Gardens of Salonica — Restaurant in Minneapolis

Very poor experience from a restaurant with lots of potential. I have dined here before with some mixed feelings (long wait times and unpleasant management), but we decided to give it another shot at a less busy time. We visited last week during “limited cafe service” hours and had a surprisingly bad meal. Do not visit during cafe hours if you did not bring your smartphone because you need it to order.

The entrance was unlocked but the second door was locked, even though the posted hours and website appeared up to date. The reason we stopped in the first place was because of a large handwritten sign in the window saying “now open” with the date and time.

We called the restaurant phone and no one picked up, even though there were people waking around in view and customers seated. When someone walked through the dining room, we knocked on the door and they let us in and gave us menus but told us it was online ordering only. The door was then latched behind us??

The website you order from is very difficult to navigate. Seriously, it is perhaps the most confusing and poorly organized website for any restaurant I’ve used to order online. The online layout is nothing like the physical menu: the sections are unclear as to what is found in each area, the deli items are not listed next to each other, there are some items that you can select but then are told are not available during lunch, other lunch menu items that are not to be found anywhere, the soups and specialty entrees are not updated with the current selection, and don’t even bother trying to order a beverage (the flavors are unlisted even though the description says to choose your flavor. We asked the server what they offered only to hear back that our first and second choice of flavored sodas were unavailable). The wines that were suggested to be paired with each entree were not available, and the prices for both soft and alcoholic beverages varied from the physical menus and in each of the several places they were listed online. Desserts were also different in price in each place they were listed.

When the server passed through the dining area, we asked them for clarification on beverage items and they were helpful in describing what was available, but it was really slow to have to flag someone down to ask multiple questions about what the Greek items are (some listed with no English description). If ordering online still leaves you with so many questions you’d think there’d be some normal service or they’d have a counter at which to ask questions, anything really. By the time you find what you’re actually trying to order online, you have to add multiple required clarifications for each dish in one “order notes” section.

We weren’t told that we couldn’t order courses one at a time, so our drinks, appetizers, entrees and desserts all came at the same time (about 25 minutes after we submitted our order). The soup was cold and served in paper cups, and the wine glass had lipstick on it. The mousaka was hot on the outside and cold in the center, and the pasta was burned and crispy around the edges-a sure sign of MICROWAVED FOOD. The yigandes we asked for vegan had bits of feta cheese and the red sauce was burnt and dry from what I guess was the microwave treatment. Same goes for the chocolate pastry dessert, piping hot interior with distinct burnt chocolate taste.

The restrooms can be accessed by walking through an additional dining room/bar, where several workers were seen standing around and chatting. I counted enough workers to be cooking and providing service to the two tables in the restaurant, so why were we stuck ordering through a complicated system? Oh well. At least the owner was not yelling at workers, which is what happened the last time we dined here.

I appreciate the use of organic ingredients, but the drinks being listed and then unavailable was a let down. The difference in prices between the online and physical menu was also confusing! At least some of the deli...

RealTalkGeo visits Gardens of Salonica

Gardens of Salonica in Northeast Minneapolis isn’t just the best Greek restaurant in the Upper Midwest… it’s a place rooted in memory, culture, and soul. We’ve known Anna Christoforidis, the owner, for years, and her presence is at the heart of everything here. She remembers faces, stories, favorite dishes — and somehow makes every visit feel like a return home.

This isn’t street food-style gyros — this is fine Greek cuisine, the kind that’s slow, layered, and deeply intentional.

We began with the Combo Plate, a trio of vibrant starters: • Tyro — a whipped Greek feta spread, creamy and sharp with a briny depth • Patzaria — earthy marinated beets in vinaigrette, chilled and tangy • Fava — a smooth purée of yellow split peas with a touch of lemon and olive oil

Then came a lineup of mezze that stole the show: • Fillo-wrapped feta, deep-fried until crisp on the outside, gooey in the center • Saganaki, flambéed right at the table — dramatic, yes, but more than that, intensely savory • Grilled octopus, tender and smoky with a bright kiss of lemon

The main plates continued the story: • Greek fries, seasoned simply with lemon, sea salt, and herbs — no ketchup needed • Spanakorizo, a soulful dish of spinach and rice, humble and comforting • Grilled lamb riblets, marinated in Petimezi (Greek grape molasses) — sweet, sticky, and packed with flavor • Pork gyro, not your standard fare — this version is made from pork shoulder butt and cheeks, rich and marbled, served with two sauces: a traditional tzatziki and a sharp, cooling yogurt-mustard

We paired it all with carefully selected Greek wines — a mineral-driven white and a bold red — and Benedetta, my daughter, enjoyed a sparkling Greek grapefruit soda that added a bright citrus note to the meal.

For dessert, we shared: • A Greek yogurt mousse topped with rose petal marmalade, floral and light • A chocolate chocolate chip cake, made with couverture chocolate — rich, deep, and deeply satisfying

Beyond the food, the atmosphere is just as special. The space is full of warmth, adorned with expressive, natural sculptures by Zoran Mojsilov. These aren’t just decor — they’re art that grounds the space with an ancient, organic voice.

And many don’t realize this, but Anna also hosts curated events and special dinner nights that create opportunities for real connection — the kind where strangers become lifelong friends. She caters weddings and corporate events as well, bringing her vibrant flavors and sauces to tables that usually settle for boring sandwiches. I always recommend her catering — it adds elegance and intention to any gathering.

On top of that, every once in a while, Anna organizes a group trip to Greece. I haven’t made it yet, but I’ve met people who have — and every single one raves about the experience. They say it’s not just a vacation — it’s a knockout cultural immersion, deeply personal and unforgettable.

As a real estate professional working in Northeast Minneapolis, I’m here often — and I always make time to stop by. This time, we were filming a business spotlight for our YouTube channel, RealTalkGeo. If you’re curious to see the experience for yourself, just search the video on YouTube.

Gardens of Salonica is where I come to reconnect — with food, with people, with memory. If you come hungry, you’ll leave with more than a full stomach.

A lifelong...

A lot of mixed feelings after our recent visit for a birthday. First off, our server was great. I felt bad that she had to memorize so many specials. They had about 7 specials going that she had to recite. She was very attentive and good about answering our questions. So the service was great, no complaints there. Now onto the food.

We ordered the following : appetizers were saganaki with mushrooms, dolmades with tzatsiki, and a sample of the octopodi.

The saganaki was bland and the few small pieces were lost in a sea of mushrooms. It came with pita-which was pillowy, soft and warm-but trying to top a pita with the scattered pieces was awkward.

The dolmades were good and the tzatsiki was good but I have had better at other places in the city.

I know that ordering octopus is risky, and I have liked it before so I thought I’d try it here, since they offer a sample. I’m sad to report that it was terrible. Drenched in olive oil and not much else, it tasted fishy and the texture was weird, kind of like a canned oyster. It needed lemon, salt, garlic. It just didn’t seem to be of good quality or well prepared.

For our entrees we ordered the pastisio, and the cod which was on special. Comes with soup or salad for an extra $5 as opposed to being on its own, which seemed a bit odd.

The pastitsio was good. Drier than I remember and the amount of meat was excessive. But it was probably the best thing we had.

The salad came before the cod and it was really not good. Wilted lettuce, 2 pitted Kalamata olives, mealy tomatoes, a lot of cucumber and vinaigrette that tasted bottled. I dint even finish the tiny portion.

The cod was cooked in lots of olive oil, onions and garlic. It was a decent portion and was cooked well enough, although a little chew in parts. The dominating flavor was roasted garlic. I liked it but didn’t love it.

At the end, after we ordered two boughatsa to go, we were given a birthday baklava at the table. I can appreciate the gesture but…we just ordered two desserts to go because we were too full to eat more. We took a bite out of courtesy and found it dry and overwhelmingly seasoned with clove and/or cinnamon.

I’m sad to give a mediocre review for a place with so much history in the neighborhood. Mpls sorely lacks good Greek places and I can’t recommend this either, as Gardens of Salonica...