Acropolis Greek Taverna - Tampa — Restaurant in Tampa

Wait a minute I have to update this review. Blurry eyed, over stuffed and scratching my head what happened. Acropolis did it again the manager here made our visit something I won't forget in this lifetime. The home made sauces, the taste of every dish, and the style was layers of love. Like a good baklava. Highly recommend the flaming cheese, the sample dips humas, tatziki, babaganoosh, and whipped feta. The lamb, the Gyro salad, and the white fish in a crust topped with cappers...How does one save space for the sweets. Its not a meal it's a experience of love that transported back to Greece. Love love love what you do Acropolis that's why you are in my top ten in the United States..When people see this on TV they will know why until then...Your place is all the feels at once pure food heaven..

Step into Acropolis Taverna in Ybor City, the romantic heart of Tampa’s historic cigar capital, and let it sweep you away to Greece! This charming gem, tucked into a cozy corner, feels like a portal to Mykonos and Athens, stirring memories of my youth with every visit. The roosters strutting down the street, the lively Greek music, and the irresistible aroma of flaming saganaki cheese pull you into a world of warmth and nostalgia. Trust me, this is a place worth savoring—again and again.

From the moment you arrive, the staff, led by the radiant Gabi, welcomes you like family. Gabi, who grew up immersed in this vibrant culture, exudes a genuine warmth that makes your heart smile. The entire team’s hospitality wraps you in a glow, whisking you into an unforgettable evening. After a long day, the food arrives just in time to delight your senses. The sampler platter—a medley of creamy hummus, whipped feta, smoky baba ghanoush, and refreshing tzatziki—disappears quickly, paired with perfectly baked pita bread. Each bite bursts with flavor: fresh dill, bold feta, rich olive oil, and a masterful balance that speaks of culinary artistry.

Don’t miss the gyro salad, a generous bowl perfect for sharing, or the succulent, flavor-packed lamb that falls off the bone. The crusted white fish with capers is a standout, and the Pasta Santorini, with its garlic-lemon-wine sauce and roasted peppers, dances on your palate. For a Gulf Coast twist, the Acropolis Seafood—sautéed shrimp, mussels, and scallops over penne, topped with freshly shaved Parmesan—is pure delight. Pro tip: even if you have a favorite, try something new each visit, like the unforgettable stuffed mushrooms from my last trip!

The magic doesn’t stop with the food. The staff’s traditional Greek dancing will tug at your heartstrings, and when Anastasia takes the stage with her captivating belly dancing, the room comes alive with awe. As I gazed at the mural of Mykonos’ windmills, I was transported to a harborside sunset, waves lapping gently, the world fading away. It’s a moment that feels eternal—a memory you’ll want to relive.

Raise a glass of sangria and toast to love, life, and the joy of Acropolis Taverna. Whether you’re a first-timer or a regular, this is where memories are made, and the evening dances on until the sun kisses the morning. Come experience it for yourself—you’ll leave planning your next visit! Until we meet again tuxedo ball of...

First off, let me start by saying, the food is good. I have eaten plenty of Greek food over the course of my life and the quality of the food here fits the criteria.

We started with the appetizer sampler which consisted of a few spreads. I was disappointed that they did not have taramosalata which I had to ask the server three times as she kept saying tirosalata. Not a deal breaker for me and also hard to get it right if they did have it anyway. We also had the octopus which was soft and not rubbery which was satisfying to see. We ran low on pita bread slices and asked for more during our appetizer but they never showed up.

During our appetizer the waitress added more water to our glasses which spilled all over the dips we were eating. Again, not a big deal. The water dripped so much that it ran all the way to the end of the table and was dripping on my co-workers' leg. We asked for extra napkins to clean it up ourselves but they never came either. It took about 10 minutes for the napkins to arrive.

Our waitress seemed annoyed with an attitude for some reason and was more interested in the table next to us who was having a party. I guess since it was more people maybe she felt she would get a bigger tip, who knows.

I ordered a gyro with tzatziki on the side with no tomatoes which again she seemed very annoyed about. Guess that gave her a little extra work to do. My order did come out correctly surprisingly but the dinner was brought out before we even had a chance to finish our appetizers. Again, we were still waiting on more pita bread while our waitress was partying with the next table. No biggie.

The lamb from the gyro was quite tasty, I got a side of rice which complimented my dish as well. Towards the end of our meal when our waitress started cleaning off the table, a light bulb went off in her head and she remembered about the pita bread which she wanted to bring which didn't make sense as we were getting ready to leave.

When we first got there, a man who was greeting guests was so nice and wish we had him as our waiter for the night, there was also another very nice gentleman who came around asking if we were okay and perhaps he was the owner. Either one of them would have made our night better then the waitress we had for our table.

But service aside, the food was really good. Coming from N.Y. I have eaten some amazing Greek food so I kind of have a high standard and this restaurant fit the bill for food. For service, like I said, if we had someone else waiting on us, perhaps that part of the experience would have been better to warrant a five...

Mostly good food, fun atmosphere. Must try the mushroom appetizer, but stay away from the snapper - extremely bland and the scales on the fish are very unpleasant. Put it this way, the dog didn't even want it - and he usually loves fish!

Food & drinks:

Sangria - Tastes fruity and refreshing, but watered down. Perhaps because it was BOGO, not sure.

Appetizer Sampler - each dip was delicious and unique from the others and the pita was soft and fresh. Definitely recommended!

Stuffed Mushrooms - Extremely tasty, and I did not come across mushrooms prepared like this before. Not the healthiest option, but do yourself a favor, make it a cheat day and try it! I'm salivating just thinking about it!

Red Snapper - Definitely not worth it. Very bland and the scales were not even removed from the fish, making it an unpleasant experience. The olive oil dipping sauce didn't have much flavor. Needed more salt and pepper and herbs. We created our own makeshift sauce with the feta dip, Tabasco and lemon to make it palatable. But the scales were completely uncalled for. If you're paying $39, the least that can be done is to remove the scales properly.

Although it was from a previous visit, I did come here last year and had the BOGO martinis and spanikopita... Both were fantastic! The way the spanikopita was served was lovely and included feta and olives to accompany the dish.

Atmosphere: Sitting on the patio and people watching in Ybor is always fun!

Server: Our server was very nice and professional, although the service...