TAVERNA

Name: TAVERNA
Address: 800 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA, United States, 94301-2412
Telephone: (650) 304-3840
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.7

4.7

1233 Reviews

$31 to $50

Greek

Top Tags:

For centuries, a taverna has been a neighborhood gathering place where friends can meet to eat, drink and enjoy life. Taverna co-founders Thanasis Pashalidis and Hakan Bala were raised with a shared ethical compass, which the Greeks call "philotimo" or "love of honor". Family and friends are their ingredients of life, and they believe that nutrition, happiness and health are all directly correlated. Both partners have been culturally influenced by the remedies of the old world and incorporate them into the lifestyle of Taverna. Both have an "ethos" that drives them and inspires others to live fully, which they consider the flavor of life's success. They understand that life is to be enjoyed and that time is of the essence. They are aware that every day is a gift.

Taverna has been created to make people happy and feel alive.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 8, 2023

10:30 PM

Booked 51 times today

Experiences are available.

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Cuisines
Greek, Farm-to-table
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–3:45 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–3:45 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(650) 304-3840
Website
http://tavernarestaurant.net/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Thanasis Pashalidis & Hakan Bala
Private party facilities
Taverna Restaurant offers private and large party dining for up to 50 guests in our private event room. Taverna’s event room is ideal for corporate events, birthdays, weddings, and special occasions. Choose between one our three family style menus.
Private party contact
Thanasis Pashalidis or Hakan Bala: (650) 304-3840

Location
800 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-2412
Neighborhood
Palo Alto
Cross street
Homer Ave
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

LARGE PARTIES FAMILY STYLE MENUS
$125.00 per person
Multiple dates available
TAVERNA's "Family Style" menu is required for all parties greater than 6 guests. The menu is three courses of "Family Style" dining, $125 per guest. TAVERNA also offers private dining and event spaces for up to 60 guests. To inquire about booking events or group dining, please email events@tavernarestaurant.net.
LUNCH LARGE PARTIES FAMILY STYLE MENU
$65.00 per person
Multiple dates available
TAVERNA's "Family Style" LUNCH menu is required for all parties greater than 6 guests. The menu is three courses of "Family Style" dining, $65 per guest. TAVERNA also offers private dining and event spaces for up to 60 guests. To inquire about booking events or group dining, please email events@tavernarestaurant.net.

Popular dishes

What 1,233 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Francisco Bay Area
Greek
Peninsula
Most Booked

Sort by

G
Gigi
San Francisco
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food4service5ambience5
Taverna's staff, menu and ambiance made it for an authentic experience. Our waiter Moose was charming, personable, patient, and fun. He guided our ordering experience and did not steer us wrong. He timed the food beautifully and he allowed us to sit at our table for four hours with no pressure. He made sure we were pleased from beginning to end. Our drinks were delish and sashimi melted in your mouth. The feta said placed me back into Santorini. The outdoor seating was comfortable and charming. The bar/couch area was cozy and hip, and the aesthetics are inviting and pleasing. Will definitely return.
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D
Delish
San Francisco
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious food, excellent service, lovely quiet outdoor location. We’ll be back!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food4service4ambience4
Overall it’s a great restaurant. The space was a bit crowded.
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M
Maria
San Francisco
17 reviews
vip
4.0
17 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall4food4service3ambience5
The French toast were delicious and it was a beautiful day to sit outside. The service was very friendly, but also very very slow. That’s my only observation, other than that everything went very smoothly and we will return.
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N
Nancy
Hawaii
19 reviews
vip
5.0
19 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food3service5ambience5
Eggplant small plate had little taste. A bit of salt and lemon juice would help.
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TH
TwinkleH
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Incredible service, delicious food, beautiful ambiance, and always makes us feel like we are back in Santorini. Definitely our fave Greek spot around! Highly recommend the Greek salad, flaming cheese, and spiced feta dip. So good! Will definitely be back again and again.
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a
anikb
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious authentic Greek cuisine. One of the f our favorites when we are in the area. The attentive service makes the experience memorable.
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d
dngmt
San Francisco
26 reviews
vip
4.0
26 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience5
Very good food, wonderful service and atmosphere, just very pricey for what we ordered.
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BC
BigCity
San Francisco
30 reviews
vip
5.0
30 reviews
Dined on May 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food! Great service! Our cocktail was unique and delicious. A splurge but totally worth it
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JH
JennyH
San Francisco
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
好吃又悠閒的希臘餐館TAVERNA 週末想要吃點好吃又健康的早午餐，就找了這家希臘小餐館，環境優雅輕鬆，餐點品質優，桌邊服務也勤快！除了果汁和Mimosa ，今天叫了香料酸麵包，橄欖與起司，烤章魚，烤魚、還有炒蔬菜但這個我不推。聊了兩個多小時，在甜點時，我們叫了希臘優格（蜂蜜on side自己加）和單點開心果冰淇淋。味道也都不錯。這家店雖然有添加5% living wedge 費用，但是食物好吃，客人可以久坐聊天時的桌邊服務100分，還有乾淨的洗手間，都是大大的加分，路邊停車也很容易，是會讓我想再去的餐廳。
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a wonderful dining experience! Food was amazing. Service was great. It’s a great space to enjoy a top notch meal and glass of wine.
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I
Insi
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Had a awesome time and our waiter was simply amazing. We enjoyed our food, we loved all the suggestions by the Waiter. Definitely will go back again.
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W
Wahh
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Socrates was delightful. Enjoyed the ambience and thoughtful service.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
So lovely. We sat outside. Even with cars going by, it was a quiet and serene dining experience.
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f
foodlover
San Francisco
49 reviews
vip
4.0
49 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
The Greek Salad is always a great choice. Small plate of the warm cheese (forgot the name) is another winner. Also, the lamb chops are excellent
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful dinner with friends. The set menu was great. Everyone had a blast!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best brunch!! Perfect setting, incredible service, and delicious food. We will be back often!!
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g
gamma888
San Francisco
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Reserved a table in advance for a nice celebration for Mother's Day. The 9 year old kid actually liked all those four different dishes, which is a surprising considering that he's picky. All of our dishes were delicious as well. We would consider in coming back to sample other dishes as we live nearby. Since it was Mother's day, our waiter was busy with other tables, so we just comprehend that it took some time for the waiter to check on us occasionally as well as taking our check, too. Just a fun atmosphere to be in considering that it's a Greek style restaurant!
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G
Gumbo
Philadelphia
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We went for Mother’s Day brunch. Great food and wine, attentive service. Pricey at about $60 per person.
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DH
DirkH
San Francisco
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall3food4service5ambience1
The music was too loud. At our request, the staff turned it down, which lasted for only a short while before it was increased to its former load volume. We were seated in a back room next to a frosted window that had its curtain drawn, making it difficult to read the menu.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience3
Jolie petit restaurant de quartier avec longue terrasse couverte extérieur. Nous avons partagé les plats qui s’y prête bien; purée d’aubergines très bonne, les pitas maison étaient bcp trop salés, les cakes de zucchini étaient très bons mais malheureusement les grosses crevettes un peu trop cuites. Sélection de vin au verre limitée et la carte est assez élevée. Excellent service.
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DP
DaveP
San Francisco
2 reviews
1.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience1
This was an excellent experience. The food was great as was the service. Would definitely recommend and we will be back.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always a lovey place for dinner with great food, good specials, and a nice atmosphere for families or date night.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Exclusive
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience3
The service was ok but there was nothing extraordinary about it. The food was good but not fantastic as I had been told. The potato wedges were a little over cooked and my lamb which I ordered medium rare came medium to well. The tzatziki was really good but the pita a little dry and not enough of it to go with the lovely mound of tzatziki.
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AJ
AndyJ
Washington DC
4 reviews
vip
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 11, 2023
overall2food2service2ambience4
We waited over 30 minutes after our app came out for the main course to arrive. It was lunch, and we ordered a lamb gyro special. When it finally arrived, it wasn’t a lamb gyro - it was shredded lamb shoulder or shank that was soggy and under-seasoned. If it were a $9 gyro sandwich from an undistinguished fast Greek restaurant, I’d shrug it off and never return (and kick myself for not sticking with the tried-and-true options around here, like Nick the Greek). But this gyro was $25+ and made us wait 30 minutes to eat it. Won’t come back.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent experience! The staff is extremely warm and prompt.
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j
jenf
San Francisco
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing service and food. All the servers were very friendly and inviting and the food was incredible. Thank you!!
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VB
VickieB
San Francisco
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on May 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The zucchini cakes were lovely! The wine was pricey but excellent.
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MO
MichaelaO
San Francisco
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on May 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Such great service. Interacted with nearly all the staff and they are all so lovely. My +1 and I loved the zucchini appetizers, the complimentary shishito peppers, and lamb chops - so juicy and perfectly cooked. The mousse was truly delightful, as well. An incredible eating experience.
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KA
KABB
San Francisco
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on May 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great place for small shared plates for lunch. Excellent service
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very friendly and accommodating service, atmosphere. Great menu, food was excellent.
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g
goodfoodgal
San Francisco
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on April 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food… so delicious. Service is fantastic!
Is this helpful?
RB
RBQA
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience3
Excellent food and service, though a tad pricey. Small restaurant and indoor is cozy but noisy.
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SF
SusanF
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love taverna. Great outdoor dining. Our table for
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AB
AlexandraB
San Francisco
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
Waiter/sommelier very knowledgeable and attentive to our birthday lunch for 4. We ordered several bites/small plates and a dinner to share. Greek salad spectacular as was grilled shrimp/jalapeños, Greek white wine recommendation too. However, dinner arrrived just after salads, both sashimi and lamb riblets never arrived at all. Desserts (one with gold birthday candle) and chocolate mousse again outstanding! Overall, made a fine birthday celebration and would return.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazingggggggggggggggggggfgggggffffggffffffffffffff
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l
laderamom
San Francisco
22 reviews
vip
4.0
22 reviews
Dined on April 16, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience3
The service is delightful, but the dinner itself is as disappointing. Our steamed fish was overcooked and barely seasoned, the eggplant spread was miserly and bland. The baklava and salad, however, were outstanding.
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CS
ClaudiaS
New York Area
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing family style menu and great service. We had a very nice experience.
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MW
MarkW
San Francisco
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 15, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience4
We had mousakka and lamb chops which were outstanding. Appetizers were solid as well. Wine list is very expensive, too expensive to try. Glass of wine for $50+? No thank you. Would go back for food, but skip the wine.
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m
microbarny
San Francisco
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very nice Greek food... with nice ambiance and very good service.
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FAQs

TAVERNA is rated 4.7 stars by 1233 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 8, 2023

10:30 PM

Booked 51 times today

Experiences are available.

800 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-2412

Additional information

Cross street
Homer Ave
Neighborhood
Palo Alto
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–3:45 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–3:45 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Cuisines
Greek, Farm-to-table
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Thanasis Pashalidis & Hakan Bala
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://tavernarestaurant.net/
Phone number
(650) 304-3840
Private party facilities
Taverna Restaurant offers private and large party dining for up to 50 guests in our private event room. Taverna’s event room is ideal for corporate events, birthdays, weddings, and special occasions. Choose between one our three family style menus.
Private party contact
Thanasis Pashalidis or Hakan Bala: (650) 304-3840

TAVERNA

Make a reservation

Private dining

Additional information

Experiences

LARGE PARTIES FAMILY STYLE MENUS

LUNCH LARGE PARTIES FAMILY STYLE MENU

Popular dishes

Moussaka

Greek Fries

Saganaki

Menu

What 1,233 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Sort by

FAQs

How is TAVERNA restaurant rated?

Is TAVERNA currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information