . Let me preface this with the fact that I have eaten in many good Greek rest's over the years in NY and Chicago, and Greek Church events all over, and I do like Greek food. If the food had been good or exceptional, all this would not have bothered me, unfortunately it is/was not at all. To start the heavy moist white bread ( Jersey diner bread? ) was weird for a nice Greek rest. The dipping oil was a tiny little dish ...are they economizing on olive oil?? . Water glasses are old, small coke soda glasses. Sort of a turn off for starters.. For apps , . We had mussels, several if which smelled bad...were def bad, and stunk up the entire dish , also the mussels were covered in a cheesey kind of cream sauce , was also really weird. Maybe it was to cover up the stench from the bad mussels? Good restaurants do not serve smelly/dead mussels..no need for this...It was not a good way to start a meal. I complained to the waiter, who said the owner would be right over. But Guess what, over the next 40 MIn., the owner never even showed up to ask what happened, or to apologize for the dead/stinking mussel dish either. ! We also ordered a cold eggplant dip which was almost not edible...overly acidic...both salty and acidic used way too much vinegar. Even the stuffed grape leaves , which we read were a "favorite " , were under filled, slightly vinegary , and just filled with tasteless white rice. Not even worth eating. After the very underwhelming apps , we proceeded to order our entrees, though I think the waiter was not happy because we weren't ordering his "specials " of the night. On to the main course. We ordered a Moussaka, stewed Lamb shank, and a simply grilled pork chop. The Moussaka was very heavy with a thick top, with under seasoned ground meat below. No redeeming features at all, just heavy, leadened, and tasteless. The Bechamel sauce was very thick leadened, and the ground meat and eggplant tasteless. The boiled, grey , lamb shank was simply that , also with an under seasoned sauce, clearly had been cooked a long time ago, and also not worth eating. The odd thing was that the simply grilled pork chop was the only properly cooked thing we had that night..and clearly was not "greek" in any shape or way...other than the banal, and ever present cold, ordinary and acidic taste of the orzo-tomatoes and spinach carb/pasta dish.......Well we couldn't wait to get out of this "trap", and will advise other Lehigh parents not to go there. We left and figured that buying coffee at Starbucks and eating a bittersweet chocolate bar would be far superior than staying for their very overpriced and ordinary coffee/deserts as well. What a waste of $$!
(1)
Eleni K.
Being Greek I was so excited to eat Greek food!! When we got there, the place looked nice! We had to wait for a table when there were a bunch open, finally we said we would just sit at a high top. The chairs are wooden and super uncomfortable! We ordered drinks which took forever, and then the waiter fought with me that I ordered one kind of drink when I really ordered another. We got the meatballs and spanikopita for appetizer which both were pretty good! The salad was the best part of the whole meal. I got the pastichio for an entree. It was OK. pretty bland. My boyfriend didnt like his meal at all, I dont reemmeber what he got, but he barely ate it. My family is greet so nothing beats real at home Greek cooking! And this didnt even come close. Service was No good, at least the night we were there. Not impressed.
(3)
Scott K.
Ate early on a Friday evening. Service was great appetizers were great we had sweet breads (Awesome!). A bit expensive.
(4)
Brooke I.
Both the service and food was excellent. A bit pricey on some items, but it's all fresh and well balanced. Ironically, the rice pudding that came with my children's meals was some of the best I ever had and was a nice suprise to the normal kid's menu fare. Not an everyday place, but it was definitely some of the best.
(5)
Darren B.
Our experience of Yianni's did not quite live up to our expectations based on all of the high reviews. We thought the food was reasonable, but not exceptional. Service was very good and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere.
(3)
Alex G.
The Bottom Line: Excellent and authentic Greek cuisine at very reasonable prices. I've eaten twice now at Yianni's and each time the food was excellent. Since I went with big parties both times, I had the opportunity to try several appetizers and main courses. I loved everything I tried!! The fish dishes are outstanding as are the traditional Greek fares, such as souvlaki, moussaka and pastitsio. The lemon baked potatoes are out of this world. It's a very busy place, and the service is quite good. Lots of twenty-something servers, but they've been trained very well. The only thing I think they can improve on (but it's really no big deal if you focus on the food) is the atmosphere. Very noisy and oftentimes you feel like you're right on top of the next table. However, I will say, that if you've ever been to a real Greek Taverna, this is really what it's like....one big happy family. Like I said, it's just a personal preference; I prefer to dine with a bit less crowd noise. My suggestion? Turn up the Greek music for ambiance!!! The music is rather loud in the parking lot, but once you step inside, it's barely noticeable. It simply gets drowned out by the cafeteria-style crowd noise. But that's just me..... Next time I go, I plan on sitting outside. So, if you're looking for superb Greek and Mediterranean style food at very reasonable prices, Yiannis Taverna is the place to go in the Lehigh Valley. They are simply the best.
(4)
Jay C.
Fantastic food. Great service. A bit slow for a quick business lunch, but WORTH IT.
(4)
Karma H.
Wow! Excellent, Authentic Greek food at its best in a swanky Euro-Mediterranean environment! They use the freshest ingredients and the food is sooooo amazing! And, the prices are so reasonable. I hate to say it, but, they should be charging more! But, shhhh, don't tell them that! The staff is amazing, too!!! I was there the other night, dining along side, who other than the Father from My Big Fat Greek Wedding!!! Enough said! You have got to check this place out! I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Daniel H.
The food is pretty good here. I can't comment on the authenticity other than the fact that their gyro meat comes off of those giant rotating grill things and aren't from a bag of frozen strips like most "gyro joints" around here. I was actually shocked recently that a local favorite actually uses the frozen meat with all the additives and made no attempt to hide it. Yianni's proudly slices the meat for you from the grill! Huzzah! Haven't had breakfast here in a while, but it was actually a great place for Sunday brunch. They bring out a great breakfast menu that is separate from their normal menu. The eggs and potatoes are spot on. Pricier than a diner for sure, but nothing unreasonable. Service has been good. Parking is a pain but at least they have a private parking lot.
(4)
Kasia H.
Wonderful food and service. Nothing to add.
(4)
Shane O.
At first I was thinking "Oh God not another Greek place". Just what the Valley did not need... another Greek diner which you can find on just about any street around here, but, this is no diner. Atmosphere was great, food was great, service was awesome and the prices are reasonable. It's in bit of an odd location but definitely worth a stop by, especially once the weather turns warmer and you can sit outside. If only all Greek places in the Valley were like Yianni's! The did a great job on this place.
(4)
Ann T.
Very good restaurant. Everything is good -- especially the appetizers and salads -- fresh, authentic, varied. Good wines, if perhaps a bit pricey for what you're getting. The service is also very nice and attentive. In summer, you can sit out on their deck -- one of the few decent "al fresco" dining opportunities in the Lehigh Valley.
(4)
Hady Y.
I love the food great serves
(5)
Tyler K.
Yianni's has been great every time I've been there. In addition to it being a good Greek restaurant, it's good to even have an authentic Greek restaurant in the area. The interior is comfortable; somewhere between casual and formal, and there's a nice little patio for the warmer months. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable about their menu and the service is good as well. But, the best part of all, the reason to go back - is the food!
(5)
Lauren M.
Great Greek food! Judy is the best server, we ask for her every time we go. The lemon potatoes are to die for. All of the apps are great. Pretty good wine list and bartender. Everything from lamb, steak and fish. Avgolemeno soup is delicious.
(5)
Bernd H.
Ill ate there a few times while the food in general is ok and unfortunately the octupus gets smaller every time - this time it was a 1/4 inch tentacle versa a solid peace the last time - at 13.- that is not good. They were busy and service at lunch was very, very slow - they explained they messed up but did not even say sorry - that a big no !
(2)
Jess M.
Drove by last night and they have now replaced Gus's Cross Roads Inn sign with a Yianni's Taverna sign.
(3)
Gorgi P.
This is my favorite restaurant at the Lehigh Valley. If you are looking for real Greek food, this is the place to go to. Given that I have to Greece multiple times, I can say that this is the place with the most authentic Greek food. Of course, there are a lot of combinations, but definitely try the souvlaki and try any of the desserts - they are awesome!
(5)
Lisa P.
Love the food here. Menu feels authentic. We've been to Greece and this is the real deal. So glad to have a restaurant like this in the area. Make yourself a regular here. btw, I noticed that some folks call in orders for pick-up. Love that idea too. Cheers!
(4)
Elvin R.
I went for the first time today & was very impressed with all the new renovations & outdoor patio. The server, Ryan, was very nice & accomodating as were the hostess & staff. The grilled octopus was incredible. The Food was very good & the godiva chocolate syrup on the cheesecake was decadent. I look forward to returning.
(4)
Al D.
4th or 5th time back. Last two times it has been Yianni's or heaven for the uninitiated. We had sort of a honey moon in Greece 20+ years ago and ever since seek out a place to remember the trip. Last night with my wife and my son, we ordered about ten mezze plates and and one of the waiters and the owner came over smiling and said that's how it should been done. Darn right! It was great. Definitely worth the drive from Reston, Virginia to A-town. Cheers, Al
(5)
Lawrence B.
I'll just say it: I love this restaurant. Don't think for a second that this is "just another" greek diner in the Lehigh Valley. This is an authentic Greek restaurant. The decor screams Greece/ Mediterranean and there is no diner food in sight. They have fresh whole fish that you can pick out, and they will cook for you. My wife Chrissy and I have been here several times. We've tried a bunch of different items, and have now comfortably settled into regular items. They give you greek olives and bread when you sit, and you could probably eat those and be done with it. If its your first time, you have to try the saganaki. Its pan fried cheese, that is flambeed tableside and finished with lemon juice. We went here for valentine's day and the saganaki was a menu item on the pre-fixed holiday menu, so several people ordered it around the same time. Flames everywhere! It was awesome. My favorite appetizer though is the Keftethakia (meatballs). They have just the right amount of mint and spices to seperate them from "traditional" italian meatballs. My favorite dish, as well as my wife's is the Chicken Athenian. Its basically chicken, feta and mint baked inside of a phyllo dough. Phenomenal. I cannot say enough good things about this place. Run, don't walk to this restaurant!!
(5)
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Address :3760 Old Philadelphia Pike
Bethlehem, PA, 18015
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No 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.
Mary W.
Oh my gosh!! I haven't had this much fun while out to dinner for quite some time! First, our server Bob was fantastic! He energetically encouraged me to try the Grilled Octopus, with Greek wine vinegar, tagetos, oregano and EVOO . The wine, also a recommendation, was a Greek chard. I wasn't sure how the two would work, but wow! A perfect marriage. My husband and I stopped here for our anniversary. We had our reception here 31 years ago, and wondered how different it was. It's a beautiful change with the blue and white colors, and servers ready to fill my water glass and whatever I need. Such a beautiful and comfortable ambience! My husband had the Avgolemono soup- he said it was delicious! For our meal, I ordered the Swai fish- baked in parchment paper- topped with rosemary, tomatoes, zucchini & tomatoes, served with rice (not potatoes- not sure why). It was steaming hot and delicious! I had an Italian Pinot Grigio, which topped off the meal. My hubby had the Salmon. He liked it. I heard our server singing Happy Birthday to another diner, and finished with OPA! I had so much fun with our server, the owners who came by our table and were soooo gracious! I would definitely recommend and come again! OPA!!!!
(5)Haley G.
Went last Thanksgiving. SO GLAD I DID. Had an intimate dinner with just myself and my parents and was amazed by the selection and delicious taste of everything on the table. Much more classy than I expected, but how is that a bad thing? I look forward to my next trip (hopefully my parents will pay again!)
(4)Rebecca C.
Last night my fiancé and I returned to Yianni's. We were seated immediately, and greeted warmly by our server. We order the spicy feta dip (my favorite) and fish roe dip (Frankie's favorite). Both were amazing. We ordered quail and the gyro platter, both of which were delicious. I also ordered "the Eleni" a fruity strawberry cocktail which was wonderful as well. Our server was very friendly and attentive. The manager or owner, not sure which, recognized us from previous visits and warmly hugged us, and bought me another cocktail. We always feel very comfortable and well taken care of here. I feel like the owners really have captured lightning in a bottle here. I am a bit of a food snob after living for years in Philly and Seattle, and most restaurants around here are tired, poorly managed and the food is very boring. At Yianni's, they manage to keep a mom and pop warmth with top caliber food. Bravo, and keep up the good work. This place has won us over!
(5)Natalya S.
I haven't had such a great time dining out in a long while! I haven't been interested in Greek food, but at the insistence of my coworker, we tried this place and we love it! We had lots of food -- the roasted beet, a dip sampler (tzatziki, garlic, and split pea), the village salad, the Greek salad, the lemon roasted potatoes, the Yianni's chicken and the cod. It was ALL delicious! We will definitely be back! We may have even found a new favorite spot!
(5)Mike W.
Celebrated my son's and beautiful daughter- in-law's wedding rehearsal at Yianni's. So glad we chose this venue. The food was spectacular and was only out shined by the service we received. The incredible pair assigned to our party managed to keep 26 of us very happy. The appetizers were delivered right on time and were worth the trip alone! Four awesome Dinner choices and my prime rib was cooked (lightly) to perfection!! Drink orders were always correct and the bartender pours a mean bourbon. Thank you guys- you rock
(5)Michael L.
Ever found yourself implanted in an unfamiliar place, around 4pm, hungry, with a party and it's very windy outside, but you can't just sit in your car until 5pm, when every restaurant opens? That is how I stumbled into this place, as they were the only seemingly well reviewed place in Bethlehem, PA. Yes, they were open at 4pm, while all the other lovely place around town were still prepping for dinner. The lovely, well spoken, well mannered staff took us in and took us all the way to greece. This place is decorated with the famous blue and white and a beautiful patio that makes you feel away from PA. We ordered practically everything on the menu and some bottles of wine and cocktails, which all pleased well. The service was exceptional, mvp goes to the waitress. Didn't get her name, but she was half greek. She was spot on with service, kudos! The food is pretty good, nothing over the top, but the octopus is tops here, gender and exquisite. That was the highlight for me. The remaineder of the menu was similar to many greek joints in astoria queens, which doesn't excite me much. I'm not that big on Mediterranean food, could live without it. I recommend this place for the variety and clean service. They offer seafood, steak, gyros, lamb, pork, chicken and veggie dishes. There is something for everyone here.
(4)Jessica R.
Loved the atmosphere. Their food was fresh. I was a little disappointed with the lemon orzo soup but the gyro, salad, and steak sandwich were cooked perfectly. If you are craving traditional Greek food, this is the spot to go.
(4)Aaron J.
We came here due to the high ratings from TripAdvisor, OpenTable, and the like. I really don't understand what the hype is about. The bread was hard as a rock. It's a good thing we were given a sharp knife. The oil and spices were good. My wife got the octopus and said it was the best thing she ate there. She said her fish was overcooked. She said she has had better chicken soup in San Francisco (obviously). I had the beef and lamb gyro sandwich. I must say that it didn't wow me. I've had better. We made a reservation and arrived late. It wasn't busy at all. We waited a good bit and the hostess came over to ask if we had been waited on and we said no. She went to get the server. Once she got her then she was quite attentive afterwards. I guess for the Bethlehem area that this is the best option for Greek food. I just wasn't overly impressed. My wife wasn't either (even though I must admit she is a tough critic). Maybe we ordered the wrong food. I don't know.
(3)Beverly S.
We finally decided to dine at this restaurant tonight after passing it for years. What a pleasant surprise! The Greek decor is very attractive and along with the Greek music provides an escape to the country of Greece. We made an online reservation for 6:30 PM and arrived on time. We were seated quickly. The wait staff was professional and very friendly, especially our waiter, Abed. He was efficient and very helpful (thank you Abed). It was extremely busy; the atmosphere was upbeat. My husband and I each ordered appetizers and a small Greek salad to share. For our main course, I had the spit roast lamb with Greek lemon potatoes and green beans. The lamb was tender and absolutely delicious. My husband decided on a seafood stew which was served with rice seasoned with a delicious sauce. We also ordered dessert. I must say one thing in addition to my comments above, the food was seasoned and cooked to perfection. I am a 'salt and pepper' person and did not need any seasonings added to my food. We will definitely be back to Yiannis in the near future. My only regret is that we hadn't tried it sooner.
(5)Paul H.
Went back for a delicious lunch, grilled octopus and the best grape leaves I have ever had. The eggplant was excellent, service again excellent.
(5)Barbara G.
Went for lunch last week and was disappointed. We have frequented this restsurant over the past few years and the food was not as tasty and the portios really shrank. I used to love this restaurant....such a shame.
(3)B A.
Amazing! Plain and simple- AMAZING!
(5)Jen M.
Yummy and fun! Been here about 5 times and have never been disappointed. Seats could be more comfortable but atmosphere is closest to Greek Islands you'll get in PA. Love the spicy feta cheese spread. Gotta get the flaming cheese too! Wait staff is great, probably some of the best I've ever experienced.
(4)renee m.
Food and service were both a step below mediocre. We are taking our oldest to College and all love Greek food so thought this would be a great last meal with my son. We ordered salads, two steaks, one lamb dish and a sea food dish that were all overcooked and very bland. It was a very disappointing dinner and we paid about the same prices we had paid after eating fabulous meals in Philadelphia for the last 3 nights. Our waiter was nice but did not have the basics down. Our drink orders took a very long time, he did not clear our plates, an empty bread basket and a very large menu sat on our table for more than half the meal. We ordered a second round of drinks early but they did not come until we were almost done with our meal. I can't say we would ever try this place again. Very overpriced for mediocre service and food.
(2)Joe w.
Special dinner with Friends last night and we decided to travel to the Bethlehem area. The group decided on Greek food and non of us had ever been here before. What a gem! Great food, great service, nice atmosphere. Definitely will be making another trip back. Try the hummas ampler
(4)Nastassia P.
Just left with my friend.. First time here but definitely won't be my last! First of all, it's completely beautiful inside, we sat at the bar and meet Josh who is amazing. Super knowledgeable and a blast to talk to, gave great suggestions too! Everything was delicious... Definitely a great find!!!!
(5)Jerry H.
One and a while I come into a place and just have a meal and experience so good it's bliss! This is that place the service is 10+ and the food breathtaking and don't even talk about dessert it was heaven!!! I have some of the best cooked lamb pork chicken I've ever had, this is hands down my new and only spot!! Drinks were amazing waitress was on point and very attentive. If you haven't been here then your missing a little piece of heaven on earth!!! I highly recommend it!
(5)Ráhil S.
The server was really friendly, even the owner or manager was super helpful and made sure that everything was good on multiple occasions... The food was solid- nothing amazing, but just a good spot to go to (had the feta dip which was really good, eggplant for the entree which was good). A nice spot in a town that doesn't have a lot of variety
(3)Zirvios K.
Nothing special for the name and the prices with tiny portions
(2)Randall W.
Ordered the Moussaka. Very average! Bartender suggested a very nice glass of wine. But rating dropped to a one-star when the very average Moussaka came out cold in the middle. The solution was take it to the kitchen and microwave it. When it came back out it was a heap on the plate. Hot but nothing else. And not a real apology from anyone. Then they had the nerve to give me a bill for $30+.
(1)Bill S.
The restaurant was very busy. Good sign! We liked the atmosphere. The bar area has some seating that looks very comfortable. We had some red Greek wine. It was a blend, and we enjoyed it. The wine glasses are the thick restaurant supply variety, and we think that takes away from a nice wine. We both had Gyros and a Greek salad. They were good, but we had to ask for vinegar to spice up the salad dressing. We also requested Taziki sauce for the Gyros. Better to have to little spice than to much. The service was very good, and friendly. We saw some other entrees at other tables that looked very good. Will try again.
(3)Andrew B.
Casandra was the epitome of kindness, professionalism, and efficiency. This was my 1st time here, and it was better than I could have expected. I look forward to another visit, soon
(5)Bill T.
Few places I've visited have had as much sincere interest, care and professional customer service as Yianni's. The exceptional customer service and friendliness exudes on every level, from the owner to the waiters and servers to the guy refilling our water glasses. Most impressive, really, was the waiter's sincere desire to make sure we had a satisfying meal. After the main course, he asked, "Did you want the check? Or were you interested in dessert?" Huh? In all my years dining I cannot remember ever being asked this question *in that order*. Clearly, the upselling took a backseat to exceptional customer service for this server. Astonishing, and in such a surprisingly happy way. The food was very good overall. The soup...God, I wish I could remember its name...but it was a chicken/egg drop hybrid soup and it was very tasty. The spreads were very good, especially the garlic spread and the spicy feta. The gyro meat was well seasoned but too dry for my tastes. The calamari was a bit rubbery. As mentioned in other reviews, the baklava ice cream was a nice unique treat. The decor is very pleasant, welcoming and engaging. I was intrigued by the stylish (but unused) sofas in the front, and wondered if they'd tolerate me parking myself there on weekdays with my laptop. I think I'd be a pretty happy person ordering light plates and Greek coffee and working there throughout the day. Yianni's has a great blend of exceptional customer service and a variety of inventive dishes that can keep customers coming back. In my family, we all have our favorite restaurants. My kids still love Terry's (a wonderful little Italian restaurant in Easton along the Delaware River) but I think my new favorite restaurant is Yianni's.
(5)Barkly F.
Went here for dinner with another couple but if I knew they had a happy hour with oysters for $1 a piece, I'd have gotten there before 7 PM. We had appetizers of grape leaves and a kind of cheese but I forget the name. We all ordered a different dish for dinner but no one ordered a salad. Two of us had lamb, one had chicken and one had fish. No complaints at all and nothing left on our plates. Pretty darn good food !! Service was good too.
(4)Bob A.
Anytime I have craving for Octopus or Avogolemono Soup, the only place for best and freshest is Yiannis Taverns.
(5)Darcie G.
Now THAT was what I expected from Yiannis! My lamb was perfect and everyone's meal was delicious. Yes, we all tasted each others meals.
(5)Leah N.
Food and our waiter was amazing. The only thing we didn't like was when the boy who was filling out water glasses slipped, the owner/manager made fun of him. Very unprofessional. It was an accident and he hadn't even made the spill in the first place! It's not nice to embarrass an employee in front of customers.
(4)Lucia N.
Food is extremely tasty and the staff is friendly. I believe it's family owned and operated. My only complaint is the service is ALWAYS slow!! In my opinion the food is worth the wait tho. Another thing is parking is kind of weird in the parking lot so u might want to go a lil earlier than planned for a spot because there is no on street parking over there at all.
(4)J G.
At Yiannis now Grilled octopus is simply great Only had appetizers this visit Great music. Great people. Alaina good bartender
(4)Augie B.
Excellent dining experience. The food was outstanding, service couldn't have been better. Great decor and atmosphere. The only thing negative I can say is the chairs weren't very comfortable. I would suggest this place to anyone.
(4)AJ J.
Food was good, but service was lacking. Went here during the lunch hour (place was nearly empty) and our waitress acted as if we were inconveniencing her the whole time.
(3)Deniz C.
Few restaurants excite me with the same dishes. Every time I come here for lunch I order the white fish baked in a clay pot and every time I love it. For dinner I usually get the mixed meze platter (everything is so good) and lamb or seafood and they've always been wonderful. The baklava ice cream (or baklava, honestly) is a must for any baklava lover. The decor is very Greek and there's a nice slideshow of photos of Greece that is somehow not tacky. The music isn't Greek which is a little odd and this is the only aspect of the restaurant that I'd change. Excellent place for groups and celebrations. Definitely one of my top five restaurants in the Lehigh Valley.
(5)Larry A.
My friend and I stopped in for a nice Sunday afternoon dinner. We shared an appetizer, Tuna tartare with avocado, which was excellent in both taste and presentation. I had the whole grilled snapper with lemon potatoes and steamed greens.The fish and potatoes were excellent but the greens were bland. I also had a beet salad, which was good, but lacked presentation.My friend had the Aegean seafood with a side of rice pilaf.The seafood was very flavorful and so was the broth but the rice pilaf was just white rice.For 10.00 you can drink all the Bloody Mary's you could drink, but the other cocktails were pricey. Restaurant had very nice atmosphere with live music. Want to come back and try their brunch.
(4)Seana C.
This was my third visit to Yianni's and, so far, the only disappointing visit. I arrived with my friend, who I had previously dined with here, and were torn on the menu. We ordered the Elena cocktails, which were pretty good. As an appetizer, we had the Taverna Chips, which were excellent! We were torn on what to order as our entrees, but we both decided on the Aegean platter. The menu listed just about everything that was in the dish, except for the mystery fish, which our waitress couldn't even identify for us. It ended up tasting alright, but everything was severely overcooked. At this point, I was really second-guessing my decision to get this instead of the pastitsio or moussaka. The waitress asked how our meals were, so I let her know that my seafood was overcooked and she immediately sent the manager over. He offered to remake my food, but I rarely send anything back to be remade, so he comped dessert for us. Unfortunately, I ended up paying $23 for an entree that I could hardly eat, but I didn't expect a refund either. I'll chalk it up as a learning experience. As for the sides, the rice pilaf was essentially tasteless, but the beets were out of this world! Totally worth the $6! For dessert, we had baklava and baklava ice cream. They were both pretty good, but the baklava wasn't anything to write home about. It didn't seem to be very fresh. All in all, this place has some great food, so I'll be back, but I'll never order another seafood dish here. Stick to the traditional Greek dishes and you won't be disappointed!
(3)Chris F.
We had a truly amazing meal at Yianni's. The staff is warm and welcoming, and the food is delicious and authentic. We started with the Spicy Feta spread and the charred octopus. The Feta was unbelievable and my wife is already trying to find it in our local supermarket (good luck hon). We had the Pasticio and the Lamb Shank and they were really amazing. Very generous portions too. Keep up the good work guys, we will be back!
(5)Joan H.
Good service. Cute place. Bland food. Disappointed and wouldn't return unless for just a drink and an appetizer.
(3)Amy H.
Gourmet, comfort, & small plates. This neighborhood Greek taverna had something to please everyone's taste. The atmosphere is homey, yet modern. The hosts and wait staff are attentive and extremely accomodating. Every entrée and side dish is attractively presented and expertly prepared. Consistent quality at reasonable prices. Even the ouzo flavored after dinner mints are terrific. We've been coming here for years. We've always had great meals and service.
(5)Philly S.
Second visit, this time with a large group. While most of those in my group are not very adventurous eaters, I used the size of my party as an excuse to order more appetizers: feta and olives, grilled octopus, calamari, and fried smelt. Having these choices locally is a big deal. Having good quality is a bigger deal and we enjoyed it. Tried moussaka for the first time. Loved it. My wife makes a meal of the pita and spreads which are too much for her alone, but I get to enjoy the next day :-) The staff was extremely friendly as in our previous visit. We'll definitely be back again. Maybe not wait a whole year this time.
(5)Josh S.
Nice experience. Food was good, not amazing but good. Seabass was tasty, dips were good. Wine, eh. Wife had scallops and enjoyed them. Service was excellent. Atmosphere was nice, laid back but still classy. Overall, solid restaurant.
(4)RB B.
We live almost an hour from here, but I wanted some good Greek food, and didn't want to hassle with traffic and parking in Center City Philadelphia. We were greeted into the warm restaurant by friendly smiles. The restaurant is lovely. Our server, Bobby, was wonderful! He was very attentive and polite. I had one of their non-alcoholic beverages which was a tasty cocktail of fresh muddled strawberries, basil, and lemon soda. My husband and I started by sharing a Greek salad, a trio of dips and the eggplant and zucchini chips. Absolutely delicious. I could have been happy ordering a couple additional appetizers and made all of that my meal. My husband ordered the salmon and I had the vegetarian Moussaka. The fish was a bit underwhelming...a flat piece from the tail end, which tends to get too dry on the grill. The Moussaka was delicious. I feasted on the leftovers the next day. Though it's a bit of drive for me, I'd definitely go back!
(4)Kathryn R.
On a lark, decided at last minute to meet a friend and her granddaughter for a quick dinner before catching the train in Colmar. The service was amazingly improved. We throughly enjoyed the soft shell crabs while the granddaughter loved the lamb. Look forward to outdoor dining again when/if it ever stops raining.
(5)Leigh F.
We had a great experience at Yianni's! The food was good and the service perfect. It was a last minute decision to go there on a Saturday night, (with our 6-year-old twins) and we were not really dressed for a nice restaurant, but we were treated so well. I love that you can sit outside. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Kaitlin L.
Had a great meal here Sunday night! We started with the spread trio. We chose the roe, eggplant, and garlic spreads. The garlic was my favorite and the eggplant was my least favorite. We each had a salad-he had the Greek and I had the beet salad. Both were great and fresh! I especially LOVED mine! For dinner we each got the pork gyros and they were excellent! My only gripe is that my water glass stood empty quite awhile. Other than that, the restaurant was beautiful, service was good and the food was great! Can't wait to return!
(5)Jason H.
Everything about this place was incredible. The waiter had extensive knowledge of the menu, the wine list, and the history of the restaurant. We ordered a few different appetizers, my favorite being the homemade Greek Sausage. The main dishes were perfect and filling (the leg of lamb & Pastitsio), but we still had to get one of their awesome desserts. Definitely check out the Baklava ice cream, which is homemade as well. My wife and I are definitely returning soon!
(4)Rhonda B.
Was at Yianni's last night with 6 girlfriends.....we reserved a space in the lounge area and everything was fantastic - service was great - they treated us like VIP'S! Server was very attentive and timing was spot on, we ordered apps and drinks, apps came out in a timely manner and everything tasted great - get the flaming cheese - they light the cheese table side and it's a real show! Manager stopped by to make sure everything was going well. We ended up closing the place down! This is my second visit there in the past three weeks - went there for brunch a few Sundays ago and best brunch dish I ever ate - Beans and eggs! Who knew! Thanks to EVERYONE at Yianni's Taverna for making our girls nite out the best possible experience!
(5)Mark J.
Have passed this place several times and finally decided to stop and try it. The exterior is a little misleading because of the way the building is nestled into the surrounding area, but the interior is as well done as it can get. Fantastic atmosphere, the service was impeccable, and the food incredible from start to finish. Great selection on the ample menu and the service couldn't be more timely. Will definitely be back soon!
(5)Brian R.
Service was very slow. 10 minutes before our orders were taken. The tzatziki sauce made our breath smell for days. The food gave me the runs. The meat was dry and not cooked properly. Not going back, not even if I was given a free meal.
(1)Jenn F.
I'm giving this place 2 stars only because the wonderful Manager that was there tried really hard to rectify the issues. I feel like the cook is allergic to salt the gyro sandwich an apperently u have to ask for the sandwich or they bring u out a platter the meat did not look like gyro meat but like really thin steak with a lot of fat on it an really dry. The children ordered chicken strips an again bland an horribly over cooked the manager i think was Morricio was wonderful an gave us more food to take home but it was still horrible an very bland he even gave us a gift card but we will not be visting them again the waitress was very rude an looked down on us I will say after walking out of there we went to Theo's Gyros an they so made up for a almost ruined Father's day thank Theo's BTW i didn't even own a Yelp account until today
(2)A G.
Had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner here with my son! Between the delicious food, attentive service (Cassandra) and the very festive atmosphere, it made for a very memorable evening. This was my third visit and as always, the food was excellent. We each had the veal, shrimp and lump crab which came with a side of rice pilaf. Portions here are not huge which I like. You leave feeling satisfied and not over stuffed. And even better you have enough room for dessert. We tried the the phyllo with creamy filling and candied orange peel. Excellent!
(5)Emily B.
Great food and service. Go for lunch.
(3)MaryLou Y.
The best Greek food around!!!
(4)Sincerely H.
We have driven up and down 378 so many times and passed the restaurant and finally decided to stop. Wow. VERY impressive restaurant. Having been to Greece and regularly eat Greek food in Washington DC, I can attest that Yianni's is on point. Classic and bright decor.The restaurant (and bathroom) are very clean. Service attentive, polite, and hospitable. Apparent this is a family run restaurant. The menu is extensive- food and beverages. Homemade bread! The Taziki is delicious. We took lots of business cards and will give them out to friends and make recommendations. Expect to eat at Yianni's again!
(5)Jessica S.
Excellent all around: food, service, atmosphere, drinks. I took a big group of friends who had never been and they were all impressed (and we had a wide variety of special diets and allergies represented at the table). Some of my favorites are the mezes, all of the spreads are very flavorful and I think they have some of the best grapeleaves I've ever tried.
(5)Alie A.
I recently came to Yianni's for a bridal shower. Our menu was prix fixe for the occasion with a choice of a vegetarian or chicken lemon soup to start. The lemon chicken with orzo was creamy and fresh tasting. For our lunch entree, we were given the choice of a Greek salad with either salmon or chicken on top. The salmon was cooked to perfection and a huge portion. Fresh feta and calamata olives with a delicious house dressing. I'd recommend this place to anyone in the mood for good Greek food in the Valley.
(4)Lyle D.
Gem of a restaurant. Formerly a fine dining establishment, Yianni's owner Helene, informed me that they recently moved towards a more family friendly style and pricing while maintaining top notch sourcing of ingredients. Recommend the gyro speciality plate. Lamb chops and fresh fish selections are ridiculous well prepared with table side filtering at request.
(5)Theresa B.
Excellent service and food - will definitely be back.
(5)Allison B.
My son frequented Yianni's when he attended near by Lehigh University. We have gone there for many family dinners. The food and the staff never disappoint. The tradition blue and white decor transports you to the Greek Isles, as you dine on tradition and modern Mediterranean food. Helene, Todd and the rest of the staff treat you like your special guests. They are currently making some upgrades to the building, inside and out; which will no doubt add to an already enjoyable dining experience. Yum!
(5)Amanda R.
LOVE it here. Unique, fresh dishes and the best octopus in town. Leave room for dessert.. the baklava ice cream is to die for!
(5)Jordan R.
Yianni's Taverna has everything I want at a Greek restaurant: taramasalata and saganaki. It might sound like I am easy to please, but it seems like it is really hard to get taramasalata in this area. Alright. Appetizers covered. For entrees, just about everything is really hard to pronounce and pretty good. It is difficult to right a review for the things that I ate because I could never spell them and their names were really hard to remember, but they were cooked well and very enjoyable. I remember that I ordered things with a lot of spinach. Deserts. Deserts is really quite nice because Yianni's really took the time to think about what was missing in the world of deserts and then they filled that latent need for me: baklava ice cream. They have some deal with a local ice cream bar in Coopersburg that involves, I can only assume, a lot secrets, masks, and code words like 'Fidelio' so that they can get their baklava chopped up and mixed into a batch of ice cream. On second though, maybe the deal isn't so Kubrick, but what it's product is just as weird and wonderfully sinful. Also, for a place that sells a lot of fish, Yianni's smells really clean, and that's nice too.
(4)Lazarus G.
Yianni's is AWESOME, food just like my Greek grandmother used to make (maybe a tad bit better but let's keep that between us...) The saganaki is the best I've ever had, even better than you get in Greece. All of the dishes are fresh, portions generous and the staff and ownership are terrific, they really make you feel at home. I've been to a lot of Greek restaurants, here and in Greece, and this ranks among the best. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Linda K.
This was our second visit to Yanni's Taverena and it was just wonderful. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is cozy and authentic to Greece and they have a classy lounge to gather for appetizers and cocktails - it truly is a great place to go to for any occasion.
(5)Matt S.
Stopped in while driving from Harrisburg to Long Island. Coming across 78, you really miss out on some of the cool little towns along the way, but we stumbled onto Yianni's and are quite thankful we did. We started off with a free flaming cheese appetizer (thanks, four square!), which was quite tasty. I had the gyro platter and my wife had the white fish in the tomato, parsley and onion sauce (all in a clay pot), and a side of tzatziki. The gyro platter was solid, while it wasn't the best I have ever had (it was a tad bit dried out), my wife's fish was quite tasty, and the tzatziki... oh, the tzatziki. Over the last eight months I have been on a personal mission to find the best tzatziki ever (or at least within driving distance). Today, I found a contender. Talk about cucumbery, garlicy goodness... I am tempted to drive from Long Island back to Bethlehem just for another round of tzatziki. Yianni's might be a little out of the way (if you are on 78), but it is well worth the drive, and quite tasty and beautiful inside (according to my wife, who notices such things).
(4)Nina S.
Dinner is great at Yianni's Taverna... Breakfast, I'd skip it, not the place you'd want to go for breakfast. The omelets we ordered were pretty greasy and the 'Greek Islands Omelet' had not a trace of feta cheese, home fries were greasy as well. "Yianni's French Toast" must have been an old/stale bread that caused an upset stomach, not a good choice.
(1)Perry M.
Dropped in for happy hour to watch a little March Madness and enjoy a Greek dinner at the Yianni's bar. This time was as good as the last. Meredity took good care of me with some Greek Syrah. Had Garides Keftiri (shrimp, red pepper & feta in filo) appetizer, Lavraki (whole snapper) as my entre and Loukamades (Greek doughnut equivalent to beignets or maybe sopapillas). Greek coffee to polish off the experience. Left stuffed. Yianni's is tucked away off of 378 and easy to miss. Don't though. The atmosphere is relaxing. The furniture was custom-made, imported from Greece. Dinner can be served anywhere in the restaurant: bar, lounge area or dining room. This is my new favorite when I travel to the area.
(5)Cherie C.
Having been to greece, I have to say grandma in the kitchen at Yanni's is the real deal. The manager alwayz slips me extra spinach pie....he is the best. I have never had a bad meal here. Any time I am missing Greece, we go here for dinner and it doesn't seem so far away. Great job.
(5)Heather M.
Went here to host a party of 50 after my dad's funeral. The service, food, and atmosphere were very good. All wait staff were friendly and provided quick service, including refills on drinks. They offered three dishes (beef, fish, or chicken) along with tea, water and coffee for a flat fee. We chose to not do an open bar, so people had the option to purchase an alcoholic beverage or soft drink. Todd was very helpful with organizing everything. All went smooth and there were no issues to interfere with our meal. Thank you for making a difficult day a bit easier.
(5)Sabrina K.
Great food, but 2 out of 3 times the service has been terrible. They seem to be under staffed, and they could use some more training. We were forgotten when waiting for our table and again when waiting to order.
(3)Jeremy T.
The food is excellent and very authentic. Everything on the menu that was sampled was fantastic. This is a place where you need to be patient for the food, everything is fresh so it takes time to prepare. The parking is plentiful and it is easy to find off of the highway. I would definitely go back again.
(4)Danielle M.
Beautifully decorated restaurant with delicious Greek food. Waiter recommended the grilled Octopus tentacle which was very tender and simply dressed. Also enjoyed the beet with feta salad and some of my husband's tzatsiki (sp?). Excellent spot in the Lehigh Valley for lunch or dinner!
(4)Pinar K.
We like Yiannis a lot. We usually eat octopus and grilled whole fish. They are great most of the time. This place has a nice decor, feels like you are actually closer to Aegen sea. The only provement would be a better chopped salad and better- warner bread. These things aside, this place is one of the good places to eat in Lehigh Valley.
(4)Zarzuela K.
Driving back home and stopped here for a nice dinner. Fresh whole fish - fileted table-side, excellent grilled octopus appetizer. Also liked the lemon egg soup. Unexpected treat in the middle of seemingly nowhere (apologies to any locals if this isn't the middle of nowhere).
(5)Charly J.
Wow. My hubby & I stopped in for a late lunch one afternoon on the weekend. We were right between the lunch & dinner crowd, so there was no waiting. We started w/ the 5-dip appetizer which was SOOOOO delicious. I'm not much for fish roe, but the Taramosalata dip was insanely good. The Tzatziki was so fresh, the Skordalia (garlic dip) was GARLICKY (just the way I like it!), the smoked feta dip (Tyrokafteri) was surprisingly good, & the Melitzanosalata (eggplant dip like Baba ghanoush) was a bit bland but still tasty (a little of the sea salt condiment at every table fixed that right up!). We could have just eaten the dips, served with seasoned pita bread, & a salad & that would have been a satisfying lunch. My hubby ordered the Pork Souvlaki Platter since neither of us had ever had a Greek dish made w/ pork, & I ordered the Chicken Gyro Platter. Both dishes were simply wonderful & very filling. The pork was very tender & perfectly seasoned. The chicken was juicy, flavorful, & had just the right amount of crunchy, grilled bits on the ends to make it one of the best prepared chicken dishes which I've had locally in a long time. The service was a little slow (it was between the lunch & dinner shifts) at first, but the quality of the food made up for this. Plus our friendly server kept the drinks coming thanks to their full bar. Hubby's martinis w/ Absolut were $10 & my Absoluts & cranberry juice were just $8. The food bill alone was just $40 plus tax & tip. A bit pricey for a lunch, but well worth it for dinner! We will be returning VERY SOON!
(5)Layton D.
Festive atmosphere, good food and drink, very nicely appointed. Service was good and friendly, and prices are reasonable. Try it - I think you'll enjoy the experience.
(4)J D.
Made a reservation on Mother's Day at 12:45... got seated at 1:25. Place overbooked. Was trying to order from the regular menu but was told it would take a lot longer. Since we already waited a long time to get seated we just ordered the Mother's Day pre fixe @ $36/person which we were told would be ready sooner. The Arctic Char and Lobster came out dry. People who ordered Lemonade got Lemon Water w/ sugar instead. Food took a long time to come anyway even when we ordered the pre fixe. Got out of the restaurant at 3:45... 3 hrs after our reservation. I would have given 1 star but we've been to this place before and it's a friendly, cozy place w/ good food and service usually. I guess the temptation of money pouring in on Mother's Day was too much to pass up and they tried to book as many reservations as possible. Revenue came at the expense of customers' experience that day unfortunately. Will be a while until we go back.
(2)Mathew P.
This has to be one of the best restaurants in the Lehigh Valley!! The Veal Jessica was superb!! This is a first in my restaurant experience where veal was cooked just right and juicy. This is coming from a native New Yorker who has eaten in many NY Greek restaurants.
(5)Art Q.
Took wife and son from lehigh univ here during family weekend. Not easy to find good restaurants in Bethlehem/Allentown area.... Saw a decent review of this one on Yelp. But as always...Caveat Emptor! Rather isolated and on its own , in a rather dark area on a hill, outside of S. Bethlehem . I gather the owners own the Rest. bldg and also an adjacent parking lot. It was on a Friday nt. so plenty of cars in rest parking lot. Figured...must be popular...Upon entering found rather cavernous room. Seemed kind of empty at 7:30 pm on a Friday.... Also has a very large bar/lounge area. Bar seemed to have a lot of older "regulars" hanging out but the large and presumably newly decorated lounge was empty. Sat down near a "grill area". Waiter came up and introduced himself...A bit to forward, and came across as not experienced...Immediately saw that the drinks, wine , even beer ( in Pa!) prices were quite high, so may be why lounge is empty . They must use their beer six pack price and wine full bottle price as the per glass price!! at ($7.00 for a 10 ounce mediocre beer and $10-12 for a very mediocre small glass of Merlot.) for such an average rest their wine and beer prices were very high , approaching what I consider top be "gouging" , ESP since they own the bldg and it is clearly a very low rent part if town in very low rent Bethlehem, Pa. Not far from low end housing. They have a lot of waiters (and maybe some owners/relatives running around?) here for the number of diners , Some appear to possibly be related to the owners? The first thing the waiter asked us was to order their expensive drinks , and then he listed their overpriced " specials" . I'm from ct /ny area , travel a lot, all over the world, and know what higher prices are , so I was surprised they were as high or higher than what I pay locally in NY/CT, since their rent and labor are I know are so much lower. Any way this did not sit well with me. On top of this, the tall , younger waiter clearly was either inexperienced or simply not suited to the task. . Let me preface this with the fact that I have eaten in many good Greek rest's over the years in NY and Chicago, and Greek Church events all over, and I do like Greek food. If the food had been good or exceptional, all this would not have bothered me, unfortunately it is/was not at all. To start the heavy moist white bread ( Jersey diner bread? ) was weird for a nice Greek rest. The dipping oil was a tiny little dish ...are they economizing on olive oil?? . Water glasses are old, small coke soda glasses. Sort of a turn off for starters.. For apps , . We had mussels, several if which smelled bad...were def bad, and stunk up the entire dish , also the mussels were covered in a cheesey kind of cream sauce , was also really weird. Maybe it was to cover up the stench from the bad mussels? Good restaurants do not serve smelly/dead mussels..no need for this...It was not a good way to start a meal. I complained to the waiter, who said the owner would be right over. But Guess what, over the next 40 MIn., the owner never even showed up to ask what happened, or to apologize for the dead/stinking mussel dish either. ! We also ordered a cold eggplant dip which was almost not edible...overly acidic...both salty and acidic used way too much vinegar. Even the stuffed grape leaves , which we read were a "favorite " , were under filled, slightly vinegary , and just filled with tasteless white rice. Not even worth eating. After the very underwhelming apps , we proceeded to order our entrees, though I think the waiter was not happy because we weren't ordering his "specials " of the night. On to the main course. We ordered a Moussaka, stewed Lamb shank, and a simply grilled pork chop. The Moussaka was very heavy with a thick top, with under seasoned ground meat below. No redeeming features at all, just heavy, leadened, and tasteless. The Bechamel sauce was very thick leadened, and the ground meat and eggplant tasteless. The boiled, grey , lamb shank was simply that , also with an under seasoned sauce, clearly had been cooked a long time ago, and also not worth eating. The odd thing was that the simply grilled pork chop was the only properly cooked thing we had that night..and clearly was not "greek" in any shape or way...other than the banal, and ever present cold, ordinary and acidic taste of the orzo-tomatoes and spinach carb/pasta dish.......Well we couldn't wait to get out of this "trap", and will advise other Lehigh parents not to go there. We left and figured that buying coffee at Starbucks and eating a bittersweet chocolate bar would be far superior than staying for their very overpriced and ordinary coffee/deserts as well. What a waste of $$!
(1)Eleni K.
Being Greek I was so excited to eat Greek food!! When we got there, the place looked nice! We had to wait for a table when there were a bunch open, finally we said we would just sit at a high top. The chairs are wooden and super uncomfortable! We ordered drinks which took forever, and then the waiter fought with me that I ordered one kind of drink when I really ordered another. We got the meatballs and spanikopita for appetizer which both were pretty good! The salad was the best part of the whole meal. I got the pastichio for an entree. It was OK. pretty bland. My boyfriend didnt like his meal at all, I dont reemmeber what he got, but he barely ate it. My family is greet so nothing beats real at home Greek cooking! And this didnt even come close. Service was No good, at least the night we were there. Not impressed.
(3)Scott K.
Ate early on a Friday evening. Service was great appetizers were great we had sweet breads (Awesome!). A bit expensive.
(4)Brooke I.
Both the service and food was excellent. A bit pricey on some items, but it's all fresh and well balanced. Ironically, the rice pudding that came with my children's meals was some of the best I ever had and was a nice suprise to the normal kid's menu fare. Not an everyday place, but it was definitely some of the best.
(5)Darren B.
Our experience of Yianni's did not quite live up to our expectations based on all of the high reviews. We thought the food was reasonable, but not exceptional. Service was very good and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere.
(3)Alex G.
The Bottom Line: Excellent and authentic Greek cuisine at very reasonable prices. I've eaten twice now at Yianni's and each time the food was excellent. Since I went with big parties both times, I had the opportunity to try several appetizers and main courses. I loved everything I tried!! The fish dishes are outstanding as are the traditional Greek fares, such as souvlaki, moussaka and pastitsio. The lemon baked potatoes are out of this world. It's a very busy place, and the service is quite good. Lots of twenty-something servers, but they've been trained very well. The only thing I think they can improve on (but it's really no big deal if you focus on the food) is the atmosphere. Very noisy and oftentimes you feel like you're right on top of the next table. However, I will say, that if you've ever been to a real Greek Taverna, this is really what it's like....one big happy family. Like I said, it's just a personal preference; I prefer to dine with a bit less crowd noise. My suggestion? Turn up the Greek music for ambiance!!! The music is rather loud in the parking lot, but once you step inside, it's barely noticeable. It simply gets drowned out by the cafeteria-style crowd noise. But that's just me..... Next time I go, I plan on sitting outside. So, if you're looking for superb Greek and Mediterranean style food at very reasonable prices, Yiannis Taverna is the place to go in the Lehigh Valley. They are simply the best.
(4)Jay C.
Fantastic food. Great service. A bit slow for a quick business lunch, but WORTH IT.
(4)Karma H.
Wow! Excellent, Authentic Greek food at its best in a swanky Euro-Mediterranean environment! They use the freshest ingredients and the food is sooooo amazing! And, the prices are so reasonable. I hate to say it, but, they should be charging more! But, shhhh, don't tell them that! The staff is amazing, too!!! I was there the other night, dining along side, who other than the Father from My Big Fat Greek Wedding!!! Enough said! You have got to check this place out! I can't wait to go back.
(5)Daniel H.
The food is pretty good here. I can't comment on the authenticity other than the fact that their gyro meat comes off of those giant rotating grill things and aren't from a bag of frozen strips like most "gyro joints" around here. I was actually shocked recently that a local favorite actually uses the frozen meat with all the additives and made no attempt to hide it. Yianni's proudly slices the meat for you from the grill! Huzzah! Haven't had breakfast here in a while, but it was actually a great place for Sunday brunch. They bring out a great breakfast menu that is separate from their normal menu. The eggs and potatoes are spot on. Pricier than a diner for sure, but nothing unreasonable. Service has been good. Parking is a pain but at least they have a private parking lot.
(4)Kasia H.
Wonderful food and service. Nothing to add.
(4)Shane O.
At first I was thinking "Oh God not another Greek place". Just what the Valley did not need... another Greek diner which you can find on just about any street around here, but, this is no diner. Atmosphere was great, food was great, service was awesome and the prices are reasonable. It's in bit of an odd location but definitely worth a stop by, especially once the weather turns warmer and you can sit outside. If only all Greek places in the Valley were like Yianni's! The did a great job on this place.
(4)Ann T.
Very good restaurant. Everything is good -- especially the appetizers and salads -- fresh, authentic, varied. Good wines, if perhaps a bit pricey for what you're getting. The service is also very nice and attentive. In summer, you can sit out on their deck -- one of the few decent "al fresco" dining opportunities in the Lehigh Valley.
(4)Hady Y.
I love the food great serves
(5)Tyler K.
Yianni's has been great every time I've been there. In addition to it being a good Greek restaurant, it's good to even have an authentic Greek restaurant in the area. The interior is comfortable; somewhere between casual and formal, and there's a nice little patio for the warmer months. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable about their menu and the service is good as well. But, the best part of all, the reason to go back - is the food!
(5)Lauren M.
Great Greek food! Judy is the best server, we ask for her every time we go. The lemon potatoes are to die for. All of the apps are great. Pretty good wine list and bartender. Everything from lamb, steak and fish. Avgolemeno soup is delicious.
(5)Bernd H.
Ill ate there a few times while the food in general is ok and unfortunately the octupus gets smaller every time - this time it was a 1/4 inch tentacle versa a solid peace the last time - at 13.- that is not good. They were busy and service at lunch was very, very slow - they explained they messed up but did not even say sorry - that a big no !
(2)Jess M.
Drove by last night and they have now replaced Gus's Cross Roads Inn sign with a Yianni's Taverna sign.
(3)Gorgi P.
This is my favorite restaurant at the Lehigh Valley. If you are looking for real Greek food, this is the place to go to. Given that I have to Greece multiple times, I can say that this is the place with the most authentic Greek food. Of course, there are a lot of combinations, but definitely try the souvlaki and try any of the desserts - they are awesome!
(5)Lisa P.
Love the food here. Menu feels authentic. We've been to Greece and this is the real deal. So glad to have a restaurant like this in the area. Make yourself a regular here. btw, I noticed that some folks call in orders for pick-up. Love that idea too. Cheers!
(4)Elvin R.
I went for the first time today & was very impressed with all the new renovations & outdoor patio. The server, Ryan, was very nice & accomodating as were the hostess & staff. The grilled octopus was incredible. The Food was very good & the godiva chocolate syrup on the cheesecake was decadent. I look forward to returning.
(4)Al D.
4th or 5th time back. Last two times it has been Yianni's or heaven for the uninitiated. We had sort of a honey moon in Greece 20+ years ago and ever since seek out a place to remember the trip. Last night with my wife and my son, we ordered about ten mezze plates and and one of the waiters and the owner came over smiling and said that's how it should been done. Darn right! It was great. Definitely worth the drive from Reston, Virginia to A-town. Cheers, Al
(5)Lawrence B.
I'll just say it: I love this restaurant. Don't think for a second that this is "just another" greek diner in the Lehigh Valley. This is an authentic Greek restaurant. The decor screams Greece/ Mediterranean and there is no diner food in sight. They have fresh whole fish that you can pick out, and they will cook for you. My wife Chrissy and I have been here several times. We've tried a bunch of different items, and have now comfortably settled into regular items. They give you greek olives and bread when you sit, and you could probably eat those and be done with it. If its your first time, you have to try the saganaki. Its pan fried cheese, that is flambeed tableside and finished with lemon juice. We went here for valentine's day and the saganaki was a menu item on the pre-fixed holiday menu, so several people ordered it around the same time. Flames everywhere! It was awesome. My favorite appetizer though is the Keftethakia (meatballs). They have just the right amount of mint and spices to seperate them from "traditional" italian meatballs. My favorite dish, as well as my wife's is the Chicken Athenian. Its basically chicken, feta and mint baked inside of a phyllo dough. Phenomenal. I cannot say enough good things about this place. Run, don't walk to this restaurant!!
(5)