Thea Mediterranean Cuisine

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Address:
3090 Olsen Drive
San Jose, CA 95128

Neighborhood:
San Jose

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Cuisine:
Mediterranean

Price: $30 and under

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Thea Mediterranean Cuisine Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://www.TheaRestaurant.com
Phone: (408) 260-1444
Hours of Operation: Open daily at 11:30am Lunch 7 days a week): 11:30am - 2:30pm Winter Hours: Dinner Sunday thru Wednesday 2:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Thursday 2:30 pm to 10:30 pm, Friday & Saturday 2:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Turkish, Greek
Executive Chef: Alex Padilla
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Catering: Thea offers traditional dips and spreads with pita bread or flatbread; Greek salads, moussaka, and various souvlaki dishes.
Private Party Facilities: Thea can serve any size group from an intimate party of 2 to groups of 100 and more. We offer events ranging from a sit down dinner to a cocktail style reception with passed appetizers. Thea also has a semi-private outdoor area.
Private Party Contact: Manager (408) 260-1444
Entertainment: Live Belly Dancing Friday and Saturday evenings. Happy Hour and Weekend Brunch starting this May! See website for details and schedules.

Getting there

Cross Street: Winchester Blvd.
Parking: Public Lot
Parking Details: There is nearby free parking available at Santana Row; the parking lot is adjacent to Thea.

A word from Thea Mediterranean Cuisine

The newest addition to Santana Row, Thea is a celebration of Mediterranean cuisine with highlights from Greece & Turkey. An expansive bar & lounge features creative vodka infusions & a selection of Mediterranean & California wines. Authentic Greek art, a 20-foot olive tree & a stylish contemporary… setting complete the experience. See Our Reviews: *"Fantastic, interesting food crafted by a master executive chef, superior service provided by an attentive staff & the most spectacular surroundings possible." * - The Wave Magazine (http://www.thewavemag.com/printarticle.php?articleid=25383) *"Dramatic and stylish from the front door."* - Sheila Himmel, The Mercury News (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/columnists/sheila_himmel/12099483.htm) - The Metro Newspaper (http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/06.29.05/dining-0526.html)Continued

Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerGreat for Lunch

Thea Mediterranean Cuisine - Best Restaurants in San Jose

Diner Reviews

"A group of colleagues from work went to dinner with several other colleagues from out of town. We sat outside which was very pleasant. The staff was timely, courteous and not pushy (considering two of our group showed up 30 minutes late) Everyone liked their meals and the appetizers where a hit. Thanks to the staff for allowing us to enjoy our selves and their restaurant."
Dined on 7/23/2014
"The food and service was good. Tables are close to each other so it was very noisy - we were almost part of the conversations on either side of the tables. Wife hated it (noise and adjacent table conversations) as we had gone for a peaceful romantic dinner."
Dined on 7/19/2014
"It is good for groups or family who want to goto an upscale place like Santan Row. Since other places at Santana Row were loud we picked this place."
Dined on 6/27/2014
"This place gets better every time we go, I highly recommend it. Sophisticated, high quality menu ... the kind of food you can't cook at home. Worth every penny!"
Dined on 6/26/2014
"The food was mediocre and very expensive. I will not go back or recommend this to anyone."
Dined on 6/20/2014
"While the *prices* at Thea are as high as 5-star Mediterranean eateries such as Evvia in Palo Alto and Kokkari San Francisco, the food is about half as good. You are definitely paying a significant upcharge for the Santana Row location. The biggest offense to me was the chef at Thea put French's Mustard on the rack of lamb. This is the oddest thing I have seen at an upscale restaurant. It is an affront to Greek cooking and just plain goofy. Sorry, but it made at $28 meal taste like a $2 hot dog. The Moussaka was very good, but the portion for the price was miniscule. If entree prices were in the $18-20 range I would return. But for the high prices of the food, this is a one and done. "
Dined on 5/17/2014
"Thea is one of my favorite restaurants. Their lamb shanks are really good for dinner as are their salads for lunch."
Dined on 5/16/2014
"Portions are very small even for kids that have modest appetites. Entrees took a while to prepare even though the place couldn't have been more than 25% full. Lots of service people just standing around. No wonder it was so easy to get reservations last minute for prime dinner time on Mother's Day. "
Dined on 5/11/2014
"I was disappointed that the restaurant did not report to open table that i did honor my reservation. Now open table has me labeled as a dead beat. Otherwise, the food was good."
Dined on 5/10/2014
"Wonderful restaurant, love the decor, the ambiance, service is great and everyone friendly, I have not never been disappointed by the food, my favorite for example "Garrides" delicious....BUT..the noise level for me is still a problem even though we sat at the back against the wall, then they added the music and this was too much. My guess if you can, eat earlier when the crowd has not yet arrived or eat outside on the patio ! I still will return though..."
Dined on 5/2/2014
"We dined at Thea with a group of 15 and I must say the food, staff and atmosphere was superb! Because it was such a beautiful evening we dined outside and our waiter was so attentive to our entire group and even helped with dish recommendations. Drinks and dinner was beyond delicious and I can't wait to go back for date night with my hubby! Whether u come in a group or on a date, sit inside or out on the patio, you will not be disappointed.....this place lives up to the hype! Do yourself a favor and try this GEM of a restaurant in Santana Row."
Dined on 4/30/2014
"I have not been to Thea's for a while but the food was good and it was early enough in the evening for it to be reasonably quiet."
Dined on 4/24/2014
"Easter Brunch with my family was very enjoyable. The lunch menu is somewhat limited but has something for everyone. A couple of the dishes had a little to much "heat" for mediterranean cuisine but not bad. I recall the food being a little more refined a couple of years ago. All in all a good experience. The service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing."
Dined on 4/20/2014
"We went to Thea for dinner before seeing a show at Santana Row. Good service, lovely atmosphere, and creative dishes. Updated Middle East cuisine with California fresh produce. Fun cocktails. We were there on a Tuesday night when Santana Row is not so crowded. I recommend Tuesdays, -- by Friday parking is impossible, and you can't even walk down the crowded sidewalks...Thea is great for a pre-movie dinner mid week. It was quiet and we could talk."
Dined on 3/18/2014
"Very happy with the service and courtesy Manager and the server had. We are vegetarian - and we did not even complain for anything but one of the dishes we had ordered was not finished and the server asked me - if we did not like it.... And to our surprise - they had removed that dish from our bill. When I asked for the reason for removal, I was told if I don't like it, then I should not be charged for it - something way ABOVE AND BEYOND for the service."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"Two of us went here as a birthday celebration on a Monday night. The restaurant was not busy and we were seated right away. The waiter was very attentive without being intrusive. We ordered the Kimali flatbread and a Greek Goddess salad and split them. For mains, we ordered lamb shank and filet mignon, both cooked medium rare. The Kimali was delicsious, as was the salad. The lamb was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The only disappointment was the filet. It arrived well done (no pink inside) and lukewarm. Our waiter apologized and ordered a replacement. When it arrived, it was clear it had been rushed: seared on the outside, but nearly raw in the middle. We will return to Thea, but we won't order the filet."
Dined on 2/17/2014
"Very nice looking place once inside, though parking and traffic in this area was a bit tough. The food was average and pricey for what we had. The service was very good, with one of their servers who was on her lunch, helping out when they had an early dinner rush."
Dined on 2/17/2014
"Hostess, Hayley, was terrible and we almost walked out of our reservation. Despite the good food and atmosphere, we are not sure about returning. We have been dinning in this place for many years and this is the 1st time having unpleasant experience. The hostess seated us near the entrance, so we politely asked to have another table. Hostess refused to get us another tables, said things like: some were for "table-for-4," all tables were assigned/reserved, she couldn't re-assign (all kind of excuses). Took us "back & forth" for couple minutes in order to get the table we preferred. Later we saw that she seated a couple at the table which she claimed was for 4. The place was no more than 75% occupied. So much for "all tables were reserved.""
Dined on 2/15/2014
"I had been wanting to take my boyfriend to this restaurant for 4 years and I jumped at the opportunity when he told me I could pick where we would have our Valentine's dinner, thinking he would love it. I have to admit I was embarrassed by his reaction. He told me he hated it more than another restaurant that I am aware that he intensely dislikes, so that spoke volumes to me. He ordered their Valentine's Day special of lobster and filet mignon and it was seriously inedible.The lobster was so over-cooked that we couldn't cut it with the knife and fork provided, so it was left on the plate. The filet was cooked well, but had little to no flavor. For $38 I expected perfection. At this point, it's safe to say we will never be returning."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"We have been to Thea a few times and the service is always good, and te food usually the same. Service was as goof as ever but the gyro one of us had was over cooked and over flavored. Watch out for the virgin drinks - we paid $10 for basil lemonade - each - which is daylight robbery !! Not planning to go back, unfortunately."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Had a team dinner here. Great for mixed meat eaters & Vegetarian team members. Tasty food - service was friendly and efficient. mixed tapas plates were a winner."
Dined on 2/12/2014
"I am sorry to say, but the food was warm and not to our standing, I would not recommend this place"
Dined on 2/12/2014
"The menu had many options. The Sangria Pitcher was good but the Lamb Shank was amazing."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"Four of us met for a business dinner at Thea, all looking forward to good Greek food, and Thea delivered. Among the appetizers, the saganaki (flaming cheese) and the bacon-wrapped dates, with lingering heat perhaps from the cheese, were standouts. Presentation was elegant, and the salad accompanying my grilled prawns atop a large zucchini pancake was a fine counterpoint of crunch to the silken smooth zucchini cake. We could converse about business easily enough at table, never wanting for water or clearing of finished plates due to the professional wait staff. We lingered over coffee and tea at meal's end without feeling rushed. With free convenient parking at Santana Row, Thea provides a great alternative to downtown San Jose options."
Dined on 2/6/2014
"I sent my entree back twice. The fish was mushy, like whipped potatoes. The waitress suggested that I order something else. I asked for lamb medium rare. The lamb was undercooked and so tough that I couldn't cut it. The vegetables were unremarkable, like something you'd see in a much less expensive place. Very disappointing."
Dined on 1/31/2014
"I have been to this restaurant many times. This time was a below par. The sea bass special was dry and mushy inside instead of moist and flaky. The bread was dry and we had to ask for another portion which wasn't as good as on previous visits. Hopefully, it was just an off night."
Dined on 1/31/2014
"I would highly recommend the lamb sliders! They were seasoned to perfection and cooked to order. Could be shared as an appetizer or is a perfect serving for a hearty lunch."
Dined on 1/30/2014
"Yummmoooo says it all. We ordered a variety of appetizers and a delicious Chardonnay after a movie. Will do this again!"
Dined on 12/30/2013
"My husband and I like to come here when we are looking for a place with good food and a nice "date night" atmosphere in San Jose. However, this time, the food just wasn't the same. The menu had changed a bit, and they had gotten rid of two of some of our favorite dishes, the arugula beet salad and the lamb slouvaki. When I asked if they had the arugula beet salad, the waitress said it was seasonal, which is strange because both arugula and beets are winter vegetables. We ordered our food and it wasn't very impressive. The salmon I ordered was a bit tough. The phyllo dough it was wrapped in wasn't crispy and light but more gummy and heavy. The salad list was really not very special. The service was good overall but food was lacking."
Dined on 12/19/2013
"Thea has been one of my favorite restaurants in Santana Row for a long time, but on this particular evening, service was very slow and the food was just average. Hopefully, this was a one-time experience. I'll definitely try it again to see if it goes back to it's former standard."
Dined on 12/8/2013
"we were 3 very active seniors who wanted a nice dinner together. Could not hear above the clatter of dishes, music and voices. They turned down the music a bit but then it came blasting on for the belly dancer. She was lovely but why they thought people could not enjoy watching her without stadium loud music was unclear. The staff and dancer were nice, the food overpriced, the noise was unbearable. That was our view. The place filled up and other people appeared to be enjoying themselves!"
Dined on 12/6/2013
"I've been going to Thea off and on since they opened. Sometimes it's quite good, sometimes just so-so for the price. So I hadn't been in almost a year, but the other night my husband & I decided to try them again, ordered the Tapas plate which had a variety of items (including french fries, which seemed kind of weird for a tapas plate, how about some olives instead?) We also had the flaming lamb meatballs which was fun cuz they were flamed, but I think they should be served with pocket bread and parsley sprigs, or something to jazz them up a bit, else they're a little plain. The wine was good, but wipe out your glass first if you get the chance, cuz I could taste the cleaning fluid (from the dishwasher?) on the glass."
Dined on 11/30/2013
"Dining at Thea used to be a great experience. Overtime, called dropped significantly and over the weekend it's even worse. After staying away from Thea for a while, this weekend I decided to try again. I should have chosen a different place. Food service was very slow. It took almost 50 minutes for our food to be served and our orders were pretty basic. Also, taste is not the same anymore. The falafel, a must for a Mediterranean restaurant, was tasteless"
Dined on 11/24/2013
"Thea has been one of our favorite restaurants for years, but our recent meal was disappointing. I had the vegetable moussaka, which was good, but not great, unsubstantial and not worth the price. Two hours later I was hungry again. My husband had salmon, and he liked it, but also felt it was not enough food to be worth the price. We won't be going back anytime soon."
Dined on 11/23/2013
"Food is great. Service is perfect. Mihala was friendly, informative, helpful, and there when needed. Since the call themselves a Greek restaurant, you would think that they would have some decent Greek wines; all their competitors do."
Dined on 11/23/2013
"Best part of this romantic restaurant was BELLY DANCE PERFORMANCE by Maria! She was very beautiful, talented, friendly, and she made our night very memorable and special. Thank you!"
Dined on 11/8/2013
"The service was excellent , and the belly dancer made my night out fun and special. I thought the food was just ok. Like the ambiance , although could be cold at times . Kid friendly and nice decor. The belly dancer and service is what would make me want to return. The fried items seemed greasy., so I would avoid them next time."
Dined on 11/8/2013
"Wonderful: Hummus, The Greek Emerald, the chicken dish, our waitress Awkward: Belly dancer while we were eating, a waitress (not ours) being groped while drinking in the back of the house, the Red Sox game playing during a romantic evening with loud high fives in the bar"
Dined on 10/19/2013
"First visit. Sampled a pesto flatbread (good crust, fresh toppings), scallops/garlic potatoes (scalloped cooked correctly), shrimp (good), mussels in ouso tomato sauce (mussels cooked properly, sauce very salty). Early reservations meant dining with families -- one let their three kids run all over and no one (parents nor staff) stopped them. Service attentive, waitstaff friendly. Easily accommodated elderly parent in wheelchair."
Dined on 10/16/2013
"I had a business dinner here with 5 guests. We had the two appetizer samplers (tapas and hummus). Both were great. Both were perfect for a party of 5. I had the fish special with eggplant. I would recommend this! Our server was a lovely woman with a fantastic accent. We dined on Thursday night and the restaurant was not full. I gave the noise level a moderate rating, however, it is possible it could be energetic if the restaurant was filled to capacity. The ambiance was very nice. I loved the high ceilings. I will go back there again!"
Dined on 10/10/2013

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