Evvia

Name: Evvia
Address: 420 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, CA, United States, 94301
Telephone: (650) 326-0983
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.8

4.8

4152 Reviews

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Top Tags:

Sister restaurant of Kokkari, Evvia has been serving authentic rustic Greek cuisine since 1995. Our fresh fish, savory roasted meats and grilled and roasted vegetables are perked up with a squeeze of lemon, a splash olive oil, and Mediterranean herbs. There is perfection in simplicity.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 10, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 77 times today

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Greek
Hours of operation
Lunch Daily 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(650) 326-0983
Website
http://www.evvia.net/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Mario Ortega
Private party facilities
The restaurant can accommodate large parties. Please call for details.
Private party contact
Maria Arizu / Maria@evvia.net: (650) 326-0983

Location
420 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Neighborhood
Palo Alto
Cross street
Between University and Lytton
Parking details
Valet is available Thursday, Friday and Saturdays during dinner service only.
Public transit
CalTrain - University Avenue
Additional
Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

50 San Francisco Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Popular dishes

Feta & Olives$4.50
Epiros feta cheese with marinated olives
Spanakotiropita$8.75
phyllo stuffed with braised greens, feta cheese & herbs
Dolmathes$6.50
grape leaves stuffed with rice, mint, dill, tomatoes, olive oil & lemon
Saghanaki$12.00
pan fried Kefalograviera with oregano & lemon
Roasted Beets$9.75
citrus marinated with whipped manouri, pickled shallouts & toasted pine nuts
Roasted Squash$8.75
with crumbled feta, toasted pumpkin seeds & pomergrante seeds
Evvia Flatbread$9.75
caramelized onions, Kalamata olives, tomatoes, myzithra cheese & basil
Crispy Zucchini Cakes$8.75
with marinated cucumber & mint yogurt
Octopus$13.75
traditional grilled with lemon, oregano & olive oil
Greek Fries$7.00
skinny potato fries with feta & wild oregano
Artichoke Souvlaki$12.00
grilled artichokes & eggplant skewer with Greek yogurt
Brussels Sprouts$9.75
with applewood smoked bacon, lemon & Evvia dressing
Fried Smelts$8.50
crispy smeltswith almond & potato skordalia & lemon
Prawns$10.75
wood oven roasted Louisiana prawns with ouzo herb butter
Calamari$12.75
crispy calamari with lemon garlic aioli & spicy pepper aioli
Lamb Meatballs$10.00
grilled with tomato & green olive compote
Lamb Riblets$11.75
mesquite grilled with lemon & oregano
Gigantes$8.50
baked organic Gigante beans with tomatoes, leeks & herbed feta
Taramosalata, Tzatziki, Melitzanosalata
with house made grilled pita
- each$8.00

Salads & Soup

Avgolemono Soup$8.00
traditional egg-lemon soup with chicken & rice
Evvia Salad$10.00
chopped romaine hearts, radicchio with, pine nuts, Kalamata olives & feta dressing
Classic Greek Salad$10.00
tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, green peppers, feta & olives
Arugula Salad$10.00
with apples, candied walnuts, blue cheese, aged balsalmic & extra virgin olive oil

Entrees

Whole Fish
mesquite grilled with lemon-oregano vinaigrette & braised greens
- AQ
Roasted Lamb Sandwich$16.00
rolled in house made pita with tzatziki, tomato & seasonal greens
Chicken Souvlaki$16.75
chicken breast, peppers & onion skewer with tzatziki, grilled tomato & pita
Lamb Souvlaki$23.75
grilled lamb, red onion & bay leaf skewer with Evvia potatoes & tzatziki
Salmon$26.75
grilled wild salmon with lemon potato puree & tomato ouzo sauce
Lamb Chops$29.00
rib-cut, mesquite-grilled lamb chops with olive oil roasted potatoes
Ravioli$18.00
butternut squash & feta with mushrooms, chard, onions, toasted pine nuts & kefalograviera
Moussaka$19.75
traditional baked casserole of spiced lamb, eggplant, potato & yogurt bechamel
Lamb Burger$14.75
served with kefalograviera, pickled zucchini chips & crispy onion rings
Pastitsio$19.75
traditional casserole of spiced beef & pasta with béchamel

What 4,152 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Francisco Bay Area
Mediterranean
Peninsula
Best Overall
Peninsula
Best Food
Peninsula
Best Ambiance
Peninsula
Most Booked

A
Alena
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing place with perfect service and great food. Would love to return!
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L
Local
San Francisco
114 reviews
vip
5.0
114 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
As always, superb. I've been a regular since they opened and I've always been impressed. I don't know how they maintain their standards every day of every year, but I've never been there on an "off" day.
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MH
MariaH
London
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great dinner, fantastic food extremely tasty! We had the lamb skewers & the chicken for main and the flatbread for starter. Big portions! I would say the service was way too fast, we were just finished our starter and the main was put down on our table as they were taking the starter plate away.
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g
grapegirl
San Francisco
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
We ate outside on a lovely day. We were catching up with friends we hadn't seen in some time. We wanted to have all small plates and take our time. Our waiter wanted for us to not take so much time but in the end it all worked out. We had a good time and everything was quite good.
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DM
DavidM
San Francisco
34 reviews
5.0
34 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service4ambience5
Have been here a couple of times now and have enjoyed it every time. Good ambience, the dining room feels cosy. And the food is hearty. I always order the octopus - it’s melt in the mouth tender. This time we also had delicious English peas with feta. For mains, I loved the lamb souvlaki. Even tried some Greek wine. Overall, a fun and enjoyable experience.
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AF
AdrianaF
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful food! We shared the octopus appetizer and ordered two different lamb dishes. Everything was delicious. The service was attentive too.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful service with great attention to individual health needs. That is salt level and partner’s allergy concerns. Besides all that the food was wonderful as ever.
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LL
LoLA
Los Angeles
41 reviews
vip
5.0
41 reviews
Dined on May 31, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Delicious meal and excellent service!! One of our favorite spots in Palo Alto! We will return!!
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C
Chris
Sacramento
389 reviews
vip
5.0
389 reviews
Dined on May 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Enjoyed the outdoor patio amongst the olive trees. Our server was excellent, both friendly and helpful. As usual, the food was exceptional. The lamb souvlaki was delicious and tender and the moussaka was wonderful as well. Prices are quite steep, but it is Palo Alto.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Phoenix
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing food! Best anywhere! If you visit one restaurant in NorCal, this is the place.
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P
Pudy
San Francisco
32 reviews
vip
5.0
32 reviews
Dined on May 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The Supreme, best best best best best best best best best best best best best best best best best best Greek restaurant on the planet
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SS
SteveS
San Francisco
34 reviews
vip
5.0
34 reviews
Dined on May 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Was seated outside that had a nice atmosphere. The service and food was outstanding!
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K
Kelly
San Francisco
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience5
They need to hire a full time professional bartender and bring back a proper cocktail program like Kokkari in SF. Also the host should really be working the room and assisting wait staff.
1 person found this helpful
R
Redananya
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on May 26, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience3
For the first time food was not great. Been multiple times before. ordered sweet pea appetizer and the peas were not great. Mushroom appetizer had very little cheese. They brought the entree too soon and would not take it back even on requesting. The server removed the candle from the table, asked us to remove our phone etc, to make room for entree while we were still working on our apps. Service was very slow. The server kept telling us he had too many tables. Even to get salt and olive oil, was a long wait. Overall very disappointing, for the first time.
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AS
AminaS
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Evvia a great place to dine for families. Their food is always fresh and restaurant always clean. Love the ambience and the warm welcomes each time. Its a family favorite.
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a
alterkocker
San Francisco
32 reviews
vip
3.0
32 reviews
Dined on May 23, 2023
overall3food4service4ambience3
Evvia has always been a favorite, though last night was not one of our better experiences. Had asked for a quiet table due to hearing difficulties, and we were seated next to a trio whose conversation hovered in the 150 decibel range. Almost impossible to converse with my wife as a result. First course was a beet salad. Beets generally have a bright and cheerful taste. These were drab and almost tasteless, the highlight of which was the sparse sprinkling of almond slivers. Fortunately, the main course, the skewered lamb with bay leaves was perfection--tender, tasty, and perfectly seasoned, and made all the more enjoyable by the accompanying Esprit de Beaucastle from Tablas Creek, one of our favorite wines. And by the time we finished, the noisome threesome at the next table had left, and it was a real pleasure to be able to converse again. Ordered a junior hot fudge sundae for dessert, but a full size was delivered. Being a birthday celebration, we devoured it all. Delicious, but more than we really wanted or had ordered. Service was good, but the waiter was rather dour. Maybe he was having an off night.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
vip
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall2food2service1ambience4
I've always wanted to go there due to the good reviews. To my disappointment, service is horrendous. We were hurried up. The server turns his back from us while we're still talking to him. His answers are rehearsed and doesn't seem to be interested about what we like. The food also is underwhelming. The complimentary bread was cold. The octopus is bland. Nothing was special. Oh, I should give props to the receptionist that answered my call that we will be late for 10 minutes. She was gracious and sounded approachable.
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M
Mimi
Hawaii
27 reviews
vip
4.0
27 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
We love Evvia and are so glad to be back in California so we could eat there again, we miss it terribly! Delicious food & great service but we have allergies, my husband to garlic and he had to ask with everything they brought out if it was garlic free even though they promised it was, 1 item had to be brought back as it did have some garlic, and then another he could don’t eat. Need to do a better job with allergies..
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B
Bets
Sacramento
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food and service and outside setting were all wonderful!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
As usual, outstanding experience at Evvia. Lunch on the patio. Service was prompt, polite and helpful. My guest had some dietary restrictions and the accommodated him perfectly. Food was outstanding.
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K
Kingdmmc
San Francisco
30 reviews
vip
5.0
30 reviews
Dined on May 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic food and service as always. Best grilled and roasted whole fish anywhere!
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j
john
Chicago
31 reviews
vip
5.0
31 reviews
Dined on May 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Evvia remains the charming dining experience I have enjoyed for over 25 years. Even with all the changes in staff over that time, the service remains top notch. I can always count on Evvia to deliver whether I am old friends or new colleagues.
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DG
DonaldG
San Francisco
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Evvia is our go to restaurant for special occasions. The food is excellent as is the service. A little pricey, but well worth it.
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LD
LennieD
San Francisco
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food, the wine and the service were excellent. Evvia is very expensive ($65 for a rib eye steak and $50 for a grilled branzino so be prepared to pay!
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AA
ArnaudA
San Francisco
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Service was outstanding, food was very good and worth the price. We like the ambience and decoration. Not surprised that it’s booked as much, we’ll definitely come back!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The best food and service in Palo Alto. 25 years later Evvia hasn’t lost a step
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BA
BigAl
San Francisco
28 reviews
5.0
28 reviews
Dined on May 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We haven’t revisited Evvia since before the pandemic and we were reminded what a great place it is to dine last night, which also happened to be our 30th wedding anniversary. We didn’t want to travel back to SF or far from home on a weeknight and Evvia was a great choice. Excellent food and for the quality seemingly fairly priced. Service was great and we had a wonderful time. We will be back for sure !
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RO
ROCKSG
New England
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It’s no surprise Evvia is outstanding. We travel from Boston to eat here.
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DM
DavidM
San Francisco
34 reviews
5.0
34 reviews
Dined on May 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious food and excellent service. Enjoyed the pulpo and the lamb chops. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with a good vibe and ambience. Outdoor patio too!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
11 reviews
vip
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on May 9, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
Very good. However We indicated that we were celebrating 2 birthdays on our reservation m There was NO acknowledgment at all. Additionally they were “out” of some wine on their list. Very good but they should do a better job on details given the prices
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Seattle
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Great service and tasty food. Setting nice and relaxed
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G
Gaby
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was excellent and the service was great as always. Glad that we decided to come here to celebrate our anniversary. They never disappoint!!
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m
munchbox
San Francisco
27 reviews
5.0
27 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fried sprats were crunchy and yummy; Ribeye was truly delicious medium rare, lamb was also flavorful and loved the prosecco to wash everything down.
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B
Bill
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 2, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
The food was excellent as usual and our waiter friendly and efficient, however we did feel rushed to finish within 90 minutes.
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B
Bonnie
San Francisco
73 reviews
vip
5.0
73 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous lunch. Mussels were a special on our visit and were outstanding. The lamb riblets ordered by 3 guests were so delicious - and will be ordered again on our next visit. The calamari was cooked golden brown and delicious too. The grape leaves were a hit too. Our server Juan was outstanding. Knew the menu very well, suggested 3 wines for us and then came dessert! Sokolatina - shared but was chocolate heaven and sour cherry ice cream a treat! Then Juan suggested 2 different ports that were top notch. We'll be back VERY soon and bring a camera to get photos of the dishes to share with friends.
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G
Gedi
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our waiters and table servers were superior as always. Food was predictably excellent. Thank you for providing this community with a fabulous place to gather for an evening of fine dining.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing specials. Perfect balance of flavors. Pristine ingredients. A fancy lunch that was worth it.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was excellent!! Outdoor patio dining amongst olive trees. Must have pea salad while in season.
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HD
HemantD
San Francisco
8 reviews
vip
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience3
Went there for lunch. Ordered Greek salad which was ok. Gigabytes were really good. Mushrooms with cheese was also really good. We were out in a corner so one person was facing a corner wall, felt like a time out :)
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TC
TedC
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Went for a special birthday occasion. Our servant was very helpful and attentive with our menu choices. We decided to have a meze of appetizers. The highlights were Baked feta (with cherry tomatoes and olives), grilled lamb riblets, and two specials: pork belly with sour cherry and mussels in a Calabria-spiced wine/garlic sauce. The chocolate lava cake with ice cream (sour cherry) was delicious. Unfortunately, there was no discount for our dessert for my wife's birthday.
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Evvia is rated 4.8 stars by 4152 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 10, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 77 times today

420 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Additional information

Cross street
Between University and Lytton
Neighborhood
Palo Alto
Hours of operation
Lunch Daily 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Greek
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Valet is available Thursday, Friday and Saturdays during dinner service only.
Public transit
CalTrain - University Avenue
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Mario Ortega
Additional
Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.evvia.net/
Phone number
(650) 326-0983
Private party facilities
The restaurant can accommodate large parties. Please call for details.
Private party contact
Maria Arizu / Maria@evvia.net: (650) 326-0983

Featured in

50 San Francisco Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Evvia

Make a reservation

Additional information

50 San Francisco Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Lamb Souvlaki

Arni Souvlaki

Lamb Chops

Starters

Feta & Olives$4.50

Spanakotiropita$8.75

Dolmathes$6.50

Saghanaki$12.00

Roasted Beets$9.75

Roasted Squash$8.75

Evvia Flatbread$9.75

Crispy Zucchini Cakes$8.75

Octopus$13.75

Greek Fries$7.00

Artichoke Souvlaki$12.00

Brussels Sprouts$9.75

Fried Smelts$8.50

Prawns$10.75

Calamari$12.75

Lamb Meatballs$10.00

Lamb Riblets$11.75

Gigantes$8.50

Taramosalata, Tzatziki, Melitzanosalata

Salads & Soup

Avgolemono Soup$8.00

Evvia Salad$10.00

Classic Greek Salad$10.00

Arugula Salad$10.00

Entrees

Whole Fish

Roasted Lamb Sandwich$16.00

Chicken Souvlaki$16.75

Lamb Souvlaki$23.75

Salmon$26.75

Lamb Chops$29.00

Ravioli$18.00

Moussaka$19.75

Lamb Burger$14.75

Pastitsio$19.75

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

How is Evvia restaurant rated?

Is Evvia currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

50 San Francisco Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day