Panos Kleftiko Greek Taverna

If you are looking for an authentic Greek taverna experience in Seattle, Panos Kleftiko is the closest thing. The atmosphere is warm and cosy with tables very close to each other, pictures and decorations on the walls, good Greek music, and a relaxed and friendly staff. Panos, the owner, is there every night and frequently sits down to chat with the guests and make sure they know what's good that day.

But what makes the place really great is the food. The gigantes yahni (lima beans) are delicious, as is the Greek salad and the lamb dishes. The taramosalata (egg roe salad) melitzanosalata (eggplant salad) and tirokafteri (spicy cheese spread), spread on authentic Greek pitta bread are fantastic.

The one thing to know before you go is that many of the dishes have a lot of garlic. I personally like that a lot, but you will have to watch it after you leave or the morning after - one trick that works well for me is eat some fresh parsley after dinner, it does wonders.

Pros: Authentic food and atmosphere

Cons: Must love garlic

Posted 04/16/09

I have never left a restaurant in such disbelief!

I read so many reviews online about how good this place was and I certainly did not experience that!
I ordered an appetizer for about $7-$8...and out comes four meatballs. Four tiny meatballs that were not even that good. Then comes my boyfriend's main course with lamb. We joked that it would be the size of a small bowl after how small my meatballs were. Well out comes his lamb in very small dish, similar to the size of a rice bowl and a small spoon of rice on the side. I have never been so disappointed in not just Greek food but any restaurant. I've had delicious Greek food in Fremont and University district and I will never return to this place again.

Also, our waitress was very slow with our service, she seemed to be enjoying helping a larger table next to us much more and even made time to go find one of them a bag of corks for an art project while we sat and waited for our check.

Pros: NONE

Cons: food portion, quality, service

Posted 03/11/09

Fantastic authentic greek food. We will definitely be going back. It is small, charming, very friendly and one of those places where when you sit down you feel more like family than a customer. This place fills up fast . Try the saganaki....OPA!

Pros: excellent atmosphere, romantic

Cons: they don't take reservations or Amex

Posted 12/06/08

Having just watched a Melina Mercouri movie, Greek food seemed in order. Panos had been recommend to me and I was not disappointed. It's a nice size, with enough kitsch to feel comfortable. Wait staff was efficient if not particularly chatty. The Saganaki was a touch disappointing, but I found the lamb dish covered with aioli to be delicious. Portions were a nice size and the overall experience was pleasant.

Pros: Good food, informal neighborhood place

Posted 12/09/06

I love this restaurant with all my heart. I have never had a bad meal here. I go whenever I have the chance. Seating is limited, but well worth the wait! I am now a fan of Greek wine, as well. Vegetarians who eat cheese will find many options here. I absolutely love the Kopanisti and the Saganaki. Also, if you do eat meat, the specials are amazing.

Make sure to save room for dessert!

Pros: Excellent food, European atmosphere, Fab Greek coffee

Cons: Limited seating, Just outside downtown, ?

Posted 03/20/06

yes its the best greek food and most authentic in the notrh west.. great food, friendly service,warm ambience. try the special grilled kalamari with arugula sauce. $11.50 (is the best meze ) and the special of the day( lamb youvetsi ) braised lamb with orzo pasta then baked in a traditional clay pot topped with melted kefalograviera cheese...mmmmmm$14.50 the rice lacks a punch. but the carrots are great.

Pros: inexpensive, cozy, good wines

Cons: crowded, some waiting, no dessert list

Posted 01/15/06

This restaurant brings back great memories of summer in Greece: excellent food; very Greek service (like you're part of the family); and a small, intimate environment. The only hesitation I have for giving my recommendation is that I don't want to have to wait more time to get a table at this wonderful place.

Pros: Tasty, Friendly, Warm

Cons: Long wait for seating

Posted 12/02/05

This Greek food & service is suited to a food court . Our salads arrived floating in oil, the sauted vegetables lay coldly in a puddle of butter, while the lamb proved to be stringy and oversalted. The waitress dropped the check with thank you to the patron she assumed was paying the bill, ignoring everyone else at the table. Additionally, it was clear that staff wanted tables turned as quickly as possible. This place may work for Kirkland/Belltown types who want to be proud of themselves for eating "ethnic" but as far as Greek food goes, it is highly disappointing.

Cons: Low Quality Food, Poor Service

Posted 10/04/05

our server began to take our order then suddenly freaked out and announced she had to leave to "run food," and disappeared mid-order. it wasnt even crowded so i dont know what that was about. the pitas and gigante beans were good, but the baked olives and the chicken dish were unbearably salty and barely edible. the wine was not good, either. i cannot understand how anyone could deem this place the best greek in seattle. i am new to seattle but i refuse to accept this place as the best. my husband and i officially banned it. perhaps the gracious owners mentioned in other reviews need to be there 100% of the time to keep an eye on salt levels and rookie servers.

Pros: intimate

Cons: salt salt salt, poor service, average food

Posted 08/02/05

That's right. The best Greek food I have had in a loooong time. The menu is mostly appetizers, so we got about 6 to share. Amazing. The garlic. The flavor. The hummus. Dear God! So good. It's a tiny, tiny place, but we were able to walk right in (I think it was a bit early). Got what seemed to be a good table, cozy in the corner, except I kept hitting my head on the cabinet that was weirdly positioned on the wall. Other than that, it was phenomenal. Seriously good. And pretty cheap.

Pros: food, food, food

Cons: cramped

Posted 06/08/05

Fantastic, warm, happy little Greek restaurant in Uptown East. I love this place, one almost feels as though dinner is in Panos' private home. The food is exceptional and the wine wonderful. Expect to wait for quite ahwile though as this is a small restaurant that is very popular.

Pros: Ambiance, Food, Wine

Cons: None

Posted 04/28/05

The food and service at Panos are both outstanding. The restaraunt is ran by a husband/wife team of first generation immigrants who are very personable and charming. While many people simply order appetizers, their main dishes should be tried at least once. There are a few vegetarian friendly appetizers; overall, though, the dishes tend to be relatively heavy on the meat side (as one might expect). There are many things that set Panos apart from other Seattle Greek restaraunts, but one of the main things is how heavily they spice their food; everything is very flavorful. They also have a unique wine selection with some very appropriate picks for the cuisine.

Pros: Romantic, Tasty, Friendly

Cons: Small, Slow

Posted 03/02/05

What can I say, the lamb is stunning, the appetizers are to die for (village salad), the owner is very hospitable and everyone I take there or refer to go there comes back and says that they've found the greek restaurant they've been looking for. Being a local Greek, I know most of the local restaurants and this is near the top, enjoy!

Pros: Lamb, Appetizers

Cons: Few tables, No lunch

Posted 02/05/05

Absolutely wonderful! We made choices off the appetizer menu as suggested then shared the rack of lamb. The dolmades and spanokopita were some of the best we've had but the baked Kalamata Olives were spectacular. The lamb was good but next time we'll just choose more appetizers. Get there early because the place is very small and fills up as soon as they open the doors.

Pros: inexpensive, ambience, good service

Cons: long waits

Posted 02/01/05

I absolutely loved everything that came to our table, just wish it had been our server every once in a while. We might have bought a "you-kick-back-for-hours-and-enjoy-meals-like-Greeks-do" excuse before we waited 25 minutes to give our first drink order. Couples seated long after us were served several dishes before our own appetizers arrived. The server also liked to interrupt and correct every mispronunciation we made while ordering, which was slightly embarrassing and just plain ungracious. We were held hostage another 20 minutes after requesting our bill. All told, we spent two hours for two appetizers, two glasses of wine and a couple of entrees. Don't expect a deal at $15 for a single, delicious, chicken breast with tiny sides of rice and vegetables. NEVERTHELESS, if you can devote two hours and are willing to endure sub par service in the name of stellar food, by all means go!

Pros: Great food, Cute, Free Greek Lessons

Cons: , Expensive, Free Greek Lessons

Posted 01/04/05

Small, cozy Greek Taverna. Try the souvlaki when it's on the menu. The baklava is to die for. Just remember the the service may be VERY slow, so don't go if you're in a hurry.

Pros: Cozy, Great Food

Cons: Very slow service, but the food is worth the wait.

Posted 06/25/04

If you are interested in experiencing the true Greek flavor of an authentic Greek Taverna, then come on in to see Panos. If you are a typical NW American and want to be treated like you are more than you think you are, then don't come by. Panos is good at determining who is real and who is bogus so don't expect to get your buns kissed. He has no time for yuppies but welcomes and takes extra time to take care of those who are there for an authentic Hellenic experience. Try the Saganaki, American. I am part Greek and this is truly great cuisine. Yassoo levente!

Pros: Fantastic Cuisine, Festive Greeks, Lots of fun

Cons: , Panos is not a girl, Yanks are there

Posted 06/06/04

This is definitely a very Greek atmosphere. Loud, fun, wonderful if you are in the mood for a social outing, and especially if you are in a good mood already. The food is terrific, the pitas are excellent, and the wine is tasty.

Pros: Great Food, Excellent Service, Small and Cozy

Cons: Really Busy, Fatty Lamb, Tight Parking

Posted 01/16/03