The food was really good. Ordering via QR code was kind of odd.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Ishmam Ahmed
My photos don’t quite do it justice, but the olive & pepper boughatsa and kotsi arni lamb shank were delicious. The avgolemono soup was also a hit. The atmosphere was very cozy and the staff were friendly and attentive. I look forward to being back to try more of their menu! This was my first time visiting and I’m so glad I got the chance to go. They were short-staffed and out of stock on a few menu items, so that raised some questions, but overall, the experience was pleasant and satisfying.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
DW
Flavorful, house-made food in an intimate atmosphere that is great for a relaxing lunch or night out on the town. They have nice mix of casual and gourmet fare that will please anyone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tyler Jensen
Best Greek food I have ever had!!!! My wife and I love it
Alex Carpenter
DELICIOUS authentic Greek restaurant. We had great service and were very impressed with the server’s knowledge and memorization of the long list of specials. Will absolutely eat here again!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Geoffrey Serdar
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 friend, Geoffrey Serdar
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
david lazarus
I had the pleasure of attending a special private event here. Their place is somewhat hidden and the sign is difficult to read. But the service and quality of the food is sublime. The lamb chops were to die for.
Mary Duffy
The food was amazing. The owner brought out our food and told us she makes everything...from Appitizers to dessert.
William Lopez
Driven from Rochester a few times and their hours are not consistent. If you say you're going to open at a certain be open!
Laine Warwick
Wonderful service and delicious food. The prices were very reasonable and the portion sizes were good (not super large, which was nice). The Feta Se Fillo was AMAZING and I can't recommend it enough.
Wheelchair accessibility: There's a step up to get into the building, but the employee offered to bring a ramp and held the door for us.
I hosted a large family gathering at Gardens of Salonica. Anna worked with me on planning a family style meal. All the food was great, with the lamb riblets and vegan boughatsa getting rave reviews!
I appreciate the flexibility through the night. Thank you for making it memorable.
Naren
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Valerie Hill
We walked in tonight after making reservations for an early dinner before attending a play at the Guthrie. The place smelled stale and the tables/menus were filthy so we walked back out again. We were unaware it was a digital ordering system with little to no table service until we got there. We used to go there often before the pandemic but this was our first time back and such a disappointment.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Sarah Langford
Very good food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lemonade, Dolmades, Pita
Levi M
The create-your-own mocktails are very clever and delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Connie Martinez
The food is unique and delicious, the owner is constantly creating new dishes to delight. Everything is organic and locally sourced when possible. The monthly 'Traveling Wine Dinners' are amazing.
The food was really good. Ordering via QR code was kind of odd.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
My photos don’t quite do it justice, but the olive & pepper boughatsa and kotsi arni lamb shank were delicious. The avgolemono soup was also a hit. The atmosphere was very cozy and the staff were friendly and attentive. I look forward to being back to try more of their menu! This was my first time visiting and I’m so glad I got the chance to go. They were short-staffed and out of stock on a few menu items, so that raised some questions, but overall, the experience was pleasant and satisfying.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Flavorful, house-made food in an intimate atmosphere that is great for a relaxing lunch or night out on the town. They have nice mix of casual and gourmet fare that will please anyone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best Greek food I have ever had!!!! My wife and I love it
DELICIOUS authentic Greek restaurant. We had great service and were very impressed with the server’s knowledge and memorization of the long list of specials. Will absolutely eat here again!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
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 friend,
Geoffrey Serdar
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had the pleasure of attending a special private event here. Their place is somewhat hidden and the sign is difficult to read. But the service and quality of the food is sublime. The lamb chops were to die for.
The food was amazing. The owner brought out our food and told us she makes everything...from Appitizers to dessert.
Driven from Rochester a few times and their hours are not consistent. If you say you're going to open at a certain be open!
Wonderful service and delicious food. The prices were very reasonable and the portion sizes were good (not super large, which was nice). The Feta Se Fillo was AMAZING and I can't recommend it enough.
Wheelchair accessibility: There's a step up to get into the building, but the employee offered to bring a ramp and held the door for us.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
I hosted a large family gathering at Gardens of Salonica. Anna worked with me on planning a family style meal. All the food was great, with the lamb riblets and vegan boughatsa getting rave reviews!
I appreciate the flexibility through the night. Thank you for making it memorable.
Naren
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We walked in tonight after making reservations for an early dinner before attending a play at the Guthrie. The place smelled stale and the tables/menus were filthy so we walked back out again. We were unaware it was a digital ordering system with little to no table service until we got there. We used to go there often before the pandemic but this was our first time back and such a disappointment.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Very good food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lemonade, Dolmades, Pita
The create-your-own mocktails are very clever and delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is unique and delicious, the owner is constantly creating new dishes to delight. Everything is organic and locally sourced when possible. The monthly 'Traveling Wine Dinners' are amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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