Barbayani Greek Taverna — Restaurant in Los Altos

Was interested to try based on our friend's reviews. Went for a birthday dinner and decided to do a family style dinner so we could try more than one dish each. We got the following:

Mezeths: Dip Tasting Platter (3) - dips were ok. Taramosalata tasted more like hummus than fish roe. There was not enough bread and the pita was undercooked. We did ask for more pita and it was delivered without question, but it was also undercooked.

Dolmathes (2) - dry inside and not much flavor. would have been better if rice had cooked more and there was some sort of lemon sauce.

Makapika (1) - came with about 8 brussels sprouts for $15 and the flavor, all agreed, was not good at all. What a waste.

Saganaki (5) - the star of the appetizers. Healthy (or unhealthy) portion of flaming cheese. It, unfortunately was not delivered with bread to go with it and we had to ask for it.

Mains: Moussaka (3) - just ok. Was a single layer as opposed to the multiple layers I am used to. With 6 people at our table, 1/2 of the 6" round by 1" high dish was left over. Price was $30 and was too expensive for what we received.

Pastitsio (4) - came in a larger dish than the moussaka. I am used to a denser dish that sticks together. This was runny under the baked bechamel. Flavored with lots of cinnamon.

Brizola Stofourno (3) - we were asked for the temperature of the pork and asked for medium. What we received was well done and dry. Described as double cut pork chops and what we received was 1 single cut pork chop. The fig sauce was very good, but not enough to cover the fact that the pork was tough and small.

Moscharisia Souvlaki (3) - again, we were asked for the temperature of the beef and we asked for medium rare. The steak was cooked more medium, but definitely way better than the pork. It came slightly spiced, but pretty bland. The orzo salad had more flavor. A very average dish. It came with 1 skewer of about 5 1" square pieces for $32. We added a second skewer so we could all have some.

Dessert: Galaktoboureko (4) - everyone liked this one. Portion was ok for the 6 of us to have a medium bite. But it, again, was $12 and not very worth it.

Baklava (3) - our server gave this to us gratis as it was a birthday celebration. Filled with lots of pistachios and a filling that was good, but just held in by a thin layer of philo. Would have been much better with more philo and an outside crunch. Instead it was a bit soggy.

Wine: We asked for a few tastes of the red wines by the glass to choose a bottle for the table. It was nice to get the tastes to see if we liked it first. However, the prices were quite high. One example is a Kim Crawford SB that you can get at a grocery store for $12 was $88 on their menu if that helps put it in perspective.

All in all, it was a pretty mediocre meal that cost more than it should have. I don't...

The restaurant has only been open for a short term so perhaps there are still some teething problems to be addressed. The branzino felt more like pickled herring than a Mediterranean fish, overpowered by the sauce. My saganaki was lovely (a bit thin?), but missing the breadcrumbs because I have celiac disease and there was no gluten free bread. My wife had wonderful bread and olive tapenade to start but I just looked on mournfully since there was no gluten free bread. I wanted the meatballs for my starter but they turned out not to be gluten free, which is a shame because they are one of my favourite items in similar restaurants. My wife felt that her lamb was a bit undercooked for medium rare but we could not get anyone’s attention in a reasonable amount of time so she ate it anyway, and despite the rareness it was very flavourful. The greens were drenched in too much raw-ish garlic (and we usually love garlic!). I had the scallops which were good, slightly burned around the edges and a bit over salted. The risotto the scallops came with was a bit incoherent with too much going on and I did not manage to finish it. My wife enjoyed a delicious glass of red Greek wine. We’re really glad to see another restaurant come to Los Altos that has high potential. Right now it seems uncompetitive in price performance compared with ASA around the corner, where as a celiac sufferer I can eat just about everything on the menu. We look forward to returning in a few weeks to see how things...

Nestled in the heart of posh Los Altos downtown, Barbayani offers a taste of upscale Greek cuisine in an elegant setting. From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted by beautifully designed interiors that blend modern luxury with traditional Greek elements. The ambiance is serene, perfect for a romantic evening or a quiet dinner with friends. Additionally, there is enough outdoor dining space, ideal for enjoying a meal on a pleasant evening.

The menu is filled with classic Greek dishes, each prepared with attention to detail. The flavors are authentic, however, if you’re a vegetarian, your choices are notably limited. Only Risotto is for vegetarian main course, 3-4 apps and 3 cold appetizer choices. So, we ordered eggplant dip cold, zucchini cakes and one risotto for two and it was more than enough. Eggplant had an amazing smoky flavor served with fresh pita bread. It was my favorite.

Service is attentive and professional, adding to the overall pleasant dining experience. However, it’s worth noting that the restaurant has a tendency to close early on quieter nights, which can be disappointing if you’re planning a late dinner. In summary, its a great spot for those seeking quality Greek cuisine in an upscale...