Yanni’s Greek Taverna is a restaurant and bar located at 3500 Connecticut Ave. in Cleveland Park. I live in the Van Ness / Tenleytown section of DC so Yanni’s has been a favorite of mine for a while now. It fulfills several needs for me: for one, I sometimes have a craving for saganaki and they make a good saganaki there. Secondly, it is one of the few places in the area where you can go and grab a night cap on a Friday or Saturday evening and not have to deal with a lot of drunken annoyances.

Cost – $$

Service – B+
They have extremely friendly bartenders and wait staff.  I may be a little biased because I’ve been going there for a while but I’ve never had an unpleasant experience with the service at Yanni’s.

Food – B
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not an expert in Greek cuisine but at the same time I know good food when I taste it and the food is pretty good here.  They use good, fresh ingredients and it shows in the final product.

Decor – B
It is strange because the restaurant and bar offer two completely different experiences.  The restaurant is more formally decorated and you’ll often see an older crowd dining there.  The bar is designed to look like the inside of a cave.

Feel – B+
I really like this place. I live near Cleveland Park and as I mentioned earlier, this is one of the few places in the area where you can go and enjoy a late-night drink without having a lot of drunk people getting on your nerves.   I would also recommend it as a good place to go for a weekday evening dinner – maybe not as a first date spot (it isn’t really a knock-out venue) but definitely viable for couple who have been together and just want to enjoy a pleasant dining experience in the area.

What’s the Buzz:

December 18, 2007 – Yanni’s Greek Taverna (Chowbaby.com) – If you’re on a tight budget but have somebody to charm, I’d try Yanni’s. Romance for me is in the ambiance—Greek bouzouki music in the background, a lovely mural along one wall, adorable Greek (I assume) waiters, and a compact little bar in the back of the room. Full Article…

January 28, 2004 – Restaurant review: Yanni’s Greek Taverna (The Eagle) -If you’re grabbing a bite with friends or impressing that special someone, Yanni’s Greek Taverna in Cleveland Park offers authentic flavor at a reasonable price. Yanni’s is across from the Cleveland Park Metro, on a corner facing busy Connecticut Avenue and a host of other ethnic eateries. Full Article…

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