Kokkari Estiatoriothe Vegetarian finds another gemWhen scouting for new places to go, I first have to see if there are enough options for me, then I review their wine list. Kokkari has an extensive wine list, with a number of good by the glass options. My friend had a lamb shank, to which she replied it was delicious.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Greek Food: At a PriceFirst the negatives. Parking at lunchtime (valet available only in the evening) can be daunting. And the price is steep for what is essentially simple ethnic food. However, this simple ethnic food is raised several notches. Each dish is elegantly prepared and presented, and tastes are usually well balanced. (To my taste, olives, especially Calamata, should be used with more discretion. My beautiful halibut was a bit overpowered by them.) The interior of Kokkari is sophisticated and warmly comfortable, the staff attentive, and our particular waiter was one of the best in the business. The overall experience was superb. Next time, I would choose to go in the evening. And I would certainly recommend it for a splurge lunch.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect Evening.....Kokkari is astonishing. We have dined here several times and the food, service and ambience are always outstanding. Given the volume of diners and busy bar area, we have always had superior food and professional service. The seasonal squash blossom appetizer was an exceptional treat; light batter, perfect temperature and delicious with fresh chopped dill. Kokkari is the only restaurant where I will order lamb. It is the best quality Sonoma spring lamb, seasoned and grilled to perfection. My husband had lamb chops and I always order the lamb riblets with a side of grilled artichokes & eggplant. The flavors are divine. Our evening was beautiful. Great wine list, too and prices are reasonable for SF.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat SF restaurantOne of my favorites in SF. Great ambiance, service and delicious food!6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our second visitThis was our second visit and it was a perfect evening. Service was knowledgeable, professional and attentive. The ambiance of the restaurant is warm yet airy, and the food is excellent.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything is good!A lovely place with great service and every dish is top notch.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMWe'd not eaten here for aWe'd not eaten here for a few years. Our party of 4 was warmly welcomed and greeted. Our waiter was outstanding with excellent suggestions for wine and menu. Dinner was surberb and beautifully served. Great dining experience!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time.Had a wonderful dinner with my partner. We had 10pm reservations but got bumped up, fortunately. The greet staff and wait staff were all spot on and on their game. The food was incredible. Not familiar with Greek cuisine, traditional or otherwise, but the flavors and presentation were intoxicating. Starters of fried smelt and grilled octopus set the stage. Both were generous portions and with a salad could have been close to an entree. I had grilled salmon and she had the whole grilled fish (Mediterranean sea bass) and we were nibbling off each other's plates delightedly. We will both be coming back.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMA favoriteof mine. have had lunch, evening meals with groups, drinks at the bar and eaten lunch at the bar.Service is excellent - consistently as is the food. sometimes the noise levels are a little intense but mostly near the bar and the after work crowd.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMIf you want charming serviceIf you want charming service and great food, this is your place. I recommend the fresh fish...delicious.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMKokkari is our go to birthdayKokkari is our go to birthday restaurant. We love the specials and the favorites. The appetizer menu is extensive and creative.
The rotisseri lamb was overcooked. The rest of the dishes were wonderful. The service was the best we have had anywhere.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMBest business lunch downtown.Love Kokkari, for lunch or dinner, but the place feels like a Montecito home during the day. So inviting.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMgourmet rustic food. elevatedgourmet rustic food. elevated ingredients and preparations made for a thoroughly enjoyable lunch. this place is huge, but the service and individual attention were excellent. A great time!5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMTremendous FoodWent to Kokkari for an anniversary dinner and was blown away by the amazing food, great wine list, and great service. Definitely a must for those who enjoy Mediterranean food.5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMone of my favorites in townexcellent service.. and the food is creative and of the highest quality.5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have never been disappointedWe have never been disappointed with Kokkari. Consistently great food and excellent service.5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMDinner in the Fast LaneGreat menu, great wine list, great food- beautifully presented. But fasten your seat belt- the server was petal to the metal all the way. From the moment we sat down until the check arrived it he was right up on our bumper. Appetizers and deserts must be pre-made/inventoried as the server literally took the order , walk to the kitchen and returned with our order. No stopping here to smell the flowers. Hardly finished the starters, when the main course arrived. Unfortunately a great menu, great atmosphere and great wine were hard to appreciate as we were rushed through the entire visit.5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMMy husband is of Greek ancestryMy husband is of Greek ancestry and has had "home" Greek cooking. He was very impressed with the quality and flavors
that were on offer at Kokkari. The egg/lemon soup and the rice pudding were exceptional...difficult dishes to get right for
those who have had these prepared in Greek homes by "experts". The goat stew was fantastic. Everyone at our table had
nothing but superlatives re: food and service. Our only regret is that we live in LA and do not have weekly access to this
inventive and high quality restaurant.5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing Food and ServiceI would highly recommend this restaurant. The service was friendly and knowledgeable. I had the country pate for a starter and my wife had the zucchini cakes, both were outstanding. For the main course, I had the broiled branzino special while my wife had the lamb chops, again simply spectacular. Check this place out!!!5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding Rib-EyeDidn't expect to have the best rib-eye steak in Greek restaurant. It was cooked perfectly, crispy on the outside and super tender inside - very flavorful. And the rotisserie lamb was excellent too. We had 3-course dinner and everything just excellent; food was really good, service was really good - we'll definitely come back when we're back to SF for visit.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways near the top of my listI've been dining at Kokkari since it's inception: for lunch and dinner and I've never been disappointed. The food is wonderful and the server is always ready to help with suggestions if the dish references are too mysterious. Plenty of lamb, lamb and lamb. I had shoulder cut from the rotisseried whole beast!! Juicy, tender and well marinated. I'm still smack'n my lips after three days.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently good food andConsistently good food and well trained service staff.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AM5 stars! The best in SF!Exceptional food, attentive wait staff, and a famous chef -- what's not to love! The dishes are eye-appealing: simple, fresh ingredients with Mediterranean flair. Your first bite is like your first affair -- you are immefiately in love, and you want more, more, MORE. Lucky for me, the chef wrote a cookbook, and now I can have a discrete love affair at home too.
- Donna5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMElegant and upscale Greek jointI love Greek food, have travelled in Greece, and yet so many Greek restaurants in America are mediocre. This one is fantastic! I have been eating a lot of octopus lately, but the one here was the best I have ever had. The pieces were larger, which might account for their tenderness. Not a bit chewy. The, ravioli with peas and spinach, I think, very beautiful. And a lamb burger, perfectly cooked, on a nice pita bread, appropriately chewy. Dessert list looked great, but we didn't order any. Retsina wine by the glass, very elegant and mild. Decor and atmosphere very tasteful. The restaurant is huge. Service was excellent.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMExtrordinary!Second time here...Just as amazing as I'd remembered. For context, I just returned from eating my way through Italy and France. Wait staff extrodinary! Said she would help us plan our dinner. Which she did; making very helpful suggestions on how to approach constructing our dinner. Each of six shared dishes made our mouths do a happy dance. Split three different glasses of Greek wine. Both chose the lightest (complex crisp fruity) as our favorite. Bought 2 copies of cookbook! Whole affair (not including cookbooks) ended up costing just shy of eighty dollars for two. Best ever value for a meal. Super choice for two people or more.Plan to split dishes family style. First time I've ever left a truly grateful tip. Thank you Kokkari.5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMdeliciousThe total experiance was great . The service great and the food was unbeliavable. A must stop if you can make it to San Fran5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect "dinner for two"!Kokkari's food is simply delicious. Pair that with lightening fast food prep and attentive, knowledgeable wait staff and our dining experience was a night to remember. It also didn't hurt that we had one of the best "tables for two" in the house (window booth at the front of the restaurant). Make and earlier reservation if you want an intimate dinner. As the evening progresses the noise level can get "energetic." Do be sure to leave room for the baklava ice cream - it's heavenly!5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, nice wine list,Great food, nice wine list, knowledgeable waitress. Definitely we'll come bac.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMKobeA fine restaurant in so many respects. Great food, service and ambiance. Out of a nine-day restaurant spree in SF, one of the top three.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstandingIn every way - food, ambience, service. Our server gave us great tips which we mostly followed. Would love to return next time in SF.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMUnforgettable food and service!3 for early dinner @ 5:30..bar was already packed! Our waiter was funny, knowledgeable, attentive..made our evening! Fabulous wine list with bottle prices that range from ~$50 to over $6k! Great daily selection of fresh fish prepared your way! Steak, lamb..all tender & flavorful. Apps were quick to arrive, and delectable! Duck meatballs, asparagus..& oh, that heavenly decadent chocolate cake for dessert! My 2 friends said it's the best meal they have had in the city!5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food, excellentExcellent food, excellent service, excellent wine steward, excellent atmosphere & ambiance!
Would highly recommend for a lot of reasons! Have eaten there many times and it is always great - either with a group or just as a couple. Cannot go wrong choosing it to entertain!5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazingWow what an i say incredible food, service. We had an amazing time 4 of us went and we will be back VERY SOON!!!!!5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful and friendly service.Wonderful and friendly service. Our waiter knows his menu very well and we took his advise for everything. We had a great time and a memorable evening5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant gets it!Great food and service. Our waiter was knowledgeable, professional and catered to our exact needs. The food was cooked to perfection. A great dining experience. We will be back next time we are in San Fran.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMMediterranean at its Best!An amazing array of flavors, ingredients, and aromas is what you can expect at this fine establishment. I cannot imagine a more authentic Greek restaurant outside of being in Greece itself. The menu offers great variety and items that are rarely offered anywhere else. Everything was delicious (the kalamari is a must try). The service was fantastic. Excellent mixologist Joshua elevated the dining experience. I highly recommend without any reservations. Enjoy!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely-This maybe the best Greek restaurant in the country-5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMMy favorite food destinationGreat decor and service. It takes me back to Europe.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMKokkari never failsCelebrated a birthday lunch here, and they managed to make it very special for us. Food was divine. Lunch prices quite reasonable. Way to go5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Place to CelebrateWe had a great meal. Especially loved the duck appetizer. The grilled sea bass was fresh and cooked perfectly with a great char flavor from the fire. The lamb shank was tender and braised perfectly. For desert, we enjoyed the lemon curd tarts with house made pistachio ice cream and a nice Madeira. Jeff, our server, was friendly and attentive without being intrusive or hovering. We had a great time and felt our evening was much fun and delivered value for the price.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect Mother's DayIt was so nice to go out for a well prepared and presented dinner on Mother's Day in a quiet setting like we had at Kokkari. The wait staff was very attentive. Probably the only thing was a recommendation for one of the specials over what my daughter was prepared to order. It wasn't that it was not good, but it wasn't to her taste like the entree she was going to have. I can't fault anyone since we all have different likes. I really enjoy this restaurant for special occasions as it can become pricey with all of the delicious offerings.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMIncredible food; somewhat corporateThe food at Kokkari is always spectacular. If you like Mediterranean food, this place can't be beat. The wine list is also extensive and includes a good variety of price ranges. The service was great -- our waitress was wonderful -- but we were seated near the door and we had to keep our coats on b/c of the periodic draft coming through. Otherwise, though, it was great.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMCan remember a better mealMy sister and I went on the recommendation of a friend. The most memorial part of the meal was when I had to tell my sister to stop complaining about work and taste the baklava. She loved it and it trancended the previous conversation. It was stunning. For dinner we had the roasted pork and lamb shank over orzo. Lastly, our cocktails were to die for. Love, love Love this place.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMAlmost a train wreckMonths in advance, I booked an 8-top for a birthday dinner.
3 days before, Kokkari called to confirm. I confirmed.
The day of, Kokkari called again - do I really have 8 people? Yes, I sure do.
Our entire party arrived 15 minutes early.
Yet 20 minutes *after* the reservation, we were still waiting. Only vague responses from staff. Then a party of ten came in ..and we saw staff prepping a table for them....shrugs for us.
It took some NYC-style elbowing on our part to get the host staff to seat our party prior to the 10-top. I'm not sure we'd have been seated otherwise.
Once seated everything was lovely. I'd go back for the food and ambiance. But having and reconfirming a res sometimes isn't enough to actually get a table!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding!One of the greatest dinning experiences that can be found in the bay area. The duck, the lamb, the rabbit, the staff service, all come together to orchestrate your stay and to convert it into a true foodie honey moon.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMFor everythingWe continue to love kokkari. I checked almost all the categories because it's right for everything. We picked kokkari to celebrate our last night in San Francisco and as always the food and everything else were wonderful.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMKokkari has everything I likeKokkari has everything I like in a restaurant! Delicious food, personal service and comfortable, happy ambience!5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat spotOutstanding food. Been here several times and it has been great.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was wonderful andThe food was wonderful and the service superb. our waiter was excellent. My friend chose Kokkari as her birthday treat (this was her first time there) and absolutely loved it! A table in the front room is a special treat,...so homey and comfortable.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat restaurant! Came forGreat restaurant! Came for an anniversary dinner and were seated in a very romantic table and pleasantly surprised with Happy Anniversary in chocolate on our dessert plate. Very thoughtful! Great service too.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AM