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TAVERNA - Palo Alto, Palo Alto, CA

TAVERNA - Palo Alto

4.8
4.8
1544 Reviews
$31 to $50
Greek

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 30 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Charming
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.
Private dining

Private dining

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Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • 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 Daily 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Thanasis Pashalidis & Hakan Bala

What 1,544 people are saying

TAVERNA - Palo Alto reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    Greek

  • Peninsula

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Taverna in Palo Alto offers "amazing Greek food" and "exceptional service" in a charming atmosphere. Guests appreciate its "wonderful" outdoor seating and an extensive wine list. The restaurant is perfect for special occasions, with dishes like octopus, lamb, and moussaka receiving high praise. A "fantastic dining experience" awaits you here.
1,544 Reviews
  1. Kathy

    San Francisco8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were so happy with our choice to eat at Taverna! We started our meal with the AVGOLEMONO SOUPA classic Greek egg lemon soup / Sonoma chicken broth, which was delicious and had a generous portion of chicken in it. We also opted to try the KOLOKITHOKEFTEDES crispy zucchini cakes / Epirus feta / mint yogurt which were deliciously crispy and flavorful. One of our main dishes was MOUSSAKA braised beef & lamb casserole / eggplant / potatoes / Graviera mornay which I will order again! It came to the table bubbling hot and so delicious that I can't wait to return and have it again! The other main dish was SOUVLAKI SALATA grilled Sonoma chicken skewers / butter lettuce / mizithra / herbs which is chicken skewers on one half and a delicious salad in the other half of the bowl. This was very good and healthy for those watching their calories! Lastly, we decided to share a dessert and ordered the BOUGATSA folded phyllo / vanilla crema/pistachio ice cream. It was so yummy and we finished every last bite! All in all, I recommend this restaurant not only for its charming ambiance but for its delicious food and wonderful service!

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  2. OpenTable Diner VIP

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I booked a table for 12 people about a week out. We arrived and were seated and greeted promptly. The restaurant gave us menus and handled everything, our server was phenomenal. The food was phenomenal and the vibes were fantastic, the pace of the food coming out was perfect and the drinks were delicious. Everyone had a lovely time and we would highly recommend Taverna. 10/10 would do it again.

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  3. Cheryl VIP

    San Francisco70 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent service. Changed our seating from cold outside to inside on very busy night. Food very good. Had yummy duck confit special and husband had moussaka that he said was excellent.

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  4. BarryB

    San Francisco24 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Enjoyed our experience. However the entree list seemed a bit limited.

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  5. ginna

    San Francisco188 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Been here many times…outstanding service, nice ambiance, excellent cocktails and great food. Highly recommend. My favorite dish is the grilled whole fish (sea bream or branzino)

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  6. Kristen

    San Francisco16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful ambiance and very helpful service! Will definitely go back. All 3 of our dishes seemed slightly overcooked, which is the only reason for 4 stars instead of 5.

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  7. Michelle VIP

    San Francisco25 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 19, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The restaurant was about half full this evening which helped with overall sound levels. The food was well prepared and service was good.

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  8. Steve VIP

    San Francisco5 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on February 17, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    We didn’t have a good dining experience all the way around. Food was cold and just average for the price. We will not be back.

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  9. Mario

    San Francisco1 review

    3.0

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    If the service is 20% included during valentines, servers could have been more attentive. I like to pay my service based on how well it was

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  10. alan

    San Francisco1 review

    2.0

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Valentine’s Day reservations overbooked. At least 45 minute wait.

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FAQs

TAVERNA - Palo Alto is rated 4.8 stars by 1544 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 30 times today
Google Map for TAVERNA - Palo Alto

800 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-2412

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • 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 Daily 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Thanasis Pashalidis & Hakan Bala
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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