Yiannis Greek Restaurant
238 Yale Ave, Claremont, CA, 91711
Yiannis Greek Restaurant Menu
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Address :
238 Yale Ave
Claremont, CA, 91711 - Phone (909) 621-2413
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- 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 : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Greek Cuisine
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.
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Mike Z.
My favorite food in the world in Greek/Middle-Eastern/Med. Over the years, I've had a hard time finding bad Greek food, as even fast Greek food tastes excellent to me ... until now. It really has nothing going for it ... the place is small and cramped. The food is nearly tasteless and mostly over-cooked/fried. Everything is expensive, and the beer/wine selection is weak, at best. My mamma told me, if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all... so, I won't. Just don't waste your time and money. Pros: Location - in Claremont Village Cons: Everything else... even the super-small "patio"on the sidewalk is cramped, and decked out with $8 Wal-Mart plastic chairs ... Hey, for $2 more, spring for wooden at Ikea, Yianni! Stay away! So many good places in Claremont, this will just piss you off.
(1)Miss Mary R.
I really wanted to like this place. Loved the staff, not the food. The Geek salad was not well balanced with herbs/oil/vinegar. However, the feta was amazing! Leg of lamb seemed micro waved - too hot in spots, still cold in others. Seasoning ran to the "too salty" range. Potatoes were good......but, really, roast potatoes were the best things on the plate.
(2)Rachel A.
Ok, so the boyfriend and i had a hankering for some Greek (other than Daphne's) so based on the reviews of you fine people here on Yelp, we decided that Yianni's was the place. It was a cute, rather small restaurant...and it was located in a snazzy part of the Village...but, honestly? I probably won't eat there again. When we entered there wasn't a waiter in sight, so a customer told us to seat ourselves, which we did. Now the waiter was very attentive, once he showed up (there was no excuse if he wasn't, we were the only people dining) and he answered all of our questions about the menu...but the food wasn't that great. It was mediocre. The soup was too runny and salty for me, the salad dressing too tart. We did order the fried cheese, which was the best part of the meal for me. I ordered the white fish and my boyfriend the calamari...and neither was very appetizing. The fish was bland, the calamari too salty. However, we did get some really good bakalava for dessert. I'd definitely recommend the bakalava and the fried cheese, but everything else isn't really worth the money you pay. Did I mention the waiter put our styrofoam take home containers in a used Albertson's bag? Yah. He asked us if we would like our food in a bag, and we said yes...and he proceeded to put in into a used grocery bag....
(2)Bridget V.
I love going to the village. It makes me want to go to a real college, not Mt.Sac. I had heard about this place a few times, but the last time I went to check it out, it was closed due to water damage. So in coming home from the L.A. Zoo today, my boyfriend suggested that we try again. So I was ready for some good Greek food. We parked nearby and walked around before entering the tiny empty restaurant on Yale Ave. (right next to the candy store!). My boyfriend and I both decided to get entrees because they come with soup, salad, baklava, and an aperitif. I ordered the moussaka, and my boyfriend had lamb, I don't remember the name but it was #13. The soup was great, some lemony garlicky eggy thing, so yum, I want this when I get a cold next time. The salad was your basic salad on a tiny plate with some feta cheese. I did not like my moussaka, I think it had too much cinnamon in it. The lamb my boyfriend got was good, but not great. I thought that the best part of the meal was the baklava. Usually baklava is too sweet for me (The Mad Greek...go) but here it was very nice. The dessert wine was yummy too. All the food was homemade which was nice, but nothing to shout about. I'm glad I tried it, but I am not sure I will go back. I still want to try that tapas place in the village.
(3)Kerry M.
I was visiting Claremont and was looking forward to enjoying a Greek dinner. Yianni's lived up to my expectations. Most Greek restaurants I visit are more casual pick-up type places where I simply grab a gyro to go, while Yianni's is more of a fine dining experience. This means the prices were steeper than I expected- but the quality makes it well worth it. I ordered the mosakka, and fell in love with it- so interesting and delicious. Bf ordered the slouvaki and was very pleased- well seasoned with a nice grilled charring. Along with our meals, we each got a Greek salad and chefs choice soup (delicious!). The service was excellent- we arrived very early for dinner (around 5) and the place was very quiet. The owner even finished off our meal with a great piece of baklava and some Greek sherry. I had a great time at this restaurant and will return when I'm in the area.
(4)Katana D.
The food here was excellent! We went here a few weeks ago on our way to a concert. We are still raving about the food, and promising to go back with more of our friends. It was a Saturday evening. The restaurant was fairly empty, and the waiters were friendly (I assumed the owners and family). The older gentleman recommended the wine that I had, and I'm wishing I had asked the name, because it was wonderful. The salad and soup were good. The Tzatziki appetizer was absolutely delicious. I had the Moussaka, and it was very yummy. My date had the Gyro, which I tasted, and the meat was so tender and flavorful. Then the baklava and after dinner adult beverage was the perfect way to end the perfect meal we had. Yianni's is well worth the money, and the drive.
(5)Jerusha V.
This past Sunday my mom and sister ordered the saganaki, which typically comes with pita or some sort of carrier for the cheese and this place only included the cheese in their price and the pita was extra! Then they ordered the chicken Greek salad which came with an orange oily dressing that was hardly the typical Greek dressing. Then the chicken on the salad had BONES and nasty skin on it. When my mom asked about the bones and skin on the chicken the owner said that that was so you knew the chicken was real. EW!!! The owner then proceeded to awkwardly hit on my sister, maybe to distract from the chicken bones?? Also it was very expensive for what it was. Save your money and don't eat here.
(1)Carla G.
I went during lunch on a Friday, and it was pretty empty thinking we beat the lunch crowds. We ordered their lunch special, which was chicken shish kabob on a pita bread with a side salad. Sadly, the chicken breast was nothing exciting. It was almost charred. The chicken sat on the pita bread. The whole thing was sorely lacking in flavor. It had no seasoning, or toppings, or any kind of sauce on top. The side salad was a Greek salad, with an orangish olive oil dressing with hints of oregano. It was the same orange color that certain grease/oils from foods leave on the plate. At first, we thought it was actually grease... but realized it was actually the dressing. I don't think I'll be going back to Yianni's, I'll just wait to satisfy my craving for mediterranean food by going to Zankou instead. Also, the prices felt too steep for the quality of food we got.
(2)Jeremy W.
I have been here a few times now for lunch. The decor is very Greek, and has a lot of nice ancient Greek recreated artwork. The first two times I came here they ran out of gyros, so I had to order something else. It seems strange that the restaurant is frequently out of their most popular item during lunch/before dinner. I guess they don't make them every day. I decided to get the cheesy omelet with lamb. The first time I had it, some of the pieces of lamb were really hard, and the pita bread was tough too. The second time was really good though; the meat and pita were much softer. The restaurant needs to improve on consistency. Last week, I finally got to try the gyros. For the most part, the gyros were good, but the meat was very salty. The saltiness was overwhelming for me, and at least one co-worker and I had to drink a lot of water. The plate could have used more Tzatziki sauce to balance the food. Service is pretty friendly. Overall, this place is just ok. I would not come back here again except for when my co-workers want to eat here.
(3)Jimmy R.
We went on a Friday night & the place was pretty empty. The wood panel décor looks dated & drab inside. The waiter was an older man not sure if he was the owner. Prices are mid range, but lamb dinner ain't cheap! The dinner came with soup & salad which were decent. The waiter was very dry & unfriendly! He said barely two words to us the entire meal. We were never asked if we wanted more wine. At the end of dinner we were never asked if we wanted coffee, dessert or anything else. I was just handed my check! Not even a check tray just handed a piece of paper! I am always about customer service & always tip 20% or more when dining out if service is good. Let's just say I left about $5bucks which equated to a 6% tip! I was more than generous. we won't be going back for subpar service ever again!
(2)Susan P.
Love the food here and the service is excellent! The owner is super friendly and personable. On my last trip we tried the fried cheese appetizer I forget the actual name... OMG . . Was sooo tasty. I usually get the gyro for my meal and find that it is enough for two meals because they give you such a generous portion of meat. And the meat is super tasty. For dessert the traditional baklava is wonderful. Not too sweet or covered in honey to mask the inferior quality like so many other Greek places. I think they must make it from scratch... Or if they don't someone must make it for them from scratch. Definitely not store bought. Parking can be a challenge but don't let that deter you. The food is worth a walk if you have to.. And there are lots of cute boutiques around to stroll through after you eat.
(5)Vickie S.
We went there today as my friend remembered it as a great place. We invited 2 of our family members who lived nearby. There are only certain items that can be ordered on any given day and we choose what looked good. The dinner came with soup, salad and then baklava and after dinner drink. Okay! Then the food comes. If I had wanted pre cooked food heated up, I would have gone home and eaten leftovers. My friend asked for butter as the moussaka had very little bechemel sauce. She was brought margarine. I ordered roast chicken which wasn't so great. There were no cooks in the restaurant. Hence, I realized that everything was pre made and reheated. End of the meal comes and we're all looking forward to at least some good baklava. The only waiter says it won't be ready for three hours! And he had no after dinner liquor that was part of the dinner plate. So he brings us watered down ouzo, without even asking us, which none of us wanted anyway. Then the bill comes and we see that he charged us for pita that we never ordered. It arrived with the fried cheese (which was good ) but we were not told it was extra. We don't eat bread so we would not have ordered it anyway. The waiter or owner should have either taken some money off the bill since we didn't get baklava or drink or offered us something else, a coffee... Something! Overall, bad experience and bad food! And there was no tp in the women's room and the air conditioning was probably a swamp cooler on this 102 degree day. I don't even want to give it one star bit it won't let me post without choosing one.
(1)Mitros E.
This place is killer. Some of the best food I've had outside of Greece. Outdoor seating, kind staff. Give it a try.
(5)Abigail D.
best dinner I've had in 2015. Started with a fried cheese "flambé". Very delicious dining experience. Our dinner included soup, salad, our entree, baklava for dessert and wine. The server was very funny had tons of personality. And the chef was very personable. He recommended the lamb shank in wine & tomato sauce. Amazing! The Gyro was the best gyro I've ever ever ever had. Will definitely be back SOON!
(5)Mariana M.
The service is very slow. We were the only people in there and it took about 30 minutes to get our food. However, when it arrived it was delicious!!!! The owner was very attentive and made sure that the service we were given was the best. I would totally recommend coming here!
(5)Jennifer R.
Great vegetable lamb stew and excellent Kalamaria. Nice environment. Owner is very friendly! Highly underrated.
(4)Stevie L.
One of the best gyros I've ever had! The lamb was so tender and they give you sooo much meat. The tzatziki sauce is to die for! We also had stuffed grape leaves which were interesting and complex in flavor but very yummy. They also have some really great wines and their baklava is amazing. I think the owner was the man serving us and he was really personable funny and helpful. Glad I found this place! I'll definitely be back to try the fried cheese appetizer everyone is raving about!
(5)Emily C.
This place is extremely underrated and doesn't get the business it should. the beef gyro sandwhich is one of the best I have ever had. it is surprisingly empty, and it made no sense. all the food had lots of flavor and the service was friendly. don't be intimidated by the scary appearance
(5)jeb d.
Good soup but $3.00 for a diet coke and no refills . Charges Extra for a piece of bread No wonder the place is empty
(3)Ainaz R.
Went for dinner a few nights ago and definitely liked the atmosphere and decor. Not a very busy night so the waiter gave us a lot of attention. Food was okay, I've had better Greek food in the past. Ordered hummus as an appetizer and was not pleased at all. They said it was homemade but favoring was off and just not something I'd want to have again. Once we got our entree it was not as good as it seemed on the menu. It was more potato than anything else and I feel that was used to just fill the plate up. Waiter stared at us while eating so it was awkward and uncomfortable. I'm not sure I would come back here. I feel there is a lot of room for improvement.
(3)Aria S.
Amazing food service is a bit slow but it's authentic Greek. This place is family-run and everything is made from scratch. I haven't had a bad experience yet and found the quality to be consistent. I love the home mace sales dressing and the flamed feta. Give them a try you won't be disappointed
(4)Ifti K.
This restaurant has been on my bucket list for 35 years. I would do it again. Food was good, owner was great. Opa!
(5)Yousuf H.
Good authentic Greek food. Really flavorful gyros and nice outdoor seating. Friendly service and convenient location. This isn't the fanciest option in Claremont. I would certainly describe it as a great casual lunch place. I really enjoyed my experience here although I can see some as finding the food to be a bit salty. I crave flavor, and thus was extremely satisfied.
(4)Jay D.
Extremely incompetent waiter. We went for dinner with friends, requested the waiter - a burly guy with light hair and a mustache - for the Greek drink Ouzo and asked him how it was traditionally served (with soda etc). He told us he was "Greek on payroll only" and had no clue! He didn't offer to ask someone on the staff. This guy had no idea about Greek food and could not recommend anything. We picked a few dishes and waited and waited for over 40 minutes but he never served us the drinks , appetizers or food. Finally another staff member came by and helped us. One member in our group ordered a salad but it didn't arrive even when everyone else was nearly done. Our waiter shows up at this point and says he's "having problems with the kitchen staff" and makes some lame jokes. The restaurant was not even half full at this time. At the end, obviously hoping for a tip, he tries to make small talk but makes racially insensitive remarks as a joke!! I am unable to understand how this person, with absolutely no idea about the menu or Greek cusine, with bad manners, no training on waiting tables, works here. I tried to call the restaurant the following day, to speak with the manager, but no one answered the phone.
(2)Danny M.
Great food! The kids love the Egg and Lemon soup and the Gyros are delicious. The owner is very nice and accommodating.
(5)gema j.
I usually do not give poor reviews but this restaurant could have been much better. First off, my party was the only one inside the restaurant with the exception of a lone customer who was speaking to the waiter in the corner by the bar. The interior is all wood with ancient Greek artwork and sculptures. Judging from the interior, the place seemed old but charming. In terms of food I ordered the eggplant feta omelette, after being told that the restaurant did not have spinach or orange juice which I was planning to order. Someone from my party wanted the flambéed cheese which was also not available. I thought it unusual that ingredients were unavailable given that the restaurant traffic was so low. When the food came the omelette was very wet and runny, and was filled mostly with feta cheese and very little eggplant. The potatoes tasted as though they were old and had been reheated many times, though the herbs seemed to mask the physical appearance. The pita bread was hard, not soft, though it had been wet and had oil on it. The food was difficult to eat, and i ended up leaving most of my meal. The waiter was slow to refill our water glasses, and the baklava, which was made by the waiter's mother, seemed to be reheated and very soggy as well. The coffee too, seemed reheated since a thin film of coffee was formed over the liquid portion in my mug. Also most of the silverware was dirty and the water glasses smelled of the sponge they used to clean it. I feel bad writing this review since I am strongly in favor of family owned businesses with tradition and charm, but I think it is important to let customers know especially with respect to the quality of food. I hope that the business takes the time to improve the food and service, because I think they can increase the number of customers that come to their restaurant by improving the quality of ingredients and construction of food.
(1)Ceazar B.
This place used to be decent a long time ago...There was no one in there but we wanted to avoid the huge Claremont crowd...We ordered the cheese appetizer which was delicious like always, the soups was also hot and delicious, but everything else went to shit. The salad was sour and old, My lamb dinner was burnt beyond belief, it tasted like charcoal, my friends kabob had no cucumber sauce and it was cold and dry. The chef is an 18 year old skater dude, who was resting until we came in he turned all grills on in the kitchen, trust me I had a clear view. The older Greek man who was our waiter did what he could to make us happy...the cheese appetizer and the waiter is the only reason I gave them 2 stars....I will never eat here again...VIVA MADRID...UNION ON YALE... soooo much better.
(2)Lesley C.
For a Saturday night, they were quite accommodating for our party of 12. Not to say that they were not busy, they were as busy as all the other restaurants in the area but they sure did go out of their way to help accommodate us on such short notice. That is a plus in service, which is rare! Their food portions are quite large, especially as each entree includes soup, salad, and pita bread! If you love Greek food, which seems to consist mostly of lamb over chicken and etc, then this sure is the place to check out. Great atmosphere and service!
(4)Steve V.
Came here on a sunny weekend and it was not too crowded. They had 2 outdoor tables that were too small for our group. We were seated in side at a nice large round table. It was pretty dark in there, but the ambiance was fine. We started with the fried cheese appetizer and it was excellent!! It came with plenty of pita and I highly recommend it for groups. I then had the lamb plate and it was a lot of food. The taste was great and it came with tons of salad too. My only complaint was that both items I had were fairly oily and I am not sure it was the lightest meal in the world. Also, the service was a bit sketchy given the few amount of people that were in there.
(4)C C.
While on vacation from the mid-west, we ate here about 15 years ago. Ever since that time, I could not stop thinking about those Greek Potatoes!. Now that we relocated to Southern California, we will frequent often. The Greek Potatoes alone are worth the drive from Orange County! Along with the Greek Potatoes, ordered the Gyros and side salad. The wait staff were personable and attentive. Can't wait until we go back again! The quaint town of Claremont with its variety of shops are ideal for a Saturday day trip (or any day of the week) to include lunch/dinner at Yiannis Greek Restaurant.
(5)Mirella V.
Wonderful little spot near the farmers market. Some of the best Greek food I've had- a time portal to Greece. The cheese appetizer and gyro were delicious. The service was great and the owner was so kind and welcoming. Definitely coming back when I'm back in town!
(5)Anthony A.
An odd place, I wasn't able to fully enjoy much about this place. The server was very nice, but a bit awkward socially. As mentioned in other reviews, the sweating is still happening. He's probably part of the family, but with his sweating probably and strange personality, he should work elsewhere. I say it regrettably because he was quite nice and made an attempt to be courteous. He did forget our first order of one single iced tea, which I found strange since there were only 2 tables, both outside on the patio. We ordered from the appetizer menu along with two dishes. I found it odd that the appetizer (the sampler) came out at the same time as the dishes. For $17, our appetizer had a few dollops of hummus, some tzatziki, olives, cheese, rice, some strange eggplant dip and two dolmas. It really didn't seem worth the price. Since the table is so small, the appetizers, 2 plates and our 2 dishes really took up the table making it hard to eat comfortably. Also, it was organized so oddly on the plate it was hard not making a mess of everything. The food, albeit good, wasn't spectacular. The dolmas were really heavy on the coriander (he didn't know what other spices were inside, nor offered to ask the chef) and the hummus was at best grocery store quality. The tzatziki was good, but a bit watery. We both ordered the Gyros for our entree as per our servers recommendation. The meat was a bit on the dry side, especially since we had our appetizer at the same time. Even if it was dry, it still managed being greasy. The pita bread was covered in grease, which made it impossible to pick up and eat. I always though a gyro was wrapped up and eaten similarly to a burrito or taco. The spices and herbs were good, but the dryness of the meat really made the food a bit boring and gross. The salad on the side of the gyro was good until all the grease dripped off and mixed on the plate. I would go back if I were in the area and in the mood for Greek food but I would be very specific about how I wanted the meal to be prepared.
(2)Celia G.
Yiannis has been the 'place we go for Greek' since I followed my mom's path to the Claremont Graduate University 20-some years ago. When I visit SoCal, my family likes to have at least one meal there. This time, prior to Saturday lunch, I pulled the Yelp reviews and what a surprise! They are all over the map! According to the entries, the portions are both too large and too small, the ambience too dark, the menu inconsistent, the service too slow, and the waiter too sweaty? Portions - mine is a European family, accustomed to small portions spread over several courses, which takes time, but the conversations are memorable and no one ever leaves the table hungry. We find the portions at Yiannis on the large side, and rationalize that the American influence of 'more is more' may have something to do with this. My mom requested a box and was brought a box, not a 'previously used grocery bag'. No one I know has ever left Yiannis unsatisfied. Ambience/décor - yes, it's dark inside the restaurant, but there are candles on the tables, and if you're having lunch, there is plenty of light in the front half of the house. The décor is authentic! Visit any tavern in Greece, and I mean the hole-in-the-wall, mom-and-pop places like this where the food is the star of the show, and you will find old posters, bouzoukis, and family mementos decorating the place. Yiannis adds contemporary and traditional Greek music. It's not the polished interior of a chain restaurant, but it's also not a place with a menu that doesn't change regardless of time zone. Menu inconsistency - smaller restaurants that cook individual orders are usually more affected by the availability of fresh ingredients. Of all of the selections I've made based upon the availability of various dishes (green dots on the menu) and/or substitutions made when an item ordered is found be unavailable at that time, I've not been disappointed. Several previous reviewers have commented on the presentation of the pita (with herbs and oil); over the years and through my travels, I've had various presentations, with and without, and have not had any family member or guest complain about Yiannis'. In fact, we often order a few loaves to take home. (FYI, the nutritional value of herbs is released with oil... more of the Mediterranean wisdom.) Service - once again, authentic. A restaurant in Europe will often have one waiter working the entire floor; meals are meant to be events, enjoyed over time,, and your table is yours for as long as you like. Dishes arrive as they are ready, eaten slowly, and again, with conversation... I realize that this is not the accustomed pattern for restaurants here, where a part is seated, orders are taken, delivered and the table turned over within the hour. Wait staff move as fast as the kitchen, and if the kitchen is preparing food which is not pre-cooked, it may take a bit longer. Personally, I think the food is worth the wait. Waiter - the reviews mentioning the sweaty waiter are daunting! I think we had the same waiter, but he did not wipe his face, nor any other part of himself while serving, and definitely did not touch our food, and from my seat, I had a clear view of the prep area. He was jovial, unintrusive, got our orders right the first time, and made me a mean Greek coffee! Maybe patrons who look past the appearance will tip him well enough for some Botox treatments, if it's that much of a bother. I give Yiannis four stars because 1) it's not actually Greece and makes me miss being there, 2) the kitchen was a little random with the salad accompanying my gyro, which was otherwise exactly what I needed/wanted - my dad also had a gyro but his salad had radishes, kalamata olives and a serious piece of that wonderfully creamy feta. 3) the owner wasn't there to make my coffee and read the grounds (a little pretentious of me, and my coffee was excellent, but I do like my authenticity). 4) the only way to experience the saganaki is in a group far larger than 3 people, as it's a significant pan of flaming gooey heaven. Is it possible to make a smaller order in one of those one-egg-sized cast iron skillets? 5) my mom's lamb and kassieri omelette was superb. 6) this is the only Greek restaurant I've found that makes authentic slow-roasted Greek potatoes. 7) Greek wine... This was a lunch, so for dinner, add the wonderful lemon chicken soup, dinner salad, baklava and sherry to the menu, and so, the inevitable take-away box to enjoy at home. If you want lots of food, really fast, go to a chain place. If you want the taverna experience, try it here,
(4)Hillary F.
This place is terrible. I came here on a date on a Monday afternoon. There were only 3 tables being served inside and we sat outside on the tiniest patio I've been on. We waited 10 minutes before we were even greeted by this stressed out and sweating server. He could not answer our questions about simple inquiries with the menu. Every single appetizer and dish we ordered was "unavailable" and at one point after we'd ordered four things they were out of, said he'd go check in the kitchen. When he came back, he was continuing to sweat, to the point that it made us uncomfortable. At this point, we'd been there over a half hour without the chance to munch on even some hummus and pita! I kindly informed him we would try somewhere else in which he responded that we come back another day. No thanks. You aren't busy. You're out of food. And your personal hygiene is needs to be taken care of.
(1)Kellie W.
A friend and I went for dinner on a weeknight and we were the only two in there. I ordered the lamb and my friend ordered the gyro; both not that great. Nothing tasted fresh, it all seemed reheated. The veggies were soggy, idk what the soup was (maybe potato), the lamb was over heated (or over reheated) and the gyro was greasy. To be honest, it reminded me of a restaurant that needed to be on the food network show "Restaurant Impossible."
(2)Nataly S.
We were here 10 years ago and we didn't like it. We decided to try it again and it was horrible! Its not Greek food its a joke! The traditional Greek lemon soup was basically water and watery part of cottage cheese and without even lemon! No flavor at all. The waiter brought me wrong dish and wasn't even sorry, he just said "Oh". The Greek salad was just lettuce, 1/2 olive, 1/2 baby tomato, a sprinkle of feta and no dressing. I wanted to order chicken kebab from the menu buy they didn't have it. I ordered lamb, it was ok . I asked the waiter bring us some chilli or any spicy sauce for lamb but they didn't have it. What? its Greek food. They love everything spicy! Pitta was old and dry, not freshly made. No hummus! I'm surprised they are still in business! We never will come back!
(1)Stephanie H.
Okay so, I never write yelp reviews but i made an account just to write this. I gave one star because the food was actually okay. The service was not, this place is extremely SHADY. I went with 2 of my friends last Sunday after Farmer's Market and we were the only ones there. Here is everything that went wrong: - We told our server to give us separate checks for each of our orders. Instead, he just split the amount on our check by 3......weird. Like, no offense but if I wanted to know what our total was divided by 3, I could've just pulled out my phone calculator. Our orders were not the same prices. -Anyway we decided to let that go and we paid, but he never gave me back my change. He just took all of it. I guess he assumed it was tip, which is so messed up. I was nice enough to not say anything about it even though it ended up being a 20% tip. -One of my friends paid with her debit card. The total was $12.77, and when she checked she was charged $17.77. So basically, after he took MY "TIP", he also took $5 tip again from her too. When she called back, he said it must have been a mistake.... Like ok, I'm a waitress at another restaurant too and those things don't just happen by "mistake." Tips have to be manually entered and confirmed before it goes through. So, yea, seriously stop ripping off customers and basically stealing their money.
(1)David M.
I ate here with my partner and two friends last night. The first strange thing was that the menu had little sticker dots next to the entree's listing what they had available, so about a third of the entree's were not being prepared. I ordered the stuffed grape leaves dinner. What I received was three round meatballs wrapped in a thin leaf in chicken broth. It didnt taste bad but it was not what I was expecting. It tasted like meatloaf soup. the dinner came with soup (not very hot but tasty), salad (way too much dressing), dessert (miniscule sliver of baklava) and dessert drink (never brought to the table). I thought the place was way overpriced for what you get. My partner didnt like his dinner but our two friends did. I would never go back.
(2)Ginger M.
Great spot for a leisurely lunch before/after farmers market. Breakfast menu is great value! Stopped here for the first time after a first visit to the Famers Market on a Sunday afternoon. If I can't be at an authentic Greek Taverna overlooking the Aegean Sea I'll take it in Claremont - complete with Zorba the greek music, a glass of retsina house wine to pair with my lamp souvlaki. Fantastically tender, flavorful and juicey lamb meat in a pita paired with a mediocre ice berg salad. My husband had the lamb gyro that was very nicely flavored. We had a the fried cheese (saganaki) which is a bit of an indulgence - probably not great for the diet but delicious. The breakfast men/specials looked great with several different omelettes and include a glass of wine. We'll have to come back.
(4)Daniel C.
Great food in a nice and cozy spot. Staff is super friendly. The Roasted lamb was amazing. Had a rough day and having dinner here really brought my spirits up because of the service and food. A lil pricey but worth it!
(5)J P M.
What a surprise in a negative way! Years ago this place was very pleasant place to dine (good food, cleanliness, friendly service). Today we had a meal there and what a disappointment (strange food, human hair in the food, unwelcoming service). Decided not to go back that place.
(1)Jonnell T.
Mediterranean food is my absolute favorite food in the world; and for me, it starts with the Greeks. The Greeks just do it better :-0 and Yiannis holds true. Yiannis is a quaint spot in downtown Claremont with an intimate setting; this place is perfect for date night. Being there for over 30 years, they have a reputation for good food and established roots. The Food: The grilled octopus is excellent here. My octopus was tender and bursting with flavor. He really does a good job with this dish because if you over or under-cook octopus it becomes chewy. The world's best sandwich (although, the Banh MI is creeping up) is done justice here. Definitely one of, if not the best, gyro in the IE. The meat is plentiful, plump and juicy. The tzaziki here is more of a salad (with big chunks of cucumber) than a sauce; I prefer minced or grated cucumber but it's still very flavorful. Customer Service/Price: Every-time I've come here I've had great customer service. The owner is a friendly guy and is always there. The prices are really good for dinner but I think a lil' high for lunch. The gyro alone is $11.00 for lunch. But, I really like this place and will continue to come here for my Greek fix.
(4)Kelly P.
My parents had one of their first dates here at Yianni's 40 years ago when my dad was a student at Claremont McKenna. I was hanging out in Claremont with my date and we decided to stop by for dinner as well. The staff was very friendly and the food was delicious. The lemon chicken soup was my favorite. We're college students and we thought it was a great value. We will definitely be coming back. It's no wonder Yianni's has thrived for the past 40 years. Maybe my kids will come here on one of their dates too!
(5)Jacqueline I.
So my boyfriend and I were walking around Claremont & we decided to try this place out. So we walk in & we are greeted by our waiter. it's a really small restaurant & we were the only ones there we were allowed to could sit anywhere we would like. He gave us the menus (mine was sticky, so i was pretty much grossed out) He also kept insisting on us trying the chicken shish kabob. their menu...was on the small side & had no descriptions so i was pretty much lost...& not a lot of vegetarian options ...at least nothing that seemed appetizing, so i went for the salad. My boyfriend ordered the chicken sandwich... couple minutes later the waiter comes out & says "I'm sorry but the chicken is in the oven, would you like to order something else? The chicken shish kabob is really good just order that" soooo my boyfriend did, but i was like whats so hard about making a chicken sandwich if you're going to make chicken shish kabob...idk i was confused & first thought that came to mind was...maybe the lady(i'm assuming the owner & cook didn't feel like making a sandwich) she seemed pissed off when we got there, maybe we were interrupting her lunch or something. portions were pretty big the salad was kind of salty,& since this was my first time having Greek food I wasn't sure what it was supposed to taste like & get this..the top of the salad fresh..the bottom wilted greens. EW. my boyfriend said his plate was okay...he enjoyed the pita bread better ,even though it had too much dried herbs & i'm not sure but is it supposed to be oily?? anyway silverware was dirty, table next to us was dirty but it was set up, the waiter was cleaning the table & took the paper "tablecloth" off & was about to throw it away when the lady started yelling at him that it wasn't supposed to be thrown away...it was awkward to say the least. Greek food? NO thanks.
(2)Lars C.
Small authentic restaurant that has been a part of the local community for the past 49 years. Still family owned and operated with rustic cuisine and good Greek wine. Nice fall back location when Cafe Madrid, Bardot, and Tutti Manga are busy. You can always get a table here. The assorted appetizer platter is tasty, and pairs really well with the dry white wine.
(4)craig m.
Great food service was good too . We want to try something different and Damm it was a good idea
(4)Ashley M.
The food and service is good here! Except I had an upset stomach a couple of hours afterwards. That was the only time I came here so not sure if it was just that one time.
(4)C.ray. R.
I ordered the eggplant and feta omlette. The entree came with roasted potatoes and pita bread. The food was superb! Seasoned to perfection, cooked well and then, I just don't always take notice of food's texture, but it was a really wonderful feeling. Yum. On top of the delicious food, I experienced great customer service, I think the chef, possibly owner took our order and served us. I'm assuming he was the chef because he was very knowledgeable about the food and really helped me to find the right thing to order that was exactly what I wanted even though I didn't know it at the time! The decor is a bit dated in the restaurant, but it wasn't awful or laughable. My biggest complaint is that I wished there was more light so that I could see the food better. It was raining when I went, but I would like to take advantage of their al fresco seating next time I make it out that way.
(4)Todd K.
Nothing positive to say about this place at all. They were out of lemonade, bulghar salad and lemons on a Friday afternoon. The fried cheese appetizer was impossibly bland, especially considering it consists of cheese and oil. The eggplant salad was also nearly tasteless. The bruscheta was a couple slices of cheese, couple slices of tomatoes and a pile of lettuce served with non-toasted pita bread. My other ordered her lamb well done and it came out rare. I ordered a gyro and the waiter never brought it out, I ended up just telling him to cancel it since the rest of my party was nearly done with their meals by the time I could discuss it with him. No attempt was put forth on the part of establishment to make up for the many faults.
(1)Miles S.
I decided to go to this restaurant on a sunday afternoon. It was a very nice little place and the service and food was fantastic!!! My waiter was very funny, and he also showed me a really cool magic trick with a toothpick. I would recommend the Gyros. The Tzatziki sauce on it was fabulous and the salad dressing is really good too! I noticed that some people were writing reviews that the server was a little sweaty but come on! In this heat, how can you not sweat? Anyways i liked coming here and i will most definitely come back again!
(5)kmama m.
A 4, possibly 4.5 for my Dad, but more of a 3 for me. Nice waiter, nice outdoor table, good service, but very oily/greasy spanikopita with nary a piece of tomato or garnish to be found on the plate. Dad devoured a lamb stew special that he said was "tomato-ey and basil-y" . I'll have to try the place again. Looks sweet and family owned w/ a touch of dark date ambiance inside. Bathrooms through the kitchen remind me of one of my favorite places (actually a few faves) in NYC where space is a premium, so I suspended judgement on that front.
(3)Robert S.
This is a small and unassuming Greek restaurant in Claremont Village. It seems old and is dark inside with quite dated decor. The staff were friendly and eager to help. The menu was not very vegetarian friendly and this review is limited to their Greek salad. They used a difficult to find quite authentic (probably homemade) dressing on salad. The feta was good quality and may have been imported. They used a fresh pita bread that had been perfectly toasted with a lot of crispy areas. The salad, while using only iceberg lettuce, had a perfect balance of other ingredients like cucumbers tomatoes, olives and feta that had been pre-sliced and did not require the diner to further cut them up and mix them into the salad.
(4)Ted A.
Flavor was great on the gyro. Spinach pie great taste but crust - not that great. We will definitely be back and our service was amazing. These guys were attentive and ready for any request. We sat outside and sometimes you get bad service sitting outside, but here i think we got better service outside than inside. Regardless it was great. The Gyro was terrific and the salad was fresh. We will be back when that craving for greek food hits.
(4)Ivana Y.
I happen to like the dark cavernous feel of the restaurant, and I happen to think that Yiannis has the best gyros I've ever had in my life. Succulent, plentiful, beautifully spiced, served with a salad and pita bread...mmm...lunch special. My friend got the gyros omelet special with delicate mushrooms and those amazing house potatoes--wow. I would love to come back here if I was in the area. Service was pretty good, but I actually can't say too much about that considering we took our lunch at 2pm or so (making us the only customers! oops). If I had to have one complaint, it would be that their saganaki (aka FLAMING CHEEZE) was super oily and salty...the experience of having them flambe the cheese was pretty cool and exciting, and I'm not even quite sure if that's how a saganaki is supposed to taste like (sharp, strong, oily), but I'm glad I got to try it out for my first time. Maybe I'll order it again elsewhere, but probably not here...sorry.
(4)Jennie S.
Seriously, nothing special. It was really dark inside, the waiter was not very friendly. My meat was overcooked, service was slow, and prices were very high. Venture into LA to find a really good Greek restaurant and you will undoubtedly find something that is a better value. If you're looking for good food in the Village search elsewhere.
(2)Dave K.
Had a very nice lunch here the other day at one of their four outdoor tables, overlooking the Fall Fair in downtown Claremont. We both had the gyros. The meat was very good, though a touch overcooked / overbrowned in some places. The sauce was wonderful. The accompanying salad was delish. Overall, a very positive experience, a nice view, good food, and quick service.
(4)Mari K.
My waiter read my coffee grinds and saw a letter on the wall of my coffee cup. Can't tell you what the letter was, though... it'll ruin the surprise if a person with that letter actually comes into my life! ;) My 4 star rating is based on the service, the kindness, the baklava, my coffee, and the price. I didn't try any other dishes besides those. ...though the restaurant *does* have a strange-dark feel to it, it's not enough to warrant a 3 star rating.
(4)Megan W.
I would actually rate it 3.75 stars... I really like Yianni's, I think mostly because it is unassuming, intimate and you get a lot of food for what you pay for. They have large portions and it tastes authentic. Some dishes are hit and miss, the Moussaka and the lamb shanks are very good. Yes, the inside is dated and small, but in a a charming, way I think. Good for a date night or intimate dinner with friends. Their carafes of wine are very well priced and their baklava is very good. Don't go for an exquisite, night on the town meal, go for a Lady 'n the Tramp, roll a meatball towards someone meal...except they don't have meatballs, because its Greek.
(3)Bryan Y.
Came here a while back with my ex for breakfast, after one ridiculous night of you-know-what ;) The waiter was really friendly when we came in. We got one of their brunch menus with eggs, Greek sausage, and bacon. It wasn't too Greek but we did end up ordering two glasses of wine. Sunday morning boozin' Then we topped it off with some baklava, delish!
(4)Cindy C.
Wow! I used to eat here when I was a student at Scripps College so I was looking forward to eating here again as I love Greek food. What a disappointment. Lunchtime and no one was in the restaurant, we all ordered the calamari pita which comes with a Greek salad. Mine looked like they had just thrown iceberg lettuce on my plate and I almost choked on the vinegar. My calamari was okay but the pita was stale and now soggy due to the vinegar soaking into it. One olive and little feta and some sad tomatoes. We waited a long time for our food too. Now we had to wait for the check and since they could not break a 20 dollar bill, we had to put it on our credit cards. Plus, our check was wrong. We left a minimal tip for the lousy food and their inability to break a 20.
(1)Catie E.
I have several great memories of this place. It is not the place to go if you are in a hurry but for a nice relaxed intimate lunch or dinner it is perfect. The food is simple but very well-executed and cooked to order. My favorite was actually the greek chicken lemon soup they do - ultimate comfort food. This is where I went on my first date and I have taken my parents back since. Wonderful atmosphere - quiet, good food, good conversation, very friendly and attentive staff.
(4)Liz P.
We were greeted warmly by the owner at our outdoor table. Beautiful night for dining alfresco. Lemon soup, good. Salad, just ok. Pita bread delicious except we wondered why it had so much dried oregano on it. Finally our order came. The lamb kebob and rice was delicious. I received the lady's order behind me. How do I know? Because I heard her order it. Waiter says there was a mix up in the kitchen (only 2 tables) occupied. Took my plate and said they were making my Moussaka. When it finally arrived after my table was finished eating it was all wrong! Where was the eggplant and the bechamel? Disappointing to say the least and at $20 a plate I 'll look elsewhere for my Greek fix!
(3)Louise V.
Food is great! Definitely for folks not in a hurry. Great to order wine and start with an appetizer. Have the fried Kasseri cheese with pita bread to start. Music is Greek and relaxing. The owner is delightful to visit with if he's not too busy. Dolmathes superb, soup is exquisite and the lamb was moist and tasty. I've been going here for 30 years and will continue to return happily!
(5)Redondo R.
We had the pleasure of eating lunch at Yiannis. We had the garlic and rosemary chicken shish kabobs, with pita bread and a salad. That was delicious. The baklava was the best we've every had. Asked the owner and he told us his mother prepares the baklava from scratch. Check it out, you will be pleasantly surprised how good the food is.
(5)Mariel C.
I wanted to go 3.5 on this one, because Yianni's seems a bit more than A-OK. But I wasn't sure I could justify the 4. I was in Claremont at a client, and this was one of the many places he recommended. When we got there there were only a couple of other people there, but by the time we left the place was about half full. One of my co-workers and I each got a gyro, and out other co-worker got a greek salad. The lamb was really good, and the tzaziki sauce was really good. I liked that it was really thick and yogurt-y. I really liked my pita, which had lots of tzaziki on it. But when I ate my co-workers (the one that got the salad) I noticed they really put lots of oil. It really could have gone without that, because the pita itself was pretty good. I really liked the salad dressing. And my co-worker's greek salad came with these enormous chunks of feta.....I'm telling you - they were giant feta BRICKS!
(3)S R.
I've always been a fan of Yiannis. It's probably not the best Greek food on the planet - but I would say it is above average. I've read some negative comments about the atmosphere and yes, the inside of the restaurant is a bit strange (very dim, old interior, and fairly small) but I've always enjoyed lunch outside on the sidewalk on a nice day. Their flaming cheese plate (sorry, can't remember the name!) is really yummy as well as their tzaziki sauce, hummus, and pita. The Gyros is very good - not amazing - but still pretty tasty. I love the fact that the restaurant has been owned/operated by the same 2-3 guys. All in all, Yiannis is still a downtown Claremont institution.
(3)Michelle A.
I really wanted to like this place, I love greek food....BUT this place made me wish I was eating anything but that. I have been here twice, because I feel that most restaurants deserve a second chance. Both times the food was over salted, and rather unappetizing. I ordered the standard Gyros platter that came with Greek saffron rice, and tzasiki (spelling?) The lamb was coldish and REALLY salty... and I was just not impressed in the least. Also, the ambience is really really strange in there. You feel like youre sitting in a dive bar from the 70s without the crowds but WITH the tacky wood interior and the old Ruby Tuesday's type stained glass lamps. The hummus and pita, well well well. The first time i went there they didn't even HAVE anymore hummus and the second time the hummus and pita came, pita was drenched with oil and way too many spices. It was like a spice salad on top of bread. I dont know... for claremont I guess this place is remotely acceptable but I would never go back. sorry.
(2)K M.
Pretty bad guys. The place had poor ingredients and poor recipes. Dry herbs sprinkled over the meats made it inedible. The salad was just bag lettuce with the same disgusting dry herbs sprinkled over it without any real dressing or flavor. The humus was not as good as grocery store humus, and the pita was toasted with buckets of olive oil drenched on it.
(2)Justin W.
I always try the gyros first when I'm at a Greek place for the first time and I wasn't disappointed here. The atmosphere was nice on a Sunday in the early afternoon, the service was good and the food was great. I'll be back!
(4)Susan C.
Dinner was fabulous as always!!! Wonderful Greek restaurant!
(5)Philipe H.
I was expecting more.. The Gyro was average.. The side Greek salad was not a real Greek salad.. I guess because it was the special. The decor was nice though.. I may give this place another try...
(2)Seth G.
The curious thing that struck me immediately about Yiannis is whether they were open or not. The interior is so dimly lit, that unless you walk up and check the door, you are bound to keep walking thinking it is closed. I had passed the place at least half a dozen times, before finally walking up to the glass door to take a gander to see if it was a functioning restaurant or merely a shell of a defunct eatery. Disclaimer: it has been over a year since I last ate here. The food was fairly good as was the service. The prices were reasonable, especially for a restaurant in the Claremont village.
(4)Ingrid P.
You must get the Fried Cheese!
(3)Mal S.
First and foremost i would like to say that I LOVE greek food. However, this restaurant was beyond disappointing. I have had better Gyros at those generic burger joints that have gyros and mexican food on their extensive menus. Everything had wayyyy too much oil and some kind of powder on it. They couldnt even get a salad right. The food was not fresh. I would not return.
(1)GE G.
Mediocre food. Cheap, though. A $7-10 meal. I don't plan to go back. Nothing about it struck me as great, or even good for that matter.
(2)Jason J.
I went here for dinner with some friends. The meal was very good, and I was thrilled with how everything was prepared. I find the restaurant to be a tad pricey on the quality-quantity-price ratio, but I think it is still well worth it for a nice meal. The interior is lit dimly, but adequately, which says good date restaurant to me. But it was a good restaurant for a group, and the meal went very smoothly. The humus and pita are to DIE for, so I definitely recommend them. I ordered spanakopita which came out perfectly: crispy, well filled and not too greasy. The meal ended with some cream sherry on the house which was a perfect end to a great meal. Recommendation: go and try it out, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
(4)Danilo G.
There's a reason that the Greeks fought so hard at Thermopylae. Some ancestor of the family that has owned Yianni's for nearly 50 years had a lamb on a spit ready to serve. This restaurant has been serving the same classic, home-style Greek specialties with Pythagorean consistency. We had Gyros, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Fried Kasseri Cheese and Hummus with pita. Zeus weeps because he can't eat here. The Gyros were thick, meaty, and unadorned. There's nothing to hide here. Given a choice between Athenian-inspired democracy and these Gyros, representative government is definitely the lesser. Greg runs the place after his dad passed in 1989. The menu hasn't changed here in years because there's just no reason to mess with what works. TOTALLY recommend Sunday breakfast here with sausage and eggs (alfresco). Forget the new Corporate, PotteryBarnCheesecakeFactoStarbuck-ified east side of Claremont. This place is Homeric.
(5)Elder Z.
If I could I'd give Yiannis 3.5 stars. Not quite a four star place, but pretty darn good none the less. The best part is how casual this place is. It's down the street from where I live, and strolling in it tottally feels like a mom and pop eatery. I've been coming here for years, but even if you haven't the staff is super friendly. Its pretty small, dimly lit, and cozy. I like places like that. The bar selection is limited, but they do tend to be pretty generous when pouring, which is always nice. Portions are big, keep that in mind. The best deal at yannis, IMHO is always the regular gyro. Spicy minced lamb and beef roasted on a spit till crispy on the outisede, carved onto a toasty pita drizzed with olive oil and herbs, garnished with onions and a minty yogurt sauce. Simple, hearty, delicious. It is served with a simple green salad, topped with feta and olives and drizzled with a black pepper balsamic dressing. For lunch it hits the spot and then some. The omelettes are also really good and available day round. Very filling. The rest of the dinner menu is your typical greek faire, moussaka (my brother loves it here, I myself am not to much of a fan), roasted lamb shanks, and a few other robust meat and veg plates. All are good, none are exactly impressive. This is made up with the appetizers. The sauteed calamari is awesome, I'd free-base it if I could. Baby calamari sautted in their own ink, wine, lemon, garlic and olive oil. Brought to the table in a sizzling pan. Damn good, and the appetizer portion is definetly big enough for a meal. Another great appetizer is the fried cheese. I'm sure it has a much more melodic and hellenic name here, but I just always order the "fried cheese". They'll know what youre talking about. Brought to the table melted gooey in a hot pan with some herbs and garlic, then doused with brandy and flambeed table side. Delicious. Considering the size of the portions and the quality of the food, the price is pretty reasonable. The location is pretty convenient, at least for me, as it can make for a nice dinner out or a quick bite in between doing stuff in town. Been coming here for a long time and will keep coming back in the future.
(4)erin d.
my fiance and i were on the hunt for a place to hold a rehearsal dinner for our wedding. since he's greek, we thought we'd make his mother happy and check out yianni's. this was a pretty good find. at first, we were more than a little skeptical. we'd done no research but driven all the way out there from downtown LA just to find a deserted restaurant with a dark interior and possibly dozing host. once he woke up, greg snapped to attention and seated us at a side table towards the back. the only other people there were a couple seated on the patio. we were shown big menus with limited offerings noted along the side with green stickers. most of what i wanted wasn't available that evening. but alas, sometimes the best treats are the things you didn't know you wanted. i ordered the fish paired with a red wine, my fiance ordered a gyro and a whiskey and 7up. we split a fried cheese appetizer. the fried cheese showed up pretty quickly and with quite a flourish. the server drizzled lemon juice over it and lit it on fire. we dug in before the flames were even out. we'd ordered it with bread instead of pita and it was a great choice. hearty, soft on the inside, and hard on the outside. the cheese itself was nicely spiced with fresh herbs and was hot and stringy. perfect! next up was the salad. there were a fair number of white lettuce ends which i don't care for but i picked around them for the tasty dressing, feta, and a single olive ( i stole my bf's olive so i had two!). i wished the plates for the salad were bigger because i felt like a pig knocking it over the edges. next was the lemon chicken soup with rice. i can't say enough about it. so good, a little salty, very rich... perfect homestyle greek soup. american tongues may not care for it but that's what olive garden is for (or whatever the greek equivalent is). at this point, we realized my fiance had not gotten the drink he ordered. with zero other customers in the place at that point, we wondered what the hold-up was. greg may have a slight memory problem because he asked my fiance if he wanted to order a drink about about 20 minutes after he'd already ordered one. whatever, mistakes happen. the food came and i was already too full to really eat it. the fish was a little overcooked but the stuffing and stewed veggies were wonderful! my fiance's gyro looked boring and he said it was. i had warned him that a gyro wasn't an appealing dinner option but he likes to ignore me. after dinner, greg treated us to a piece of baklava and dessert sherry. the baklava was sweet and tasty but nothing special. i skipped the sherry because it's a taste my palate isn't accustomed to and i didn't enjoy it. overall, the food was pretty good but i wish they'd been more on the ball with its preparation and presentation. the little details go a long way. i'd also recommend they either expand their musical selection or upgrade it. the same few traditional greek songs played on loop and the loop was rather short so we heard the same thing several times. it was noticeable and became an ongoing joke for us. i don't know why this place isn't more popular or why it was so dead on a saturday evening. it seems to have a lot of history, charm, and potential. i hope it picks up by july for our rehearsal dinner. my soon-to-be mother in law is a real critic and won't hesitate to show her disapproval! i'm willing to give them another go and encourage more people to give them some practice toward improving!
(3)Vanessa H.
We're checking out our new hood and we had a yummy lunch at Yiannias. Salad with yogut dressy dressing and a heaping helping of savory gyro meat on a flat pita. About $10. Not as cheap as a gyro cart, but this is a sit down place so the premium is more than justifiable.
(4)Mandi M.
I was skeptical about trying this place because I had read mixed reviews but I believe any negative reviews written about this place must be exaggerated because we had a great experience and I will def be going back. Its nice, dim, cozy and the owner is soo nice. He was very interactive . And even put my sis' napkin in her lap for her! Tres fancy. Lol. Anyways, there was no wait to be seated or to order. It was a sunday night at around 7pm. We started with the fried cheese appetizer and greek bread. Sooo amazing! I would go back just to eat that and maybe a glass of wine. So delicious and they even light it on fire at the table. Me and my sis both ordered entrees which were $19.95 I believe. But totally worth it. They come with soup, salad and a piece of baklava and a sherry at the end! I had the chicken and it was half of a chicken! So much food! The only complaint I did have was that there were big pieces of egg shells in my soup and the manager said that was normal. But the soup was delicious and I'm not too picky so I still ate it though it grossed me out a little. The baklava was fresh and amazing and tasted like cinnamon pie. Sooo good. All in all I will def come back and am so happy I finally got to try this place. Def give it a chance! I can't wait to go back!
(5)K H.
Excellent. We had lamb eggplant stew, lamb kabob, salad, fresh baked thin bread. Everything was delicious. Sat outside on their porch - good for people watching. The owner wouldn't give me his recipe so you'll have to go to the restaurant if you want this food!
(5)Aaron P.
Considering how Greek dining options are limited in this area, and in LA in general in my opinion, I'm going to be generous here. The atmosphere is kind of meh (I'm not a fan of wood paneling), but the gyro is really good and so is the soup that comes with dinner. Most people don't like the herb dressing they put on the salad, but I really enjoy the acidity. Their Mythos beer is pretty good and you cannot come here without ordering the baklava - it's fantastic!
(4)Mark S.
OK Yelpers, you got most of it right this time, but still not quite on the money. Yes, it's hard to tell if they're open or not. Yes it's kind of dark and looks like the decor hasn't been updated since the Eisenhower era (or maybe even the Roosevelt era. That's Teddy, not FDR. Geez, excuse them for not being pretentious and focusing on their food instead of their set decorations. Call it quaint and retro and move on. Yes the food takes a while to get there. But let's think this through Yelpers. If it comes out as fast as McDonald's, it's because they've already made a metric ton of it and are just waiting for you to show up and plop it on your plate. We could tell by that, and by the taste that ours was fresh made. Not being one for putting unknown objects in my mouth, I had nonetheless promised wifey I would try something new. Thus we tromped around Claremont checking out all the restaurants. Yes, at first we thought it was closed. Even after we walked in, I wasn't totally sure they were open. The waiter seemed to be used to people who don't know Greek food, and didn't mind when I mispronounced nearly everything. Wifey had a lamb kabob. I don't remember what mine was called, but I ordered it with trepidation (no, that's not a side dish kiddies, it means fear or reservation). When it came out it was a huge plate of meat, with some rice and little tortilla things. Are those the gyros? And why are they pronounced like "Heroes", instead of like "Jie-Rows"? Either it's spelled wrong, or we're pronouncing it wrong. But enough nit-picking. The food itself was awesome. I finished every mouth-watering drop, and wished I had a little more, but I was already stuffed and probably would have exploded if I had eaten one more bite. On the bright side, that would have livened up the interior decoration. Bottom line - worth going back, just keep the expectations realistic.
(4)Callae G.
I can't believe this place doesn't have better reviews. I've been coming here for years and always have a great experience. Frankly, my friend and I concluded that we don't come here enough. Some people are saying they don't like the interior decor or the atmosphere, and that's what I LOVE about it! It's dim, wood panel walls, a very 70's vibe. The staff is super friendly and treat you like family. My friend and I got the hummus and split the lamb kabob. It's a little pricy but you get so much food for the price. You get a delicious salad with an awesome dressing, an egg and lemon soup, which I couldn't get enough of. The taste was tantalizing! I wanted to drink the damn stuff. Then our main dish, the lamb kabob on top of rice with veggies. The lamb was DELICIOUS. It was so succulent, juicy, tender, and NOT GAMEY!!! upon my first bite I thought they accidentally gave us filet mignon. Sooooo good! Then you get baklava and a desert wine, which wasn't too sweet and had a hint of a coffee aroma and flavor. We also got a bottle of Greek red wine, which was cheap and topped the meal off delightfully. I love this place and will make an effort to become a regular!
(5)