Opa Greek Restaurant & Grill — Restaurant in El Cajon

I'm not sure how to rate this place because our experience was SO bizarre. I'm choosing to give 3 stars because the food was AMAZING - delicious, fresh, and beautifully-plated: 5 stars! However, the service was odd to nonexistent, so 1 star. Average = 3 stars.

I'm not sure if we arrived during a private event, as there were no signs indicating such, but the restaurant, which is essentially one large room, was nearly filled with men playing cards and drinking alcohol that they'd brought in with them. They all appeared to be Greek, so that's a good sign of a ethnic restaurant! They'd rearranged the tables, leaving a few in the middle. My husband & I walked in and up to the counter before we realized that this was not a standard open late restaurant (we got there at 8:45). The menu was clear, with photos & prices listed. A worker came to the cash register and asked what we'd like to order. It was hard to hear/understand over the noise from the card players, but we placed the order, and told the worker that it was dine-in (probably should have thought that through a bit better). He took the order but we didn't pay at that time. He waved a hand toward the dining area and said, "Have a seat." We found an empty table (and I mean EMPTY - there was absolutely nothing on it) and sat in the middle of the room. I admit that I felt very awkward, being the only woman in a room chock-full of men drinking, and reeking of cigarette smoke (they smelled so strongly that I looked around several times because I could have sworn that someone was actively smoking in the room).

After sitting there for 10 minutes with no attention whatsoever, my husband asked if I wanted to leave, but I felt that we'd invested too much time to leave..and I was hungry! Thankfully our food was delivered after 20 minutes or so, and it was gorgeous! The servings were generous - enough for 2 meals - and the food was fresh and flavorful. The server, upon giving us the plates, grabbed silverware, a napkin server, and a bottle of ketchup from a nearby table, plunked them down on the table, asked us if we needed anything else, and left, and that was the last service we received! No water, no checking on us, nothing. When we finished, my husband went up to the counter to ask for to-go containers and to pay the bill, as the raucous card-playing continued on around us.

Several other customers came in while we ate, but they were all carry-out orders. The restaurant was clean & in good repair; it was just the service/atmosphere that was so bizarre! I'd not hesitate to go there again, but I'd order ahead by phone &...

Horrible service and dirty facility!

[As a preface, I/we had gone to this restaurant a few years previously, and it alright then. But, I think since then, the restaurant changed hands. Things changed for the worse.]

Had the unfortunate experience of going to this restaurant. The counter staff had a difficult time taking our pretty simple order. They didn't have lemon chicken soup (what Greek restaurant doesn't have lemon chicken soup on hand???). When we got served, they got the order wrong, it had to be corrected. Looked at the tzatziki sauce, and it had a big, curly hair in it. It made us sick to even look at. Told the staff, they replaced it, but they didn't say anything-- no "I'm sorry", or "this never happens", or "please excuse us". And then I wonder if the new tzatziki was from the same contaminated batch as the last one. Meanwhile, all these flies are buzzing around (they had the front door open), so I'm wondering where they had landed.

I understand mistakes happen, but to ignore them or act like they don't happen, especially when it comes to issues of cleanliness and sanitary cooking, is not acceptable. I wasn't looking for a price adjustment or preferential treatment next time. I was just looking for an acknowledgement of the problem. They didn't, which tells me they don't care about the quality or cleanliness of their food.

Please, save your money, health, and time, and don't go to...

I have been coming to this restaurant for over a year and a half and each time I go there the staff is very rude and charge more than what they list on their menu, which is displayed behind their cash register. They also charge at least an extra $10 each time I use a debit or credit card instead of paying cash. My office ordered a carryout with five entrees (2 beef kabob, 1 gyro, 1 chicken souvlaki, and 1 chicken scallop) today, which their menu states should be $81.27 (with tax, 75.58 before tax) and they charged us $95. When we brought this up, they stated, "inflation." If that is the case, then they should change their board of prices (pictured). It is a digital menu board, not physical. We have issues with them charging more than they tell us or advertise on their menu each time. We will not...