Taverna Kyma — Restaurant in Boca Raton

I had not been in at least 6 months, but before that I had a few pleasant experiences. Today was probably the last time I will go by my own choice. Went at lunchtime, went to the front to be acknowledged, they told us to go ahead and sit anywhere. We sat outside where there were already a few tables seated and at least 2 waitresses and 1 busser were around. Took about 5-10 minutes to be greeted and given a menu/drinks, while one of the waitresses was constantly at a table behind us. The other waitress asked if we had been served at all and apologized when we said no, she was the best thing about today. She was the one who got our menus and drinks. Literally 10 seconds after she gave us our drinks and menu the busser came and asked if we were ready to order. I said we needed a few more minutes as we just got the menu and thanked him. The second waitress who was primarily the one outside came and took our order. We ordered fried calamari as an appetizer and 2 gyros with French fries for lunch. I had seen an order of fried calamari inside which is why I had the idea to order one...at a quick glance it had looked appetizing and was served in a bowl. we received our calamari in a small oval plate and it was soaking in the oil/grease from the fryer....soaking dripping oil and a weird white looking residue that's just not appealing. I questioned the waitress if this was supposed to look like that and her response was to state the obvious that it was fried. Just because something is fried it doesn't mean it should come soaked in oil...it can be drained...it can be put on some sort of paper to absorb some oil. I did not argue with her and just asked for a side of sauce for the calamari. The waitress went inside and then came out without the sauce. Waited a few minutes and decided she forgot, so we asked the busser, ok waited a few more minutes and then our meal came. It did not come with the French fries as requested and it also did not come with the tzatziki sauce, we had to ask for that, the menu states it comes with. So we ended up getting our calamari sauce when we got lunch. Overall just such a poor experience, extremely disappointed because we really used to love this place. I was a waitress myself for over 7 years so I do think about the position they are in and put myself in their shoes, but service was just lousy. We did get the check processed quickly...

DEFINITELY NOT A SPAM REVIEW!

We have been loyal customers of this legendary restaurant for many decades since it first opened in Boca. Over the years, we’ve always appreciated the friendly service and authentic Greek cuisine. Naturally, we were looking forward to a quiet, enjoyable late afternoon dinner on a weekday.

In the past, the staff has always been accommodating. However, this time was a completely different experience. I had recently undergone surgery, which made movement difficult due to my limited range of motion. When we arrived, the restaurant was only about 10% full, with plenty of open tables both indoors and outdoors. Given my discomfort, I politely requested to be seated at a larger table for more space.

To my surprise, the waitress immediately refused, stating that the larger tables were only for parties of four or more. I explained my situation again and assured her that we would be dining quickly, yet she dismissively declined again, showing no sympathy or willingness to accommodate.

I then asked to speak with the manager, hoping for a more understanding response. Unfortunately, he also denied my request, claiming that all the tables were reserved—despite the fact that it was only 5:00 p.m. on a weekday and not a single table had a reservation sign. When I pointed this out, he insisted the restaurant would be full within 10 minutes. Really?

There was no effort made to accommodate my situation, no apology for the inconvenience, and no sign of the warm hospitality this restaurant was once known for. Beyond the poor service, we’ve also noticed a decline in food quality since the management changed. The staff no longer greets guests with a smile, and the overall atmosphere feels cold and unwelcoming.

If you are a disabled patron looking for good service, Taverna Kyma is NOT the place for you. Fortunately, there are other wonderful Greek restaurants in Boca Raton, such as Galini, that offer both excellent customer service and authentic Greek cuisine.

It’s truly disappointing to see such a once-beloved restaurant lose...