Falafel sandwich was DELICIOUS! I wanted to try everything on the menu.
(4)
Bob N.
Food was great. Waiter suggested snapper cooked Mediterranean style which wasn't on the menu, but was terrific. The starter sausage opa came aflame, and was delicious. Service was friendly, efficient, and helpful. They make everything from scratch so they had no problem accommodating my multiple food allergies
(4)
Lena P.
Walked in on a Thursday night and it was pretty busy as we thought we would we need to wait for a table, but they have a lot in the back as well. Here's what we ordered: Falafel sandwich - definitely needs more flavor, needs cucumber, or a different sauce. I liked the falafel pieces, they were very soft and tasted pretty good. With fries - crinkle cut fries were good With a side salad - beware they charge extra! They didn't tell us this! And it has a lot of iceberg lettuce and whole olives with the pit inside! Almost broke a tooth! The dressing was pretty good. Bread at the table was soft, and they give oil to dip it with. We asked for Balsamic and they gave us red wine to mix in, we thought that was odd, and it didn't taste good with that. Would have liked to have some hummus and pita bread pieces at a Greek restaurant, instead of regular bread.
(2)
Gregory H.
For a "Greek" restaurant, they do not make a GOOD Greek Salad (nor authentic, but good luck getting an authentic Greek salad stateside). Lettuce - okay, the olives, as expected, tomato - ripe, feta was lacking in flavor/quality, the peppers were poor quality. If I come back here I'll certainly look at different menu options. I've had much better in Durham. Service was okay, drinks were refilled and the server was somewhat attentive.
(2)
Julie B.
The Greek salad was just ok but the main meal was really good. I had scored flounder. It was very good and the vegetables were delicious! Baklava and coffee topped off a great meal. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. Even the owner came over to make sure everything was ok.
(4)
Jes H.
Not actually vegan friendly. If you're vegan, save yourself the trouble. My waitress was very nice and accommodating, and the food was good until I found pieces of lamb in my food.
(1)
Haboosha S.
I can't give them more than 1 star ... we ordered a small plate of olives+ 2 main dishes each one contains one spoon of rice, 4 shrimp ( she said it's jumbo but it was so small) and one very small piece of a grouper fish. That costs $75 !!! The portions were not enough and too pricey.. Save ur money and go to another place u can find better and cheaper.. Of course we will not go back there again...
(1)
Joanna M.
The waitress Nadia was sweet and served everything quickly and introduced us to a wonderful cheese dish!! We had to scream out opah as she lit it. It was so delicious with the fresh crusty bread!! Should have just ordered that and it would have made me full!! Ordered the appetizer calamari and it was so light and fried perfect!! Yum!! My son had the snapper and since his plate was empty of it in less than two minutes I believe it was delicious! My daughter and I had tons of leftovers. So guess what's for lunch tomorrow!!! Anyway over all delicious and great service!
(5)
Lawrence M.
I want to make this review as tasteful as possible. I was in Savannah Georgia with my family and friends. Walk through this restaurant because we saw this awesome sign with the delightful lunch special. The lunch special is lemon chicken which was priced at eight dollars. When we sat down the waitress denied is to have the lunch special. Said we were passed the time. It was 4:00. The sign was not one marked and clearly visible. She said that sorry lunch was over. I said the sign was still outside and that that's actually what drew us into The restaurant. We had horrible service during our time here. The food was OK and was cold when it came out. Also we only saw our server from the time she drop the food off. Then finished my food and then looked over to the staff, and she was on her phone for a straight 10 minutes. How unfortunate. I would not recommend eating here. That's an awesome restaurant down the street which I was saying would be a better fit.
(1)
Rachel N.
There are 2 sides to this restaurant. If you are looking at the restaurant, the right side offers sit down service and the left side is more for quick and/or take away service. We ordered the fish and chips and the falafel wrap. The fish is the standard tilapia and the fries are crinkle cut. The fish was tasty and a little spicy. The guy at the counter gave me a mesquite sauce for the fish as well as balsamic vinegar. Very good and filling. The fries were nicely seasoned with salt. As for the falafel wrap, it was full of lettuce and tomatoes with a tahini sauce. Super filling and tasty. As we were sitting, the cook/cashier/waiter called me up to hand me a deep fried fish which was incredible. I cannot remember what it was but it was delicious! This place was really great! As many times as I've passed it, I've been missing out! By the way, the dine in side is a little more expensive for the same food. And all the food is prepared in one location, so if you are looking to save a few dollars, go to the left side! There are 5 tables and 2 bar sections with stools. Yes, they do serve alcoholic beverages (a full bar) as well as sodas. They do have a coffee menu. Definitely a must if you want Mediterranean quick or a quick slice of pizza. And don't forget to get the baklava.
(4)
Mar H.
My husband and I love this little hole in the wall. Everyone goes for the upscale seafood on Riverstreet, but this is a great place for off the radar.
(4)
Tommy L.
Was having a date downtown and sitting outside at a table finishing our drinks before we went in. This was a slow weekday around 4pm. Some mean Greek guy came out and said a few rude words and told us to leave. Ha. I hope he does not treat our tourist this way. Shame on you Olympia
(1)
Josh M.
Very tasty and excellent gyro. Served perfectly hot and fresh. Decently priced at $9 and some change for a gyro and good fries. We were served super quickly and the staff behind the counter was very friendly. I've had gyros all over: NYC, LA, San Fran, Florida, DC, Baltimore. The one here was one of my favorites! Be aware, like another user commented, that there are two sides: the Olympia Cafe and Olympia Express. The cafe has a bigger storefront and more presence. We took the advice and visited the Express side and we were not disappointed. Food was great and you seat yourself. There are even house specials on daiquiris and margaritas that were tasty for the walk along the river.
(4)
Smith S.
Terrible, do not waste your money. The snapper was drenched in oil. The chicken over a greek salad was tough and seemed like it was days old. Hummus was ok, but the portion was small. Worst Greek I have ever had.
(1)
Catherine H.
Food is phenomenal every single time. Fresh seafood and authentic Greek food. Service is very friendly. Angela is a wonderful server. Vasili (owner) goes above and beyond to make it an exceptional experience! It's a feel-good kinda place--you'll be smiling with a full belly when you leave!!
(5)
Scott S.
Definitely one of the best Greek meals I've ever had. Their calamari are very lightly breaded and served with an excellent feta sauce. Their souvlaki is exceptional. If you can get the table in the window the view of River Street and passing ships is fantastic.
(5)
Jim H.
Let me qualify this review by saying that I was there for lunch and not for dinner. The service was excellent and the food was very good but I thought it was a bit on the pricey side for lunch. When I asked about a "lunch menu", I was told that it was the same menu for lunch and dinner. I had a gyro that was excellent and my wife really enjoyed her lamb kabob. The salads were good - with plenty of feta cheese. As a dinner destination - I probably would have rated this as a 4 star restaurant but I think it was over-priced as a lunch destination. Overall, good service, good food and a nice decor - just a little pricey.
(3)
Sara V.
Definitely I agree with Gregory H., for a "Greek" restaurant they don't know what a Greek salad is made with. My salad had no cucumbers, no olive oil base dressing, no onions and not even one dolma but a bland kind of cheese that did not taste like feta cheese. What a disappointment considering it was the only thing I had ordered.
(1)
Josie P.
One of my favorite places! I've been here several times, most recently for my graduation from SCAD. Great food, great wine, great service but never overpriced or overcrowded. River street isn't my favorite place in savannah, but I'll go there for Olympia's
(5)
Bill F.
A great place to drop in for appetizers and/or a meal. Staff is friendly and helpful. I've been coming here for years on business or pleasure. Never had a bad experience. The food is good, well seasoned, presentation nice & prices reasonable. One of those place you could easily walk by and never realize was a hidden gem. The "Express" side of the restaurant is an easy way to get a quick snack or sampling. I've introduced many people to this quaint establishment and will continue to do so. Even though you're in the heart of tourist district they don't treat you like cattle as many other places are apt to do. The Calamari is a "must have snack" every time I'm walking down River Street.
(4)
Krescent F.
We tried this place last night because of a raving review from a law enforcement officer about their food. Our dinner was fantastic, the service was impeccable thanks to Nadia, and the ambiance gave the whole meal an authentic Greek feel. I tried the Red Snapper special and there are no words to express how good it was. Nadia recommended a great wine pairing and also suggested the red snapper. This place is a must try when visiting Savannah. Thanks for a great experience and great food.
(5)
Paul R.
Authentic Greek food. The best any where I've had. You have to try the roasted red pepper stuffed with feta
(5)
Tyrone P.
Food was fantastic! Especially enjoyed the Greek salad and Gyro! The staff however were very unfriendly. The hostess could be compared to the Grimm reaper and the waitress to a tax accountant. Bring some good company, otherwise you will have a very unenjoyable dining experience!
(3)
George R.
We always eat here at least once when we are in Savannah, as we have for thirty years. The Calamari are a must have as are the gyros. Reasonable prices compared to much of River Street. Always friendly service..
(4)
Keith J.
Awesome red snapper stuffed with crab. Pita bread hummus is great too. Our waitress was friendly and nice. The hostess is pretty but never smiles. There is a fast food area if you don't want to be served.
(4)
Molly G.
I eat quite a bit of Greek food and the Olympia Cafe was right up there with the best. My husband had the gyro dinner which was really good and not greasy like gyro meat can be. I had the chicken kabob which was perfectly prepared. The salads were fresh and the waiter was extremely informative. A nice find.
(5)
Elena I.
Came here for lunch with friends who recommended it. We had the fried cheese app which was great. I had the chicken kabob with a Greek salad. It was very good juicy and fresh. The location is great! I thought it could have been better but I was happy and would recommend it for lunch!
(4)
Bethany S.
My husband took me there for our anniversary. Our waitress wasn't the friendliest I've had but she did her job well. My favorite part was the salad with feta dressing. The waitress told me that they import their feta straight from Greece and you could taste the amazing difference! I had a Gyro wrap with veggies and again it came with that amazing feta cheese! Their food was delicious, atmosphere was nice, location was easy to get to (on the river front but a quick walk from the street), and just an all around good experience.
(4)
Jennifer M.
We were greeted quickly and waited on quickly as well, I just ordered the tzatziki and an order of pita bread. If you wish to eat all of the tzatziki they give you, you should get 2 orders of the pita bread because one isn't enough. I left a lot behind. The tzatziki was a tad bit tart but was very good.
(5)
Angela S.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in Savannah! The grouper was amazing!! We have been coming here for many years and always have a wonderful experience!! Our server Richard was perfect. The owners Nick and Visili are beyond awesome!! Always a delicious meal and great atmosphere!
(5)
Matt S.
I hadn't been here for well over a decade so I was eager to go back. Good Greek food is so hard to find where I live so I was very pleased with this experience. Our server was very friendly and when my sister asked for recommendations she knew the menu very well and sold both of us on the scored flounder. She told us that the seafood is very fresh and she wasn't lying. I'm a big fan of fish and even in New England I run into issues with mislabeled or poor quality seafood. My flounder was probably the best flounder I've ever had in my entire life. It was lightly fried to perfection and had an awesome flavor. My partner had the lamb chops and loved them (also recommended by our server). All of our dishes came with a side of potatoes, rice, and peas over a lemon sauce and it had a nice unique taste that worked well with the fish. Definitely one of the highlights of my vacation.
(5)
Michelle R.
Stopped in on our short visit through savannah on our way to FL. The serious was great! our waiter was super friendly and obviously liked by the 'regulars' who seemed to make a point to ask for him or say hello (unfortunately I forget his name myself, sorry). The food - good portion sizes but not overwhelming. Unfortunately, like someone else mentioned - slightly disappointed by the out of date menu. Calamari was good and served with Tzatziki sauce, which was actually nice change from marinara. When I ordered the waiter suggested I try the lemon garlic potatoes instead of the standard side. Very thankful he did that - absolutely delicious and a great pairing with the meal. Overall I enjoyed it and would return if we go to Savannah again.
(4)
Reesey H.
The gyro wrap and fries were excellent. This is truly authentic Greek food.
(5)
Chris S.
Gyros are awesome! They have a great Gyro platter as well. Decent prices and service!
(4)
Desiree H.
The service, food, and decor was all good. No problems with that. The only thing I had a huge problem with was what I had to pay. It was lunch time and I just wanted something small to eat. I ordered a small salad for $6. The waitress asked if I would like some cooked chicken and I said sure. It would be a dollar or two more. No harm. Ate the food (was delicious), got the check and noticed my $6 was now $15. By adding half a chicken breast worth of meat it cost me $9. I grabbed a nearby menu and noticed a little farther down that they had a chicken salad for $15. NOT what I ordered but paid it anyway since I was in no mood to argue. I would of gladly gave 5 stars if I would not of been talked into ordering something I originally didn't want. I will now ask how much something will cost me if a waiter/waitress offers something extra.
(3)
Dennis U.
This is an OK Greek restaurant in a prime location. Not a big lunch menu but with standard Greek fare. My gyro was fine but I would head to Savannah to eat here.
(3)
Richard D.
Perfectly prepared yet again. Never a bad experience here at Olympia Cafe. Love coming here every time I visit Savannah. Staff always friendly. Owners never miss an opportunity to visit tables and interact with patrons. See you again in 2 weeks!
(5)
Zia H.
The worst dinning experience of my life. I went there last night to try their lamb shank, because of my love of lamb. The lamb was so bad, and I know for a fact that they served me at least 10 days old already prepared shank. After having couple of bites, I was literally sick, and started to throw up. It is already 14 hours afterward, and I am still sick.
(1)
Wade S.
Food was horrible. Service was bad. Water tasted funny. Just don't do it. Two cops we saw in the area recommended this place. Enough said.
(1)
Christina K.
Hmm.. I really like greek food, and we stopped by here while waiting for our ferry. We grabbed our 2 gyros to go and when we got back to our hotel room, scarfed them down. SO thinks that they would have been much better had we gotten to eat them there, but I was a little put off. I mean, it's MUCH better than the crap that Great Wraps will offer you, but was it so mouthwatering great that I dreamt about it? Nope. Was the taste enough to have me go back for more? Nope again. It was ok, nothing to rave about other than the fact that this is the only greek place on River Street. i've had better at Cafe Agora in Buckhead.
(2)
Shannon M.
I'm sure the cafe is separate from the "ice cream" shop, but I won't waste my time finding out. We went in for a cone after walking down River Street after dinner. The inside had old dumpy tables and chairs, but we figured that wasn't a big deal. When we approached the counter, the attendant let out a sigh and actually rolled her eyes. I asked if she was okay (I envisioned she had just dealt with a customer from hell) because I thought I missed something. She replied, "Yes. Do you know what you want?" I answered that we needed a minute to look and she just walked away. We simply walked out and went down to Vic's Coffee House which was a far better choice - the ice cream was terrific, the ambiance was trendy, and the service was pleasant.
(1)
Mike F.
Gyro's were good and they had no issue making ours with Feta cheese and roasted tomatoes, the way I make them at home. All five of us enjoyed them, my wife even commented that the pita bread was much better than what I use.
(3)
Sergio O.
I've Lived in Savannah for 16 years now, seen and tried it all.. This place is still one of my favorites. They always treat us like family here.. And we will always return. Saganaki Mediterranean Pepper Red Snapper Shrimp Aegean Grouper Sautee' Lamb Chops Potatoes and Peas with a Lemon Sauce, amazing. It's all prepared excellently, and with Love. Order some fruit and Baklava for dessert!! I could go on and on.. People from all over the globe return once they've eaten here.. It's a great place, with great food, and a great staff, If you have a problem, ask to see Nick, or Vasili and they will make sure you are Happy. Don't let the touristy location fool you, It's a great local restaurant. Opa!!!
(5)
Doug R.
The Greek salad that comes with dinner is good, but the put a lot of dressing on the salad. I suggest dressing on the side. It's been ages since I ate here and am just catching-up with reviews. Sorry, can't provide any details other than I'd go back and my memory says it was a 4-star experience.
(4)
Devin A.
Good food, nice ambiance and friendly staff made a quick meal enjoyable. Traditional Greek menu items and a few nontraditional ones (burgers and pizza for those who aren't into Greek foods). Price was about right for the portion. The French bread provided before the meal was surprisingly very light and tasty.
(4)
Tom S.
Great ice cream. We needed a little something after dinner while walking around. Brick floor fits right in with the local area. We didn't eat in the restaurant.
(4)
Paige N.
So my party of three and I stumbled into the Olympia Cafe on Saturday night after being turned away from the Olde Pink House because our reservation hadn't been received (don't ask me how a phone reservation left on the answering machine isn't received, but it wasn't) - so we improvised and headed for the river. As soon as we entered we were seated immediately, and I after perusing the menu I observed the carryings on happening around me. The most intriguing thing was when the severs would bring out what looked like skillets, pour a magical liquid into them and shout "OPA!" as the plate burst into flames before setting it on the table for the delighted diners. Naturally I had to have this -didn't matter what it was. Turned out, it just happened to taste great too - it was "flaming cheese (or sausage)" and lit on fire / flash cooked in the skillet with brandy. Not only was the presentation impressive, but whatever kind of cheese they used was superb for its flavor and ability to withstand the heat and not turn in to a gooey mess. Our entrees were less spectacular, but still solid - I had the chicken kebabs with a Greek salad, warm pita and a tasty tatziki sauce. They were a little stingy with the chicken portion in my opinion, and tried to make up for it with carbs: pita, salad, bread basket, and french fries. All of it was tasty - but nothing truly standout about the kebabs. The other problem I had which brought this down from 4 stars was the air conditioning in the place - it was ON! Now keep in mind, it's the middle of February (and yes, we've had a mild winter, but not THAT mild), and the AC is blowing on us throughout the entire meal. At first, I thought it was a draft from the open front door, so I asked the waitress to close it, which she did. But after the breeze continued, we deduced it must be the AC. Needless to say, we didn't linger for dessert that time. Overall, Olympia's a good restaurant, and the presentation's very "classical" Greek (Roman columns, murals of Greece, etc), but it's still a touristy restaurant on River Street. Just OK.
(3)
Mark M.
Absolutely the best calamari and Gyro's hands down. Actually everything on the menu is awesome. The Baklava is outstanding if you have a sweet tooth. Nick is one of the nicest gentlemen and restauranters I have ever met. Not to mention he runs a tight ship so quality and consistency are always spot on!
(5)
MARK M.
Good gyros. Not my favorite but great to see a greek place on the river.
(3)
Miss M.
a bit expensive and god how I despise river street, but works for me as a Greek salad hook up. not very vegetarian friendly, but the greeks I know think being a vegetarian is worse than cheating on my husband or maybe kicking a dog.
(5)
Jeff K.
We decided to stop in here for lunch while we were waiting for our hotel room to be ready. We ordered the skordalia to start (we have to order skordalia whenever it's available, it's one of our favorites). This one was great, although not the best we've ever had. I can't put my finger on it, but there was sort of a tartness to it that I'm not accustomed to. But skordalia is different everywhere you go, and it was definitely good. The free bread that came out to the table was excellent and I used it to finish off the skordalia when we ran out of pita bread. For lunch I ordered the gyro, and it didn't disappoint either. The tzatziki was plentiful and tasty! The meat tasted great, and the pita was soft and delicious. Service was also quick and friendly, and the prices were good. I know there's a lot to do in Savannah, and a lot to eat. I'm sure this little Greek place doesn't even show up on most peoples' radar when they come into town for the weekend, but if you're in the area and you're hungry, you really should stop by.
(4)
Renaud F.
The best thing about this restaurant is the location. The food is ok and the restaurant is stuck in a time warp. I would go back for some food but mostly for a bite and move around the boardwalk. The waitress knew her stuff and service was fast probably because the restaurant was pretty much empty.
(3)
Megan E.
Stopped in because I was in need of sweet tea and this looked like the kinda place I could get it. and I was right. The price was amazing only a little under 2 bucks for sweet tea!! and a big cup!! yess! It was absolutely delicious. Also came back for a smoothie and ended up ordering an alcoholic one, the strawberry shortcake one, it was also amazing. The service was really great the guys were super friendly and quick. They even remembered who we were when we stopped by a few hours later!
(4)
Emily M.
Oh amazing! If you have not been there you need to go there ASAP! Best sea food!
(5)
Max B.
Authenic Greek restaurant. A bit touristy due to location. Great value and fun atmosphere. Casual dining. Chef/owner formerly from Chiago
(4)
Lori H.
I will visit this restaurant every time I come to Savannah. Great gyros, they're always perfect and always hit the spot. The calamari is fresh and fried to perfection. All our waitresses have always been super friendly too!
(5)
Ashlee W.
I work on river street and I'm always bringing a snack to work or ordering a sandwich. Today I was craving pasta! So I looked through our lunch menus and found Olympia cafe. I went straight to pastas and decided to keep it simple and cheap. I ordered the pasta marinara with Parmesan or feta. It was exactly what I needed to satisfy my pasta craving. No complaints, they even threw in some bread for me! Quick service!
(4)
Beth C.
Pretty large restraunt, right on river walk. We had lunch on a Tuesday at about 2pm and we were one of two tables. Food was fine. Potatoes were too oily for me, but delicious. Spanakopita was GREAT because it wasn't too feta-y. The Greek Salad had lettuce underneath the 1lb of feta cheese (opposite of the spinach pie which had little cheese!). Overall, I would try something else in the area but the food was fine for a quick bite in the area. I had no idea what the peas and mush were on top of the rice? It was boringggg and I didn't eat it. Looked like gravy? Great way to ruin peas.
(3)
Susan H.
Olympia express has some really great food you can just stop on and grab. And the baklava is delish!
(4)
Lisa C.
Unfriendly hostess, but great wait staff delicious Greek food, good wine list. Servings are generous. However, for such a nice restaurant, the restrooms are attached to their next store ice cream shop and were worst than the oldest gas station facilities. When you tool around River Street this is a valuable aspect of eating or drinking on River Street, spoiled the,experience.
(4)
Stephanie P.
I only ordered a cup of coffee, but I was so thankful for the Olympia Cafe for being open on race morning at 5am. When we arrived via ferry over to River St we had a couple hours before the start of the Savannah 1/2 marathon. Normally before a run you stand outside freezing and shivering waiting way too long in the port-a-potty lines. The Olympia Cafe opened just for the runners and had coffee, pastries, etc, and most importantly a warm place to hang out with a bathroom! yay! Thank you!!
(4)
William K.
The food is pretty good but it is a bit over priced because of its location on River Street. There are not many places to get Greek food in Sav so it may be worth it to you. The food and service was good.
(3)
Mark A.
Good food. Price was appropriate for tourist location. I'd come back.
(4)
TJ G.
I'm torn by this place because the food was excellent. Whatever the buttery sauce they put on the peas and rice could have elevated them up to five stars on it's own. However, the entrees are very expensive for what they are. $20 for a vegetarian plate that isn't very big in a place where the ambiance is extremely casual? I don't know that it's worth it.... But the food is really good, so maybe it is. Plus it's a very touristy area, maybe the price is for the general ambiance of the area.
(3)
Rebekah K.
One of my favorites in Savannah! I love the lemon potatoes and peas. The moussaka is decadent and delicious. OK, so I have not had anything here that I didn't like. I agree with Clay that the platter is the way to go, but please only do this on a very empty stomach or be able to take a to go plate = ) The service has always been pleasant, and you can get a little table by the window to people and boat watch out on Riverstreet.
(4)
Clay K.
This place rocks my socks. If budget isn't a concern, ask for the Platter. Don't ask what's on it, just do it. Sit back. Enjoy being treated like you're royalty and dine like a king. On a budget, or are you just a cheap bastard like me? Gyros are good, but the way to go is order a Greek Trio with Spanikopita, Mousaka, and Dolmades, grab the Calamari Appetizer, and share it with a date. Bam, decent dinner on a budget and room left in your belly for plenty of booze on River Street. Need some tasty sweetness? Best baklava around.
(4)
Travis B.
this was the only place open in the wee hours of the savannah full/half marathon this weekend. we wouldn't have even noticed until the owner peeked his head out of the door. it was super windy and cold and we had 2 hours to kill before race start, so we ducked in here for a cup of coffee and some warmth. coffee is a bit weak and at 2.25 a cup, not that great of a deal. but he was friendly and best of all, open at 5am! my wife, whom is greek, can understand my awe at the greek resourcefulness. sure, his cafe is Greek, but when a customer asked for a bagel, he said "maybe, let me look" and shortly thereafter, appeared with a toasted bagel. he just happened to have it in his fridge. nice and cozy, neat interior. full service restaurant as well as the cafe (beer, burgers, and frozen daquiries too....those greeks.....
(4)
Cliff S.
The snapper is to die for-- the best I've ever had, anywhere. Expensive but worth it. Niko prepares it lovingly at your table. Everything else is great, but the snapper is exceptional.
(5)
Nikhil B.
The Falafel appetizer was nice but the veggie pizza was one of the worst pizzas we ever had. The dough was like a grocery store bought one with a very bad chewy texture and was not at all crusty. We had to wait at least 45 mins to get the pizza. The waitress was very polite and kept asking if we needed anything while patiently waiting. Great location on the river, good looking waitresses but bad food.
(2)
Kevin B.
Strange to think that we could have our best meal in Savannah at a Greek restaurant but it's true. The service was terrific and so was the food. I must recommend the Saganaki (greek flaming cheese) and Calamari. I also recommend the Souvlaki chicken kabob. The location is right down on the river. We didn't save room for the ice cream from their parlor but I hear it's terrific.
(5)
Nate Y.
The BEST lamb chops i have ever jad in my life. Prices are great and so is the food. The service was wonderful and Nik, one of the owners, is awesome!!!!! Highly recommend!
(5)
Scott L.
I've been going to this place for years when ever I'm in town and I've never been disappointed. I really like their Greek Salad and their Gyros (which they make a point of saying is pronounced yee ros on their menu), but their other dishes have been good too. And you should try their flaming cheese appetizer sometime that they light at your table with the waitress giving a big "Opa!." This place is usually busy and there's a good reason for it.
(5)
Linda C.
This was my 3rd visit to Olympia's Express cafe. The gyro and apple pie are to die for! Excellent fresh food, hot, and speedy - when I am on the road, that is what I expect. Foods sampled - gyro wrap, spaghetti & meatballs, baklava, pina colada - all were great. There is a restaurant adjacent to the Express cafe for those who want a more relaxed, dress up, etc. experience - but for me the cafe is perfect. Daniel behind the counter sets the climate with friendly fast service. If you find yourself strolling River Street, stop in for a quick break. Take the water taxi over to the Westin for a quick drink, then be sure to peruse the shops.
(4)
Tatyana C.
Love me some Greek food! Restaurant is small and very busy. Best gyros in town.
(4)
Linda R.
Love this place!! We have made a point to eat there every time we go to Savannah. The calamari is the best I have ever eaten and is as fresh as it gets. Once, on the way back to NC from Florida, we drove significantly over the speed limit just to get there in time to stop and eat some calamari before they closed for the night and the guys were so impressed, they gave us a to-go box with some extra which we enjoyed for the rest of the trip. Wish we lived closer so we could go more often!
(5)
Stephanie Y.
Ok so the food was really good. I had a great experience because a person in our party new the owner who came out with the ouzo and made the meal a great experience! The fish was absolutely amazing. I don't really remember the rest of the food as i was wasted after like 5 shots of ouzo. BUT SO GOOD.. Come try it out and get the fish- it was fresh and delicious!
(4)
Charles S.
Fantastic flounder, good eggplant, nice atmosphere. Surprisingly good food and friendly service on a busy tourist street, well worth the visit.
(5)
Jason R.
This is a good place to catch up with old friends you haven't seen since the last conference circuit go-round. We sat there chatting and drinking until after closing, and the staff starting cleaning so quietly that we didn't even notice... They didn't push us out; we excused ourselves quickly once we realized we were making them late. I didn't have any food, alas, but our friends raved about it. Given the delightful service, I'm willing to go out on a limb and be a fan.
(4)
Ramon D.
The atmosphere was decent but the wait was none on Saturday evening so the spot was already doing good!! They are also kid friendly which was good for the family. The rest of the dinning experience was about what you would expect - good service, drinks, etc. The food itself was very good - I order the stuffed red snapper and what a delicious dish this was! I honestly think this is the best red snapper I've had in years! So while everything was about average - the food itself allows me to give this place a well deserved 4 stars.
(4)
Chris M.
A delightful restaurant sitting along River St. in downtown Savannah. I recommend the calamari as an appetizer, fried to a light golden crisp, not too oily, not rubbery, just right. Then definitely go with any of the seafood dishes for an entree. It's especially nice if you have a Greek last name, as the owners love to meet new people with similar backgrounds.
(3)
Calvin C.
When most folks think Greek food, visions of pastitsio, gyros, moussaka, etc. frequently come to mind. While that is certainly fine, a Greek restaurant had better prepare meat and seafood well as that is what they would be judged by in Greece. We had dolmades for an appetizer which were excellent. Their presentation had only two and had thinly sliced tomatoes and pita slices around the periphery. Covering the stuffed grape leaves was their version of tzatziki sauce and it all tasted fresh and flavorful. For the main course, we had the red snapper and lamb shank, both of which were prepared perfectly. My wife normally hates "fishy" fish, but the preparation of the red snapper in olive oil, capers, paprika, sliced almonds and lemon balanced the flavor exceedingly well. As good as that was, the lamb shank was even better. It was roasted perfectly to "fall off the bone" state and captured the unique flavor of lamb. This place knows how to cook meat well and while I'm sure the "standard" Greek is good too, they know what they are doing - it is not just food, but cuisine.
(5)
Adam S.
Very average greek food at surprisingly high prices here. On top of that, eating here involves a trip to river street which I desperately try to avoid as much as possible. Definitely not the best place in town to get a meal (especially for the price), and I'm not really sure why you would be wanting to eat greek food in Savannah to begin with if you are a visitor given the many wonderful choices, but whatever floats your boat touristas...
(2)
Terry H.
My favorite Calamari in all the world. I live about 3.5 hours away from Savannah, Ga. One of my coworkers told me how beautiful the city was in the winter time with all the Christmas decorations and all. So, my wife and I decided to make the trek and do a weekend stay. While walking on River Street, a nice waitress approached us on the sidewalk with a tray of fried Calamari, asking if we'd like to try a sample. At first, reluctant, we grabbed a toothpick and into our mouths it went. OMG!! It was the best Calamari I've eaten since my days in Spain! I immediately went inside and ordered a plate of it. My wife agreed that it was the tastiest calamari we've had since moving back from Europe five years ago. It comes with a well made tzatziki (sp?) sauce, which I prefer over marinara. This stuff became addicting. We came back that evening for dinner and the next day for lunch before we departed back to Gainesville, FL. We couldn't eat enough of it! I couldn't get that wonderful taste out of my mind and a month later, planned another trip to Savannah with my wife. This time, I was able to speak to Nick the owner. He was actually cooking muscles for his family while my wife and I were speaking to him and allowed us to try some. Unbelievably delicious, they were. He really needs to put those on his menu. He offered us some flaming cheese (saganaki) for an appetizer which was awesome, and we sat down to our meal of calamari and the souvlaki dinner. The calamari is so tender and it melts in your mouth. If I could hire Nick to be my in-home chef, it is all I would ever ask for. I would never be able to get across to you how much I love their calamari. The pork was also tender and tasty! My wife and I continued to go once a month for that nice drive to that beautiful town of Savannah to eat that delicious calamari. Well, until our first beautiful child came along. Now, two children later, we go only about twice a year, but always stop by the Olympia Cafe and always order, well, you know what I order.
(5)
Robert S.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I think that the food (in general) in Savannah has a lot to be desired. Generally speaking, the diners have about as much class and staying power as a rhinestone g-string and have the palate of an aguesiac thus not giving any of the restaurants incentive to cook good food. This is especially true of those restaurants located on the Savannah Riverfront on River Street, the same street that Olympia Cafe sits on. But, in this case, there is an exception. I have read many of the reviews below and tend to agree with parts of all of them. I think that Jane D says it well when she states that the food is "mediocre at best" (and you are now asking, how is he giving this place 4 stars after a statement like that?), but there is an exception, and that exception lies in the owner Vasilis Varlagas and his big personality and his brilliance with whole fish. I have eaten here now a handful of times and every time we go we order, in advance, the whole red snapper. Vasilis ensures that it is fresh for that day and prepares it very simply but with the care a mother gives her newborn. The fish is amazingly moist, flavorful and delicate. It is prepared in the oven, whole and comes to the table that way for all to gaze upon with awe before Vasilis himself comes out to fillet and plate. With the fish comes some very traditional sides of lemon potatoes, rice with peas and a very Greek version of a ratatouille (complete with feta cheese). Every morsel is simply delectable. This follows all the way through the meal commencing with the saganaki and red roasted pepper with goat cheese, followed closely by a Greek and Greek Village salad and ending with fresh fruit, baklava and Greek yogurt with honey. He even throws in an ouzo to boot! Everything about the meal and about Vasilis's hospitality is memorable. With all that said, going back to Jane D's quote (but I cannot endorse the "sucks" part of that quote), I have eaten here prior to discovering the fish and really found the other dishes about mediocre. There are some winners on the menu for sure, but they are few and far between. But what is a winner every single time is the whole red snapper. When I am in Savannah again, which is a regular occurrence, I will certainly keep Vasilis and the Olympia Cafe in the rotation especially if I "make the call" a day in advance to ensure that beautiful fish will be waiting for me on my next visit. Try it, you will not be disappointed!
(4)
Jessica V.
We ordered a sampler plate with a little of everything. Feta, Greek olives, marinated artichoke hearts, dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves with tzadziki sauce), skordalia (mashed garlic potatoes with olive oil and vinegar), tiropitakia (fillo dough and feta cheese triangles), octopus and a red cavier mousse. My favorite was definitely the tiropitakia and the skordalia. My husband had chicken kebab which he said was just "okay" and we ordered some baklava for dessert which had a little too much cinnamon and chunks of nuts for my taste. We also ordered dirty, dry vodka martinis and they made it with straight vodka. We had to ask for olive juice that was brought to the table in little plastic containers when, really the waitress should have taken our drinks back and had them remade. I am a stickler for my martinis! The food was pretty good but a little pricey for the entrees which is why we just stuck with appetizers. We were able to try a little bit of everything without spending so much.
(3)
Maulik V.
We stumbled upon this place while enjoying a cool night by river street. We had our hopes high, but this restaurant fared a so-so on all measures of a good eating joint. Average and expensive food, european-sized (small) portions, poor wine list pretty much sums this place up for me. However, i have to admit the service was very prompt.
(3)
Claire B.
I miss eating real Greek food. If you eat there when the owner is wandering around, he will tell you that it is Greek Islands food and not Greek mainland. He may also go on a rant about how tabouli is middle eastern and not Greek. Don't get him started, or do, it's pretty amusing. Now down to the food. Amazing. Incredible. Fabulous. This is the first place I ate in Savannah, many years ago. I wish we had something that would even come close in Nashville, TN. The cheese set on fire with brandy is just incredible and sets the atmosphere for the place, along with the cries of "Opa!" If you've got someone else, get the platter. There's shrimp and lamb chops and spanokopita and everything Greek you could want. It's a fantastic dining experience and the only place really worth eating on River Street.
(5)
Snow G.
Love their souvlaki, fries, tzatzki , tangy greek salad , feta, and calamari ! You will not go wrong with eating here - just go and enjoy. Service is great and next door is the casual paper plate take out version - same great food.
(5)
Jay R.
This was recommended by the wonderful SCAD architecture professor who took us on a tour of the waterfront, so we went immediately. It's not too bad, with some unusual things on their antipasto plate, but seemed really overpriced. My date had the Gyro Plate, and said that it was pretty much like every other Gyro on the planet. I had the Souvlaki, which, while tender, had a flavor that was easily lost in the tzaziki sauce. I'm spoiled by Milto's souvlaki in Austin. Dolmas, on the other hand, were fresh, flavorful, and obviously homemade (so many places just dredge them out of an oily tin). Dinner for two with an appetizer and a couple of beers got up to almost $50 - understandle possibly from the location and tourist clientele, but this far costs me $24 in Austin.
(2)
Donna A.
cheap food and great service, It's definately bare bones.
(3)
Victor L.
My wife and I came here during an earlier trip to Savannah. We took a trolley tour and asked the driver where he would recommend to get good seafood. He recommended this place. He was a local so we took him up on it. We only ordered the fish entrees and thought they were very, very good. It is a bit on the pricey end so I can understand the low-star reviews. But if you are looking for fish done in a unique (good way, I mean) way, I'd go here. We didn't try any of the traditional Greek dishes.
(4)
Alexa G.
Got the chicken kabob and fries which came to about the total of ten dollars.. which I thought was a little steep.. but it is the tourist area. the tazziki sauce left a little something to be desired it was made with sour cream instead of the thick rich Greek yogurt which I enjoy and could have made better myself. The lemon rice soup was good as well as the baklava..all in all I'd skip this place on my next visit.
Food was good, I had the suvlaki and my girlfriend had the calamari. We were with a large group and the birthday girl knew the owner so we were given a few freebies. The service was ok, the waitress seemed either kind of confused or unaccommodating when I said that I wanted a salad and to just serve it to my girlfriend. But she finally got the picture. I would go again if I was looking for a Greek dinner, but I don't think it will be a usual stop in my rotation.
(3)
Mary F.
Allwe bought were a couple frozen drinks. They were served in wax covered paper cups. I returned my first drink after a few sips because it tasted like soap! I recieved a new different drink, but it still tasted like soap. I chalk it up to the cups, because the drinks ordered by my m-i-l and husband also had a soapy after-taste. Their menu seemed nice, but we did not eat there.
(1)
Ashley P.
This is another place I've been going for years. I must say I was very surprised to see that this place had such low marks... I've always been very impressed with the food and everyone I've taken to Olympia has always loved it. I even have a Greek friend who will recommend it as good Greek food. That said, I think a very good rule for dining out is: if you go to any sort of ethnic place, get an ethnic dish. It's likely to be something the kitchen is good at preparing and takes a lot of pride in serving. A lot of times the other menu items are just there so that people who don't want to try the ethnic cuisine will have *something* to eat. With that, I have several suggestions that I think might help everyone have a better dining experience at Olympia: Saganaki-- This is the can't-miss flaming cheese with brandy. It's tasty and ordering it is definitely an experience :) MD's Pepper-- This is a red pepper filled with cheese doused in olive oil. Feta lover's dream! The Lemon Chicken is fantastic--I get it every time I go and I have yet to meet someone who didn't love it Spanakopita-- Delicious spinach and cheese pie Though I've never personally ordered them, I've heard from dinner-mates that the rest of the Greek specialties (grape leaves, moussaka, and there's one more I'm blanking on) are also very good. Also, all of these Greek specialties are served with rice and the most delicious lemon potatoes you'll ever have, which makes the portions more than generous, in my opinion. Unfortunately, I can't attest to the quality of the gyros since I've never cared to venture outside of the aforementioned Greek specialties. Agreed that Olympia is a tad expensive, but then again so is everything on River Street... But I do hope that some of you who were disappointed the first time will consider going back and trying some of their specialties!! It'll be worth it!
(5)
Marc M.
For everyone who is complaining about the prices at Olympia Cafe, please remember that River Street is a very expensive place to own or rent a building. Prices will definitely be higher than somewhere further uptown. It is called River Street for a reason. It is located on the river. My advice is to have calamari, try some of the fish dishes or some of the classic Greek dishes. You really won't go wrong. As far as claims that the service is not good, I can rebut that with my own experience there. I inadvertently left my credit card on the table when I was finished. For the next day, I could not recall where the heck I left it. I finally realized that the last place that I used the credit card was at Olympia Cafe. I walked back there and the staff had locked it in a safe and made sure that nothing was done to my credit card. The owner of the restaurant came out to greet me, offer me some kind of snack for free and regaled me with information about why I should live in Savannah. He even gave me a bottle of Diet Coke to send me on my way. For any carping critics, remember, we are talking about Savannah, Georgia and not Athens, Greece.
(4)
Bill B.
Gyros and greek salads were awesome. Great service. Convenient location. Great place. Will return.
(5)
J P.
love this place, excellent food, but especially the staff and owners are so friendly! they greet us like family each time we visit them :)
(5)
B T.
This was a good solid Greek restaurant. Growing up going to a lot of Greek restaurants in Detroit, this definitely holds it's own. Everything was fresh and the staff was friendly.
(3)
Barry S.
Excellent food, lamb shank especially. Portions good, in contrast to some of the other restaurants in the area. Service was very attentive although it wasn't very busy at lunchtime when we visited.
(4)
Diane M.
Other than being a little on the expensive side, but then again Greek food isn't an everyday item Everything about the place is AWESOME!! Especially the service that we received. Best service anywhere Thanks Riley for the great service and making my trip to Savannah that much more enjoyable. Knoxville. TN
(5)
Tracy C.
i stopped there twice on st patricks day! im not sure if it was just the perfect drunken snack, but i loved the gyros. although the taste of garlic lingered longer than i would have liked. i also thought it was expensive. $7 for the sandwich with no fries and no drink. i didnt really mind because they let me use their bathrooms that were closed to the public, and anyone who has been to river street on st patties day knows that is priceless.
(4)
Jessica R.
pretty good margaritas on st. patrick's day! (but dont wear heels down on river st. The cobblestone ruined mine!)
(4)
Bob N.
Food was great. Waiter suggested snapper cooked Mediterranean style which wasn't on the menu, but was terrific. The starter sausage opa came aflame, and was delicious. Service was friendly, efficient, and helpful. They make everything from scratch so they had no problem accommodating my multiple food allergies
(4)
Lena P.
Walked in on a Thursday night and it was pretty busy as we thought we would we need to wait for a table, but they have a lot in the back as well. Here's what we ordered: Falafel sandwich - definitely needs more flavor, needs cucumber, or a different sauce. I liked the falafel pieces, they were very soft and tasted pretty good. With fries - crinkle cut fries were good With a side salad - beware they charge extra! They didn't tell us this! And it has a lot of iceberg lettuce and whole olives with the pit inside! Almost broke a tooth! The dressing was pretty good. Bread at the table was soft, and they give oil to dip it with. We asked for Balsamic and they gave us red wine to mix in, we thought that was odd, and it didn't taste good with that. Would have liked to have some hummus and pita bread pieces at a Greek restaurant, instead of regular bread.
(2)
Gregory H.
For a "Greek" restaurant, they do not make a GOOD Greek Salad (nor authentic, but good luck getting an authentic Greek salad stateside). Lettuce - okay, the olives, as expected, tomato - ripe, feta was lacking in flavor/quality, the peppers were poor quality. If I come back here I'll certainly look at different menu options. I've had much better in Durham. Service was okay, drinks were refilled and the server was somewhat attentive.
(2)
Julie B.
The Greek salad was just ok but the main meal was really good. I had scored flounder. It was very good and the vegetables were delicious! Baklava and coffee topped off a great meal. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. Even the owner came over to make sure everything was ok.
(4)
Jes H.
Not actually vegan friendly. If you're vegan, save yourself the trouble. My waitress was very nice and accommodating, and the food was good until I found pieces of lamb in my food.
(1)
Haboosha S.
I can't give them more than 1 star ... we ordered a small plate of olives+ 2 main dishes each one contains one spoon of rice, 4 shrimp ( she said it's jumbo but it was so small) and one very small piece of a grouper fish. That costs $75 !!! The portions were not enough and too pricey.. Save ur money and go to another place u can find better and cheaper.. Of course we will not go back there again...
(1)
Joanna M.
The waitress Nadia was sweet and served everything quickly and introduced us to a wonderful cheese dish!! We had to scream out opah as she lit it. It was so delicious with the fresh crusty bread!! Should have just ordered that and it would have made me full!! Ordered the appetizer calamari and it was so light and fried perfect!! Yum!! My son had the snapper and since his plate was empty of it in less than two minutes I believe it was delicious! My daughter and I had tons of leftovers. So guess what's for lunch tomorrow!!! Anyway over all delicious and great service!
(5)
Lawrence M.
I want to make this review as tasteful as possible. I was in Savannah Georgia with my family and friends. Walk through this restaurant because we saw this awesome sign with the delightful lunch special. The lunch special is lemon chicken which was priced at eight dollars. When we sat down the waitress denied is to have the lunch special. Said we were passed the time. It was 4:00. The sign was not one marked and clearly visible. She said that sorry lunch was over. I said the sign was still outside and that that's actually what drew us into The restaurant. We had horrible service during our time here. The food was OK and was cold when it came out. Also we only saw our server from the time she drop the food off. Then finished my food and then looked over to the staff, and she was on her phone for a straight 10 minutes. How unfortunate. I would not recommend eating here. That's an awesome restaurant down the street which I was saying would be a better fit.
(1)
Rachel N.
There are 2 sides to this restaurant. If you are looking at the restaurant, the right side offers sit down service and the left side is more for quick and/or take away service. We ordered the fish and chips and the falafel wrap. The fish is the standard tilapia and the fries are crinkle cut. The fish was tasty and a little spicy. The guy at the counter gave me a mesquite sauce for the fish as well as balsamic vinegar. Very good and filling. The fries were nicely seasoned with salt. As for the falafel wrap, it was full of lettuce and tomatoes with a tahini sauce. Super filling and tasty. As we were sitting, the cook/cashier/waiter called me up to hand me a deep fried fish which was incredible. I cannot remember what it was but it was delicious! This place was really great! As many times as I've passed it, I've been missing out! By the way, the dine in side is a little more expensive for the same food. And all the food is prepared in one location, so if you are looking to save a few dollars, go to the left side! There are 5 tables and 2 bar sections with stools. Yes, they do serve alcoholic beverages (a full bar) as well as sodas. They do have a coffee menu. Definitely a must if you want Mediterranean quick or a quick slice of pizza. And don't forget to get the baklava.
(4)
Mar H.
My husband and I love this little hole in the wall. Everyone goes for the upscale seafood on Riverstreet, but this is a great place for off the radar.
(4)
Tommy L.
Was having a date downtown and sitting outside at a table finishing our drinks before we went in. This was a slow weekday around 4pm. Some mean Greek guy came out and said a few rude words and told us to leave. Ha. I hope he does not treat our tourist this way. Shame on you Olympia
(1)
Josh M.
Very tasty and excellent gyro. Served perfectly hot and fresh. Decently priced at $9 and some change for a gyro and good fries. We were served super quickly and the staff behind the counter was very friendly. I've had gyros all over: NYC, LA, San Fran, Florida, DC, Baltimore. The one here was one of my favorites! Be aware, like another user commented, that there are two sides: the Olympia Cafe and Olympia Express. The cafe has a bigger storefront and more presence. We took the advice and visited the Express side and we were not disappointed. Food was great and you seat yourself. There are even house specials on daiquiris and margaritas that were tasty for the walk along the river.
(4)
Smith S.
Terrible, do not waste your money. The snapper was drenched in oil. The chicken over a greek salad was tough and seemed like it was days old. Hummus was ok, but the portion was small. Worst Greek I have ever had.
(1)
Catherine H.
Food is phenomenal every single time. Fresh seafood and authentic Greek food. Service is very friendly. Angela is a wonderful server. Vasili (owner) goes above and beyond to make it an exceptional experience! It's a feel-good kinda place--you'll be smiling with a full belly when you leave!!
(5)
Scott S.
Definitely one of the best Greek meals I've ever had. Their calamari are very lightly breaded and served with an excellent feta sauce. Their souvlaki is exceptional. If you can get the table in the window the view of River Street and passing ships is fantastic.
(5)
Jim H.
Let me qualify this review by saying that I was there for lunch and not for dinner. The service was excellent and the food was very good but I thought it was a bit on the pricey side for lunch. When I asked about a "lunch menu", I was told that it was the same menu for lunch and dinner. I had a gyro that was excellent and my wife really enjoyed her lamb kabob. The salads were good - with plenty of feta cheese. As a dinner destination - I probably would have rated this as a 4 star restaurant but I think it was over-priced as a lunch destination. Overall, good service, good food and a nice decor - just a little pricey.
(3)
Sara V.
Definitely I agree with Gregory H., for a "Greek" restaurant they don't know what a Greek salad is made with. My salad had no cucumbers, no olive oil base dressing, no onions and not even one dolma but a bland kind of cheese that did not taste like feta cheese. What a disappointment considering it was the only thing I had ordered.
(1)
Josie P.
One of my favorite places! I've been here several times, most recently for my graduation from SCAD. Great food, great wine, great service but never overpriced or overcrowded. River street isn't my favorite place in savannah, but I'll go there for Olympia's
(5)
Bill F.
A great place to drop in for appetizers and/or a meal. Staff is friendly and helpful. I've been coming here for years on business or pleasure. Never had a bad experience. The food is good, well seasoned, presentation nice & prices reasonable. One of those place you could easily walk by and never realize was a hidden gem. The "Express" side of the restaurant is an easy way to get a quick snack or sampling. I've introduced many people to this quaint establishment and will continue to do so. Even though you're in the heart of tourist district they don't treat you like cattle as many other places are apt to do. The Calamari is a "must have snack" every time I'm walking down River Street.
(4)
Krescent F.
We tried this place last night because of a raving review from a law enforcement officer about their food. Our dinner was fantastic, the service was impeccable thanks to Nadia, and the ambiance gave the whole meal an authentic Greek feel. I tried the Red Snapper special and there are no words to express how good it was. Nadia recommended a great wine pairing and also suggested the red snapper. This place is a must try when visiting Savannah. Thanks for a great experience and great food.
(5)
Paul R.
Authentic Greek food. The best any where I've had. You have to try the roasted red pepper stuffed with feta
(5)
Tyrone P.
Food was fantastic! Especially enjoyed the Greek salad and Gyro! The staff however were very unfriendly. The hostess could be compared to the Grimm reaper and the waitress to a tax accountant. Bring some good company, otherwise you will have a very unenjoyable dining experience!
(3)
George R.
We always eat here at least once when we are in Savannah, as we have for thirty years. The Calamari are a must have as are the gyros. Reasonable prices compared to much of River Street. Always friendly service..
(4)
Keith J.
Awesome red snapper stuffed with crab. Pita bread hummus is great too. Our waitress was friendly and nice. The hostess is pretty but never smiles. There is a fast food area if you don't want to be served.
(4)
Molly G.
I eat quite a bit of Greek food and the Olympia Cafe was right up there with the best. My husband had the gyro dinner which was really good and not greasy like gyro meat can be. I had the chicken kabob which was perfectly prepared. The salads were fresh and the waiter was extremely informative. A nice find.
(5)
Elena I.
Came here for lunch with friends who recommended it. We had the fried cheese app which was great. I had the chicken kabob with a Greek salad. It was very good juicy and fresh. The location is great! I thought it could have been better but I was happy and would recommend it for lunch!
(4)
Bethany S.
My husband took me there for our anniversary. Our waitress wasn't the friendliest I've had but she did her job well. My favorite part was the salad with feta dressing. The waitress told me that they import their feta straight from Greece and you could taste the amazing difference! I had a Gyro wrap with veggies and again it came with that amazing feta cheese! Their food was delicious, atmosphere was nice, location was easy to get to (on the river front but a quick walk from the street), and just an all around good experience.
(4)
Jennifer M.
We were greeted quickly and waited on quickly as well, I just ordered the tzatziki and an order of pita bread. If you wish to eat all of the tzatziki they give you, you should get 2 orders of the pita bread because one isn't enough. I left a lot behind. The tzatziki was a tad bit tart but was very good.
(5)
Angela S.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in Savannah! The grouper was amazing!! We have been coming here for many years and always have a wonderful experience!! Our server Richard was perfect. The owners Nick and Visili are beyond awesome!! Always a delicious meal and great atmosphere!
(5)
Matt S.
I hadn't been here for well over a decade so I was eager to go back. Good Greek food is so hard to find where I live so I was very pleased with this experience. Our server was very friendly and when my sister asked for recommendations she knew the menu very well and sold both of us on the scored flounder. She told us that the seafood is very fresh and she wasn't lying. I'm a big fan of fish and even in New England I run into issues with mislabeled or poor quality seafood. My flounder was probably the best flounder I've ever had in my entire life. It was lightly fried to perfection and had an awesome flavor. My partner had the lamb chops and loved them (also recommended by our server). All of our dishes came with a side of potatoes, rice, and peas over a lemon sauce and it had a nice unique taste that worked well with the fish. Definitely one of the highlights of my vacation.
(5)
Michelle R.
Stopped in on our short visit through savannah on our way to FL. The serious was great! our waiter was super friendly and obviously liked by the 'regulars' who seemed to make a point to ask for him or say hello (unfortunately I forget his name myself, sorry). The food - good portion sizes but not overwhelming. Unfortunately, like someone else mentioned - slightly disappointed by the out of date menu. Calamari was good and served with Tzatziki sauce, which was actually nice change from marinara. When I ordered the waiter suggested I try the lemon garlic potatoes instead of the standard side. Very thankful he did that - absolutely delicious and a great pairing with the meal. Overall I enjoyed it and would return if we go to Savannah again.
(4)
Reesey H.
The gyro wrap and fries were excellent. This is truly authentic Greek food.
(5)
Chris S.
Gyros are awesome! They have a great Gyro platter as well. Decent prices and service!
(4)
Desiree H.
The service, food, and decor was all good. No problems with that. The only thing I had a huge problem with was what I had to pay. It was lunch time and I just wanted something small to eat. I ordered a small salad for $6. The waitress asked if I would like some cooked chicken and I said sure. It would be a dollar or two more. No harm. Ate the food (was delicious), got the check and noticed my $6 was now $15. By adding half a chicken breast worth of meat it cost me $9. I grabbed a nearby menu and noticed a little farther down that they had a chicken salad for $15. NOT what I ordered but paid it anyway since I was in no mood to argue. I would of gladly gave 5 stars if I would not of been talked into ordering something I originally didn't want. I will now ask how much something will cost me if a waiter/waitress offers something extra.
(3)
Dennis U.
This is an OK Greek restaurant in a prime location. Not a big lunch menu but with standard Greek fare. My gyro was fine but I would head to Savannah to eat here.
(3)
Richard D.
Perfectly prepared yet again. Never a bad experience here at Olympia Cafe. Love coming here every time I visit Savannah. Staff always friendly. Owners never miss an opportunity to visit tables and interact with patrons. See you again in 2 weeks!
(5)
Zia H.
The worst dinning experience of my life. I went there last night to try their lamb shank, because of my love of lamb. The lamb was so bad, and I know for a fact that they served me at least 10 days old already prepared shank. After having couple of bites, I was literally sick, and started to throw up. It is already 14 hours afterward, and I am still sick.
(1)
Wade S.
Food was horrible. Service was bad. Water tasted funny. Just don't do it. Two cops we saw in the area recommended this place. Enough said.
(1)
Christina K.
Hmm.. I really like greek food, and we stopped by here while waiting for our ferry. We grabbed our 2 gyros to go and when we got back to our hotel room, scarfed them down. SO thinks that they would have been much better had we gotten to eat them there, but I was a little put off. I mean, it's MUCH better than the crap that Great Wraps will offer you, but was it so mouthwatering great that I dreamt about it? Nope. Was the taste enough to have me go back for more? Nope again. It was ok, nothing to rave about other than the fact that this is the only greek place on River Street. i've had better at Cafe Agora in Buckhead.
(2)
Shannon M.
I'm sure the cafe is separate from the "ice cream" shop, but I won't waste my time finding out. We went in for a cone after walking down River Street after dinner. The inside had old dumpy tables and chairs, but we figured that wasn't a big deal. When we approached the counter, the attendant let out a sigh and actually rolled her eyes. I asked if she was okay (I envisioned she had just dealt with a customer from hell) because I thought I missed something. She replied, "Yes. Do you know what you want?" I answered that we needed a minute to look and she just walked away. We simply walked out and went down to Vic's Coffee House which was a far better choice - the ice cream was terrific, the ambiance was trendy, and the service was pleasant.
(1)
Mike F.
Gyro's were good and they had no issue making ours with Feta cheese and roasted tomatoes, the way I make them at home. All five of us enjoyed them, my wife even commented that the pita bread was much better than what I use.
(3)
Sergio O.
I've Lived in Savannah for 16 years now, seen and tried it all.. This place is still one of my favorites. They always treat us like family here.. And we will always return. Saganaki Mediterranean Pepper Red Snapper Shrimp Aegean Grouper Sautee' Lamb Chops Potatoes and Peas with a Lemon Sauce, amazing. It's all prepared excellently, and with Love. Order some fruit and Baklava for dessert!! I could go on and on.. People from all over the globe return once they've eaten here.. It's a great place, with great food, and a great staff, If you have a problem, ask to see Nick, or Vasili and they will make sure you are Happy. Don't let the touristy location fool you, It's a great local restaurant. Opa!!!
(5)
Teresa H.
Falafel sandwich was DELICIOUS! I wanted to try everything on the menu.
(4)
Doug R.
The Greek salad that comes with dinner is good, but the put a lot of dressing on the salad. I suggest dressing on the side. It's been ages since I ate here and am just catching-up with reviews. Sorry, can't provide any details other than I'd go back and my memory says it was a 4-star experience.
(4)
Devin A.
Good food, nice ambiance and friendly staff made a quick meal enjoyable. Traditional Greek menu items and a few nontraditional ones (burgers and pizza for those who aren't into Greek foods). Price was about right for the portion. The French bread provided before the meal was surprisingly very light and tasty.
(4)
Tom S.
Great ice cream. We needed a little something after dinner while walking around. Brick floor fits right in with the local area. We didn't eat in the restaurant.
(4)
Lisa C.
Unfriendly hostess, but great wait staff delicious Greek food, good wine list. Servings are generous. However, for such a nice restaurant, the restrooms are attached to their next store ice cream shop and were worst than the oldest gas station facilities. When you tool around River Street this is a valuable aspect of eating or drinking on River Street, spoiled the,experience.
(4)
Stephanie P.
I only ordered a cup of coffee, but I was so thankful for the Olympia Cafe for being open on race morning at 5am. When we arrived via ferry over to River St we had a couple hours before the start of the Savannah 1/2 marathon. Normally before a run you stand outside freezing and shivering waiting way too long in the port-a-potty lines. The Olympia Cafe opened just for the runners and had coffee, pastries, etc, and most importantly a warm place to hang out with a bathroom! yay! Thank you!!
(4)
William K.
The food is pretty good but it is a bit over priced because of its location on River Street. There are not many places to get Greek food in Sav so it may be worth it to you. The food and service was good.
(3)
Paige N.
So my party of three and I stumbled into the Olympia Cafe on Saturday night after being turned away from the Olde Pink House because our reservation hadn't been received (don't ask me how a phone reservation left on the answering machine isn't received, but it wasn't) - so we improvised and headed for the river. As soon as we entered we were seated immediately, and I after perusing the menu I observed the carryings on happening around me. The most intriguing thing was when the severs would bring out what looked like skillets, pour a magical liquid into them and shout "OPA!" as the plate burst into flames before setting it on the table for the delighted diners. Naturally I had to have this -didn't matter what it was. Turned out, it just happened to taste great too - it was "flaming cheese (or sausage)" and lit on fire / flash cooked in the skillet with brandy. Not only was the presentation impressive, but whatever kind of cheese they used was superb for its flavor and ability to withstand the heat and not turn in to a gooey mess. Our entrees were less spectacular, but still solid - I had the chicken kebabs with a Greek salad, warm pita and a tasty tatziki sauce. They were a little stingy with the chicken portion in my opinion, and tried to make up for it with carbs: pita, salad, bread basket, and french fries. All of it was tasty - but nothing truly standout about the kebabs. The other problem I had which brought this down from 4 stars was the air conditioning in the place - it was ON! Now keep in mind, it's the middle of February (and yes, we've had a mild winter, but not THAT mild), and the AC is blowing on us throughout the entire meal. At first, I thought it was a draft from the open front door, so I asked the waitress to close it, which she did. But after the breeze continued, we deduced it must be the AC. Needless to say, we didn't linger for dessert that time. Overall, Olympia's a good restaurant, and the presentation's very "classical" Greek (Roman columns, murals of Greece, etc), but it's still a touristy restaurant on River Street. Just OK.
(3)
Mark M.
Absolutely the best calamari and Gyro's hands down. Actually everything on the menu is awesome. The Baklava is outstanding if you have a sweet tooth. Nick is one of the nicest gentlemen and restauranters I have ever met. Not to mention he runs a tight ship so quality and consistency are always spot on!
(5)
Miss M.
a bit expensive and god how I despise river street, but works for me as a Greek salad hook up. not very vegetarian friendly, but the greeks I know think being a vegetarian is worse than cheating on my husband or maybe kicking a dog.
(5)
Beth C.
Pretty large restraunt, right on river walk. We had lunch on a Tuesday at about 2pm and we were one of two tables. Food was fine. Potatoes were too oily for me, but delicious. Spanakopita was GREAT because it wasn't too feta-y. The Greek Salad had lettuce underneath the 1lb of feta cheese (opposite of the spinach pie which had little cheese!). Overall, I would try something else in the area but the food was fine for a quick bite in the area. I had no idea what the peas and mush were on top of the rice? It was boringggg and I didn't eat it. Looked like gravy? Great way to ruin peas.
(3)
Susan H.
Olympia express has some really great food you can just stop on and grab. And the baklava is delish!
(4)
Jeff K.
We decided to stop in here for lunch while we were waiting for our hotel room to be ready. We ordered the skordalia to start (we have to order skordalia whenever it's available, it's one of our favorites). This one was great, although not the best we've ever had. I can't put my finger on it, but there was sort of a tartness to it that I'm not accustomed to. But skordalia is different everywhere you go, and it was definitely good. The free bread that came out to the table was excellent and I used it to finish off the skordalia when we ran out of pita bread. For lunch I ordered the gyro, and it didn't disappoint either. The tzatziki was plentiful and tasty! The meat tasted great, and the pita was soft and delicious. Service was also quick and friendly, and the prices were good. I know there's a lot to do in Savannah, and a lot to eat. I'm sure this little Greek place doesn't even show up on most peoples' radar when they come into town for the weekend, but if you're in the area and you're hungry, you really should stop by.
(4)
Renaud F.
The best thing about this restaurant is the location. The food is ok and the restaurant is stuck in a time warp. I would go back for some food but mostly for a bite and move around the boardwalk. The waitress knew her stuff and service was fast probably because the restaurant was pretty much empty.
(3)
Megan E.
Stopped in because I was in need of sweet tea and this looked like the kinda place I could get it. and I was right. The price was amazing only a little under 2 bucks for sweet tea!! and a big cup!! yess! It was absolutely delicious. Also came back for a smoothie and ended up ordering an alcoholic one, the strawberry shortcake one, it was also amazing. The service was really great the guys were super friendly and quick. They even remembered who we were when we stopped by a few hours later!
(4)
Emily M.
Oh amazing! If you have not been there you need to go there ASAP! Best sea food!
(5)
Max B.
Authenic Greek restaurant. A bit touristy due to location. Great value and fun atmosphere. Casual dining. Chef/owner formerly from Chiago
(4)
Lori H.
I will visit this restaurant every time I come to Savannah. Great gyros, they're always perfect and always hit the spot. The calamari is fresh and fried to perfection. All our waitresses have always been super friendly too!
(5)
Ashlee W.
I work on river street and I'm always bringing a snack to work or ordering a sandwich. Today I was craving pasta! So I looked through our lunch menus and found Olympia cafe. I went straight to pastas and decided to keep it simple and cheap. I ordered the pasta marinara with Parmesan or feta. It was exactly what I needed to satisfy my pasta craving. No complaints, they even threw in some bread for me! Quick service!
(4)
Mark A.
Good food. Price was appropriate for tourist location. I'd come back.
(4)
TJ G.
I'm torn by this place because the food was excellent. Whatever the buttery sauce they put on the peas and rice could have elevated them up to five stars on it's own. However, the entrees are very expensive for what they are. $20 for a vegetarian plate that isn't very big in a place where the ambiance is extremely casual? I don't know that it's worth it.... But the food is really good, so maybe it is. Plus it's a very touristy area, maybe the price is for the general ambiance of the area.
(3)
Rebekah K.
One of my favorites in Savannah! I love the lemon potatoes and peas. The moussaka is decadent and delicious. OK, so I have not had anything here that I didn't like. I agree with Clay that the platter is the way to go, but please only do this on a very empty stomach or be able to take a to go plate = ) The service has always been pleasant, and you can get a little table by the window to people and boat watch out on Riverstreet.
(4)
Clay K.
This place rocks my socks. If budget isn't a concern, ask for the Platter. Don't ask what's on it, just do it. Sit back. Enjoy being treated like you're royalty and dine like a king. On a budget, or are you just a cheap bastard like me? Gyros are good, but the way to go is order a Greek Trio with Spanikopita, Mousaka, and Dolmades, grab the Calamari Appetizer, and share it with a date. Bam, decent dinner on a budget and room left in your belly for plenty of booze on River Street. Need some tasty sweetness? Best baklava around.
(4)
Travis B.
this was the only place open in the wee hours of the savannah full/half marathon this weekend. we wouldn't have even noticed until the owner peeked his head out of the door. it was super windy and cold and we had 2 hours to kill before race start, so we ducked in here for a cup of coffee and some warmth. coffee is a bit weak and at 2.25 a cup, not that great of a deal. but he was friendly and best of all, open at 5am! my wife, whom is greek, can understand my awe at the greek resourcefulness. sure, his cafe is Greek, but when a customer asked for a bagel, he said "maybe, let me look" and shortly thereafter, appeared with a toasted bagel. he just happened to have it in his fridge. nice and cozy, neat interior. full service restaurant as well as the cafe (beer, burgers, and frozen daquiries too....those greeks.....
(4)
Cliff S.
The snapper is to die for-- the best I've ever had, anywhere. Expensive but worth it. Niko prepares it lovingly at your table. Everything else is great, but the snapper is exceptional.
(5)
Nikhil B.
The Falafel appetizer was nice but the veggie pizza was one of the worst pizzas we ever had. The dough was like a grocery store bought one with a very bad chewy texture and was not at all crusty. We had to wait at least 45 mins to get the pizza. The waitress was very polite and kept asking if we needed anything while patiently waiting. Great location on the river, good looking waitresses but bad food.
(2)
Kevin B.
Strange to think that we could have our best meal in Savannah at a Greek restaurant but it's true. The service was terrific and so was the food. I must recommend the Saganaki (greek flaming cheese) and Calamari. I also recommend the Souvlaki chicken kabob. The location is right down on the river. We didn't save room for the ice cream from their parlor but I hear it's terrific.
(5)
Nate Y.
The BEST lamb chops i have ever jad in my life. Prices are great and so is the food. The service was wonderful and Nik, one of the owners, is awesome!!!!! Highly recommend!
(5)
Scott L.
I've been going to this place for years when ever I'm in town and I've never been disappointed. I really like their Greek Salad and their Gyros (which they make a point of saying is pronounced yee ros on their menu), but their other dishes have been good too. And you should try their flaming cheese appetizer sometime that they light at your table with the waitress giving a big "Opa!." This place is usually busy and there's a good reason for it.
(5)
Linda C.
This was my 3rd visit to Olympia's Express cafe. The gyro and apple pie are to die for! Excellent fresh food, hot, and speedy - when I am on the road, that is what I expect. Foods sampled - gyro wrap, spaghetti & meatballs, baklava, pina colada - all were great. There is a restaurant adjacent to the Express cafe for those who want a more relaxed, dress up, etc. experience - but for me the cafe is perfect. Daniel behind the counter sets the climate with friendly fast service. If you find yourself strolling River Street, stop in for a quick break. Take the water taxi over to the Westin for a quick drink, then be sure to peruse the shops.
(4)
Tatyana C.
Love me some Greek food! Restaurant is small and very busy. Best gyros in town.
(4)
Linda R.
Love this place!! We have made a point to eat there every time we go to Savannah. The calamari is the best I have ever eaten and is as fresh as it gets. Once, on the way back to NC from Florida, we drove significantly over the speed limit just to get there in time to stop and eat some calamari before they closed for the night and the guys were so impressed, they gave us a to-go box with some extra which we enjoyed for the rest of the trip. Wish we lived closer so we could go more often!
(5)
Stephanie Y.
Ok so the food was really good. I had a great experience because a person in our party new the owner who came out with the ouzo and made the meal a great experience! The fish was absolutely amazing. I don't really remember the rest of the food as i was wasted after like 5 shots of ouzo. BUT SO GOOD.. Come try it out and get the fish- it was fresh and delicious!
(4)
Charles S.
Fantastic flounder, good eggplant, nice atmosphere. Surprisingly good food and friendly service on a busy tourist street, well worth the visit.
(5)
Jason R.
This is a good place to catch up with old friends you haven't seen since the last conference circuit go-round. We sat there chatting and drinking until after closing, and the staff starting cleaning so quietly that we didn't even notice... They didn't push us out; we excused ourselves quickly once we realized we were making them late. I didn't have any food, alas, but our friends raved about it. Given the delightful service, I'm willing to go out on a limb and be a fan.
(4)
Calvin C.
When most folks think Greek food, visions of pastitsio, gyros, moussaka, etc. frequently come to mind. While that is certainly fine, a Greek restaurant had better prepare meat and seafood well as that is what they would be judged by in Greece. We had dolmades for an appetizer which were excellent. Their presentation had only two and had thinly sliced tomatoes and pita slices around the periphery. Covering the stuffed grape leaves was their version of tzatziki sauce and it all tasted fresh and flavorful. For the main course, we had the red snapper and lamb shank, both of which were prepared perfectly. My wife normally hates "fishy" fish, but the preparation of the red snapper in olive oil, capers, paprika, sliced almonds and lemon balanced the flavor exceedingly well. As good as that was, the lamb shank was even better. It was roasted perfectly to "fall off the bone" state and captured the unique flavor of lamb. This place knows how to cook meat well and while I'm sure the "standard" Greek is good too, they know what they are doing - it is not just food, but cuisine.
(5)
Adam S.
Very average greek food at surprisingly high prices here. On top of that, eating here involves a trip to river street which I desperately try to avoid as much as possible. Definitely not the best place in town to get a meal (especially for the price), and I'm not really sure why you would be wanting to eat greek food in Savannah to begin with if you are a visitor given the many wonderful choices, but whatever floats your boat touristas...
(2)
Justin D.
Food was good, I had the suvlaki and my girlfriend had the calamari. We were with a large group and the birthday girl knew the owner so we were given a few freebies. The service was ok, the waitress seemed either kind of confused or unaccommodating when I said that I wanted a salad and to just serve it to my girlfriend. But she finally got the picture. I would go again if I was looking for a Greek dinner, but I don't think it will be a usual stop in my rotation.
(3)
Mary F.
Allwe bought were a couple frozen drinks. They were served in wax covered paper cups. I returned my first drink after a few sips because it tasted like soap! I recieved a new different drink, but it still tasted like soap. I chalk it up to the cups, because the drinks ordered by my m-i-l and husband also had a soapy after-taste. Their menu seemed nice, but we did not eat there.
(1)
Terry H.
My favorite Calamari in all the world. I live about 3.5 hours away from Savannah, Ga. One of my coworkers told me how beautiful the city was in the winter time with all the Christmas decorations and all. So, my wife and I decided to make the trek and do a weekend stay. While walking on River Street, a nice waitress approached us on the sidewalk with a tray of fried Calamari, asking if we'd like to try a sample. At first, reluctant, we grabbed a toothpick and into our mouths it went. OMG!! It was the best Calamari I've eaten since my days in Spain! I immediately went inside and ordered a plate of it. My wife agreed that it was the tastiest calamari we've had since moving back from Europe five years ago. It comes with a well made tzatziki (sp?) sauce, which I prefer over marinara. This stuff became addicting. We came back that evening for dinner and the next day for lunch before we departed back to Gainesville, FL. We couldn't eat enough of it! I couldn't get that wonderful taste out of my mind and a month later, planned another trip to Savannah with my wife. This time, I was able to speak to Nick the owner. He was actually cooking muscles for his family while my wife and I were speaking to him and allowed us to try some. Unbelievably delicious, they were. He really needs to put those on his menu. He offered us some flaming cheese (saganaki) for an appetizer which was awesome, and we sat down to our meal of calamari and the souvlaki dinner. The calamari is so tender and it melts in your mouth. If I could hire Nick to be my in-home chef, it is all I would ever ask for. I would never be able to get across to you how much I love their calamari. The pork was also tender and tasty! My wife and I continued to go once a month for that nice drive to that beautiful town of Savannah to eat that delicious calamari. Well, until our first beautiful child came along. Now, two children later, we go only about twice a year, but always stop by the Olympia Cafe and always order, well, you know what I order.
(5)
Ramon D.
The atmosphere was decent but the wait was none on Saturday evening so the spot was already doing good!! They are also kid friendly which was good for the family. The rest of the dinning experience was about what you would expect - good service, drinks, etc. The food itself was very good - I order the stuffed red snapper and what a delicious dish this was! I honestly think this is the best red snapper I've had in years! So while everything was about average - the food itself allows me to give this place a well deserved 4 stars.
(4)
Chris M.
A delightful restaurant sitting along River St. in downtown Savannah. I recommend the calamari as an appetizer, fried to a light golden crisp, not too oily, not rubbery, just right. Then definitely go with any of the seafood dishes for an entree. It's especially nice if you have a Greek last name, as the owners love to meet new people with similar backgrounds.
(3)
MARK M.
Good gyros. Not my favorite but great to see a greek place on the river.
(3)
Maulik V.
We stumbled upon this place while enjoying a cool night by river street. We had our hopes high, but this restaurant fared a so-so on all measures of a good eating joint. Average and expensive food, european-sized (small) portions, poor wine list pretty much sums this place up for me. However, i have to admit the service was very prompt.
(3)
Robert S.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I think that the food (in general) in Savannah has a lot to be desired. Generally speaking, the diners have about as much class and staying power as a rhinestone g-string and have the palate of an aguesiac thus not giving any of the restaurants incentive to cook good food. This is especially true of those restaurants located on the Savannah Riverfront on River Street, the same street that Olympia Cafe sits on. But, in this case, there is an exception. I have read many of the reviews below and tend to agree with parts of all of them. I think that Jane D says it well when she states that the food is "mediocre at best" (and you are now asking, how is he giving this place 4 stars after a statement like that?), but there is an exception, and that exception lies in the owner Vasilis Varlagas and his big personality and his brilliance with whole fish. I have eaten here now a handful of times and every time we go we order, in advance, the whole red snapper. Vasilis ensures that it is fresh for that day and prepares it very simply but with the care a mother gives her newborn. The fish is amazingly moist, flavorful and delicate. It is prepared in the oven, whole and comes to the table that way for all to gaze upon with awe before Vasilis himself comes out to fillet and plate. With the fish comes some very traditional sides of lemon potatoes, rice with peas and a very Greek version of a ratatouille (complete with feta cheese). Every morsel is simply delectable. This follows all the way through the meal commencing with the saganaki and red roasted pepper with goat cheese, followed closely by a Greek and Greek Village salad and ending with fresh fruit, baklava and Greek yogurt with honey. He even throws in an ouzo to boot! Everything about the meal and about Vasilis's hospitality is memorable. With all that said, going back to Jane D's quote (but I cannot endorse the "sucks" part of that quote), I have eaten here prior to discovering the fish and really found the other dishes about mediocre. There are some winners on the menu for sure, but they are few and far between. But what is a winner every single time is the whole red snapper. When I am in Savannah again, which is a regular occurrence, I will certainly keep Vasilis and the Olympia Cafe in the rotation especially if I "make the call" a day in advance to ensure that beautiful fish will be waiting for me on my next visit. Try it, you will not be disappointed!
(4)
Jessica V.
We ordered a sampler plate with a little of everything. Feta, Greek olives, marinated artichoke hearts, dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves with tzadziki sauce), skordalia (mashed garlic potatoes with olive oil and vinegar), tiropitakia (fillo dough and feta cheese triangles), octopus and a red cavier mousse. My favorite was definitely the tiropitakia and the skordalia. My husband had chicken kebab which he said was just "okay" and we ordered some baklava for dessert which had a little too much cinnamon and chunks of nuts for my taste. We also ordered dirty, dry vodka martinis and they made it with straight vodka. We had to ask for olive juice that was brought to the table in little plastic containers when, really the waitress should have taken our drinks back and had them remade. I am a stickler for my martinis! The food was pretty good but a little pricey for the entrees which is why we just stuck with appetizers. We were able to try a little bit of everything without spending so much.
(3)
Claire B.
I miss eating real Greek food. If you eat there when the owner is wandering around, he will tell you that it is Greek Islands food and not Greek mainland. He may also go on a rant about how tabouli is middle eastern and not Greek. Don't get him started, or do, it's pretty amusing. Now down to the food. Amazing. Incredible. Fabulous. This is the first place I ate in Savannah, many years ago. I wish we had something that would even come close in Nashville, TN. The cheese set on fire with brandy is just incredible and sets the atmosphere for the place, along with the cries of "Opa!" If you've got someone else, get the platter. There's shrimp and lamb chops and spanokopita and everything Greek you could want. It's a fantastic dining experience and the only place really worth eating on River Street.
(5)
Snow G.
Love their souvlaki, fries, tzatzki , tangy greek salad , feta, and calamari ! You will not go wrong with eating here - just go and enjoy. Service is great and next door is the casual paper plate take out version - same great food.
(5)
Jay R.
This was recommended by the wonderful SCAD architecture professor who took us on a tour of the waterfront, so we went immediately. It's not too bad, with some unusual things on their antipasto plate, but seemed really overpriced. My date had the Gyro Plate, and said that it was pretty much like every other Gyro on the planet. I had the Souvlaki, which, while tender, had a flavor that was easily lost in the tzaziki sauce. I'm spoiled by Milto's souvlaki in Austin. Dolmas, on the other hand, were fresh, flavorful, and obviously homemade (so many places just dredge them out of an oily tin). Dinner for two with an appetizer and a couple of beers got up to almost $50 - understandle possibly from the location and tourist clientele, but this far costs me $24 in Austin.
(2)
Donna A.
cheap food and great service, It's definately bare bones.
(3)
Victor L.
My wife and I came here during an earlier trip to Savannah. We took a trolley tour and asked the driver where he would recommend to get good seafood. He recommended this place. He was a local so we took him up on it. We only ordered the fish entrees and thought they were very, very good. It is a bit on the pricey end so I can understand the low-star reviews. But if you are looking for fish done in a unique (good way, I mean) way, I'd go here. We didn't try any of the traditional Greek dishes.
(4)
Alexa G.
Got the chicken kabob and fries which came to about the total of ten dollars.. which I thought was a little steep.. but it is the tourist area. the tazziki sauce left a little something to be desired it was made with sour cream instead of the thick rich Greek yogurt which I enjoy and could have made better myself. The lemon rice soup was good as well as the baklava..all in all I'd skip this place on my next visit.
This is another place I've been going for years. I must say I was very surprised to see that this place had such low marks... I've always been very impressed with the food and everyone I've taken to Olympia has always loved it. I even have a Greek friend who will recommend it as good Greek food. That said, I think a very good rule for dining out is: if you go to any sort of ethnic place, get an ethnic dish. It's likely to be something the kitchen is good at preparing and takes a lot of pride in serving. A lot of times the other menu items are just there so that people who don't want to try the ethnic cuisine will have *something* to eat. With that, I have several suggestions that I think might help everyone have a better dining experience at Olympia: Saganaki-- This is the can't-miss flaming cheese with brandy. It's tasty and ordering it is definitely an experience :) MD's Pepper-- This is a red pepper filled with cheese doused in olive oil. Feta lover's dream! The Lemon Chicken is fantastic--I get it every time I go and I have yet to meet someone who didn't love it Spanakopita-- Delicious spinach and cheese pie Though I've never personally ordered them, I've heard from dinner-mates that the rest of the Greek specialties (grape leaves, moussaka, and there's one more I'm blanking on) are also very good. Also, all of these Greek specialties are served with rice and the most delicious lemon potatoes you'll ever have, which makes the portions more than generous, in my opinion. Unfortunately, I can't attest to the quality of the gyros since I've never cared to venture outside of the aforementioned Greek specialties. Agreed that Olympia is a tad expensive, but then again so is everything on River Street... But I do hope that some of you who were disappointed the first time will consider going back and trying some of their specialties!! It'll be worth it!
(5)
Marc M.
For everyone who is complaining about the prices at Olympia Cafe, please remember that River Street is a very expensive place to own or rent a building. Prices will definitely be higher than somewhere further uptown. It is called River Street for a reason. It is located on the river. My advice is to have calamari, try some of the fish dishes or some of the classic Greek dishes. You really won't go wrong. As far as claims that the service is not good, I can rebut that with my own experience there. I inadvertently left my credit card on the table when I was finished. For the next day, I could not recall where the heck I left it. I finally realized that the last place that I used the credit card was at Olympia Cafe. I walked back there and the staff had locked it in a safe and made sure that nothing was done to my credit card. The owner of the restaurant came out to greet me, offer me some kind of snack for free and regaled me with information about why I should live in Savannah. He even gave me a bottle of Diet Coke to send me on my way. For any carping critics, remember, we are talking about Savannah, Georgia and not Athens, Greece.
(4)
Bill B.
Gyros and greek salads were awesome. Great service. Convenient location. Great place. Will return.
(5)
J P.
love this place, excellent food, but especially the staff and owners are so friendly! they greet us like family each time we visit them :)
(5)
B T.
This was a good solid Greek restaurant. Growing up going to a lot of Greek restaurants in Detroit, this definitely holds it's own. Everything was fresh and the staff was friendly.
(3)
Barry S.
Excellent food, lamb shank especially. Portions good, in contrast to some of the other restaurants in the area. Service was very attentive although it wasn't very busy at lunchtime when we visited.
(4)
Diane M.
Other than being a little on the expensive side, but then again Greek food isn't an everyday item Everything about the place is AWESOME!! Especially the service that we received. Best service anywhere Thanks Riley for the great service and making my trip to Savannah that much more enjoyable. Knoxville. TN
(5)
Tracy C.
i stopped there twice on st patricks day! im not sure if it was just the perfect drunken snack, but i loved the gyros. although the taste of garlic lingered longer than i would have liked. i also thought it was expensive. $7 for the sandwich with no fries and no drink. i didnt really mind because they let me use their bathrooms that were closed to the public, and anyone who has been to river street on st patties day knows that is priceless.
(4)
Jessica R.
pretty good margaritas on st. patrick's day! (but dont wear heels down on river st. The cobblestone ruined mine!)
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : 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.
Teresa H.
Falafel sandwich was DELICIOUS! I wanted to try everything on the menu.
(4)Bob N.
Food was great. Waiter suggested snapper cooked Mediterranean style which wasn't on the menu, but was terrific. The starter sausage opa came aflame, and was delicious. Service was friendly, efficient, and helpful. They make everything from scratch so they had no problem accommodating my multiple food allergies
(4)Lena P.
Walked in on a Thursday night and it was pretty busy as we thought we would we need to wait for a table, but they have a lot in the back as well. Here's what we ordered: Falafel sandwich - definitely needs more flavor, needs cucumber, or a different sauce. I liked the falafel pieces, they were very soft and tasted pretty good. With fries - crinkle cut fries were good With a side salad - beware they charge extra! They didn't tell us this! And it has a lot of iceberg lettuce and whole olives with the pit inside! Almost broke a tooth! The dressing was pretty good. Bread at the table was soft, and they give oil to dip it with. We asked for Balsamic and they gave us red wine to mix in, we thought that was odd, and it didn't taste good with that. Would have liked to have some hummus and pita bread pieces at a Greek restaurant, instead of regular bread.
(2)Gregory H.
For a "Greek" restaurant, they do not make a GOOD Greek Salad (nor authentic, but good luck getting an authentic Greek salad stateside). Lettuce - okay, the olives, as expected, tomato - ripe, feta was lacking in flavor/quality, the peppers were poor quality. If I come back here I'll certainly look at different menu options. I've had much better in Durham. Service was okay, drinks were refilled and the server was somewhat attentive.
(2)Julie B.
The Greek salad was just ok but the main meal was really good. I had scored flounder. It was very good and the vegetables were delicious! Baklava and coffee topped off a great meal. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. Even the owner came over to make sure everything was ok.
(4)Jes H.
Not actually vegan friendly. If you're vegan, save yourself the trouble. My waitress was very nice and accommodating, and the food was good until I found pieces of lamb in my food.
(1)Haboosha S.
I can't give them more than 1 star ... we ordered a small plate of olives+ 2 main dishes each one contains one spoon of rice, 4 shrimp ( she said it's jumbo but it was so small) and one very small piece of a grouper fish. That costs $75 !!! The portions were not enough and too pricey.. Save ur money and go to another place u can find better and cheaper.. Of course we will not go back there again...
(1)Joanna M.
The waitress Nadia was sweet and served everything quickly and introduced us to a wonderful cheese dish!! We had to scream out opah as she lit it. It was so delicious with the fresh crusty bread!! Should have just ordered that and it would have made me full!! Ordered the appetizer calamari and it was so light and fried perfect!! Yum!! My son had the snapper and since his plate was empty of it in less than two minutes I believe it was delicious! My daughter and I had tons of leftovers. So guess what's for lunch tomorrow!!! Anyway over all delicious and great service!
(5)Lawrence M.
I want to make this review as tasteful as possible. I was in Savannah Georgia with my family and friends. Walk through this restaurant because we saw this awesome sign with the delightful lunch special. The lunch special is lemon chicken which was priced at eight dollars. When we sat down the waitress denied is to have the lunch special. Said we were passed the time. It was 4:00. The sign was not one marked and clearly visible. She said that sorry lunch was over. I said the sign was still outside and that that's actually what drew us into The restaurant. We had horrible service during our time here. The food was OK and was cold when it came out. Also we only saw our server from the time she drop the food off. Then finished my food and then looked over to the staff, and she was on her phone for a straight 10 minutes. How unfortunate. I would not recommend eating here. That's an awesome restaurant down the street which I was saying would be a better fit.
(1)Rachel N.
There are 2 sides to this restaurant. If you are looking at the restaurant, the right side offers sit down service and the left side is more for quick and/or take away service. We ordered the fish and chips and the falafel wrap. The fish is the standard tilapia and the fries are crinkle cut. The fish was tasty and a little spicy. The guy at the counter gave me a mesquite sauce for the fish as well as balsamic vinegar. Very good and filling. The fries were nicely seasoned with salt. As for the falafel wrap, it was full of lettuce and tomatoes with a tahini sauce. Super filling and tasty. As we were sitting, the cook/cashier/waiter called me up to hand me a deep fried fish which was incredible. I cannot remember what it was but it was delicious! This place was really great! As many times as I've passed it, I've been missing out! By the way, the dine in side is a little more expensive for the same food. And all the food is prepared in one location, so if you are looking to save a few dollars, go to the left side! There are 5 tables and 2 bar sections with stools. Yes, they do serve alcoholic beverages (a full bar) as well as sodas. They do have a coffee menu. Definitely a must if you want Mediterranean quick or a quick slice of pizza. And don't forget to get the baklava.
(4)Mar H.
My husband and I love this little hole in the wall. Everyone goes for the upscale seafood on Riverstreet, but this is a great place for off the radar.
(4)Tommy L.
Was having a date downtown and sitting outside at a table finishing our drinks before we went in. This was a slow weekday around 4pm. Some mean Greek guy came out and said a few rude words and told us to leave. Ha. I hope he does not treat our tourist this way. Shame on you Olympia
(1)Josh M.
Very tasty and excellent gyro. Served perfectly hot and fresh. Decently priced at $9 and some change for a gyro and good fries. We were served super quickly and the staff behind the counter was very friendly. I've had gyros all over: NYC, LA, San Fran, Florida, DC, Baltimore. The one here was one of my favorites! Be aware, like another user commented, that there are two sides: the Olympia Cafe and Olympia Express. The cafe has a bigger storefront and more presence. We took the advice and visited the Express side and we were not disappointed. Food was great and you seat yourself. There are even house specials on daiquiris and margaritas that were tasty for the walk along the river.
(4)Smith S.
Terrible, do not waste your money. The snapper was drenched in oil. The chicken over a greek salad was tough and seemed like it was days old. Hummus was ok, but the portion was small. Worst Greek I have ever had.
(1)Catherine H.
Food is phenomenal every single time. Fresh seafood and authentic Greek food. Service is very friendly. Angela is a wonderful server. Vasili (owner) goes above and beyond to make it an exceptional experience! It's a feel-good kinda place--you'll be smiling with a full belly when you leave!!
(5)Scott S.
Definitely one of the best Greek meals I've ever had. Their calamari are very lightly breaded and served with an excellent feta sauce. Their souvlaki is exceptional. If you can get the table in the window the view of River Street and passing ships is fantastic.
(5)Jim H.
Let me qualify this review by saying that I was there for lunch and not for dinner. The service was excellent and the food was very good but I thought it was a bit on the pricey side for lunch. When I asked about a "lunch menu", I was told that it was the same menu for lunch and dinner. I had a gyro that was excellent and my wife really enjoyed her lamb kabob. The salads were good - with plenty of feta cheese. As a dinner destination - I probably would have rated this as a 4 star restaurant but I think it was over-priced as a lunch destination. Overall, good service, good food and a nice decor - just a little pricey.
(3)Sara V.
Definitely I agree with Gregory H., for a "Greek" restaurant they don't know what a Greek salad is made with. My salad had no cucumbers, no olive oil base dressing, no onions and not even one dolma but a bland kind of cheese that did not taste like feta cheese. What a disappointment considering it was the only thing I had ordered.
(1)Josie P.
One of my favorite places! I've been here several times, most recently for my graduation from SCAD. Great food, great wine, great service but never overpriced or overcrowded. River street isn't my favorite place in savannah, but I'll go there for Olympia's
(5)Bill F.
A great place to drop in for appetizers and/or a meal. Staff is friendly and helpful. I've been coming here for years on business or pleasure. Never had a bad experience. The food is good, well seasoned, presentation nice & prices reasonable. One of those place you could easily walk by and never realize was a hidden gem. The "Express" side of the restaurant is an easy way to get a quick snack or sampling. I've introduced many people to this quaint establishment and will continue to do so. Even though you're in the heart of tourist district they don't treat you like cattle as many other places are apt to do. The Calamari is a "must have snack" every time I'm walking down River Street.
(4)Krescent F.
We tried this place last night because of a raving review from a law enforcement officer about their food. Our dinner was fantastic, the service was impeccable thanks to Nadia, and the ambiance gave the whole meal an authentic Greek feel. I tried the Red Snapper special and there are no words to express how good it was. Nadia recommended a great wine pairing and also suggested the red snapper. This place is a must try when visiting Savannah. Thanks for a great experience and great food.
(5)Paul R.
Authentic Greek food. The best any where I've had. You have to try the roasted red pepper stuffed with feta
(5)Tyrone P.
Food was fantastic! Especially enjoyed the Greek salad and Gyro! The staff however were very unfriendly. The hostess could be compared to the Grimm reaper and the waitress to a tax accountant. Bring some good company, otherwise you will have a very unenjoyable dining experience!
(3)George R.
We always eat here at least once when we are in Savannah, as we have for thirty years. The Calamari are a must have as are the gyros. Reasonable prices compared to much of River Street. Always friendly service..
(4)Keith J.
Awesome red snapper stuffed with crab. Pita bread hummus is great too. Our waitress was friendly and nice. The hostess is pretty but never smiles. There is a fast food area if you don't want to be served.
(4)Molly G.
I eat quite a bit of Greek food and the Olympia Cafe was right up there with the best. My husband had the gyro dinner which was really good and not greasy like gyro meat can be. I had the chicken kabob which was perfectly prepared. The salads were fresh and the waiter was extremely informative. A nice find.
(5)Elena I.
Came here for lunch with friends who recommended it. We had the fried cheese app which was great. I had the chicken kabob with a Greek salad. It was very good juicy and fresh. The location is great! I thought it could have been better but I was happy and would recommend it for lunch!
(4)Bethany S.
My husband took me there for our anniversary. Our waitress wasn't the friendliest I've had but she did her job well. My favorite part was the salad with feta dressing. The waitress told me that they import their feta straight from Greece and you could taste the amazing difference! I had a Gyro wrap with veggies and again it came with that amazing feta cheese! Their food was delicious, atmosphere was nice, location was easy to get to (on the river front but a quick walk from the street), and just an all around good experience.
(4)Jennifer M.
We were greeted quickly and waited on quickly as well, I just ordered the tzatziki and an order of pita bread. If you wish to eat all of the tzatziki they give you, you should get 2 orders of the pita bread because one isn't enough. I left a lot behind. The tzatziki was a tad bit tart but was very good.
(5)Angela S.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in Savannah! The grouper was amazing!! We have been coming here for many years and always have a wonderful experience!! Our server Richard was perfect. The owners Nick and Visili are beyond awesome!! Always a delicious meal and great atmosphere!
(5)Matt S.
I hadn't been here for well over a decade so I was eager to go back. Good Greek food is so hard to find where I live so I was very pleased with this experience. Our server was very friendly and when my sister asked for recommendations she knew the menu very well and sold both of us on the scored flounder. She told us that the seafood is very fresh and she wasn't lying. I'm a big fan of fish and even in New England I run into issues with mislabeled or poor quality seafood. My flounder was probably the best flounder I've ever had in my entire life. It was lightly fried to perfection and had an awesome flavor. My partner had the lamb chops and loved them (also recommended by our server). All of our dishes came with a side of potatoes, rice, and peas over a lemon sauce and it had a nice unique taste that worked well with the fish. Definitely one of the highlights of my vacation.
(5)Michelle R.
Stopped in on our short visit through savannah on our way to FL. The serious was great! our waiter was super friendly and obviously liked by the 'regulars' who seemed to make a point to ask for him or say hello (unfortunately I forget his name myself, sorry). The food - good portion sizes but not overwhelming. Unfortunately, like someone else mentioned - slightly disappointed by the out of date menu. Calamari was good and served with Tzatziki sauce, which was actually nice change from marinara. When I ordered the waiter suggested I try the lemon garlic potatoes instead of the standard side. Very thankful he did that - absolutely delicious and a great pairing with the meal. Overall I enjoyed it and would return if we go to Savannah again.
(4)Reesey H.
The gyro wrap and fries were excellent. This is truly authentic Greek food.
(5)Chris S.
Gyros are awesome! They have a great Gyro platter as well. Decent prices and service!
(4)Desiree H.
The service, food, and decor was all good. No problems with that. The only thing I had a huge problem with was what I had to pay. It was lunch time and I just wanted something small to eat. I ordered a small salad for $6. The waitress asked if I would like some cooked chicken and I said sure. It would be a dollar or two more. No harm. Ate the food (was delicious), got the check and noticed my $6 was now $15. By adding half a chicken breast worth of meat it cost me $9. I grabbed a nearby menu and noticed a little farther down that they had a chicken salad for $15. NOT what I ordered but paid it anyway since I was in no mood to argue. I would of gladly gave 5 stars if I would not of been talked into ordering something I originally didn't want. I will now ask how much something will cost me if a waiter/waitress offers something extra.
(3)Dennis U.
This is an OK Greek restaurant in a prime location. Not a big lunch menu but with standard Greek fare. My gyro was fine but I would head to Savannah to eat here.
(3)Richard D.
Perfectly prepared yet again. Never a bad experience here at Olympia Cafe. Love coming here every time I visit Savannah. Staff always friendly. Owners never miss an opportunity to visit tables and interact with patrons. See you again in 2 weeks!
(5)Zia H.
The worst dinning experience of my life. I went there last night to try their lamb shank, because of my love of lamb. The lamb was so bad, and I know for a fact that they served me at least 10 days old already prepared shank. After having couple of bites, I was literally sick, and started to throw up. It is already 14 hours afterward, and I am still sick.
(1)Wade S.
Food was horrible. Service was bad. Water tasted funny. Just don't do it. Two cops we saw in the area recommended this place. Enough said.
(1)Christina K.
Hmm.. I really like greek food, and we stopped by here while waiting for our ferry. We grabbed our 2 gyros to go and when we got back to our hotel room, scarfed them down. SO thinks that they would have been much better had we gotten to eat them there, but I was a little put off. I mean, it's MUCH better than the crap that Great Wraps will offer you, but was it so mouthwatering great that I dreamt about it? Nope. Was the taste enough to have me go back for more? Nope again. It was ok, nothing to rave about other than the fact that this is the only greek place on River Street. i've had better at Cafe Agora in Buckhead.
(2)Shannon M.
I'm sure the cafe is separate from the "ice cream" shop, but I won't waste my time finding out. We went in for a cone after walking down River Street after dinner. The inside had old dumpy tables and chairs, but we figured that wasn't a big deal. When we approached the counter, the attendant let out a sigh and actually rolled her eyes. I asked if she was okay (I envisioned she had just dealt with a customer from hell) because I thought I missed something. She replied, "Yes. Do you know what you want?" I answered that we needed a minute to look and she just walked away. We simply walked out and went down to Vic's Coffee House which was a far better choice - the ice cream was terrific, the ambiance was trendy, and the service was pleasant.
(1)Mike F.
Gyro's were good and they had no issue making ours with Feta cheese and roasted tomatoes, the way I make them at home. All five of us enjoyed them, my wife even commented that the pita bread was much better than what I use.
(3)Sergio O.
I've Lived in Savannah for 16 years now, seen and tried it all.. This place is still one of my favorites. They always treat us like family here.. And we will always return. Saganaki Mediterranean Pepper Red Snapper Shrimp Aegean Grouper Sautee' Lamb Chops Potatoes and Peas with a Lemon Sauce, amazing. It's all prepared excellently, and with Love. Order some fruit and Baklava for dessert!! I could go on and on.. People from all over the globe return once they've eaten here.. It's a great place, with great food, and a great staff, If you have a problem, ask to see Nick, or Vasili and they will make sure you are Happy. Don't let the touristy location fool you, It's a great local restaurant. Opa!!!
(5)Doug R.
The Greek salad that comes with dinner is good, but the put a lot of dressing on the salad. I suggest dressing on the side. It's been ages since I ate here and am just catching-up with reviews. Sorry, can't provide any details other than I'd go back and my memory says it was a 4-star experience.
(4)Devin A.
Good food, nice ambiance and friendly staff made a quick meal enjoyable. Traditional Greek menu items and a few nontraditional ones (burgers and pizza for those who aren't into Greek foods). Price was about right for the portion. The French bread provided before the meal was surprisingly very light and tasty.
(4)Tom S.
Great ice cream. We needed a little something after dinner while walking around. Brick floor fits right in with the local area. We didn't eat in the restaurant.
(4)Paige N.
So my party of three and I stumbled into the Olympia Cafe on Saturday night after being turned away from the Olde Pink House because our reservation hadn't been received (don't ask me how a phone reservation left on the answering machine isn't received, but it wasn't) - so we improvised and headed for the river. As soon as we entered we were seated immediately, and I after perusing the menu I observed the carryings on happening around me. The most intriguing thing was when the severs would bring out what looked like skillets, pour a magical liquid into them and shout "OPA!" as the plate burst into flames before setting it on the table for the delighted diners. Naturally I had to have this -didn't matter what it was. Turned out, it just happened to taste great too - it was "flaming cheese (or sausage)" and lit on fire / flash cooked in the skillet with brandy. Not only was the presentation impressive, but whatever kind of cheese they used was superb for its flavor and ability to withstand the heat and not turn in to a gooey mess. Our entrees were less spectacular, but still solid - I had the chicken kebabs with a Greek salad, warm pita and a tasty tatziki sauce. They were a little stingy with the chicken portion in my opinion, and tried to make up for it with carbs: pita, salad, bread basket, and french fries. All of it was tasty - but nothing truly standout about the kebabs. The other problem I had which brought this down from 4 stars was the air conditioning in the place - it was ON! Now keep in mind, it's the middle of February (and yes, we've had a mild winter, but not THAT mild), and the AC is blowing on us throughout the entire meal. At first, I thought it was a draft from the open front door, so I asked the waitress to close it, which she did. But after the breeze continued, we deduced it must be the AC. Needless to say, we didn't linger for dessert that time. Overall, Olympia's a good restaurant, and the presentation's very "classical" Greek (Roman columns, murals of Greece, etc), but it's still a touristy restaurant on River Street. Just OK.
(3)Mark M.
Absolutely the best calamari and Gyro's hands down. Actually everything on the menu is awesome. The Baklava is outstanding if you have a sweet tooth. Nick is one of the nicest gentlemen and restauranters I have ever met. Not to mention he runs a tight ship so quality and consistency are always spot on!
(5)MARK M.
Good gyros. Not my favorite but great to see a greek place on the river.
(3)Miss M.
a bit expensive and god how I despise river street, but works for me as a Greek salad hook up. not very vegetarian friendly, but the greeks I know think being a vegetarian is worse than cheating on my husband or maybe kicking a dog.
(5)Jeff K.
We decided to stop in here for lunch while we were waiting for our hotel room to be ready. We ordered the skordalia to start (we have to order skordalia whenever it's available, it's one of our favorites). This one was great, although not the best we've ever had. I can't put my finger on it, but there was sort of a tartness to it that I'm not accustomed to. But skordalia is different everywhere you go, and it was definitely good. The free bread that came out to the table was excellent and I used it to finish off the skordalia when we ran out of pita bread. For lunch I ordered the gyro, and it didn't disappoint either. The tzatziki was plentiful and tasty! The meat tasted great, and the pita was soft and delicious. Service was also quick and friendly, and the prices were good. I know there's a lot to do in Savannah, and a lot to eat. I'm sure this little Greek place doesn't even show up on most peoples' radar when they come into town for the weekend, but if you're in the area and you're hungry, you really should stop by.
(4)Renaud F.
The best thing about this restaurant is the location. The food is ok and the restaurant is stuck in a time warp. I would go back for some food but mostly for a bite and move around the boardwalk. The waitress knew her stuff and service was fast probably because the restaurant was pretty much empty.
(3)Megan E.
Stopped in because I was in need of sweet tea and this looked like the kinda place I could get it. and I was right. The price was amazing only a little under 2 bucks for sweet tea!! and a big cup!! yess! It was absolutely delicious. Also came back for a smoothie and ended up ordering an alcoholic one, the strawberry shortcake one, it was also amazing. The service was really great the guys were super friendly and quick. They even remembered who we were when we stopped by a few hours later!
(4)Emily M.
Oh amazing! If you have not been there you need to go there ASAP! Best sea food!
(5)Max B.
Authenic Greek restaurant. A bit touristy due to location. Great value and fun atmosphere. Casual dining. Chef/owner formerly from Chiago
(4)Lori H.
I will visit this restaurant every time I come to Savannah. Great gyros, they're always perfect and always hit the spot. The calamari is fresh and fried to perfection. All our waitresses have always been super friendly too!
(5)Ashlee W.
I work on river street and I'm always bringing a snack to work or ordering a sandwich. Today I was craving pasta! So I looked through our lunch menus and found Olympia cafe. I went straight to pastas and decided to keep it simple and cheap. I ordered the pasta marinara with Parmesan or feta. It was exactly what I needed to satisfy my pasta craving. No complaints, they even threw in some bread for me! Quick service!
(4)Beth C.
Pretty large restraunt, right on river walk. We had lunch on a Tuesday at about 2pm and we were one of two tables. Food was fine. Potatoes were too oily for me, but delicious. Spanakopita was GREAT because it wasn't too feta-y. The Greek Salad had lettuce underneath the 1lb of feta cheese (opposite of the spinach pie which had little cheese!). Overall, I would try something else in the area but the food was fine for a quick bite in the area. I had no idea what the peas and mush were on top of the rice? It was boringggg and I didn't eat it. Looked like gravy? Great way to ruin peas.
(3)Susan H.
Olympia express has some really great food you can just stop on and grab. And the baklava is delish!
(4)Lisa C.
Unfriendly hostess, but great wait staff delicious Greek food, good wine list. Servings are generous. However, for such a nice restaurant, the restrooms are attached to their next store ice cream shop and were worst than the oldest gas station facilities. When you tool around River Street this is a valuable aspect of eating or drinking on River Street, spoiled the,experience.
(4)Stephanie P.
I only ordered a cup of coffee, but I was so thankful for the Olympia Cafe for being open on race morning at 5am. When we arrived via ferry over to River St we had a couple hours before the start of the Savannah 1/2 marathon. Normally before a run you stand outside freezing and shivering waiting way too long in the port-a-potty lines. The Olympia Cafe opened just for the runners and had coffee, pastries, etc, and most importantly a warm place to hang out with a bathroom! yay! Thank you!!
(4)William K.
The food is pretty good but it is a bit over priced because of its location on River Street. There are not many places to get Greek food in Sav so it may be worth it to you. The food and service was good.
(3)Mark A.
Good food. Price was appropriate for tourist location. I'd come back.
(4)TJ G.
I'm torn by this place because the food was excellent. Whatever the buttery sauce they put on the peas and rice could have elevated them up to five stars on it's own. However, the entrees are very expensive for what they are. $20 for a vegetarian plate that isn't very big in a place where the ambiance is extremely casual? I don't know that it's worth it.... But the food is really good, so maybe it is. Plus it's a very touristy area, maybe the price is for the general ambiance of the area.
(3)Rebekah K.
One of my favorites in Savannah! I love the lemon potatoes and peas. The moussaka is decadent and delicious. OK, so I have not had anything here that I didn't like. I agree with Clay that the platter is the way to go, but please only do this on a very empty stomach or be able to take a to go plate = ) The service has always been pleasant, and you can get a little table by the window to people and boat watch out on Riverstreet.
(4)Clay K.
This place rocks my socks. If budget isn't a concern, ask for the Platter. Don't ask what's on it, just do it. Sit back. Enjoy being treated like you're royalty and dine like a king. On a budget, or are you just a cheap bastard like me? Gyros are good, but the way to go is order a Greek Trio with Spanikopita, Mousaka, and Dolmades, grab the Calamari Appetizer, and share it with a date. Bam, decent dinner on a budget and room left in your belly for plenty of booze on River Street. Need some tasty sweetness? Best baklava around.
(4)Travis B.
this was the only place open in the wee hours of the savannah full/half marathon this weekend. we wouldn't have even noticed until the owner peeked his head out of the door. it was super windy and cold and we had 2 hours to kill before race start, so we ducked in here for a cup of coffee and some warmth. coffee is a bit weak and at 2.25 a cup, not that great of a deal. but he was friendly and best of all, open at 5am! my wife, whom is greek, can understand my awe at the greek resourcefulness. sure, his cafe is Greek, but when a customer asked for a bagel, he said "maybe, let me look" and shortly thereafter, appeared with a toasted bagel. he just happened to have it in his fridge. nice and cozy, neat interior. full service restaurant as well as the cafe (beer, burgers, and frozen daquiries too....those greeks.....
(4)Cliff S.
The snapper is to die for-- the best I've ever had, anywhere. Expensive but worth it. Niko prepares it lovingly at your table. Everything else is great, but the snapper is exceptional.
(5)Nikhil B.
The Falafel appetizer was nice but the veggie pizza was one of the worst pizzas we ever had. The dough was like a grocery store bought one with a very bad chewy texture and was not at all crusty. We had to wait at least 45 mins to get the pizza. The waitress was very polite and kept asking if we needed anything while patiently waiting. Great location on the river, good looking waitresses but bad food.
(2)Kevin B.
Strange to think that we could have our best meal in Savannah at a Greek restaurant but it's true. The service was terrific and so was the food. I must recommend the Saganaki (greek flaming cheese) and Calamari. I also recommend the Souvlaki chicken kabob. The location is right down on the river. We didn't save room for the ice cream from their parlor but I hear it's terrific.
(5)Nate Y.
The BEST lamb chops i have ever jad in my life. Prices are great and so is the food. The service was wonderful and Nik, one of the owners, is awesome!!!!! Highly recommend!
(5)Scott L.
I've been going to this place for years when ever I'm in town and I've never been disappointed. I really like their Greek Salad and their Gyros (which they make a point of saying is pronounced yee ros on their menu), but their other dishes have been good too. And you should try their flaming cheese appetizer sometime that they light at your table with the waitress giving a big "Opa!." This place is usually busy and there's a good reason for it.
(5)Linda C.
This was my 3rd visit to Olympia's Express cafe. The gyro and apple pie are to die for! Excellent fresh food, hot, and speedy - when I am on the road, that is what I expect. Foods sampled - gyro wrap, spaghetti & meatballs, baklava, pina colada - all were great. There is a restaurant adjacent to the Express cafe for those who want a more relaxed, dress up, etc. experience - but for me the cafe is perfect. Daniel behind the counter sets the climate with friendly fast service. If you find yourself strolling River Street, stop in for a quick break. Take the water taxi over to the Westin for a quick drink, then be sure to peruse the shops.
(4)Tatyana C.
Love me some Greek food! Restaurant is small and very busy. Best gyros in town.
(4)Linda R.
Love this place!! We have made a point to eat there every time we go to Savannah. The calamari is the best I have ever eaten and is as fresh as it gets. Once, on the way back to NC from Florida, we drove significantly over the speed limit just to get there in time to stop and eat some calamari before they closed for the night and the guys were so impressed, they gave us a to-go box with some extra which we enjoyed for the rest of the trip. Wish we lived closer so we could go more often!
(5)Stephanie Y.
Ok so the food was really good. I had a great experience because a person in our party new the owner who came out with the ouzo and made the meal a great experience! The fish was absolutely amazing. I don't really remember the rest of the food as i was wasted after like 5 shots of ouzo. BUT SO GOOD.. Come try it out and get the fish- it was fresh and delicious!
(4)Charles S.
Fantastic flounder, good eggplant, nice atmosphere. Surprisingly good food and friendly service on a busy tourist street, well worth the visit.
(5)Jason R.
This is a good place to catch up with old friends you haven't seen since the last conference circuit go-round. We sat there chatting and drinking until after closing, and the staff starting cleaning so quietly that we didn't even notice... They didn't push us out; we excused ourselves quickly once we realized we were making them late. I didn't have any food, alas, but our friends raved about it. Given the delightful service, I'm willing to go out on a limb and be a fan.
(4)Ramon D.
The atmosphere was decent but the wait was none on Saturday evening so the spot was already doing good!! They are also kid friendly which was good for the family. The rest of the dinning experience was about what you would expect - good service, drinks, etc. The food itself was very good - I order the stuffed red snapper and what a delicious dish this was! I honestly think this is the best red snapper I've had in years! So while everything was about average - the food itself allows me to give this place a well deserved 4 stars.
(4)Chris M.
A delightful restaurant sitting along River St. in downtown Savannah. I recommend the calamari as an appetizer, fried to a light golden crisp, not too oily, not rubbery, just right. Then definitely go with any of the seafood dishes for an entree. It's especially nice if you have a Greek last name, as the owners love to meet new people with similar backgrounds.
(3)Calvin C.
When most folks think Greek food, visions of pastitsio, gyros, moussaka, etc. frequently come to mind. While that is certainly fine, a Greek restaurant had better prepare meat and seafood well as that is what they would be judged by in Greece. We had dolmades for an appetizer which were excellent. Their presentation had only two and had thinly sliced tomatoes and pita slices around the periphery. Covering the stuffed grape leaves was their version of tzatziki sauce and it all tasted fresh and flavorful. For the main course, we had the red snapper and lamb shank, both of which were prepared perfectly. My wife normally hates "fishy" fish, but the preparation of the red snapper in olive oil, capers, paprika, sliced almonds and lemon balanced the flavor exceedingly well. As good as that was, the lamb shank was even better. It was roasted perfectly to "fall off the bone" state and captured the unique flavor of lamb. This place knows how to cook meat well and while I'm sure the "standard" Greek is good too, they know what they are doing - it is not just food, but cuisine.
(5)Adam S.
Very average greek food at surprisingly high prices here. On top of that, eating here involves a trip to river street which I desperately try to avoid as much as possible. Definitely not the best place in town to get a meal (especially for the price), and I'm not really sure why you would be wanting to eat greek food in Savannah to begin with if you are a visitor given the many wonderful choices, but whatever floats your boat touristas...
(2)Terry H.
My favorite Calamari in all the world. I live about 3.5 hours away from Savannah, Ga. One of my coworkers told me how beautiful the city was in the winter time with all the Christmas decorations and all. So, my wife and I decided to make the trek and do a weekend stay. While walking on River Street, a nice waitress approached us on the sidewalk with a tray of fried Calamari, asking if we'd like to try a sample. At first, reluctant, we grabbed a toothpick and into our mouths it went. OMG!! It was the best Calamari I've eaten since my days in Spain! I immediately went inside and ordered a plate of it. My wife agreed that it was the tastiest calamari we've had since moving back from Europe five years ago. It comes with a well made tzatziki (sp?) sauce, which I prefer over marinara. This stuff became addicting. We came back that evening for dinner and the next day for lunch before we departed back to Gainesville, FL. We couldn't eat enough of it! I couldn't get that wonderful taste out of my mind and a month later, planned another trip to Savannah with my wife. This time, I was able to speak to Nick the owner. He was actually cooking muscles for his family while my wife and I were speaking to him and allowed us to try some. Unbelievably delicious, they were. He really needs to put those on his menu. He offered us some flaming cheese (saganaki) for an appetizer which was awesome, and we sat down to our meal of calamari and the souvlaki dinner. The calamari is so tender and it melts in your mouth. If I could hire Nick to be my in-home chef, it is all I would ever ask for. I would never be able to get across to you how much I love their calamari. The pork was also tender and tasty! My wife and I continued to go once a month for that nice drive to that beautiful town of Savannah to eat that delicious calamari. Well, until our first beautiful child came along. Now, two children later, we go only about twice a year, but always stop by the Olympia Cafe and always order, well, you know what I order.
(5)Robert S.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I think that the food (in general) in Savannah has a lot to be desired. Generally speaking, the diners have about as much class and staying power as a rhinestone g-string and have the palate of an aguesiac thus not giving any of the restaurants incentive to cook good food. This is especially true of those restaurants located on the Savannah Riverfront on River Street, the same street that Olympia Cafe sits on. But, in this case, there is an exception. I have read many of the reviews below and tend to agree with parts of all of them. I think that Jane D says it well when she states that the food is "mediocre at best" (and you are now asking, how is he giving this place 4 stars after a statement like that?), but there is an exception, and that exception lies in the owner Vasilis Varlagas and his big personality and his brilliance with whole fish. I have eaten here now a handful of times and every time we go we order, in advance, the whole red snapper. Vasilis ensures that it is fresh for that day and prepares it very simply but with the care a mother gives her newborn. The fish is amazingly moist, flavorful and delicate. It is prepared in the oven, whole and comes to the table that way for all to gaze upon with awe before Vasilis himself comes out to fillet and plate. With the fish comes some very traditional sides of lemon potatoes, rice with peas and a very Greek version of a ratatouille (complete with feta cheese). Every morsel is simply delectable. This follows all the way through the meal commencing with the saganaki and red roasted pepper with goat cheese, followed closely by a Greek and Greek Village salad and ending with fresh fruit, baklava and Greek yogurt with honey. He even throws in an ouzo to boot! Everything about the meal and about Vasilis's hospitality is memorable. With all that said, going back to Jane D's quote (but I cannot endorse the "sucks" part of that quote), I have eaten here prior to discovering the fish and really found the other dishes about mediocre. There are some winners on the menu for sure, but they are few and far between. But what is a winner every single time is the whole red snapper. When I am in Savannah again, which is a regular occurrence, I will certainly keep Vasilis and the Olympia Cafe in the rotation especially if I "make the call" a day in advance to ensure that beautiful fish will be waiting for me on my next visit. Try it, you will not be disappointed!
(4)Jessica V.
We ordered a sampler plate with a little of everything. Feta, Greek olives, marinated artichoke hearts, dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves with tzadziki sauce), skordalia (mashed garlic potatoes with olive oil and vinegar), tiropitakia (fillo dough and feta cheese triangles), octopus and a red cavier mousse. My favorite was definitely the tiropitakia and the skordalia. My husband had chicken kebab which he said was just "okay" and we ordered some baklava for dessert which had a little too much cinnamon and chunks of nuts for my taste. We also ordered dirty, dry vodka martinis and they made it with straight vodka. We had to ask for olive juice that was brought to the table in little plastic containers when, really the waitress should have taken our drinks back and had them remade. I am a stickler for my martinis! The food was pretty good but a little pricey for the entrees which is why we just stuck with appetizers. We were able to try a little bit of everything without spending so much.
(3)Maulik V.
We stumbled upon this place while enjoying a cool night by river street. We had our hopes high, but this restaurant fared a so-so on all measures of a good eating joint. Average and expensive food, european-sized (small) portions, poor wine list pretty much sums this place up for me. However, i have to admit the service was very prompt.
(3)Claire B.
I miss eating real Greek food. If you eat there when the owner is wandering around, he will tell you that it is Greek Islands food and not Greek mainland. He may also go on a rant about how tabouli is middle eastern and not Greek. Don't get him started, or do, it's pretty amusing. Now down to the food. Amazing. Incredible. Fabulous. This is the first place I ate in Savannah, many years ago. I wish we had something that would even come close in Nashville, TN. The cheese set on fire with brandy is just incredible and sets the atmosphere for the place, along with the cries of "Opa!" If you've got someone else, get the platter. There's shrimp and lamb chops and spanokopita and everything Greek you could want. It's a fantastic dining experience and the only place really worth eating on River Street.
(5)Snow G.
Love their souvlaki, fries, tzatzki , tangy greek salad , feta, and calamari ! You will not go wrong with eating here - just go and enjoy. Service is great and next door is the casual paper plate take out version - same great food.
(5)Jay R.
This was recommended by the wonderful SCAD architecture professor who took us on a tour of the waterfront, so we went immediately. It's not too bad, with some unusual things on their antipasto plate, but seemed really overpriced. My date had the Gyro Plate, and said that it was pretty much like every other Gyro on the planet. I had the Souvlaki, which, while tender, had a flavor that was easily lost in the tzaziki sauce. I'm spoiled by Milto's souvlaki in Austin. Dolmas, on the other hand, were fresh, flavorful, and obviously homemade (so many places just dredge them out of an oily tin). Dinner for two with an appetizer and a couple of beers got up to almost $50 - understandle possibly from the location and tourist clientele, but this far costs me $24 in Austin.
(2)Donna A.
cheap food and great service, It's definately bare bones.
(3)Victor L.
My wife and I came here during an earlier trip to Savannah. We took a trolley tour and asked the driver where he would recommend to get good seafood. He recommended this place. He was a local so we took him up on it. We only ordered the fish entrees and thought they were very, very good. It is a bit on the pricey end so I can understand the low-star reviews. But if you are looking for fish done in a unique (good way, I mean) way, I'd go here. We didn't try any of the traditional Greek dishes.
(4)Alexa G.
Got the chicken kabob and fries which came to about the total of ten dollars.. which I thought was a little steep.. but it is the tourist area. the tazziki sauce left a little something to be desired it was made with sour cream instead of the thick rich Greek yogurt which I enjoy and could have made better myself. The lemon rice soup was good as well as the baklava..all in all I'd skip this place on my next visit.
(2)John H.
Enjoyed a very good dinner here this evening. Have had lunch here several times - good gyros and salads. Tonight had the sautéed grouper. Was very good - good flavors, very nice sauce. Service was also good - patient as we took a few minutes to figure out what we wanted. Of note: was an easy table to score on a busy Saturday night. And good food too.
(4)Justin D.
Food was good, I had the suvlaki and my girlfriend had the calamari. We were with a large group and the birthday girl knew the owner so we were given a few freebies. The service was ok, the waitress seemed either kind of confused or unaccommodating when I said that I wanted a salad and to just serve it to my girlfriend. But she finally got the picture. I would go again if I was looking for a Greek dinner, but I don't think it will be a usual stop in my rotation.
(3)Mary F.
Allwe bought were a couple frozen drinks. They were served in wax covered paper cups. I returned my first drink after a few sips because it tasted like soap! I recieved a new different drink, but it still tasted like soap. I chalk it up to the cups, because the drinks ordered by my m-i-l and husband also had a soapy after-taste. Their menu seemed nice, but we did not eat there.
(1)Ashley P.
This is another place I've been going for years. I must say I was very surprised to see that this place had such low marks... I've always been very impressed with the food and everyone I've taken to Olympia has always loved it. I even have a Greek friend who will recommend it as good Greek food. That said, I think a very good rule for dining out is: if you go to any sort of ethnic place, get an ethnic dish. It's likely to be something the kitchen is good at preparing and takes a lot of pride in serving. A lot of times the other menu items are just there so that people who don't want to try the ethnic cuisine will have *something* to eat. With that, I have several suggestions that I think might help everyone have a better dining experience at Olympia: Saganaki-- This is the can't-miss flaming cheese with brandy. It's tasty and ordering it is definitely an experience :) MD's Pepper-- This is a red pepper filled with cheese doused in olive oil. Feta lover's dream! The Lemon Chicken is fantastic--I get it every time I go and I have yet to meet someone who didn't love it Spanakopita-- Delicious spinach and cheese pie Though I've never personally ordered them, I've heard from dinner-mates that the rest of the Greek specialties (grape leaves, moussaka, and there's one more I'm blanking on) are also very good. Also, all of these Greek specialties are served with rice and the most delicious lemon potatoes you'll ever have, which makes the portions more than generous, in my opinion. Unfortunately, I can't attest to the quality of the gyros since I've never cared to venture outside of the aforementioned Greek specialties. Agreed that Olympia is a tad expensive, but then again so is everything on River Street... But I do hope that some of you who were disappointed the first time will consider going back and trying some of their specialties!! It'll be worth it!
(5)Marc M.
For everyone who is complaining about the prices at Olympia Cafe, please remember that River Street is a very expensive place to own or rent a building. Prices will definitely be higher than somewhere further uptown. It is called River Street for a reason. It is located on the river. My advice is to have calamari, try some of the fish dishes or some of the classic Greek dishes. You really won't go wrong. As far as claims that the service is not good, I can rebut that with my own experience there. I inadvertently left my credit card on the table when I was finished. For the next day, I could not recall where the heck I left it. I finally realized that the last place that I used the credit card was at Olympia Cafe. I walked back there and the staff had locked it in a safe and made sure that nothing was done to my credit card. The owner of the restaurant came out to greet me, offer me some kind of snack for free and regaled me with information about why I should live in Savannah. He even gave me a bottle of Diet Coke to send me on my way. For any carping critics, remember, we are talking about Savannah, Georgia and not Athens, Greece.
(4)Bill B.
Gyros and greek salads were awesome. Great service. Convenient location. Great place. Will return.
(5)J P.
love this place, excellent food, but especially the staff and owners are so friendly! they greet us like family each time we visit them :)
(5)B T.
This was a good solid Greek restaurant. Growing up going to a lot of Greek restaurants in Detroit, this definitely holds it's own. Everything was fresh and the staff was friendly.
(3)Barry S.
Excellent food, lamb shank especially. Portions good, in contrast to some of the other restaurants in the area. Service was very attentive although it wasn't very busy at lunchtime when we visited.
(4)Diane M.
Other than being a little on the expensive side, but then again Greek food isn't an everyday item Everything about the place is AWESOME!! Especially the service that we received. Best service anywhere Thanks Riley for the great service and making my trip to Savannah that much more enjoyable. Knoxville. TN
(5)Tracy C.
i stopped there twice on st patricks day! im not sure if it was just the perfect drunken snack, but i loved the gyros. although the taste of garlic lingered longer than i would have liked. i also thought it was expensive. $7 for the sandwich with no fries and no drink. i didnt really mind because they let me use their bathrooms that were closed to the public, and anyone who has been to river street on st patties day knows that is priceless.
(4)Jessica R.
pretty good margaritas on st. patrick's day! (but dont wear heels down on river st. The cobblestone ruined mine!)
(4)Bob N.
Food was great. Waiter suggested snapper cooked Mediterranean style which wasn't on the menu, but was terrific. The starter sausage opa came aflame, and was delicious. Service was friendly, efficient, and helpful. They make everything from scratch so they had no problem accommodating my multiple food allergies
(4)Lena P.
Walked in on a Thursday night and it was pretty busy as we thought we would we need to wait for a table, but they have a lot in the back as well. Here's what we ordered: Falafel sandwich - definitely needs more flavor, needs cucumber, or a different sauce. I liked the falafel pieces, they were very soft and tasted pretty good. With fries - crinkle cut fries were good With a side salad - beware they charge extra! They didn't tell us this! And it has a lot of iceberg lettuce and whole olives with the pit inside! Almost broke a tooth! The dressing was pretty good. Bread at the table was soft, and they give oil to dip it with. We asked for Balsamic and they gave us red wine to mix in, we thought that was odd, and it didn't taste good with that. Would have liked to have some hummus and pita bread pieces at a Greek restaurant, instead of regular bread.
(2)Gregory H.
For a "Greek" restaurant, they do not make a GOOD Greek Salad (nor authentic, but good luck getting an authentic Greek salad stateside). Lettuce - okay, the olives, as expected, tomato - ripe, feta was lacking in flavor/quality, the peppers were poor quality. If I come back here I'll certainly look at different menu options. I've had much better in Durham. Service was okay, drinks were refilled and the server was somewhat attentive.
(2)Julie B.
The Greek salad was just ok but the main meal was really good. I had scored flounder. It was very good and the vegetables were delicious! Baklava and coffee topped off a great meal. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. Even the owner came over to make sure everything was ok.
(4)Jes H.
Not actually vegan friendly. If you're vegan, save yourself the trouble. My waitress was very nice and accommodating, and the food was good until I found pieces of lamb in my food.
(1)Haboosha S.
I can't give them more than 1 star ... we ordered a small plate of olives+ 2 main dishes each one contains one spoon of rice, 4 shrimp ( she said it's jumbo but it was so small) and one very small piece of a grouper fish. That costs $75 !!! The portions were not enough and too pricey.. Save ur money and go to another place u can find better and cheaper.. Of course we will not go back there again...
(1)Joanna M.
The waitress Nadia was sweet and served everything quickly and introduced us to a wonderful cheese dish!! We had to scream out opah as she lit it. It was so delicious with the fresh crusty bread!! Should have just ordered that and it would have made me full!! Ordered the appetizer calamari and it was so light and fried perfect!! Yum!! My son had the snapper and since his plate was empty of it in less than two minutes I believe it was delicious! My daughter and I had tons of leftovers. So guess what's for lunch tomorrow!!! Anyway over all delicious and great service!
(5)Lawrence M.
I want to make this review as tasteful as possible. I was in Savannah Georgia with my family and friends. Walk through this restaurant because we saw this awesome sign with the delightful lunch special. The lunch special is lemon chicken which was priced at eight dollars. When we sat down the waitress denied is to have the lunch special. Said we were passed the time. It was 4:00. The sign was not one marked and clearly visible. She said that sorry lunch was over. I said the sign was still outside and that that's actually what drew us into The restaurant. We had horrible service during our time here. The food was OK and was cold when it came out. Also we only saw our server from the time she drop the food off. Then finished my food and then looked over to the staff, and she was on her phone for a straight 10 minutes. How unfortunate. I would not recommend eating here. That's an awesome restaurant down the street which I was saying would be a better fit.
(1)Rachel N.
There are 2 sides to this restaurant. If you are looking at the restaurant, the right side offers sit down service and the left side is more for quick and/or take away service. We ordered the fish and chips and the falafel wrap. The fish is the standard tilapia and the fries are crinkle cut. The fish was tasty and a little spicy. The guy at the counter gave me a mesquite sauce for the fish as well as balsamic vinegar. Very good and filling. The fries were nicely seasoned with salt. As for the falafel wrap, it was full of lettuce and tomatoes with a tahini sauce. Super filling and tasty. As we were sitting, the cook/cashier/waiter called me up to hand me a deep fried fish which was incredible. I cannot remember what it was but it was delicious! This place was really great! As many times as I've passed it, I've been missing out! By the way, the dine in side is a little more expensive for the same food. And all the food is prepared in one location, so if you are looking to save a few dollars, go to the left side! There are 5 tables and 2 bar sections with stools. Yes, they do serve alcoholic beverages (a full bar) as well as sodas. They do have a coffee menu. Definitely a must if you want Mediterranean quick or a quick slice of pizza. And don't forget to get the baklava.
(4)Mar H.
My husband and I love this little hole in the wall. Everyone goes for the upscale seafood on Riverstreet, but this is a great place for off the radar.
(4)Tommy L.
Was having a date downtown and sitting outside at a table finishing our drinks before we went in. This was a slow weekday around 4pm. Some mean Greek guy came out and said a few rude words and told us to leave. Ha. I hope he does not treat our tourist this way. Shame on you Olympia
(1)Josh M.
Very tasty and excellent gyro. Served perfectly hot and fresh. Decently priced at $9 and some change for a gyro and good fries. We were served super quickly and the staff behind the counter was very friendly. I've had gyros all over: NYC, LA, San Fran, Florida, DC, Baltimore. The one here was one of my favorites! Be aware, like another user commented, that there are two sides: the Olympia Cafe and Olympia Express. The cafe has a bigger storefront and more presence. We took the advice and visited the Express side and we were not disappointed. Food was great and you seat yourself. There are even house specials on daiquiris and margaritas that were tasty for the walk along the river.
(4)Smith S.
Terrible, do not waste your money. The snapper was drenched in oil. The chicken over a greek salad was tough and seemed like it was days old. Hummus was ok, but the portion was small. Worst Greek I have ever had.
(1)Catherine H.
Food is phenomenal every single time. Fresh seafood and authentic Greek food. Service is very friendly. Angela is a wonderful server. Vasili (owner) goes above and beyond to make it an exceptional experience! It's a feel-good kinda place--you'll be smiling with a full belly when you leave!!
(5)Scott S.
Definitely one of the best Greek meals I've ever had. Their calamari are very lightly breaded and served with an excellent feta sauce. Their souvlaki is exceptional. If you can get the table in the window the view of River Street and passing ships is fantastic.
(5)Jim H.
Let me qualify this review by saying that I was there for lunch and not for dinner. The service was excellent and the food was very good but I thought it was a bit on the pricey side for lunch. When I asked about a "lunch menu", I was told that it was the same menu for lunch and dinner. I had a gyro that was excellent and my wife really enjoyed her lamb kabob. The salads were good - with plenty of feta cheese. As a dinner destination - I probably would have rated this as a 4 star restaurant but I think it was over-priced as a lunch destination. Overall, good service, good food and a nice decor - just a little pricey.
(3)Sara V.
Definitely I agree with Gregory H., for a "Greek" restaurant they don't know what a Greek salad is made with. My salad had no cucumbers, no olive oil base dressing, no onions and not even one dolma but a bland kind of cheese that did not taste like feta cheese. What a disappointment considering it was the only thing I had ordered.
(1)Josie P.
One of my favorite places! I've been here several times, most recently for my graduation from SCAD. Great food, great wine, great service but never overpriced or overcrowded. River street isn't my favorite place in savannah, but I'll go there for Olympia's
(5)Bill F.
A great place to drop in for appetizers and/or a meal. Staff is friendly and helpful. I've been coming here for years on business or pleasure. Never had a bad experience. The food is good, well seasoned, presentation nice & prices reasonable. One of those place you could easily walk by and never realize was a hidden gem. The "Express" side of the restaurant is an easy way to get a quick snack or sampling. I've introduced many people to this quaint establishment and will continue to do so. Even though you're in the heart of tourist district they don't treat you like cattle as many other places are apt to do. The Calamari is a "must have snack" every time I'm walking down River Street.
(4)Krescent F.
We tried this place last night because of a raving review from a law enforcement officer about their food. Our dinner was fantastic, the service was impeccable thanks to Nadia, and the ambiance gave the whole meal an authentic Greek feel. I tried the Red Snapper special and there are no words to express how good it was. Nadia recommended a great wine pairing and also suggested the red snapper. This place is a must try when visiting Savannah. Thanks for a great experience and great food.
(5)Paul R.
Authentic Greek food. The best any where I've had. You have to try the roasted red pepper stuffed with feta
(5)Tyrone P.
Food was fantastic! Especially enjoyed the Greek salad and Gyro! The staff however were very unfriendly. The hostess could be compared to the Grimm reaper and the waitress to a tax accountant. Bring some good company, otherwise you will have a very unenjoyable dining experience!
(3)George R.
We always eat here at least once when we are in Savannah, as we have for thirty years. The Calamari are a must have as are the gyros. Reasonable prices compared to much of River Street. Always friendly service..
(4)Keith J.
Awesome red snapper stuffed with crab. Pita bread hummus is great too. Our waitress was friendly and nice. The hostess is pretty but never smiles. There is a fast food area if you don't want to be served.
(4)Molly G.
I eat quite a bit of Greek food and the Olympia Cafe was right up there with the best. My husband had the gyro dinner which was really good and not greasy like gyro meat can be. I had the chicken kabob which was perfectly prepared. The salads were fresh and the waiter was extremely informative. A nice find.
(5)Elena I.
Came here for lunch with friends who recommended it. We had the fried cheese app which was great. I had the chicken kabob with a Greek salad. It was very good juicy and fresh. The location is great! I thought it could have been better but I was happy and would recommend it for lunch!
(4)Bethany S.
My husband took me there for our anniversary. Our waitress wasn't the friendliest I've had but she did her job well. My favorite part was the salad with feta dressing. The waitress told me that they import their feta straight from Greece and you could taste the amazing difference! I had a Gyro wrap with veggies and again it came with that amazing feta cheese! Their food was delicious, atmosphere was nice, location was easy to get to (on the river front but a quick walk from the street), and just an all around good experience.
(4)Jennifer M.
We were greeted quickly and waited on quickly as well, I just ordered the tzatziki and an order of pita bread. If you wish to eat all of the tzatziki they give you, you should get 2 orders of the pita bread because one isn't enough. I left a lot behind. The tzatziki was a tad bit tart but was very good.
(5)Angela S.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in Savannah! The grouper was amazing!! We have been coming here for many years and always have a wonderful experience!! Our server Richard was perfect. The owners Nick and Visili are beyond awesome!! Always a delicious meal and great atmosphere!
(5)Matt S.
I hadn't been here for well over a decade so I was eager to go back. Good Greek food is so hard to find where I live so I was very pleased with this experience. Our server was very friendly and when my sister asked for recommendations she knew the menu very well and sold both of us on the scored flounder. She told us that the seafood is very fresh and she wasn't lying. I'm a big fan of fish and even in New England I run into issues with mislabeled or poor quality seafood. My flounder was probably the best flounder I've ever had in my entire life. It was lightly fried to perfection and had an awesome flavor. My partner had the lamb chops and loved them (also recommended by our server). All of our dishes came with a side of potatoes, rice, and peas over a lemon sauce and it had a nice unique taste that worked well with the fish. Definitely one of the highlights of my vacation.
(5)Michelle R.
Stopped in on our short visit through savannah on our way to FL. The serious was great! our waiter was super friendly and obviously liked by the 'regulars' who seemed to make a point to ask for him or say hello (unfortunately I forget his name myself, sorry). The food - good portion sizes but not overwhelming. Unfortunately, like someone else mentioned - slightly disappointed by the out of date menu. Calamari was good and served with Tzatziki sauce, which was actually nice change from marinara. When I ordered the waiter suggested I try the lemon garlic potatoes instead of the standard side. Very thankful he did that - absolutely delicious and a great pairing with the meal. Overall I enjoyed it and would return if we go to Savannah again.
(4)Reesey H.
The gyro wrap and fries were excellent. This is truly authentic Greek food.
(5)Chris S.
Gyros are awesome! They have a great Gyro platter as well. Decent prices and service!
(4)Desiree H.
The service, food, and decor was all good. No problems with that. The only thing I had a huge problem with was what I had to pay. It was lunch time and I just wanted something small to eat. I ordered a small salad for $6. The waitress asked if I would like some cooked chicken and I said sure. It would be a dollar or two more. No harm. Ate the food (was delicious), got the check and noticed my $6 was now $15. By adding half a chicken breast worth of meat it cost me $9. I grabbed a nearby menu and noticed a little farther down that they had a chicken salad for $15. NOT what I ordered but paid it anyway since I was in no mood to argue. I would of gladly gave 5 stars if I would not of been talked into ordering something I originally didn't want. I will now ask how much something will cost me if a waiter/waitress offers something extra.
(3)Dennis U.
This is an OK Greek restaurant in a prime location. Not a big lunch menu but with standard Greek fare. My gyro was fine but I would head to Savannah to eat here.
(3)Richard D.
Perfectly prepared yet again. Never a bad experience here at Olympia Cafe. Love coming here every time I visit Savannah. Staff always friendly. Owners never miss an opportunity to visit tables and interact with patrons. See you again in 2 weeks!
(5)Zia H.
The worst dinning experience of my life. I went there last night to try their lamb shank, because of my love of lamb. The lamb was so bad, and I know for a fact that they served me at least 10 days old already prepared shank. After having couple of bites, I was literally sick, and started to throw up. It is already 14 hours afterward, and I am still sick.
(1)Wade S.
Food was horrible. Service was bad. Water tasted funny. Just don't do it. Two cops we saw in the area recommended this place. Enough said.
(1)Christina K.
Hmm.. I really like greek food, and we stopped by here while waiting for our ferry. We grabbed our 2 gyros to go and when we got back to our hotel room, scarfed them down. SO thinks that they would have been much better had we gotten to eat them there, but I was a little put off. I mean, it's MUCH better than the crap that Great Wraps will offer you, but was it so mouthwatering great that I dreamt about it? Nope. Was the taste enough to have me go back for more? Nope again. It was ok, nothing to rave about other than the fact that this is the only greek place on River Street. i've had better at Cafe Agora in Buckhead.
(2)Shannon M.
I'm sure the cafe is separate from the "ice cream" shop, but I won't waste my time finding out. We went in for a cone after walking down River Street after dinner. The inside had old dumpy tables and chairs, but we figured that wasn't a big deal. When we approached the counter, the attendant let out a sigh and actually rolled her eyes. I asked if she was okay (I envisioned she had just dealt with a customer from hell) because I thought I missed something. She replied, "Yes. Do you know what you want?" I answered that we needed a minute to look and she just walked away. We simply walked out and went down to Vic's Coffee House which was a far better choice - the ice cream was terrific, the ambiance was trendy, and the service was pleasant.
(1)Mike F.
Gyro's were good and they had no issue making ours with Feta cheese and roasted tomatoes, the way I make them at home. All five of us enjoyed them, my wife even commented that the pita bread was much better than what I use.
(3)Sergio O.
I've Lived in Savannah for 16 years now, seen and tried it all.. This place is still one of my favorites. They always treat us like family here.. And we will always return. Saganaki Mediterranean Pepper Red Snapper Shrimp Aegean Grouper Sautee' Lamb Chops Potatoes and Peas with a Lemon Sauce, amazing. It's all prepared excellently, and with Love. Order some fruit and Baklava for dessert!! I could go on and on.. People from all over the globe return once they've eaten here.. It's a great place, with great food, and a great staff, If you have a problem, ask to see Nick, or Vasili and they will make sure you are Happy. Don't let the touristy location fool you, It's a great local restaurant. Opa!!!
(5)Teresa H.
Falafel sandwich was DELICIOUS! I wanted to try everything on the menu.
(4)Doug R.
The Greek salad that comes with dinner is good, but the put a lot of dressing on the salad. I suggest dressing on the side. It's been ages since I ate here and am just catching-up with reviews. Sorry, can't provide any details other than I'd go back and my memory says it was a 4-star experience.
(4)Devin A.
Good food, nice ambiance and friendly staff made a quick meal enjoyable. Traditional Greek menu items and a few nontraditional ones (burgers and pizza for those who aren't into Greek foods). Price was about right for the portion. The French bread provided before the meal was surprisingly very light and tasty.
(4)Tom S.
Great ice cream. We needed a little something after dinner while walking around. Brick floor fits right in with the local area. We didn't eat in the restaurant.
(4)Lisa C.
Unfriendly hostess, but great wait staff delicious Greek food, good wine list. Servings are generous. However, for such a nice restaurant, the restrooms are attached to their next store ice cream shop and were worst than the oldest gas station facilities. When you tool around River Street this is a valuable aspect of eating or drinking on River Street, spoiled the,experience.
(4)Stephanie P.
I only ordered a cup of coffee, but I was so thankful for the Olympia Cafe for being open on race morning at 5am. When we arrived via ferry over to River St we had a couple hours before the start of the Savannah 1/2 marathon. Normally before a run you stand outside freezing and shivering waiting way too long in the port-a-potty lines. The Olympia Cafe opened just for the runners and had coffee, pastries, etc, and most importantly a warm place to hang out with a bathroom! yay! Thank you!!
(4)William K.
The food is pretty good but it is a bit over priced because of its location on River Street. There are not many places to get Greek food in Sav so it may be worth it to you. The food and service was good.
(3)Paige N.
So my party of three and I stumbled into the Olympia Cafe on Saturday night after being turned away from the Olde Pink House because our reservation hadn't been received (don't ask me how a phone reservation left on the answering machine isn't received, but it wasn't) - so we improvised and headed for the river. As soon as we entered we were seated immediately, and I after perusing the menu I observed the carryings on happening around me. The most intriguing thing was when the severs would bring out what looked like skillets, pour a magical liquid into them and shout "OPA!" as the plate burst into flames before setting it on the table for the delighted diners. Naturally I had to have this -didn't matter what it was. Turned out, it just happened to taste great too - it was "flaming cheese (or sausage)" and lit on fire / flash cooked in the skillet with brandy. Not only was the presentation impressive, but whatever kind of cheese they used was superb for its flavor and ability to withstand the heat and not turn in to a gooey mess. Our entrees were less spectacular, but still solid - I had the chicken kebabs with a Greek salad, warm pita and a tasty tatziki sauce. They were a little stingy with the chicken portion in my opinion, and tried to make up for it with carbs: pita, salad, bread basket, and french fries. All of it was tasty - but nothing truly standout about the kebabs. The other problem I had which brought this down from 4 stars was the air conditioning in the place - it was ON! Now keep in mind, it's the middle of February (and yes, we've had a mild winter, but not THAT mild), and the AC is blowing on us throughout the entire meal. At first, I thought it was a draft from the open front door, so I asked the waitress to close it, which she did. But after the breeze continued, we deduced it must be the AC. Needless to say, we didn't linger for dessert that time. Overall, Olympia's a good restaurant, and the presentation's very "classical" Greek (Roman columns, murals of Greece, etc), but it's still a touristy restaurant on River Street. Just OK.
(3)Mark M.
Absolutely the best calamari and Gyro's hands down. Actually everything on the menu is awesome. The Baklava is outstanding if you have a sweet tooth. Nick is one of the nicest gentlemen and restauranters I have ever met. Not to mention he runs a tight ship so quality and consistency are always spot on!
(5)Miss M.
a bit expensive and god how I despise river street, but works for me as a Greek salad hook up. not very vegetarian friendly, but the greeks I know think being a vegetarian is worse than cheating on my husband or maybe kicking a dog.
(5)Beth C.
Pretty large restraunt, right on river walk. We had lunch on a Tuesday at about 2pm and we were one of two tables. Food was fine. Potatoes were too oily for me, but delicious. Spanakopita was GREAT because it wasn't too feta-y. The Greek Salad had lettuce underneath the 1lb of feta cheese (opposite of the spinach pie which had little cheese!). Overall, I would try something else in the area but the food was fine for a quick bite in the area. I had no idea what the peas and mush were on top of the rice? It was boringggg and I didn't eat it. Looked like gravy? Great way to ruin peas.
(3)Susan H.
Olympia express has some really great food you can just stop on and grab. And the baklava is delish!
(4)Jeff K.
We decided to stop in here for lunch while we were waiting for our hotel room to be ready. We ordered the skordalia to start (we have to order skordalia whenever it's available, it's one of our favorites). This one was great, although not the best we've ever had. I can't put my finger on it, but there was sort of a tartness to it that I'm not accustomed to. But skordalia is different everywhere you go, and it was definitely good. The free bread that came out to the table was excellent and I used it to finish off the skordalia when we ran out of pita bread. For lunch I ordered the gyro, and it didn't disappoint either. The tzatziki was plentiful and tasty! The meat tasted great, and the pita was soft and delicious. Service was also quick and friendly, and the prices were good. I know there's a lot to do in Savannah, and a lot to eat. I'm sure this little Greek place doesn't even show up on most peoples' radar when they come into town for the weekend, but if you're in the area and you're hungry, you really should stop by.
(4)Renaud F.
The best thing about this restaurant is the location. The food is ok and the restaurant is stuck in a time warp. I would go back for some food but mostly for a bite and move around the boardwalk. The waitress knew her stuff and service was fast probably because the restaurant was pretty much empty.
(3)Megan E.
Stopped in because I was in need of sweet tea and this looked like the kinda place I could get it. and I was right. The price was amazing only a little under 2 bucks for sweet tea!! and a big cup!! yess! It was absolutely delicious. Also came back for a smoothie and ended up ordering an alcoholic one, the strawberry shortcake one, it was also amazing. The service was really great the guys were super friendly and quick. They even remembered who we were when we stopped by a few hours later!
(4)Emily M.
Oh amazing! If you have not been there you need to go there ASAP! Best sea food!
(5)Max B.
Authenic Greek restaurant. A bit touristy due to location. Great value and fun atmosphere. Casual dining. Chef/owner formerly from Chiago
(4)Lori H.
I will visit this restaurant every time I come to Savannah. Great gyros, they're always perfect and always hit the spot. The calamari is fresh and fried to perfection. All our waitresses have always been super friendly too!
(5)Ashlee W.
I work on river street and I'm always bringing a snack to work or ordering a sandwich. Today I was craving pasta! So I looked through our lunch menus and found Olympia cafe. I went straight to pastas and decided to keep it simple and cheap. I ordered the pasta marinara with Parmesan or feta. It was exactly what I needed to satisfy my pasta craving. No complaints, they even threw in some bread for me! Quick service!
(4)Mark A.
Good food. Price was appropriate for tourist location. I'd come back.
(4)TJ G.
I'm torn by this place because the food was excellent. Whatever the buttery sauce they put on the peas and rice could have elevated them up to five stars on it's own. However, the entrees are very expensive for what they are. $20 for a vegetarian plate that isn't very big in a place where the ambiance is extremely casual? I don't know that it's worth it.... But the food is really good, so maybe it is. Plus it's a very touristy area, maybe the price is for the general ambiance of the area.
(3)Rebekah K.
One of my favorites in Savannah! I love the lemon potatoes and peas. The moussaka is decadent and delicious. OK, so I have not had anything here that I didn't like. I agree with Clay that the platter is the way to go, but please only do this on a very empty stomach or be able to take a to go plate = ) The service has always been pleasant, and you can get a little table by the window to people and boat watch out on Riverstreet.
(4)Clay K.
This place rocks my socks. If budget isn't a concern, ask for the Platter. Don't ask what's on it, just do it. Sit back. Enjoy being treated like you're royalty and dine like a king. On a budget, or are you just a cheap bastard like me? Gyros are good, but the way to go is order a Greek Trio with Spanikopita, Mousaka, and Dolmades, grab the Calamari Appetizer, and share it with a date. Bam, decent dinner on a budget and room left in your belly for plenty of booze on River Street. Need some tasty sweetness? Best baklava around.
(4)Travis B.
this was the only place open in the wee hours of the savannah full/half marathon this weekend. we wouldn't have even noticed until the owner peeked his head out of the door. it was super windy and cold and we had 2 hours to kill before race start, so we ducked in here for a cup of coffee and some warmth. coffee is a bit weak and at 2.25 a cup, not that great of a deal. but he was friendly and best of all, open at 5am! my wife, whom is greek, can understand my awe at the greek resourcefulness. sure, his cafe is Greek, but when a customer asked for a bagel, he said "maybe, let me look" and shortly thereafter, appeared with a toasted bagel. he just happened to have it in his fridge. nice and cozy, neat interior. full service restaurant as well as the cafe (beer, burgers, and frozen daquiries too....those greeks.....
(4)Cliff S.
The snapper is to die for-- the best I've ever had, anywhere. Expensive but worth it. Niko prepares it lovingly at your table. Everything else is great, but the snapper is exceptional.
(5)Nikhil B.
The Falafel appetizer was nice but the veggie pizza was one of the worst pizzas we ever had. The dough was like a grocery store bought one with a very bad chewy texture and was not at all crusty. We had to wait at least 45 mins to get the pizza. The waitress was very polite and kept asking if we needed anything while patiently waiting. Great location on the river, good looking waitresses but bad food.
(2)Kevin B.
Strange to think that we could have our best meal in Savannah at a Greek restaurant but it's true. The service was terrific and so was the food. I must recommend the Saganaki (greek flaming cheese) and Calamari. I also recommend the Souvlaki chicken kabob. The location is right down on the river. We didn't save room for the ice cream from their parlor but I hear it's terrific.
(5)Nate Y.
The BEST lamb chops i have ever jad in my life. Prices are great and so is the food. The service was wonderful and Nik, one of the owners, is awesome!!!!! Highly recommend!
(5)Scott L.
I've been going to this place for years when ever I'm in town and I've never been disappointed. I really like their Greek Salad and their Gyros (which they make a point of saying is pronounced yee ros on their menu), but their other dishes have been good too. And you should try their flaming cheese appetizer sometime that they light at your table with the waitress giving a big "Opa!." This place is usually busy and there's a good reason for it.
(5)Linda C.
This was my 3rd visit to Olympia's Express cafe. The gyro and apple pie are to die for! Excellent fresh food, hot, and speedy - when I am on the road, that is what I expect. Foods sampled - gyro wrap, spaghetti & meatballs, baklava, pina colada - all were great. There is a restaurant adjacent to the Express cafe for those who want a more relaxed, dress up, etc. experience - but for me the cafe is perfect. Daniel behind the counter sets the climate with friendly fast service. If you find yourself strolling River Street, stop in for a quick break. Take the water taxi over to the Westin for a quick drink, then be sure to peruse the shops.
(4)Tatyana C.
Love me some Greek food! Restaurant is small and very busy. Best gyros in town.
(4)Linda R.
Love this place!! We have made a point to eat there every time we go to Savannah. The calamari is the best I have ever eaten and is as fresh as it gets. Once, on the way back to NC from Florida, we drove significantly over the speed limit just to get there in time to stop and eat some calamari before they closed for the night and the guys were so impressed, they gave us a to-go box with some extra which we enjoyed for the rest of the trip. Wish we lived closer so we could go more often!
(5)Stephanie Y.
Ok so the food was really good. I had a great experience because a person in our party new the owner who came out with the ouzo and made the meal a great experience! The fish was absolutely amazing. I don't really remember the rest of the food as i was wasted after like 5 shots of ouzo. BUT SO GOOD.. Come try it out and get the fish- it was fresh and delicious!
(4)Charles S.
Fantastic flounder, good eggplant, nice atmosphere. Surprisingly good food and friendly service on a busy tourist street, well worth the visit.
(5)Jason R.
This is a good place to catch up with old friends you haven't seen since the last conference circuit go-round. We sat there chatting and drinking until after closing, and the staff starting cleaning so quietly that we didn't even notice... They didn't push us out; we excused ourselves quickly once we realized we were making them late. I didn't have any food, alas, but our friends raved about it. Given the delightful service, I'm willing to go out on a limb and be a fan.
(4)Calvin C.
When most folks think Greek food, visions of pastitsio, gyros, moussaka, etc. frequently come to mind. While that is certainly fine, a Greek restaurant had better prepare meat and seafood well as that is what they would be judged by in Greece. We had dolmades for an appetizer which were excellent. Their presentation had only two and had thinly sliced tomatoes and pita slices around the periphery. Covering the stuffed grape leaves was their version of tzatziki sauce and it all tasted fresh and flavorful. For the main course, we had the red snapper and lamb shank, both of which were prepared perfectly. My wife normally hates "fishy" fish, but the preparation of the red snapper in olive oil, capers, paprika, sliced almonds and lemon balanced the flavor exceedingly well. As good as that was, the lamb shank was even better. It was roasted perfectly to "fall off the bone" state and captured the unique flavor of lamb. This place knows how to cook meat well and while I'm sure the "standard" Greek is good too, they know what they are doing - it is not just food, but cuisine.
(5)Adam S.
Very average greek food at surprisingly high prices here. On top of that, eating here involves a trip to river street which I desperately try to avoid as much as possible. Definitely not the best place in town to get a meal (especially for the price), and I'm not really sure why you would be wanting to eat greek food in Savannah to begin with if you are a visitor given the many wonderful choices, but whatever floats your boat touristas...
(2)Justin D.
Food was good, I had the suvlaki and my girlfriend had the calamari. We were with a large group and the birthday girl knew the owner so we were given a few freebies. The service was ok, the waitress seemed either kind of confused or unaccommodating when I said that I wanted a salad and to just serve it to my girlfriend. But she finally got the picture. I would go again if I was looking for a Greek dinner, but I don't think it will be a usual stop in my rotation.
(3)Mary F.
Allwe bought were a couple frozen drinks. They were served in wax covered paper cups. I returned my first drink after a few sips because it tasted like soap! I recieved a new different drink, but it still tasted like soap. I chalk it up to the cups, because the drinks ordered by my m-i-l and husband also had a soapy after-taste. Their menu seemed nice, but we did not eat there.
(1)Terry H.
My favorite Calamari in all the world. I live about 3.5 hours away from Savannah, Ga. One of my coworkers told me how beautiful the city was in the winter time with all the Christmas decorations and all. So, my wife and I decided to make the trek and do a weekend stay. While walking on River Street, a nice waitress approached us on the sidewalk with a tray of fried Calamari, asking if we'd like to try a sample. At first, reluctant, we grabbed a toothpick and into our mouths it went. OMG!! It was the best Calamari I've eaten since my days in Spain! I immediately went inside and ordered a plate of it. My wife agreed that it was the tastiest calamari we've had since moving back from Europe five years ago. It comes with a well made tzatziki (sp?) sauce, which I prefer over marinara. This stuff became addicting. We came back that evening for dinner and the next day for lunch before we departed back to Gainesville, FL. We couldn't eat enough of it! I couldn't get that wonderful taste out of my mind and a month later, planned another trip to Savannah with my wife. This time, I was able to speak to Nick the owner. He was actually cooking muscles for his family while my wife and I were speaking to him and allowed us to try some. Unbelievably delicious, they were. He really needs to put those on his menu. He offered us some flaming cheese (saganaki) for an appetizer which was awesome, and we sat down to our meal of calamari and the souvlaki dinner. The calamari is so tender and it melts in your mouth. If I could hire Nick to be my in-home chef, it is all I would ever ask for. I would never be able to get across to you how much I love their calamari. The pork was also tender and tasty! My wife and I continued to go once a month for that nice drive to that beautiful town of Savannah to eat that delicious calamari. Well, until our first beautiful child came along. Now, two children later, we go only about twice a year, but always stop by the Olympia Cafe and always order, well, you know what I order.
(5)Ramon D.
The atmosphere was decent but the wait was none on Saturday evening so the spot was already doing good!! They are also kid friendly which was good for the family. The rest of the dinning experience was about what you would expect - good service, drinks, etc. The food itself was very good - I order the stuffed red snapper and what a delicious dish this was! I honestly think this is the best red snapper I've had in years! So while everything was about average - the food itself allows me to give this place a well deserved 4 stars.
(4)Chris M.
A delightful restaurant sitting along River St. in downtown Savannah. I recommend the calamari as an appetizer, fried to a light golden crisp, not too oily, not rubbery, just right. Then definitely go with any of the seafood dishes for an entree. It's especially nice if you have a Greek last name, as the owners love to meet new people with similar backgrounds.
(3)MARK M.
Good gyros. Not my favorite but great to see a greek place on the river.
(3)Maulik V.
We stumbled upon this place while enjoying a cool night by river street. We had our hopes high, but this restaurant fared a so-so on all measures of a good eating joint. Average and expensive food, european-sized (small) portions, poor wine list pretty much sums this place up for me. However, i have to admit the service was very prompt.
(3)Robert S.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I think that the food (in general) in Savannah has a lot to be desired. Generally speaking, the diners have about as much class and staying power as a rhinestone g-string and have the palate of an aguesiac thus not giving any of the restaurants incentive to cook good food. This is especially true of those restaurants located on the Savannah Riverfront on River Street, the same street that Olympia Cafe sits on. But, in this case, there is an exception. I have read many of the reviews below and tend to agree with parts of all of them. I think that Jane D says it well when she states that the food is "mediocre at best" (and you are now asking, how is he giving this place 4 stars after a statement like that?), but there is an exception, and that exception lies in the owner Vasilis Varlagas and his big personality and his brilliance with whole fish. I have eaten here now a handful of times and every time we go we order, in advance, the whole red snapper. Vasilis ensures that it is fresh for that day and prepares it very simply but with the care a mother gives her newborn. The fish is amazingly moist, flavorful and delicate. It is prepared in the oven, whole and comes to the table that way for all to gaze upon with awe before Vasilis himself comes out to fillet and plate. With the fish comes some very traditional sides of lemon potatoes, rice with peas and a very Greek version of a ratatouille (complete with feta cheese). Every morsel is simply delectable. This follows all the way through the meal commencing with the saganaki and red roasted pepper with goat cheese, followed closely by a Greek and Greek Village salad and ending with fresh fruit, baklava and Greek yogurt with honey. He even throws in an ouzo to boot! Everything about the meal and about Vasilis's hospitality is memorable. With all that said, going back to Jane D's quote (but I cannot endorse the "sucks" part of that quote), I have eaten here prior to discovering the fish and really found the other dishes about mediocre. There are some winners on the menu for sure, but they are few and far between. But what is a winner every single time is the whole red snapper. When I am in Savannah again, which is a regular occurrence, I will certainly keep Vasilis and the Olympia Cafe in the rotation especially if I "make the call" a day in advance to ensure that beautiful fish will be waiting for me on my next visit. Try it, you will not be disappointed!
(4)Jessica V.
We ordered a sampler plate with a little of everything. Feta, Greek olives, marinated artichoke hearts, dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves with tzadziki sauce), skordalia (mashed garlic potatoes with olive oil and vinegar), tiropitakia (fillo dough and feta cheese triangles), octopus and a red cavier mousse. My favorite was definitely the tiropitakia and the skordalia. My husband had chicken kebab which he said was just "okay" and we ordered some baklava for dessert which had a little too much cinnamon and chunks of nuts for my taste. We also ordered dirty, dry vodka martinis and they made it with straight vodka. We had to ask for olive juice that was brought to the table in little plastic containers when, really the waitress should have taken our drinks back and had them remade. I am a stickler for my martinis! The food was pretty good but a little pricey for the entrees which is why we just stuck with appetizers. We were able to try a little bit of everything without spending so much.
(3)Claire B.
I miss eating real Greek food. If you eat there when the owner is wandering around, he will tell you that it is Greek Islands food and not Greek mainland. He may also go on a rant about how tabouli is middle eastern and not Greek. Don't get him started, or do, it's pretty amusing. Now down to the food. Amazing. Incredible. Fabulous. This is the first place I ate in Savannah, many years ago. I wish we had something that would even come close in Nashville, TN. The cheese set on fire with brandy is just incredible and sets the atmosphere for the place, along with the cries of "Opa!" If you've got someone else, get the platter. There's shrimp and lamb chops and spanokopita and everything Greek you could want. It's a fantastic dining experience and the only place really worth eating on River Street.
(5)Snow G.
Love their souvlaki, fries, tzatzki , tangy greek salad , feta, and calamari ! You will not go wrong with eating here - just go and enjoy. Service is great and next door is the casual paper plate take out version - same great food.
(5)Jay R.
This was recommended by the wonderful SCAD architecture professor who took us on a tour of the waterfront, so we went immediately. It's not too bad, with some unusual things on their antipasto plate, but seemed really overpriced. My date had the Gyro Plate, and said that it was pretty much like every other Gyro on the planet. I had the Souvlaki, which, while tender, had a flavor that was easily lost in the tzaziki sauce. I'm spoiled by Milto's souvlaki in Austin. Dolmas, on the other hand, were fresh, flavorful, and obviously homemade (so many places just dredge them out of an oily tin). Dinner for two with an appetizer and a couple of beers got up to almost $50 - understandle possibly from the location and tourist clientele, but this far costs me $24 in Austin.
(2)Donna A.
cheap food and great service, It's definately bare bones.
(3)Victor L.
My wife and I came here during an earlier trip to Savannah. We took a trolley tour and asked the driver where he would recommend to get good seafood. He recommended this place. He was a local so we took him up on it. We only ordered the fish entrees and thought they were very, very good. It is a bit on the pricey end so I can understand the low-star reviews. But if you are looking for fish done in a unique (good way, I mean) way, I'd go here. We didn't try any of the traditional Greek dishes.
(4)Alexa G.
Got the chicken kabob and fries which came to about the total of ten dollars.. which I thought was a little steep.. but it is the tourist area. the tazziki sauce left a little something to be desired it was made with sour cream instead of the thick rich Greek yogurt which I enjoy and could have made better myself. The lemon rice soup was good as well as the baklava..all in all I'd skip this place on my next visit.
(2)John H.
Enjoyed a very good dinner here this evening. Have had lunch here several times - good gyros and salads. Tonight had the sautéed grouper. Was very good - good flavors, very nice sauce. Service was also good - patient as we took a few minutes to figure out what we wanted. Of note: was an easy table to score on a busy Saturday night. And good food too.
(4)Ashley P.
This is another place I've been going for years. I must say I was very surprised to see that this place had such low marks... I've always been very impressed with the food and everyone I've taken to Olympia has always loved it. I even have a Greek friend who will recommend it as good Greek food. That said, I think a very good rule for dining out is: if you go to any sort of ethnic place, get an ethnic dish. It's likely to be something the kitchen is good at preparing and takes a lot of pride in serving. A lot of times the other menu items are just there so that people who don't want to try the ethnic cuisine will have *something* to eat. With that, I have several suggestions that I think might help everyone have a better dining experience at Olympia: Saganaki-- This is the can't-miss flaming cheese with brandy. It's tasty and ordering it is definitely an experience :) MD's Pepper-- This is a red pepper filled with cheese doused in olive oil. Feta lover's dream! The Lemon Chicken is fantastic--I get it every time I go and I have yet to meet someone who didn't love it Spanakopita-- Delicious spinach and cheese pie Though I've never personally ordered them, I've heard from dinner-mates that the rest of the Greek specialties (grape leaves, moussaka, and there's one more I'm blanking on) are also very good. Also, all of these Greek specialties are served with rice and the most delicious lemon potatoes you'll ever have, which makes the portions more than generous, in my opinion. Unfortunately, I can't attest to the quality of the gyros since I've never cared to venture outside of the aforementioned Greek specialties. Agreed that Olympia is a tad expensive, but then again so is everything on River Street... But I do hope that some of you who were disappointed the first time will consider going back and trying some of their specialties!! It'll be worth it!
(5)Marc M.
For everyone who is complaining about the prices at Olympia Cafe, please remember that River Street is a very expensive place to own or rent a building. Prices will definitely be higher than somewhere further uptown. It is called River Street for a reason. It is located on the river. My advice is to have calamari, try some of the fish dishes or some of the classic Greek dishes. You really won't go wrong. As far as claims that the service is not good, I can rebut that with my own experience there. I inadvertently left my credit card on the table when I was finished. For the next day, I could not recall where the heck I left it. I finally realized that the last place that I used the credit card was at Olympia Cafe. I walked back there and the staff had locked it in a safe and made sure that nothing was done to my credit card. The owner of the restaurant came out to greet me, offer me some kind of snack for free and regaled me with information about why I should live in Savannah. He even gave me a bottle of Diet Coke to send me on my way. For any carping critics, remember, we are talking about Savannah, Georgia and not Athens, Greece.
(4)Bill B.
Gyros and greek salads were awesome. Great service. Convenient location. Great place. Will return.
(5)J P.
love this place, excellent food, but especially the staff and owners are so friendly! they greet us like family each time we visit them :)
(5)B T.
This was a good solid Greek restaurant. Growing up going to a lot of Greek restaurants in Detroit, this definitely holds it's own. Everything was fresh and the staff was friendly.
(3)Barry S.
Excellent food, lamb shank especially. Portions good, in contrast to some of the other restaurants in the area. Service was very attentive although it wasn't very busy at lunchtime when we visited.
(4)Diane M.
Other than being a little on the expensive side, but then again Greek food isn't an everyday item Everything about the place is AWESOME!! Especially the service that we received. Best service anywhere Thanks Riley for the great service and making my trip to Savannah that much more enjoyable. Knoxville. TN
(5)Tracy C.
i stopped there twice on st patricks day! im not sure if it was just the perfect drunken snack, but i loved the gyros. although the taste of garlic lingered longer than i would have liked. i also thought it was expensive. $7 for the sandwich with no fries and no drink. i didnt really mind because they let me use their bathrooms that were closed to the public, and anyone who has been to river street on st patties day knows that is priceless.
(4)Jessica R.
pretty good margaritas on st. patrick's day! (but dont wear heels down on river st. The cobblestone ruined mine!)
(4)