Hellas Restaurant

Four for lunch. Attentive service. Enjoyed our food. We were lucky there was no cried. Stop by the bakery. Baklava and wedding cookies are incredible.

We came. We saw. We ate. And we spent. That’s the basics of our Hellas experience. Maybe it was the hype I’ve heard about this «world famous» restaurant, and my yearning for a true Geek experience that left me disappointed. Or maybe it was just something on the bucket list, do it once and never come back.
It’s not that is was bad… it just wasn’t, well that special. Unless of course you like all things Greek and by that I mean My Big Fat Greek Wedding décor x 10’s Greek. It was like overkill. The tacky décor, blue Greek key, the statues, I mean literally the house from My Big Fat Greek Wedding movie only intensified.
For lunch I was disappointed by the options as I felt it was more of a dinner place. Nevertheless the place was crowded. Service was spot on and very upscale. Our waiter clearly knew what he was doing. Presentation of the food was nice. I was excited to try an authentic Greek salad and compare it to the faux ones back home. But it was just ok, nothing memorable. And with only 4 Greek olives to the entire nearly $ 10 salad I was left craving more of that briny, salty flavor. We also got an order of hummus — again nothing special — in fact I felt the grocery store variety had more flavor. My husband’s meal was so unforgettable that I did just that, forgot what he had.
The place was a bit pricy especially for lunch and I was disappointed that the stuffed grape leaves, something I would consider to be an appetizer only came as an expensive entrée.
Overall glad we came and got our Greek on but wouldn’t recommend it for more than a been there done that kind of experience.

Unexpectedly good meal in the heart of the touristy area of Tarpon Springs. We had most of my extended family with us, and ordered a «family style» meal.
We had all our favorites… saganaki, Greek salad, taramasalata, tzatziki, spanakopita, dolmades and a gyro platter. Whew!
All of the dishes had great traditional flavors. The dips were served with warm pita bread and they gladly brought us as much as we could handle. Saganaki was served flaming with a traditional shout of «Opa!» which the kids loved. The spinach pies (we ordered two) were flaky on the outside and moist on the inside. Dolmades were served warm in a warm sauce and had just the right amount of «tang» to them.
All in all a very satisfying Greek meal served with a smile. Thanks guys!

Stick to Greek or seafood and you’ll be fine.
I heard rave reviews about this place, so I was afraid it would be packed at noon on a Saturday. It wasn’t very busy and it is a huge restaurant! We joked about how it was overstaffed, because there were a group of waiters just standing around chatting.
It is definitely over the top, but I didn’t find the décor overwhelming. Instead, it really adds to the place. It gives your food a nice backdrop when you take pictures!
They have a huge book of drinks. There are so many varieties of martinis. You don’t have to just get a baklava martini, they have a chocolate baklava martini! They also have so many varieties of sangria and margaritas. I got a mango sangria. It didn’t taste very alcoholic, but it was tasty. I tried my friend’s baklava martini and it is super sweet! Be warned, if you get a mixed drink, they are very sweet!
I decided to try the broiled octopus. I would highly suggest it. It was tender and delicious. It comes with rice pilaf, veggies, and bread. It sounded like a lot, but it wasn’t an overwhelming amount. The rice pilaf was good too, but the star of that dish was the broiled octopus. If you have a friend that likes seafood, I would suggest trying this place.
My husband got the fried shrimp. Unfortunately, not as good. It was mainly breading, so he left most of it on his plate. The fries weren’t anything special either.
I guess the moral of the story is if you try this place, stick to Greek or seafood. Anything else may be a crap shoot.
Side note: they have free parking in the back, so don’t pay for parking if you are dining here!

Very accomadating for a group of 12. We celebrated a friend’s birthday there, and they did end up singing which was fun. Free parking behind the restaurant so that is nice. I got the patitsio and my husband got the fig leaves stuffed with ground beef. Our entire table enjoyed their meal. The bakery next door had the most delicious aromas (but we were all too full). The wait staff was kind and attentive. Good place to have dinner while in Tarpon Springs.

One of the BEST meals I’ve ever had in my life!!! Got combo, and I’m still in awe at how much I enjoyed every single thing on my plate. Service was so great and friendly, while providing food «orientation!» If I lived closer, I’d be a regular; maybe I still will be!

One of our favorites in Tarpon Springs. Have been coming here for at least 15 years. Love the food — the greek salad with potato salad is fantastic. Love the flaming cheese — OPA !!
Always get the Grouper alla Hellas or the whole fish — Super fresh.
Great atmosphere

We came here for lunch and was seated right away. We started with the Saganaki, which was delicious especially with the bread. Ordered the Pork Souvlaki with french fries. Also got to taste the greek salad. I got the baklava cheesecake for dessert. Everything was excellent and service was good. You can park across the street.

My girlfriend has been wanting to visit Tarpon Springs ever since she moved to Florida about 4 years ago, so on our way home from our trip to Tampa, we decided to stop in and check it out.
Driving down the strip where essentially all of the tourist shops and restaurants were was super cool, and while we were cruising for a place to stop in and eat, Hellas caught our attention.
We visited the bakery first as my girlfriend really wanted Galaktoboureko. The inside was very cool looking, like an old bakery you would find in a big city with tons of options. The prices were a little high, but nothing too insane considering it was a touristy shop. The Galaktoboureko was delicious, and after eating it we decided to just go next door and visit the restaurant.
The place was packed, so I think many people know this is the place to go, but I have to say it didn’t do much for me.
We got seated immediately and our waiter, Constantine, was incredibly polite and quick.
We decided to share a combo plate because the prices are ridiculous here, mine you it was lunch time and they were wanting $ 16 for a plate of moussaka. We were pleased when it came out because I will say that their portions are very large, but to be completely honest the flavors were lacking.
My girlfriend is Greek, and seeing as this is the Greek Capitol of Florida, she was shocked that a place so successful and central to the area would give such subpar food.
We left with about a quarter of the plate left, and probably won’t return if we go back again.
This isn’t to say the restaurant is terrible, it was very nice inside with a cool aquatic look to it, and like I said before our service was great. I think we’ll just be sticking to the bakery from now on.

We have been to numerous restaurants in Tarpon Spring. This is our first choice every time.
It’s a little pricier than most on the strip but it’s worth a couple of extra dollars.
It’s clean and the food is very fresh!
I love the view of the street because I’m a serous people watcher.
If you’re ever in Tarpon Springs, give it a try, you won’t be sorry!

Sat Sat down immediately was served drinks quickly. The salad was enough for a crowd. We fought over the bread to dip into dressing. My diet coke was filled regularly without prompting. My food arrived and was placed on table. Next came the calamari platter that fell all over my food and purse. Yes it included me as well. I didn’t receive a discount on my bill, but was given a tiny piece of dessert I didn’t want. Please take your time serving customers. I am really mad now leaving.

Hellas is, hands down, the best place to get dessert on the Sponge Docks. Having sampled a variety of their desserts over my years growing up in the area I will tell you that you cannot go wrong with any of them. Fun fact, they actually make The Baklava for lots of food Distributors so if you ordered it from another restaurant (not on the spongedocks) odds are it’s actually coming from Hellas. The lunch and dinner menu is also very good and the service is excellent. The wait staff is always very attentive even when they’re very busy. They welcome your four-​legged friends on the patio and it is very common to see lots of fur babies hanging out there. This is a must stop restaurant if you’re headed to Greektown.

My friend grew up in Tarpon Springs and frequented this place with his family. It came highly recommended from a local so I couldn’t miss it.
I ordered the gyro with feta and French fries. So delicious and so huge. I was starving and couldn’t even finish it. That tzatziki sauce is probably the best I’ve ever eaten and I asked for a side to dip my fries in. So delicious! I ordered the Black Forest pasta for dessert and it was so good I got another piece to go.
One of the best parts of the experience was that I ordered and SIX minutes later the food was in front of me. Six! The fries were so hot I couldn’t eat them for quite a while. Kudos to the kitchen staff for the fast turn around!
While I didn’t order the flaming cheese, lots of people around me did and it was not only a great show, but smelled awesome. Everyone seemed to enjoy that selection.
The server was friendly, but not at all attentive. I think she had a couple big tables and I was dining solo. It wasn’t a huge deal, just a minor irritant that made me give 4 stars instead of 5.
The ambiance is nice, it has an open air front with a view of the water. It feels very authentically Greek and it’s fun to hear the wait staff talk to each other in Greek.

What can I say but, FABULOUS. Every time we are in the Tarpon Springs area we head straight here for a delicious meal. First, let me say that I live Greek food. With that said, the Mousaka at Hellas is the best. Everything from the Sangria to the wonderful deserts in the bakery are delicious.
We will be back.

Good, solid Greek food. Drinks so so. The gyro was a normal gyro but it was stuffed with meat. Kids menu has variety which is always a must. Nice choice of indoor and patio seating. Waitress Sasha was fun. Manager attentive and checks on you. Reminds folks to like on FB or Unilocal etc which is charming, not annoying especially since he gives props to newcomers from trying them out based on Unilocal or another site. The whole tarpon springs area is full
Of Greekness so it was a good experience. There was nothing particularly stand out about the food but it was solid.

I had a friend visiting and I promised her «flaming cheese.» Hellas is always busy, so of course there was a wait. I told the host we only wanted an appetizer, he suggested trying the bar. Sure enough there was two empty seats.
Both the guys working at the bar were very friendly. They laughed when I told them we are only there for «flaming cheese,» my friend was visiting from out of town. They continued to share jokes the whole time we were there.
The restaurant was busy, but they were all on their toes. Everything was clean, and flowing efficiently. I’m so glad we could get «flaming cheese» and not get burnt waiting for just an appetizer.

Hellas is obviously a Sponge Docks institution, so you gotta check it off the list and eat here at least once. If this restaurant weren’t in such a touristy area, I’d probably go more often. The extremely long wait and high prices is a reflection of this.
We really loved the grilled octopus, saginaki and traditional greek salad. However, the lamb riblets were a disgrace. Why put it on the menu? I expected lollipops and instead, the lollipop ends were cut off and all that was left was the ligaments between the ribs… barely any meat. The appitizer should be called marinated lamb bones. I really wish I would’ve known they would come out this way, otherwise I would’ve gone for the actual lamb meal… I just didn’t need the rice, potatoes and peas that it comes with. Those sides came with one of the kid’s shrimp dishes and they were just okay.
The server was a doll. He said he’ll be working for Hellas for 15 years this year. He gave us a great saganaki presentation where he entertained my son by putting his hand in the flame and not getting burned. Also, my son and his friend was with us and when they got up to use the restroom he watched them walk to the restroom (which happens to be in the bakery) to make sure they knew what they were doing… yes, it’s the little things that impress me. :)
Who knows when I’ll come back… possibly on a really cold or rainy day when all the tourists are elsewhere, so there won’t be a 40 min wait.

A tourist trap for sure, established in 1970, Hellas offers authentic Greek food. Here’s my take:
Location: As good as it gets, there are plenty of parking lots in the area, may wanna do as I did and park towards the entrance ($ 5 all day) so that you can get a chance to walk the sponge docks and visit the shops, maybe enjoy a hand rolled Cigar, or listen to some live music.
Service: Our Waiter did a fine job. He gave you that feeling of someone who’s invested many years working at Hellas. Despite the long wait, the food arrived in a short amount of time.
Food: We ordered the Lamb Riblets, Broiled Octopus, Saganaki, and The Greek Salad. All the dishes tasted authentic. The Octopus was superb, Saganaki is so addictive, not the best I’ve had, but don’t be discourage, make sure to order this. Its good enough for two. The Greek salad was terrific, loved the potato salad.
The Lamb Riblets was another story. This could’ve been the best of the bunch. Just couldn’t help but think we got jipped. It was a plate full of bones with barely any meat. The little bit of meat that it came with was so good though, the whole thing felt like a tease, check out the photo I uploaded and see for yourself.
Anyway, why only three? Cause I can’t say I’ll be going back anytime soon. The place is worth visiting, but I’m just not huge on tourist traps. I’ll go once just to say I tried it. But they are usually overpriced and overbooked such as the case with Hellas.

If I could only get Hellas to move to Reno, I would be a happy girl! Hellas is located on the water in Tarpon Springs and is really heaven on earth when you are looking for the authentic Greek food experience!
Decorated with the traditional Greek colors, you feel like you walked into family dinner instead of a restaurant. The servers always treat you like you are their loved cousin instead of a customer… I love this! Always helpful in recommending a dish and a good joke, it is easy to see why this place is always packed!
The Greek salad here is MAGNIFICENT! I do not know what they do to the dressing to make it so flavorful and light but if I could sneak back into the kitchen so I could make it for myself I would. Of course the potato salad in the middle completes the salad perfectly!
The bakery located next door has every kind of dessert you could imagine with Turkish coffee that keeps me coming back annually. If you are in the area make sure you get there early because the place is always in demand. So long Hellas… see you next year!

Located on the main strip of Tarpon Springs, Hellas is a Greek restaurant you should check out. I live nearby but never been until a few years ago when I was showing out of town relatives around. What attracted us to Hellas is the bakery next door (which is another review). The restaurant is huge and has seating inside and a few tables outside as well, and it can be packed during the high tourist season. I’ve been there a few times during weekday lunch and it’s about half full, but I’m thinking most are tourists.
Some of the items I’ve ordered:
— Saganaki — fun to watch your food on fire and so delicious!
— Lamb Riblets — very flavorful, but not much meat, a must try item if you like lamb
— Broiled Octopus — good, but not worth the price, but you gotta try at least once
— The Original Greek Salad + Gyro meat — the potato salad in this salad is amazing and the gyro meat is so tasty and moist —— item I order most often
— Hellas Gyro — one of the best around, huge and heavenly
— Hamburger Platter — good, but won’t order again because I’d rather eat something Greek at a Greek restaurant
— Desserts — the server will bring you any desserts from next door, most things are good, I particularly like the Red Velvet cakes
My relatives and I have eaten here 2 yrs in a row now whenever they come down on the annual visit. I hope it’ll be a lifetime tradition.

Endlich !!! Das erste mal in Amerika wirklich gut gegessen. Gemüse und zwar frisch, knackig und sonnenreif (griechischer Salat — herrlich) mit einer feinen Salatsauce — richtiges Olivenöl, harmonisch abgeschmeckt mit Zitrone, importiertem feta und Oliven (nicht der amerikanische schludderkäse). Der Hauptgang suflaki spiess, absolut zu empfehlen, Grill-​Geschmack, zartes Schweinefleisch.
Achtung die Portionen sind riesig ! Vorspeisen können gut zu zweit geteilt werden.
Fazit: für Europäer die das amerikanische überteuerte Touri-​essen nicht mehr sehen können ein wahres fest für die Sinne!
Sogar zu Hause würde ich da erneut essen gehen