Yiayia’s Pappas Greek Kitchen — Restaurant in Houston

**edit: They’ve increased the prices on certain items. Some have increased $1-10

I’m so glad Yia Yia’s is back! Let’s start from the beginning.

When we arrived, half the parking lot was blocked off, possibly due to valet or reservations. I wasn’t a fan of the near-required valet since the lot is right there and easy to access. Luckily, we did find a spot, so it didn’t become a big issue.

The hostesses greeted us right away and were incredibly friendly. We were seated quickly, and our server Gustavo was AMAZING. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and attentive throughout the night.

I was a little concerned there wouldn’t be a kids’ menu, but they had one! My kids had the buttered noodles and meatballs with noodles, which were a hit.

To start, we ordered the hummus, meatballs, and bread with butter and oil. The hummus and pita were absolutely delicious, and the meatballs were great too (the kids loved them). Surprisingly, the bread and butter wasn’t a favorite. The bread had olive and mushroom chunks, which gave it an odd taste. Probably wouldn’t order that again.

For entrees, we had both the beef and chicken souvlaki. I was surprised they didn’t come with sides—most restaurants, even upscale ones, usually include one. The chicken was thigh meat, which tasted great, but I didn’t feel the price quite matched the cut. The beef was also delicious.

We ordered sides separately: fries, lemon roasted potatoes, and rice. The fries reminded me of Pappas BBQ fries, but slightly elevated. The potatoes were amazing, possibly even better than I remember. The rice was good, though I preferred their old recipe.

Food wise (entree and sides) , their portions are on the lighter side. I think previously you received 8 pieces of the beef/chicken souvlaki and now it’s 5. My husband was still hungry after finishing his so I would say not as filling.

For dessert, we had the baklava cheesecake and the chocolate sokolatopita. The baklava cheesecake was everything I remembered… perfectly presented and absolutely delicious. The chocolate sokolatopita was also a winner, the cake was super moist, and the gelato was incredible. My son couldn’t get enough!

We also tried a couple cocktails. The frozen Athenian spritz was beautifully presented, but I was expecting more fruity flavor, especially strawberry, given the color. Not bad, just underwhelming. I had high hopes for this one but was a little let down. The Zoi Genepy was also gorgeous but wish I could've truly tasted the hint of pineapple. Had there been just a little bit more of a fruity taste, we would've ordered another round. Pappas drinks are our favorite drinks, however, we both agreed that our next visit we would probably skip the cocktails. But again, the presentation of both drinks were beautiful.

All in all, the food was great, the service was excellent, and the staff were fantastic. The interior is absolutely gorgeous. I’m so happy Yia Yia’s is back and look forward to coming again. Hopefully with an included side for my entree and with a little bit more strawberry flavor in the frozen Athenian! Thanks for bringing...

I definitely had to come back and leave a review after my experience last night at Yia Yia, it was amazing 🤩

From the moment you pull up, the restaurant stands out. The exterior is clean, modern, and inviting, and the moment you step inside, you’re transported!!! The ambience gives off a feel of a high-end escape deep in Tulum Mexico, from the earthy color, palette to the natural textures and stunning woven chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Every detail has been thought through, and it sets the tone for what clearly meant to be a luxury dining experience. I was so gagged by the interior and exterior as I walk through the door I didn’t realize the young lady standing at the front door was greeting me. I was so taken!

Carlos, the general manager, is the kind of leader every upscale restaurant needs. He did not just float around the room, he was present. Warm, attentive, and genuinely interested in how guest we’re doing. You could see him actively check in on the flow of the evening, and building rapport with the guest. That’s how you run a restaurant with intention. He even took time to introduce himself to my guest and I. It’s rare to see management so engage, yet relaxed and personable. This shows he care about more than just service, he care about connection.

Now let’s talk about our server, Kobe, his service and attentiveness were top-tier! He moved with calm confidence and never skipped a beat. Even while taking care of his other tables, he made us feel like we were the only ones in the room. He left no confusion when he explained the menu to us, which was very exciting because I was introduced to a few things that were new to me, which made the experience very exciting.

Shout out to Russell and Jeremy, too. Their teamwork with Kobe was seamless and made the whole experience flow effortlessly. They both stopped in to help walk us through the details of our appetizers and desserts with genuine excitement and clear knowledge. It wasn’t just service, it felt like hospitality at its best.

The Chemistry and synergy between Kobe, Russell, and Jeremy are unmatched. That kind of coronation and shared energy is exactly what makes a new restaurant thrive. It’s clear that this team is committed to making Yia Yia’s a standout destination.

The food was just as impressive as the service. I ordered the salmon, and it was absolute perfection, beautifully seared on the outside, tender, and seasoned well on the inside, with flavors that were fresh, vibrant, and well balanced. Every bite melted in your mouth. And then came the dessert a true finale to the night. They were decadent yet light, full of rich flavor without feeling heavy. The presentation was beautiful. It almost felt wrong to dig in, but I’m glad I did, because each bite was pure heaven.

All in all, Ya Yia’s isn’t just a place to eat, it’s a whole experience! I am already looking forward to...

I was disappointed bc this used to be a staple for our family when it was near the galleria. The noise level was almost unbearable in the middle of the room. The ambiance is nice, especially the lounge seating outside. Perhaps in the side room it's better?

The waiter asked us to order before our drinks had fully arrived. One arrived, one didn't. When I said I'd prefer to wait, he blamed the bar instead of just going to check or apologizing. He seemed irritated with us all night. I don't find this attitude at other Pappas restaurants.

The $56 lamb chops were delicious but plated on a dish where the ends of the chops were falling off the plate and everything was crammed. A big "no-no" in the restaurant world as the handmade plates they gave are so beautiful. Her fish came on a huge plate which would have been much better. I wish I had taken photos but I didn't.

My friend had the $54 sea bass which they cooked to adjust to allergies, which was nice. The manager did come over a few times to make sure it was ordered correctly. However, when she ate thru half of it it started looking translucent. The inexperienced waiter then insisted the fish was cooked, gave us a long defensive story about the process in the kitchen - which seemed to think that others thought it could be consistently undercooked), but it didn't flake properly towards the center of the filet. We kindly just left it, not making a big deal. But it's sad that the level of service and understanding is not at the level of making things right for guests.

Overall the food was above average for Houston. Someone else mentioned over seasoning and it's correct. Way too much salt and oil on everything. The salad was soaked instead of lightly tossed like the Greek salads we used to have at Yiayia. The apps on other tables looked delicious but we didn't have any.

At the end when we were asked if we wanted leftovers boxed up. He plopped down a box and bag for me to do it myself --- and he had already taken away my utensils to do so?! For a $70 meal for 1 person minus any alcohol ($140+ for 2ppl), I would appreciate assistance. We left a little meh and slightly disappointed. Either you are fine dining, or you aren't. But you can't demand prices that say such and then have waiters that are inexperienced.

I think it deserves another try perhaps on a slower night. I would order more apps to share and stay away from the high...