Pithari Taverna image

Pithari Taverna

Restaurant Seafood restaurant Mediterranean restaurant Greek restaurant European restaurant

One of the Most Revieweds in Highland Park


Address

28 Woodbridge Ave, Highland Park, NJ 08904, United States

Website

www.thepithari.com

Contact

+1 732-572-0616

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (943 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 11:30 am to 10 pm
  • Monday: 11:30 am to 10 pm
  • Tuesday: 11:30 am to 10 pm
  • Wednesday: 11:30 am to 10 pm
  • Thursday: 11:30 am to 10 pm
  • Friday: 11:30 am to 10 pm
  • Saturday: 11:30 am to 10 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: Greek (15) good (11) restaurant (9) ordered (7) served (7) left (7) time (7) service (7) great (7) lamb (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 1/5 P. R. 1 year ago on Google
    This place has gone down hill. My lamb chops were bland, I had ordered medium rare, they served it rare. Pita served with Lamb Souvlaki was burned. Will not return. Thanks for serving a whole onion with my chops! The desert they gave free of charge- rice pudding and Greek yogurt- we left it as is untouched, not what we asked for or paid for. You are a disappointment, take reviews like this an opportunity to improve rather than get back at customers. ! Your waitress did not replace the pita served with the Souvlaki, you have very little knowledge of whats happening in your own establishment. And no we did not get the replaced pita or desert to take Home, ask your staff! Get your facts straight! Response- Amazing! really wish this owner had the courtesy and courage to stop by to really find out what was wrong to correct the situation instead of being a little brat on Google reviews. Did not think pita served with Souvlaki was complementary! Glad you are writing to my comments, so all your guests will know how you treat your guest who had a bad experience and what to expect! And I am not sure how I insulted your establishment on an honest feedback! Cannot wait to see you on the next episode of Kitchen Nightmares! Thanks for making me realize "When I get in the mud with a pig, I get dirty and the pig gets to be happy."
    17 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Ramin M. 1 year ago on Google
    Came here with best friends tonight, wanted to try several things on the menu… everything really was good minus the speciality dish lamb shank… 4/5 customers were left full and satisfied.. 1 left hungry because we were told we couldn’t replace the order with something else unless we paid for both… Being a restaurant owner and chef for over 20 years I’ve never told this to a customer and shocked … I’m sure the lamb shank is expensive but the seasoning in the dish was not enjoyable… we left the dish on the table to prove a point… I guess the chef is more important than the customer! Won’t be coming back..
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Melissa 1 year ago on Google
    Look no further for your delicious BYOB local Greek restaurant. The portions are large, the food is fresh and flavorful, and the price is reasonable. I highly recommend!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Luna P. 2 years ago on Google
    I discovered this restaurant last year during my birthday. I was in the mood for some Greek food. The first time I tried this restaurant, I was in love with how flavorful the chicken gyro was. I kept going back ever since then. The chef does sooo well. Compliments to him. The food always looks like it came out of a cook book. :-)
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 George 10 months ago on Google
    Place is usually decent but today the food and service were not good. Gyro meat clearly sitting on the burner for a while before being cut. Crunchy and overcooked. Server must’ve taken 20 minutes to realize we existed. Young guy at the front looking at his phone when speaking to customers. This place has declined over the years. I do not recommend
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sam S. 2 years ago on Google
    4th time at Pithari Taverna and it just does not disappoint! Definitely give it a try. Can't wait to go back!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Alexis T. 1 year ago on Google
    I’m almost afraid to post given the responses I see… This place is beautiful and the servers are always very kind. Sadly, whatever is going on in the kitchen these days swings wildly between hit or miss. We ordered two of the saucier chicken dishes last night. I should know that a simple grill is better here but one of the specials sounded so good. It wasn’t. I’m pretty sure what I was served was pre-cooked chicken thrown into avgolemono soup with some dark greens and romaine lettuce. Yes, they served me stewed romaine lettuce. I didn’t know if this dish was soup, stew or what. And very little chicken. My husband’s kotopoulo was also really off and bland last night, and they were busy. They should have been going through stuff, not serving us what seemed like leftovers from an instant pot experiment. The meatballs we received as appetizers here were tasty… until we found the piece of plastic wrap that had been accidentally cooked inside. I don’t even bother with salads here anymore. Can you imagine? A Greek place that can’t present a beautiful salad. Anyway, I guess last night was the final straw for me. I’ve had too many misses here and they need to address it. It’s a shame, because the location and atmosphere are really great. (Also, they are still packing leftovers in styrofoam in a neighborhood that prides themselves on being eco-progressive. Sadly, the packaging AND the food will just get tossed because I have zero interest in revisiting it. I know that they have six months to comply but that’s not a way to impress, folks.)
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Desiree T. 1 year ago on Google
    I am a pescatarian and love Greek food since they make wonderful fish but this place was a complete disappointment. Tonight I ordered the Bronzino and it was basically dry as a toast. Try fixing it by adding olive oil but it was just a mess. The octopus was a single piece of octopus in a trade with nothing on it and it was hard to chew. The only decent thing were the lemon potatoes Jikes!!! And I thought well, no one meses up a baklava 🤔 I was wrong. Worse baklava I’ve ever tasted. It was completely burned and dry. $70 wasted. Would never order from this place again. 😢
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rob G. 7 months ago on Google
    This place is incredible. By far the best Greek food around. It’s the quality of the food that really stands out. Portions are huge. Everything is delicious. Must try the fried goat cheese!!!!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Laurie H. 10 months ago on Google
    I went here for lunch today at 2pm. There were only about 4 tables in use and 2 waitresses. I had to call a waitress over to order because they were just talking -didn’t even ask if I wanted a drink. I ordered a cold appetizer and chicken soulvaki. The appetizer came pretty quickly. I waited 30 minutes for my food. In that time the waitresses and staff ignored me - didn’t ask if I want more water, didn’t ask if I wanted more bread. They just stayed in the back enclave. Other customers were looking for them too. No refills of water -never asked how my food was..hardly saw them. I had to pay so I went to find them. I found them behind the cooking area and gave them my credit card while I went to the bathroom. I came out and went back to the table and the girl was walking around with my credit card- not even charged yet told me she would do it soon. She continued to walk around- it took about five more minutes for her to come back with my card. At this point there were only two tables left. The service was poor and the food wasn’t very good. It seemed they didn’t care. I called later in the day to discuss my experience and a young lady told me the manager wasn’t there and maybe he would be there later or maybe he would be there tomorrow.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dongsheng H. 1 year ago on Google
    Good and authentic. Comparing to some of the other Greek restaurants, this one doesn’t make me feel the foods are altered in a way to please American taste. Try their stewed lamb dishes, the complex and dense flavor really opens up my palate. And they taste especially good during this cold holiday season. Doing what they do best and providing strong and unique flavor, that’s a 10 out of 10 local restaurants for my standard. But man, I’m leaving this review not only because I come here often and it doesn’t disappoint me, but also in reaction of one of the dramatic review left by a food critic wannabe type fella, and google seems to be highlighting it. Here I quote him “Can’t wait to see you in next episode Hell’s Kitchen!”. If one’s opinion and world view on foods and culture is heavily influenced by these realities TV shows, for me their comments would be quite invalidated.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Özgür B. 5 months ago on Google
    I have visited many Mediterranean restaurants and this one was the only one I could not decide whether to pass or fail. So I will explain my experience and then you can decide. First of all, I called and made a reservation for 4 (2adults, 2kids) so that I could seat a nice table but when we arrived there although there was a suitable table nearby windows they did not get a seat there. The lady who welcomed us showed us a table near the kitchen. I think we are enough lucky as we had a reservation otherwise without reservation maybe we could eat our dinner at near the restroom:) Long story short: Reservation does not make sense. Moreover, I asked to them change our table but they ignored us. This was the first negative one Food: I ordered chicken kebab, and my wife ordered the Aegean seafood platter, Garides giouvetsi and Pikilia cold spreads. Pikilia has lots of different sides but some of them (especially tzatziki and feta cheese smt) were such salty that our blood pressure went to sky and I could not sleep till morning. The only problem was SALT!! Atmosphere: This was very good maybe you can think about nice music too! Serving: This is the only topic that we are satisfied. Our waitress Lora was a pretty nice and helpful lady. She helped us and shared her besties as we were the first time. The other staff also was amazing. Overall Food:3/10. (SALT, SALT, SALT!!!) Service:9/10 Price:7/10 Atmosphere:8/10
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anthony P. U. 9 months ago on Google
    Outdoor seating available! The food was delicious and the service was great. They stayed on top of water refills and the menu has a good selection. Afterwards you can walk down main street. Parking also available in the back. Great experience!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ruslana R. 3 months ago on Google New
    We had a birthday party for 10 people. The service and food here is excellent. It is a very welcoming with pretty decor restaurant. Therefore everyone had a really good time. The food is unique and entrees are impressively huge. I did take out many times before and was never disappointed in the quality of the food from this restaurant. I visited many Greek restaurants including in NYC and this is one of my favorite. I look forward to be a returning customer.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Kalpesh B. 3 months ago on Google New
    Once a gem, now a dud: I used to frequent this place years ago, always leaving satisfied. But my recent visit was a major letdown, leaving me questioning the quality and consistency of their food. Highs and Lows:The appetizers offered a glimmer of hope.** The dip platter was a delightful mix of textures and flavors, and the gigante beans in lemon tomato sauce were a tangy, comforting hit. However, everything went downhill from there. Main Course Misfire:My lamb souvlaki, ordered medium-rare, arrived bordering on well-done and unevenly cooked. Each bite was a struggle against tough, chewy meat. It felt like I was wrestling with the food instead of enjoying it. A Bitter Aftertaste:The disappointment ran deep. I left feeling frustrated and cheated, questioning how such a drastic decline could occur. It seems after covid it's just hard finding quality food. Final Verdict: While the appetizers offered a flicker of hope, the main course completely dropped the ball. With such inconsistent quality and a disappointing main dish, I have no reason to return to here. There are better options out there where you can be confident your meal will be a success, not a struggle and much cheaper. Recommendations. If you're looking for Greek food in the area, I suggest exploring other restaurants. There are plenty of options offering authentic flavors and consistently delicious dishes. Don't waste your time and money on a gamble. Service was decent. Nothing special. Busser didn't speak English. I hope this helps!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Carlo D. 4 months ago on Google
    Great Greek food , good service , nice atmosphere 👌 👍

  • 4/5 Sonia M. R. 6 months ago on Google
    The food was okay. Vegetarian moussaka didn't quite suit my taste; it seemed a bit dry, in my opinion. Nonetheless, the restaurant is charming.

  • 5/5 Ryan R. 3 months ago on Google New
    Pithari is very good and very authentic Greek food, and I’ve never had a bad experience here. The food is delicious, to start. I’ve tried various menu items, including the Moussaka, Pastitsio, and various platters, and they’re all great. Portions are very generous for the price, and I often end up taking some food home. I’ve also never had an unpleasant time, in terms of service. The atmosphere is very fun as well. It might be a hair cheesy, but it is fun, and you don’t doubt you’re in a Greek restaurant for a moment (I adore the grape lights!). If you’re looking for delicious and authentic Greek food with a fun environment, look no further!

  • 5/5 David E. 5 months ago on Google
    our server was friendly without being overly so. we came with our dog and a party of 6 and sat outside (protected from the elements under a temporary awning and sides). Server was very accommodating to the dog, and asked us then brought out a water dish). Food was great and served nicely. Will come back again!

  • 5/5 Christina R. 10 months ago on Google
    THE BEST Greek food I’ve had in awhile. Love coming here the atmosphere is great and the food is so fresh! Can’t beat their dishes or prices! Come here with my family on holidays

  • 5/5 angie k. 1 year ago on Google
    Pithari never disappoints!!!! I recommend the Mousaka, pastisou& really anything on the menu. Only thing is some dishes r a bit bland to my liking but other than that it's a great place & its BYOB!!!!!

  • 5/5 Artem O. 1 year ago on Google
    A great place with amazing food. Pork kebab with lemon potatoes was awesome. The service is good, the prices are reasonable.

  • 5/5 Greg T. 1 year ago on Google
    My brother and I have been coming here for years unfortunately not enough Marie was our waitress and was very nice. I had the Aegean seafood plate and my brother had flounder,l have had many times before.let me just say the fish was perfectly cooked and fresh best fish dinner l have had anywhere ! The owner was there and as always always greets us.and to top it gave us free desert just wanted to say thanks! See you soon!

  • 5/5 Oscar R. 1 year ago on Google
    Excellent. Food was amazing. Felt like I was eating homemade food.

  • 5/5 Celine A. 1 year ago on Google
    Authentic Greek restaurant serving fresh and flavorful food. The lamb chops are exquisite: flavorful, tender and juicy.


Call +1 732-572-0616 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Free of charge street parking
    • ✓️ Somewhat difficult to find a space
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

Trends



Last updated:

Similar Restaurants nearby

White Rose Hamburgers image
1
White Rose Hamburgers
Hamburger restaurant
Longtime burger counter with sandwiches, eggs, fried fare & more in a space with retro barstools.
$ $$$
4.50 (1.7K reviews)
Wendy's image
2
Wendy's
Fast food restaurant
Fast-food burger chain serving sides such as chili & baked potatoes.
$ $$$
3.60 (1.6K reviews)
Mi Cocina image
3
Mi Cocina
Mexican restaurant
Neighborhood boutique restaurants offering innovative Tex-Mex plates, plus frozen Margaritas.
$$ $$
4.50 (1.3K reviews)
Church's Texas Chicken image
4
Church's Texas Chicken
Chicken restaurant
Fast-food chain offering fried chicken, sandwiches, wings & Southern-influenced sides.
$ $$$
3.20 (992 reviews)
McDonald's image
5
McDonald's
Fast food restaurant
Classic, long-running fast-food chain known for its burgers & fries.
$ $$$
3.30 (832 reviews)
Last updated:
()