NemeaService, presentation andService, presentation and experience was great. The food has hits and misses. Overall, everything was cooked very well, some dishes are lacking in flavor and may be a little dry.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAuthentic Greek in San JoseWhat a marvelous find before catching a play in San Jose. This seemed just as good as Evvia in Palo Alto. My mushroom risotto was fantastic. My wife is a connoisseur of afgolemono soup -- and she loved hers. The décor was open/spacious and interesting. I noted to semi-private rooms that would be very nice for large parties. We will be back!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely ExperienceThis was our first time here and we wanted a quick dinner before the symphony. The service was superb and the food excellent.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother Great Greek RestaurantWe've only eaten here once. But, it was a wonderful post-symphony dinner. We appreciate that they're open a little later than many downtown restaurants. The Swordfish was excellent (it's rare to get it not overcooked), as was my wife's sea bass.
They get many, many kudos for even having Galaktaboureko (Philo tubes filled with semolina custard, with pistachio icecream) on the dessert menu. It's even better that it was a particularly good version.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely and deliciousWe had a group of 6 for dinner at Nemea before a show at the Performing Arts Center. The waiter, Tomas, was delightful and attentive. The food was generally very good, with highlights of pastitsio, lamb riblets, spanikopita, and roasted asparagus, and unremarkable brussels sprouts, and roasted chicken.
The restaurant is lovely, and nice with windows on two sides and also a subtle view of the kitchen.
The only complaint is that the service isn't quite up to the ambiance of the place. Much of the service was very good, but some misses: no serving untensils with the appetizers, no steak knives with the lamb, a little spotty with clearing empty plates, left the wine glasses on the table after we ordered single glasses of wine.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was delicious. AmbienceFood was delicious. Ambience and service were great. Noise level was too high. Hard to have a conversation.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was very good. the ambianceFood was very good. the ambiance was very nice and relaxing and I like how we were not rushed. Will definitely visit again. It was a great experience! Oh and great music!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyedEnjoyed the evening very much. The staff was attentive and the food was a delight.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat New Find in the DowntownA superb dining experience. The food is beautifully prepared, subtly spice and generous in amount. Great for sharing starters, salads and entrees with others. The sea bass, the scallops and lamb tenderloin are top choices. Service is impeccable, but the live music while authentic was too loud.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMNew Favorite Restaurant!New favorite restaurant. Loved it! Great service, food, music, and wine! Seabass, lamb, and octapus all rocked! Yummy deserts (and I don't typically eat desert!) Sommelier steered us right with a nice Greek wine. Our server went over the top, giving our young daughter his "solid gold crumber" (it isn't!).
Great way to celebrate a special day!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Greek dinnerWe tried Nemea last night for an early dinner before a show at the California Theater a few blocks away. We arrived late for our reservation but there was no issue. The restaurant is attractive and was quiet when we got there at 5:45. There were a handful of tables full at that point and 3/4 full when we left at 7:15. The volume was fine even as the space filled up.
We had the fried smelt (nicely cooked and a huge serving - enough for 4 people). Also had the octopus salad that had a great smoky flavor and fresh greens. The moussaka and lamb kabob were also tasty and huge servings. We plan to return with friends to share the food! We each tried the wine flights that paired well.
Service was friendly and helpful.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Greek Food in Downtown SJI grew up in Chicago where they are many fantastic Greek restaurants. I have been searching for a "go to" Greek" restaurant since I moved to San Jose 30 years ago. I have finally found it at Nemea. So many items on the menu sounded so good, that it was difficult choosing. We decided to split several appetizers and have that as our meal.
The Saganaki was wonderful, but I was a little disappointed that they didn't yell Opa! The lobster and shrimp croquettes came with roasted red peppers that had just a hint of a citrus flavor. It was absolutely marvelous. The lamb riblets were tender and flavorful.
The Nemea special dessert was the perfect ending.
I look forward to going back and trying some of the entrees.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMTasty option in downtown SJWe went to Nemea early (before a show) so can't comment on how noisy or busy it gets as the evening wears on...although as early as it was (6 p.m. on a Monday), it was getting plenty of patrons (definitely book ahead). Nice ambiance and decor...nothing like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" but still Greek. I would not consider myself an expert on Greek or Mediterranean food, but this was tasty indeed. They have a good mix of Greek and California wines; I suggest getting a flight rather than order by the glass. They have lots of options for big and smaller appetites. Very attentive and cheerful service without hovering.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMHigh Class Greek DiningAn upgrade from regular pita and hummus shops, Nemea is an elevating experience for those who want to experience a high-end dining experience.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMDinner at NemeaExcellent food, vegetarian risotto is fantastic! Service is superb! Don't skip desert, it was worth the calories. The food presentation was very nice. We all loved Nemea!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMI'd return!We were greeted with a smile and efficiently on a Thursday evening a brought right to a window table. The service attendants were quick on their feet supplying us with a friendly hello and welcome and water to start. The table was set with nice flatware. Our waiter was efficient and thorough and had "service finesse" as he poured our wine and returned to do so on following pours. He was very attentive. We tried 3 appetizers, Brussels sprouts, lobster and shrimp cakes and a lamb appetizer all were very good. Sea Bass was my entree' also very good, but comes with head & tail so be prepared.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was the first time atThis was the first time at Nemea. The food was delicious, the service excellent and the atmosphere very pleasing.We'll be back....soon.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMNemea Greek Taverna-Wonderful!Nemea is a vibrant restaurant with a wonderfully varied menu to choose from. We have tried many of the appetizers and especially liked the tzatziki with warm pita and the lamb riblets. The avgolemono soup - very lemony - is a perfect starter for any of the entrees. The roasted chicken with braised greens and the scallops served with a wild mushroom risotto are two of our favorite entrees, but the lamb chops are also plump and delicious!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMIf you like Greek food youIf you like Greek food you will enjoy! Nice menu, nice presentation. Service was excellent without being obtrusive4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMI drive by Nemea every dayI drive by Nemea every day and I couldn't wait to try out this new downtown SJ hot spot. The service was 5 stars! Our waiter was friendly, attentive, personable, and took such great care of our group. We went there for a celebration, and all of my expectations were met. There was a small mishap with one of our entree's, but the server took care of it immediately and was kind enough to comp. that entree. The music was wonderful, the decor is pleasing and the food was really good. I couldn't give it a 5 star, and that is only because the risotto and the fish just needed salt, they were kind of bland, but the scallops are to die for and the couscous was the best I have ever had. I will for sure go back.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWe ended up ordering a largeWe ended up ordering a large number of apps to share and then just split a few entrees and it was perfect. Brought my dad and family here from out of town and everyone was extremely happy.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMNice addition to DowntownNice addition to Downtown San Jose dining. Went for lunch with a group of 10. Service was excellent - nice pace & attentiveness. Mezes were wonderful - octopodi, saganaki, marithes tiganites, gigantes plaki & pikilia. The pita bread was excellent. Entree we tried were Mousaka, Pasititsio,kotoppoulo pita, soloms and moschari souvlaki. All were very good - portions are large for lunch. Will return for dinner. Oh, yes they have Loukoumathes for dessert!4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food. Service wasExcellent food. Service was A+. Everyone was so welcoming.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMOur new favorite restaurant.Our new favorite restaurant. The olive bread and olive oil are wonderful as is everything else we have tried.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat selection on the menu.great selection on the menu. had the small plates to share at the table. we will be back.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWhen we heard there was aWhen we heard there was a new Greek restaurant in San Jose, we decided to stay in the neighborhood to celebrate our anniversary this year Nemea, breaking a long tradition of going to San Francisco for the occasion. All the small plates looked great, and we started with two favorites, taramasalata and merithes, both excellent. I had the lamb chops which were among the best I've ever had anywhere and my husband had the lamb shank which he enjoyed. Nobody makes better fried potatoes than the Greeks and the ones at Nemea live up to that ideal. The place is lovely and the service competent and gracious. Nemea is outstanding.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food, service, and wineThe food, service, and wine was excellent. However, this wonderful restaurant could benefit from rugs or some other form of sound baffle. The ambient noise grew exponentially with the crowd. Nothing painful, but a minor distraction.
That said, we are looking forward to going back.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOur second time at Nemea wasOur second time at Nemea was just as enjoyable as the first. I'm in love with the giant lima beans appetizer. May not sound good, but it is!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Addition to Downtown San JoseWow! What a wonderful addition to the downtown. With traditional mixed with innovative choices for dishes, this isn't just what you assume Greek food will be. Excellent service, great use of the old E&O space (lovely renovation), and truly fabulous food. We just wished we were home so we could lick the plates. Will be coming back soon and often!4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMBest service that I've everBest service that I've ever received at a restaurant!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place for live music.The music, I think they were called The Plaka band was outstanding!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMRomantic, great food, friendlyRomantic, great food, friendly staff. Trust the recommendations if its your first time with Greek food!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic food! everythingFantastic food! everything from the olive oil, bread, salad, entree and dessert were very good.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMOur entrees were deliciousOur entrees were delicious and fresh. The wine recommendations matched our palates.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed the food, althoughEnjoyed the food, although it is too rich for eating very frequently4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGray new restaurantIt's great to see good Greek food in DT SJ. I had their moussaka and it was awesome! We started with tzazki and some calamari.. Everything we ordered was delicious. Desserts looked good but I had no room.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Restaurant!We had an excellent experience overall. Our waiter made a special effort to explain the menu, which can be a bit challenging for folks who are new to Greek cuisine. To top it all off, I accidentally left my iPad on the table and the hostess came running out and caught up with us across the street to return it to me. The whole staff at Nemea showed tremendous care and attention to making sure our experience was the best it could be. We'll definitely be back!4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely space and the serviceLovely space and the service was amazing -- everyone went out of their way to be prompt, kind, helpful. Roving manager was clearly watching everything. The food was good to very good. We were underwhelmed by the appetizers: our octopus was a bit dry and chewy -- not bad, just not the best ever. I had the swordfish for my main and it was melt-in-your mouth delicious, the pearl couscous were well-seasoned and very nice, though perhaps just a little soft. Music was nice, and early in the evening (pre-theater) the noise levels were fine.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMA new place in San Jose thatA new place in San Jose that provided excellent service and food. We enjoyed everything. Wonderful to see a Greek wine on the list3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMI'm so happy nemea openedI'm so happy nemea opened in San Jose. This restaurant brings a new vibe to downtown and great atmospher to the city. Great place for groups and couples. Service and food are excellent I would recommend this to everyone.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMRound two...coming soonThe bread & olives to begin were elevated by the olive oil poured for dipping. Its crisp, nutty flavor stands out among olive oils I've tasted. We started with the tzatziki and pita I will likely order every time I go back. The calamari appetizer was good, not phenomenal. It was tender and flavorfull but didn't have the crispy texture I personally prefer. The dipping sauce was tasty. My partner had scallops on risotto. The dish was great with presentation and flavor. The scallops bordered on overcooked but fortunately were not. I had the lamb tenderloins which were melt in my mouth tender and very "lamb-y". The potatoes were crisp and good but pretty salty. The rhubarb dessert was a dream come true. We enjoyed trying new to us, Greek wines.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were not happy with theWe were not happy with the initial table that they tried to seat us at as it was quite close to a very large group table. They were able to seat us at another table which was nice. The food was excellent. We especially liked our waiter, Chad. We needed to be served in a timely manner and Chad made sure that we were not late to the ballet.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best restaurantsOne of the best restaurants we have been to in a number of years. Every meal was great. The menu isn't long but we had difficulty choosing all 4 of us had at least two things we wanted to try.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat find for pre theaterGreat find for pre theater dining in downtown San Jose.Good food for the price. Had an appetizer and the Moussaka with the combo desert. All were good and we will go back.
Hal3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMDefinitely one of my new favoriteDefinitely one of my new favorite places. Everyone is so nice and this place is just special! The music was awesome! Loved it all3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMNemea is a great find!Nemea has brought an upscale vibe to downtown San Jose with its wonderful Greek cuisine, live music on Friday nights and thoughtful service. Our server, Jon, was knowledgeable and attentive without hovering. We would recommend the lamb riblets and the Greek lemon soup-delicious! The pork chop and the scallops for an entree are wonderful, as well!3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMA very good addition to downtownA very good addition to downtown San Jose dining, in the spot that was E&O Trading Co. Upscale Greek menu in an attractive (but noisy) room.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMFantasticWe went to Nemea to celebrate our anniversary. We were so impressed by the courteousness and attentiveness of the staff, the quality of the food, and the beautiful ambience of the restaurant that we will for sure go back. We had a wonderful time--a great experience!!3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMOpa!Solid in every way and a great addition to the Downtown San Jose restaurant scene. I've never been a big Greek food buff but I think I have been converted. They do everything first class here and the crowd is awesome. You have to go at least once.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is amazing and theThe food is amazing and the staff is very attentive. Great service3/15/2013 12:00:00 AM