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Rave: Ephesus Restaurant on California

Started 3 years ago by guitarboy53
Latest reply from Bayou

guitarboy53
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I swear this is West Seattle's best kept secret! The food is awesome, and the service is superior as well. If you go, you MUST get the home-made hummus. Be sure to say hi to Hasan--the owner--who brings his great recipes straight from Turkey.

Posted 3 years ago #
mellaw6565
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I always assumed this was greek food. Turkish huh? Will have to try it.

Posted 3 years ago #
datamuse
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Don't say it too loud, or it won't be a best kept secret anymore!

Ephesus is my favorite restaurant, I go there several times a year and have brought many friends there. Even my husband likes it and he is the pickiest eater on the PLANET. Wonderful place.

Mellaw6565, Turkish food and Greek food are a lot alike. You will recognize many of the dishes though the names are slightly different.

Get the Ezme appetizer, it is so good I want to eat it with a spoon.

Posted 3 years ago #
guitarboy53
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Turkish food never gets as much love as it deserves in the US. A lot of times you will find a great Turkish food marketed as a Greek food. Most Turks have grown to accept this. Historically, Turkey and Greece have had close ties....but it is ALL good! :)

Posted 3 years ago #
mellaw6565
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Yeah, I've had both and they are very similar. I will try Ephesus - I have to admit that being from the Tarpon Springs area of Florida (the biggest Greek community in the US - think houses that look like the ones in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"), I am always sorely disappointed with the so-called "greek food" that is passed off here in the NW. Other than a few dishes at the Greek Church Festival every year, I have yet to find a restaurant to stand up to the real deal.

I've been in W. Seattle 11 years, and every time I pass it I go "oh yeah, I've been meaning to try this place". So glad to hear some good reviews.

P.s. - I've been really homesick this week missing the Feast of the Ephiphany and the competition among young men to dive and recover the gold cross.

Posted 3 years ago #
datamuse
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I went to Greece last year, and after I got back I and my traveling companions from the trip went to Ephesus for dinner, and we all loved it! How's that for a ringing endorsement? :)

Have you been to Byzantion on Broadway? It's pretty good.

Posted 3 years ago #
mellaw6565
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Is that the one tucked near the Harvard Exit theater with the old murals on the walls? If so, it wasn't bad.

I'm like that with Asian food - Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Cambodian, etc.... I've had the real thing so now I'm a snob.

And of course fine European cuisine.......yum:)

Posted 3 years ago #
JimmyG
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We love, love, love Ephesus.

Posted 3 years ago #
datamuse
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No, this one's further south on Broadway. I forget the cross street but it's on a corner. I've been to the place you're talking about (now gone) and think Byzantion is better.

Posted 3 years ago #
add
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I am so happy to see this rave. Have driven by Ephesus for the 10 years I've lived in WS and always wondered about the place since it seems so .. empty. But now I am totaly psyched to check it out!

OK, on another note, we really like Kokoro's Grill but since none of you have mentioned it I guess it's not "real" Greek? :)

Posted 3 years ago #
Bonnie
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I've been there a few times and it's great!

Posted 3 years ago #
datamuse
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I haven't been to Kokoro's Grill yet; there are tons of WS restaurants I haven't tried. Since I've seen it mentioned here a few times I'll have to give it a try.

Ephesus never seems to be especially crowded. I don't know why, but I don't mind, as long as they stay around! It's very comfortable, like having dinner at someone's house.

Posted 3 years ago #
mellaw6565
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Are they only open for dinner or lunch too? Do they have a website?

Posted 3 years ago #
guitarboy53
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No website. They are opened Tuesday thru Sunday 5-10. Monday is their day of rest.

Posted 3 years ago #
dawn211
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mellaw6565 - I lived in St. Pete for 20 years and I too miss the fantastic Greek food in Tarpon Springs! Such a great community. I've been in Seattle for 3 years and haven't found a good Greek restaurant. I will try Ephesus.

Posted 3 years ago #
JoB
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Epheus is a pleasant surprise... the Ezme... which will sound a little weird when you look at it on the menu.. is incredible...

i have never had anything but an exceptional meal there... and the space is really pleasant...

Kokurus was our first neighborhood restaurant when we first moved here and is still a favorite. This is one of those places where the special usually is:)

Posted 3 years ago #
mellaw6565
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Dawn - what high school? I went to St. Pete Catholic and almost all of my immediate family still live in St. Pete - been there since I was in 3rd grade:)

Glad someone else realizes what really good greek food is all about:)

Posted 3 years ago #
Bayou
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This is one of our favorite spots in all of WS. Our first year on this side of the sound, we went in for Valentine's and even without reservations they made room for us. I've had nothing but excellent food and service there since that night. We've taken many friends here to enjoy the cozy atmosphere over a bottle of wine.

Mmmm Ezme, we always have it for starters. The hummus is also very good. Actually everything is- kabobs, topraks, iskara (usually salmon). Thanks, Now I'm starved lol!

Posted 3 years ago #
JenV
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I cannot believe I have lived in WS this long and have not been to Ephesus. We're big fans of Kokoras. Will have to give Ephesus a try. Am craving garlic.

Posted 3 years ago #
dawn211
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Mellaw - How funny, I went to Lutheran High in 84 & 85 right next door. They closed and I went to Sunshore Academy also in the Tyrone Sq. area. Am I right? St. Pete Catholic in on 5th Ave? Small world! I'd like a few days of warm sun right now!

Posted 3 years ago #
mellaw6565
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Very small world - I graduated in '83, which is when they sold that other building to the Lutherans. We used to have to cross the large field inbetween the two buildings every other class. It was a great way to be "bad" behind the bishop's home/office:) Maybe he thought the smoke was an angelic apparition!

Yes, the Tyrone area has changed greatly!! Did you ever go to Athenian Gardens. Was there when I visited last year - love their Spanakopita!!

Posted 3 years ago #
Garden_nymph
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I really enjoy Costas Opa Greek Restaurant in Fremont. Has anyone else tried their food; what do you think? I'm looking forward to trying Ephesus. I have a Turkish friend who is an AMAZING cook, if this is anything similar, I KNOW I will like it! Thanks for the tip!

Posted 3 years ago #
westseattledood
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garden_nymph -

I use to LOVE Costas but that was another era in another neighborhood of my life;) I haven't been there in years. Time flies - whew!

re: Ephesus -

I have not tried it either, but like many others, it seems, I thought they were shut down. Has anyone tried their avgolemeno? I wonder if they do lunches. Hmmm. It's on the short list if they do.

Posted 3 years ago #
datamuse
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My husband and I had dinner there last night and it was the busiest I've ever seen it.

I credit this thread. :D

Posted 3 years ago #
JoB
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no good deed goes unpunished... now we will have to wait for a table:(

couldn't happen to a nicer place.

Posted 3 years ago #
SophieLola
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If you're up for a night on the town....Yanni's Lakeside Cafe on Greenwood is, hands down, THE best Greek Food in Seattle! Yum!

Posted 3 years ago #
grr
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actually, Pano's Kleftiko on Lower Queen Anne is by far the best Greek in town..but that's another story.

Haven't been to Ephesus in a few years. Tried it twice when I first moved to WS, and everything was so smothered in Garlic, I couldn't taste anything else for days. Hope that's changed.

AND..for me..the best 'mediteranian' in WS is Phoenica on Alki. A tad spendy, but Hussein is a masterful chef, and never fails to deliver an amazing meal.

Posted 2 years ago #
datamuse
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Mmm, love Phoenecia. Yum.

I will try Pano's Kleftiko since you recommend it so highly. I am always keen for more Greek food!

I don't find Ephesus overly garlicky, but on the other hand I love the stuff, so that might not be a good comparison!

Posted 2 years ago #
km
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We LOVE this place! I do recommend that you make a reservation on FRI/SAT and if you have a large group. They have a patio open during the summer though - so that should open up some more seats. Awesome food! I personally love the mushroom appetizer and any of the Kabobs for dinner!

Posted 2 years ago #
carrieann
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My husband and I love Costas Opa in Fremont and would eat there on a fairly regular basis when we lived in Ballard, years ago. I especially enjoy their baked feta appetizer, avgolemono (soup with eggs, rice, chicken stock and lemon juice), and moussaka.

I've yet to try Ephesus, but have driven by a number of times and would really like to after reading the glowing recommendations, above.

Phoenicia is one of those places that has always looked abandoned to me, but perhaps they just keep odd hours. I have been by and seen a few tables filled and read the amazing reviews it gets, so they must be doing something right. Guess it's another to add to the ever-growing list of places to try!

Posted 2 years ago #
grr
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indeed, Datamuse...check out Panos..

here's a few reviews :)

http://tinyurl.com/bktenr

Posted 2 years ago #
grr
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and a few thoughts about Phoenicia...

http://tinyurl.com/bkb6ue

Posted 2 years ago #
Bayou
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Panos is incredible but they serve more traditional greek, where Ephesus has more of a Turkish/Mediterranean influence. I love them both but they are very different styles of cuisine.

Posted 2 years ago #