Yianni's Taverna

Yianni's is a great respite from the hustle and bustle of downtown Allentown or Bethlehem where you can take yourself away to the Mediterranean and enjoy fresh and creative Greek quisine. The menus are inviting and the food, drinks, and service make it an enjoyable experience for groups or individuals.

Amazingly friendly and efficient service and modern and minimalist design make for a fun, uplifting and energetic experience complete with the most refreshing food Greece has (had and still has) to offer! Would definitely recommend to anyone near or far for some of the most delicious cuisine - especially the spanakopita and veggie chips.

Our evening started with a table outside which I thoroughly enjoyed. Our server Luigi took our cocktail order and we ordered salads to start. I recalled when he just started as a server a couple of years ago and he is wonderful. Very sweet and attentive to ensure a great dining experience. I had a Freska Cocktail...absolutely divine, it had Broker's Gin and Skinos Matisha liquer over pebble ice and a cucumber slice curled up for fragrance and beautiful appearance. To say I enjoyed this cocktail is an understatement. It was fab. My salad was the tomato 'Village' salad which is served with everything I appreciate, wonderful Olives, capers, cucumbers, thinly sliced red onions, wedges of feta and some other fresh herbs with a light dressing. It was delicious. My husband had the beet salad which had different color beets and as well wedges of feta. All so fresh. For dinner my husband had the filet mignon and I had the grilled Lamb Chops with lemon potatoes and stuffed eggplant. The white wine was delicious as well. This is our go to restaurant. The owner Melissa could not be more pleasant as well. When I told her how much we enjoyed dinner we had a nice conversation.

This was a 5 star experience in every aspect. The octopus appetizer was very good as well as everything else we ordered. European sea bass is nice and light, perfect for late dinner. Moussaka and pastitsio were bursting in flavor, and the lamb shank was so juicy and tender that the meat just fell off the bone. Pair all of that with an awesome wine selection and good friends around the table, and there you have a great feast!

Our first time at Yanni’s and it was fabulous. The food was excellent, everything tasted fresh and just right. Our server John was fantastic. Attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. Hope to be back soon.

Everything about our dinner was perfect. We sat outside on the patio which was very nice. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful. To drink, we each had a cocktail. I had the bison, or something like that. He had the orange cat, which we HIGHLY recommend! With dinner, we drank a bottle of the Papagiannakos which was crisp and delicious. We had the saganaki cheese, which they light on fire for you. Definitely recommend if you haven’t had it before. The octopus was delicious. Greek salad was refreshing and large to split between the two of us. We didn’t finish it because we wanted to save room for our entrees, which we both split. The whole european sea bass was perfectly cooked, served with spinach the most delicious lemon potatoes that were simply amazing. The pastitsio was one of the best dishes I’ve eaten in awhile. Not only was it HUGE, but the flavors were amazing, and it was pefectly crispy where it needed to be. We loved the loukamades for dessert, but forgot to take a pic. Luigi was our server and did a great job, the entire staff was very helpful and professional. Would definitely come back again!

🚨🗣️ “YIANNIs TAVERNA” is AWESOME 🚨 I cannot believe we waited this long to go to YIANNIs. It was Our first time but Definitely Not Our last. The inside is very very Nice, the Staff was wonderful, the Food was Great. 👌🏾 the bathrooms were even super clean haha. DEFINITELY a MUST Try.. Thank me Later 🫡 Following food listed: 1. Hummus with pita & veggies 🤤😋 2. Taverna Chips 🤤😋 3. Shrimp Gyro 🤤😋 4. Pastitsio: Greek version of Lasagna 🤤😋 5. Dessert: Galaktoboureko 🤤😋

Gorgeous atmosphere, outstanding service, great music and delicious food. Destiny took care of us and she was fantastic! Highly recommend the octopus…..some of the best I’ve ever had. Bring friends and share a bunch of dishes. Will not disappoint!

My favorite place to eat in all of Bethlehem. This is where I bring visitors I'd like to impress. The drinks, food, and service are always outstanding. You can tell the people working here care about what they're doing, especially the gentleman in the suit, who I assume is the manager. My favorite dish is the braised lamb shank over orzo; it's hard to order anything else despite wanting to try so many other things! Dishes I've shared with others include the oysters, calamari, moussaka, roasted eggplant, and varied desserts. Everything was good. If the owner reads this review, one small bit of feedback: the cheese that was added to the lamb shank makes the dish too salty. It isn't needed, and had a better flavor before. I highly recommend this place, just be ready to pay a bit more than your average restaurant, but it's worth it.

We've been talking about trying Yianni's for a while and used our anniversary as reason to finally go. I'm so sorry we waited so long and I can't wait to go back. The octopus appetizer was amazing, the chicken souvlaki was perfection and the Aegean platter certainly satisfied our seafood craving. The service was top notch as well, no complaints at all.

We went here for date night. Loved the ambience and the service was good as well. We ordered the shrimp zorba as the appetizer and I had the moussaka as the entrèe. My wife had the fish in parchment. The food was delicious. High marks for the overall experience. It scores an 8/10 on my personal score.

THIS PLACE IS SO GOOD!!! Can’t recommend it enough. This was my second visit here, stopped in town for the holiday and I wanted to eat here so badly since the first time was great. Super authentic Greek food and the Atmosphere is so cool, lots of pictures, well decorated. Modern but still Mediterranean vibe. Staff is amazing. We had reservations for 5:30 and were promptly seated, we asked for a quiet section so we could easily talk and were accommodated graciously. We ordered A LOT of food for 4 people. Trio dips with pita and veggies, we got the eggplant, tazatziki, and spicy feta—which we enjoyed so much when the owner? Perhaps manager? Came over to see how we were doing we raved so much about it that she said they can send us home with a pint for purchase! We also got a saganaki because it’s delicious and always a fun show when they light it on fire and yell oopa! The shrimp zorba, the horiatiki salad, lamb gyros with Greek fries. Which are the only way you should ever eat fries—fresh oregano, creamy salty feta and lemon juice—SO ADDICTING. And lamp chops! We also got alcoholic drinks, a Paloma and the fresko. Both refreshing and delicious. We finished off our feast with some baklava and espresso. Our waiter was so busy he actually forgot we ordered the espresso shots, but we dug into our desserts without them—he came back afterwords to apologize and brought them out anyways free of charge!!! Perfect place, amazing staff and service, and the most delicious food. Will be customers here for life!

First time back to Yianni's since it reopened. It's beautiful inside. The wait staff are friendly and attentive without being intrusive. The manager was very friendly and hands on. The star of the show of course was the food. Everything was delicious, from the cheese flambe and Greek fries, to literally the best pork chop I've ever eaten, to the spiced almond cake. Go, enjoy, you deserve it 😉

Great experience! I am not Greek, so I can't say if the food is a good representation of Greek food, but it was amazing. Very flavorful, fresh, and cooked perfectly! Atmosphere is clean and aesthetic, service is professional and prompt. Food portions are a good fit for the price point as well. It made for a great date night and we will certainly be going back for more!

We had not been here for about 5 years. Decided to go here for out 28th Wedding 💒 Anniversary. It was very nice. The Calamari and Baklava we're super yummy. 😋 They even put a firework 🎆 on top of the Baklava. Valerie our waitress was very attentive, as was all the staff. The free guest Wifi was excellent. We were seated by a faux fireplace that was beautiful and mesmerizing. The ambiance was top notch. Will definitely go again. Also very clean and brightly lit bathroom.

This restaurant was so incredible and it belongs in New York City or Philadelphia. The style the service the wait staff I couldn't even better if I had dreamed of something different I couldn't think of one thing to change about the atmosphere the drinks the food everything was fantastic. What a great find and what an amazing place in Bethlehem.

Absolutely beautiful place. Elegant, perfect for a date night or special occasion. The food is AMAZING. Pictures: spicy feta dip and pita, grilled pork chop with apples and polenta, baked lamb with lemon potatoes and asparagus, baklava.

Get the saganaki it is the best I’ve had anywhere! This place is phenomenal. I ordered the pastitsio and I swore they made it right then and there. None of that hard reheated pasta I often encounter. Bechamel sauce that felt like I was eating a tasty cloud. As if this experience couldn’t get better, it did when my husband ordered the baklava ice cream. This ice cream is made especially for this restaurant and you have to try it if you like cinnamon and baklava. Before we were half way through our meal we were already discussing what we’d get during our next visit. Our waitress, Kathy, made some great recommendations of octopus and calamari. She was fantastic. I hope she’ll be there during our next visit.

We had a great time at this restaurant, the ambiance is really cool and the food was delicious. The arugula salad was my favorite but overall a good experience. Bryanna was our server and she was very attentive. I will come back!

the greatest greek place in PA!!!! Tasty food, quick service, Alicia is the best waiter. Definitely to come back again and again to taste all positions in menu. Restaurant was full at Friday evening, so better to make reservations but the host was so nice and friendly, so we had a table even without reservation.

Traditional and authentic Greek food with very large portions. The service was so friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and kitchen was efficient. We came on a Monday so didn’t experience the large crowds. I will say they had the AC on full tilt so bring a light sweater. As others have mentioned people we dressed. Not formal but no one in gym outfits. Definitely recommend if you have hunger for Greek food. The app menu was our favorite but the whole menu is good.

I don't usually write reviews, but this one was worth my time. We had dinner at Yianni's 6 weeks ago and it was such a refreshing change from everywhere else.The food choices are wonderful. The preparation, presentation, and service were all top notch and the prices are more than fair. We enjoyed it so much that we just had an 85th private birthday party there and we were all so thrilled with everything. Priscilla, who helped with making our vision for the party realized, was patient and very timely with answers to our questions. Emily, who was our server for the evening, was INCREDIBLE. She was calm, confident, non stop, and really took pride in making sure we were all happy every minute of the evening. A true professional at taking care of others. THANKS Emily, Priscilla and the whole Yianni's team!

The restaurant appears to have been renovated recently and is tastefully decorated and modern-looking. The server was attentive and helpful. Most importantly, the food was amazing. The menu has a large selection of dishes, especially seafood, that you rarely see elsewhere. We got the octopus appetizer. It was larger than expected and went well with the flavorful Santorini fava. The Moussaka was also a large serving and tasted great. The other main dish we got was the lamb gyro. It was possibly the best gyro I've ever had. The chef here clearly knows how to season and cook dishes so that the balance of flavors is perfect. I will no doubt be coming back.

This place is great! The service is unmatched! All the staff were friendly and attentive. Drinks and food came out quickly. We were checked up on plenty of times. The appetizers were incredible! We enjoyed these more than the main dishes. Hummus was the best I’ve ever had. Tuna Tatar was amazing. I would probably have a bunch of these next time. Lamb shank falls right off the bone and melts in your mouth. The lamb gyro wasn’t as good as other places we’ve been though. A bit more plain and flavorless but still doesn’t knock this place down any stars.

Yianni's take out service has been a blessing over the past several years since its been harder for my dad to go to a restaurant. Our food is always hot and tasty. Our order has been accurate and ready on time. We love all of the meal options which appeases everyones appetite!

100% our new favorite restaurant. Beautiful atmosphere, greeted by a friendly gentleman who led us to our table. Luigi, our server, was awesome - attentive, friendly and explained what made my favorite drink extra special here (Greek tonic!). Greek/Mediterranean food is our favorite and the food here (we had Baked Feta, Lamb Shank and Tomahawk Pork Chop) was BEYOND AMAZING. Thank you for a wonderful evening!

What a gem! From start to finish, this was a five-star experience. The food was absolutely outstanding — every dish was perfectly prepared and full of flavor. The service was just as impressive. Our waitress, Kaitlyn, was attentive, friendly, and made us feel completely taken care of throughout our meal. John, the manager, checked in personally to make sure everything was perfect, which really showed how much they care about their guests. It’s rare to find a place that delivers this level of quality in both food and hospitality with such a reasonable price point. Highly recommend — we’ll definitely be coming back!

We took a road trip from KOP to visit this restaurant. It was s tremendous experience. From our appetizers to desert, everything was exceptional. Bobbie, our server was excellent. We also had the pleasure to meet Maria, the owner. She was very warm and welcoming. Make sure you make a visit.

This was my first time at Yianni’s and I will absolutely be back! From the moment we walked in, everything was lovely. The hostess, Alexis, was friendly and professional and pointed us to the two open seats at the bar (we didn’t have a reservation). We were greeted almost immediately by Matt the bartender and he and Kosta, the other bartender, took excellent care of us all night by suggesting their favorite cocktails and appetizers! They were a well oiled machine together behind the bar and it was really fun to watch! The manager, Alex also stopped by to check on us and I am so grateful that he did! He was so warm and made our experience special! It was refreshing to see the mutual respect there was between manager and bartenders. They all worked as one cohesive team to make sure we had an excellent dining experience and they did not disappoint! Thank you for the service and the kindness! I will definitely be back!

Yianni’s Taverna is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed with warm hospitality and an authentic Greek atmosphere that makes you feel like family. The food is outstanding—fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Every dish we tried was perfectly seasoned, from the tender grilled meats to the deliciously fresh salads and sides. The portions are generous, the service is attentive and friendly, and the overall experience is consistently excellent. If you’re looking for authentic Greek cuisine and a place that truly values its guests, Yianni’s Greek Taverna is a must-visit. Highly recommended my favorite restaurant in the Lehigh Valley!

A really nice atmosphere and good food. It’s a rare experience to see a restaurant where guests are all nicely dressed. We were there on a Wednesday and it was very crowded - also a really good sign. The octopus appetizer is melt-in-your-mouth delicious, the baklava was homemade & the service was excellent!

A group of us went for their Sunday brunch. The menu had a good selection, and everyone enjoyed their food. I ordered the Creme Brulee French toast and was a little under whelmed. It looked and tasted pretty much like regular French toast with some strawberries. Not what I thought it would be. The service was very good. It was very cold at first in the place and we told the manager and they turned up the temperature so it eventually warmed up. I'm looking forward to going back and trying something new/different next time.

Yianni’s Taverna is an absolute must-visit for anyone who loves authentic Greek cuisine! We tried their grilled octopus, and it was perfectly cooked—tender with a hint of smokiness and drizzled with a bright, citrusy olive oil. The oysters were fresh, briny, and served with a delightful mignonette sauce that enhanced their flavor. Every bite felt like a trip to the Mediterranean. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, and the staff made sure our experience was top-notch. Highly recommend for seafood lovers!

Service was fantastic. Everything was great except for the lamb special. The lamb was chewy well done and had a lot of gristle. The green beans and roasted potatoes were perfect. The Calamari was a bit chewy but still flavorful.

Excellent food with a strong beverage program, but service was severely lacking. The octopus is as great as the reviews say: tender meat, smooth and creamy beans, and bright acidity. The taverna chips were snackable: the natural sweetness of the eggplant and zucchini were enhanced by the garlic and oregano. The Fresko cocktail tasted of sunshine with a burst of lemongrass. The service. It took a long time for us to get served after being seated. A server asked to clear our utensils after appetizers, and I said yes as long as it got replaced. Our second round of food arrived, and still no utensils. We tried to get someone’s attention to no avail. We did our best to eat the saganaki with our hands, but hot cheese and fingers don’t mix, so we had to wait to catch someone’s attention. One of our orders was wrong. We almost got shortchanged after paying by cash. Everyone makes mistakes; one or two issues don’t matter. However, several of them piling up on one visit can be aggravating. I want to chalk it up to the servers being understaffed at a full capacity restaurant, but on a previous visit they got an order wrong as well despite it being much quieter. I’d still recommend Yianni’s because the food’s excellent, but be aware that service can be spotty.

My family & I have gone to Yianni’s on multiple occasions and there is always something on the menu that I look forward to! More recently my husband and I hosted our rehearsal dinner here. They set up the downstairs room with long table for our families to sit at all together. Service was quick and friendly. Food was great, I can’t say enough good things about their dips/hummus and dessert options! We will be back soon :)

We visited Yanni's with high expectations due to the great reviews, and while the ambience was very nice and inviting, our experience with the food left something to be desired. The menu offers a nice variety of Greek dishes, which is great for those looking to explore different flavors. We ordered the lamb and the moussaka, both of which had good flavor, but unfortunately, temperature issues took away from the enjoyment. The lamb was tasty but served just warm, while the moussaka, though hot on the outside, was disappointingly cold inside. I brought the issue to the staff, and they addressed it promptly, but by then, the experience had already been disappointing. The atmosphere and service were pleasant, but the kitchen needs to ensure dishes are served at the right temperature from the start to truly deliver on the potential of their food. If they can fix that, Yanni's could be a fantastic spot for Greek cuisine.

We went for restaurant week. We had been to the restaurant once before, with a positive experience. This time not so much. Appetizers were good. We had Mussels Sagnaki, and I had Cypriot Cheese baked in Phyllo with fig jam. For our main course we had Pan Seared Grouper (very small piece of fish about 3 x 4"), Arni Kleftico - Roasted Lamb with potatoes & vegetables. ( 3 times I couldn't chew the meat and had to take it out of my mouth.) Other than that, the dish was very tasty. Dessert was horrible. Bread Pudding it was a dried up piece about 2" x2", which we had to share. Coffee was excellent. Dinner cost $39.00 each. Service was excellent. Ambience was fantastic.

I really wanted this experience to blow my mind, but to me it came up short. Had an espresso martini and it was ok, tasted a bit watery. Came with 4 friends for a girls night dinner. The flambé cheese was really yummy and the Greek fries as well. The platter with the garlic, hummus and feta was ok. I ordered the roasted chicken and it was dry. I was disappointed. My friend next to me had a dairy allergy and they ended up making my plate dairy free. I had to send it back to get it corrected. My friend was also missing her entree for a bit. It seems like it never got run in. The server seemed busy. She was nice but it’s odd I think that a manager didn’t touch our table considering there were a few hiccups. I love Melis. I was hoping to be blown away with the food and cocktails like I was when I dined there. I might try Yiannis again. It was so busy. I’d like to know what people are ordering!

My husband and I have been here several times and tonight will be our last. We have had issues in the past with dirty wine glasses with hair in them that we have looked past, but the multiple issues tonight make it not worth the cost of going anymore. First off, we arrived 3-5 minutes before our reservation time of 7:30pm, but were told our table was not ready and we were not seated until after 7:44pm. We were seated at a table that was wobbly, which is super annoying when you have glassware including wine glasses on it. Service was just ok--it took 5-10 minutes after we were seated for our waiter to arrive. I ordered the special that was described as "lobster with shrimp in a butter cream sauce with pasta". What I received was spaghetti in tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes and overcooked shrimp. No lobster, no cream to the sauce. I thought the wrong item had been delivered. When the waiter confirmed it was not a mistake I tried a bite of the spaghetti--it was a pure tomato sauce--and the shrimp, which was chewy and overcooked. I could find no lobster in the dish despite it being the first word used to describe it. The waiter, who knew I was not happy with the dish when it arrived came and checked and I had to send it back to the kitchen--I don't like raw or almost raw tomatoes which were all over the dish (despite no mention of tomatoes anywhere in the description) and the seafood--which would be its only redeeming factor--was barely edible. The waiter brought the menu back and the next item I selected--the braised lamb--was also apparently full of tomatoes despite their being no mention in the description. At least the waiter informed me this ti.e before I ordered it. I finally ended up with the salmon which was fine, but not the seafood or lamb I was hoping for when I went to the restaurant. To add insult to injury, we were charged the price of the shrimp dish--which was more expensive than the salmon I finally ended up with. To be honest at that point we had been at the restaurant for over an hour and a half and just wanted to leave so we jusst paid. Throughout the whole thing there were no apologies for anything...not for having to wait 15 minutes despite the reservation, not for incorrectly describing the dish I got--in fact the waiter tried to argue that the dish was as described with me before taking it away, not for the fact my husband's dish got half cold while waiting for mine new dish to come back out. With the average prices per main dish being $25-50 and appetizers and desserts being $10-15 each, it isn't worth the price.