Taverna at The Mar Vista

Mayi Barov

We had a great Saturday Greek lunch. The atmosphere was very lively! People were dancing to live Greek music, become a Greek party! The food was delicious, and although the restaurant was packed and the staff was busy, the service still held up. It’s definitely an authentic Greek experience you can find in LA.

Natalie Marrero

I LOVED the Food and experience here. I had such a great time i did not take any photos of anything else we ordered. Can’t wait to go back.

Sar Seer

As someone who loves Greek cuisine, and originally from the East Coast, it's been challenging to find authentic Greek food here in SoCal. If it isn't Middle Eastern food being mislabeled as "Greek" by so called fans of Greek cuisine who put out recommendations on various platforms, or subpar attempts at Greek cuisine by those who are trying to please a wide audience but not offering an authentic Greek food experience. Recently, we had seen some instagram posts about a wonderful restaurant in Los Angeles, featuring large scale grills and spits in front of an large, welcoming open dining area, with grill masters diligently grilling tantalizing huge portions of various meats. We knew we had to make the drive up from SD, so we went for the Sunday BBQ recently for lunch. The place was packed and we were happy to have made our reservation in advance, even though we didn't see people waiting very long for a table. The staff was bustling and quickly moving to serve the various amazing looking food to its customers, and there were many instances of Saganaki cheese being set aflame with the exclamation of "Opa!" along with it. For apps, we tried the beet dip (I couldn't stop eating this!), flaming saganaki cheese, horiatki (Greek) salad, tiropta (savory cheese pie). For mains, we had the roasted pork Kontosoulvi (which was the best we've had outside of NY or Greece,) it's basically chunks of seasoned skewered roasted pork, chopped on to manageable pieces. So good that we ended up getting two orders! Also tried the loukaniko (citrus and wine seasoned Greek sausage), which was good. We also ordered the pastitsio AND the moussaka. They both had similar flavor profiles but I preferred the moussaka only because I enjoy eggplant and veggies in the casserole (versus pasta, as in pastitsio) but both were quite good. During the meal, my spouse went to speak to the grill master at the front to give his compliments as it turned out, it was the owner, Dimitri, working his magic on the grill. He was very personable, engaging and he enjoyed talking to him. It was such an enjoyable experience having Sunday brunch at Taverna At The Mar Vista and we look forward to returning. A must visit in LA!

Josh Gordon

Super chill spot with fantastic food! If you want to eat Greek, this is the place! Really friendly and knowledgeable staff. Great food and one of the best desserts I've ever had!

Shayne Walton

Taverna has quickly become our absolute favorite restaurant in the area — and for good reason! From the moment you walk in, you're greeted by a staff that is incredibly helpful, welcoming, and genuinely fun to be around - our two favorite servers are Zach and Jessica. They make you feel like part of the family every single time. And the food? Absolutely delicious. We can't say enough good things about it, but if you go, you have to try the chicken souvlaki — it’s our go-to dish! Perfectly seasoned, juicy, and packed with flavor. Taverna has truly become our home away from home. We find ourselves coming back almost every week because we simply can't get enough. If you're looking for amazing food served by people who clearly love what they do, Taverna is the place to be.

A fantastic restaurant. I went with a party of 14. Our reservation was easy to adjust. The food and the staff were excellent. Our waiter very patiently answered all of our questions. His recommendations on dishes were perfect. We ordered at least 10 different items. They were all fantastic. Bartender George could do no wrong. Great pours and excellent cocktails. We all had a wonderful experience and can't wait to go back. It was also great to find out the proprietor is an alumni of a great high school as well. Everyone should try this amazing restaurant!

Great food, great vibes. My wife and I were in LA for a family emergency for one night and this was where we choose to spend our evening. Servers and staff were very friendly and the food and drinks were amazing. I could tell the tzatziki was homemade, loukaniko was great, and souvlaki was authentic. What made it more special, found out the owners ancestor was a Revolutionary in the Greek war for Independence in 1821, even had a picture of him on the way out of the resturant. I myself have an ancestor that was pretty involved in important events of the War of Independence as well, nice to see our culture still holding a place in our lives.

Hands down this this spot makes the best Greek food I've had in Los Angeles. Lively atmosphere with a great bar and smoked old fashioneds. They had decent gluten free options. They were able to accommodate our party if roughly 20 people and there was room to spare. Every table at the place was filled. Great service. Great food. Great drinks. Highly recommend.

The dining experience was truly sublime, marked by an impeccable commitment to both quality and hospitality. The service was notably extra friendly, displaying an intuitive warmth that elevated the entire evening. The food was absolutely vibrant and meticulously composed, arriving fresh, hot, and tasting amazing, a testament to exceptional kitchen standards. The theatrical flaming cheese presentation provided a captivating moment of excitement, successfully bridging dramatic flair with exceptional flavor. This establishment offers a profoundly gratifying and thoughtfully executed gastronomic event.

The food never disappoints. Reservations are recommended for dinner especially on the weekends and parking can be limited. Overall the wait staff are great and bartenders amazing!

Well that was a delightful experience. I wandered in, sat at the bar top, and had the pleasure of meeting George. George went above and beyond with his barkeeping skills and the food was great! As a solo diner, he made it so that I could try a few things and gave excellent service. I will be back to try a few other items per George's recommendation. The food was great, but quite honestly, the service George provided at the bar top was enough for me to want to visit again. Thank you also to the chefs who prepared the food I ordered in a way that was perfect for me.

Ted Michalopoulos

Great food, great vibes. My wife and I were in LA for a family emergency for one night and this was where we choose to spend our evening. Servers and staff were very friendly and the food and drinks were amazing. I could tell the tzatziki was homemade, loukaniko was great, and souvlaki was authentic. What made it more special, found out the owners ancestor was a Revolutionary in the Greek war for Independence in 1821, even had a picture of him on the way out of the resturant. I myself have an ancestor that was pretty involved in important events of the War of Independence as well, nice to see our culture still holding a place in our lives.

ross steinberg

A fantastic restaurant. I went with a party of 14. Our reservation was easy to adjust. The food and the staff were excellent. Our waiter very patiently answered all of our questions. His recommendations on dishes were perfect. We ordered at least 10 different items. They were all fantastic. Bartender George could do no wrong. Great pours and excellent cocktails. We all had a wonderful experience and can't wait to go back. It was also great to find out the proprietor is an alumni of a great high school as well. Everyone should try this amazing restaurant!

April

The dining experience was truly sublime, marked by an impeccable commitment to both quality and hospitality. The service was notably extra friendly, displaying an intuitive warmth that elevated the entire evening. The food was absolutely vibrant and meticulously composed, arriving fresh, hot, and tasting amazing, a testament to exceptional kitchen standards. The theatrical flaming cheese presentation provided a captivating moment of excitement, successfully bridging dramatic flair with exceptional flavor. This establishment offers a profoundly gratifying and thoughtfully executed gastronomic event.

James Johnson

You HAVE to go for the freshly grilled meat on Sunday. It's by the half pound AFTER cooking, and such a great deal. My friends and I tried everything. The grill master was super nice. We look forward to going again. Well worth the price and no wait on a Sunday at lunch time.

Yerasimos Stilianessis

My wife and I live in Topanga Canyon and have been wanting to visit this place for awhile now. Now that we just moved my 82 year old mother from New Jersey to live with us after the passing of my father, we had some added motivation to check this place out. My mother is a legend in the kitchen, so it’s been hard to find Greek food in LA that is up to the proper standards. All that said, this place was great! We specifically came for the Sunday special BBQ menu and loved the lamb and chicken. The Greek potatoes were some of the best I’ve ever had and the same goes for the octopus. Everything else we ordered was delicious as well. On top of that, the staff was super welcoming. Being able to speak Greek to the host (I think his name was Dimitri) and our server (Michael) made my mother feel even more at home. We’re hoping to return sooner than later and I look forward to trying so many of the other items on the menu.

The menu is like a trip to Greece without a plane ticket: the appetizers are superb, the feta cheese sings, and the Greek spirits help you sing along. The waiters are like old friends, but they don't ask you to borrow money. The atmosphere is cozy, the mood is great. But the lamb seemed literally sent "to Olympus"—it got way too hot there. The most expensive dish of our dinner : “Paidakia” turned out to be a real... charcoal installation. I had to scrape off the soot to taste the lamb ribs! But now I know what a truly sophisticated grill looks like. Overall, it's a wonderful place, just be a little more generous with the lamb next time. 🐑🔥🇬🇷

An enjoyable experience here with a friendly and helpful server. The food however while presented well seemed to be missing something that just didn’t provide a wow factor.

Really liked this place! Mykonos salad was delicious, octopus was great, the kreatopita was served really cold, the lamb chops were lukewarm as well as the fries, but delicious. The espresso wasn't a espresso but dessert (portokalopita) was amazing. Recommend.

The Greek dishes, which were close to authentic, were delicious and satisfying. Unfortunately, the rice pudding on the dessert menu was disappointing, as was the cappuccino. However, overall, we were pleased with both the food and the service. We’ll definitely come back again.

The staff and owner are INCREDIBLE people. We had the best time during our dinner there! The service was fabulous and the only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is because of the dips. It’s one of my favorite part about Greek food and we were pretty disappointed. It was a good try, but was lacking in flavor and authenticity. Favorite dish was the Htapodi! So tender and cooked to perfection! Spanakopita I’d pass on. Just had to try it because it’s there!

Vadim Sorokin

The menu is like a trip to Greece without a plane ticket: the appetizers are superb, the feta cheese sings, and the Greek spirits help you sing along. The waiters are like old friends, but they don't ask you to borrow money. The atmosphere is cozy, the mood is great. But the lamb seemed literally sent "to Olympus"—it got way too hot there. The most expensive dish of our dinner : “Paidakia” turned out to be a real... charcoal installation. I had to scrape off the soot to taste the lamb ribs! But now I know what a truly sophisticated grill looks like. Overall, it's a wonderful place, just be a little more generous with the lamb next time. 🐑🔥🇬🇷

Dave R

An enjoyable experience here with a friendly and helpful server. The food however while presented well seemed to be missing something that just didn’t provide a wow factor.

Luce Goldenaya

Really liked this place! Mykonos salad was delicious, octopus was great, the kreatopita was served really cold, the lamb chops were lukewarm as well as the fries, but delicious. The espresso wasn't a espresso but dessert (portokalopita) was amazing. Recommend.

Yalcin Kumeli

The Greek dishes, which were close to authentic, were delicious and satisfying. Unfortunately, the rice pudding on the dessert menu was disappointing, as was the cappuccino. However, overall, we were pleased with both the food and the service. We’ll definitely come back again.

Mindy Lai

The staff and owner are INCREDIBLE people. We had the best time during our dinner there! The service was fabulous and the only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is because of the dips. It’s one of my favorite part about Greek food and we were pretty disappointed. It was a good try, but was lacking in flavor and authenticity. Favorite dish was the Htapodi! So tender and cooked to perfection! Spanakopita I’d pass on. Just had to try it because it’s there!

Sarah P

A very relaxed dining experience in a nice atmosphere. My friends relayed the slow paced dining experience to being in Europe. We ordered a bunch of shareable dishes, some favorites were the Greek potatoes, smelt, saganaki, and artichokes

Edit April 2024: is there someone new managing this place or owner is getting burnt out from the popularity and constant drone of high-bar (success can be its own challenge!)? knocking down two stars. Taverna is still good. But we made a reservation for 5:30pm. The restaurant had maybe five parties in it at that point. We were then instructed, as we were led to our tables that we were “required” to be wrapped up by 7pm. We all (parents and everyone) looked at each other in sort of disbelief that a host would even say that, first of all. It gets more cringey. While the service and meal were fine; when we went to order more food and another round of drinks (an HOUR before our “deadline”), THE SERVER REMINDED US THAT WE NEEDED TO LEAVE THE TABLE in an hour and was hesitant to take an order for more items. On an early table reservation. However we did order more and we were still up and out slightly after 6:30pm so the drama about having to wrap up our meal by 7pm was entirely unnecessary and embarrassing given we brought out-of-town guests here and talked it up. We were all really surprised and then aback by the rude and tone-deaf approach here tonight. I would hope the owners/GM notice this because whatever happened what was a great experience over the past couple of years was ruined by some people that were not being very customer friendly. Edit April 2024: I agree here with reviews below and restaurant response that “turning tables” became the priority and that customer experience and quality suffered. Our bill for four people was $214 plus tip, so I want to be sure in that situation not to be insulted, rushed, experiencing a stressed-out server, or getting soggy or rushed food, and not getting scooted out the door. Old review 2023: Taverna is fantastic. Exceeded all expectations - staff, food, service, drinks. Everything was delicious and so fresh. And it’s a nice chill ambiance, enough but not over-the-top. Had dinner, but looking forward to enjoying the brunch!

Scott Nelson

Edit April 2024: is there someone new managing this place or owner is getting burnt out from the popularity and constant drone of high-bar (success can be its own challenge!)? knocking down two stars. Taverna is still good. But we made a reservation for 5:30pm. The restaurant had maybe five parties in it at that point. We were then instructed, as we were led to our tables that we were “required” to be wrapped up by 7pm. We all (parents and everyone) looked at each other in sort of disbelief that a host would even say that, first of all. It gets more cringey. While the service and meal were fine; when we went to order more food and another round of drinks (an HOUR before our “deadline”), THE SERVER REMINDED US THAT WE NEEDED TO LEAVE THE TABLE in an hour and was hesitant to take an order for more items. On an early table reservation. However we did order more and we were still up and out slightly after 6:30pm so the drama about having to wrap up our meal by 7pm was entirely unnecessary and embarrassing given we brought out-of-town guests here and talked it up. We were all really surprised and then aback by the rude and tone-deaf approach here tonight. I would hope the owners/GM notice this because whatever happened what was a great experience over the past couple of years was ruined by some people that were not being very customer friendly. Edit April 2024: I agree here with reviews below and restaurant response that “turning tables” became the priority and that customer experience and quality suffered. Our bill for four people was $214 plus tip, so I want to be sure in that situation not to be insulted, rushed, experiencing a stressed-out server, or getting soggy or rushed food, and not getting scooted out the door. Old review 2023: Taverna is fantastic. Exceeded all expectations - staff, food, service, drinks. Everything was delicious and so fresh. And it’s a nice chill ambiance, enough but not over-the-top. Had dinner, but looking forward to enjoying the brunch!

Peter Treacy

The food was absolutely incredible, but unfortunately, the experience was overshadowed by the extremely rude behavior of the hostess working yesterday. It’s disappointing that such great food is paired with such a poor customer service from this specific employee, as it makes me reluctant to return.