Athens Market Taverna
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Athens Market Taverna for Authentic Greek Food in San Diego
When the craving for Greek food gets a hold of you,
just head straight to Downtown San Diego.
Athens Market Taverna (109 West F Street) is the best Greek restaurant in San Diego. Located just west of Horton Plaza on F Street between First Avenue and Front Street, Athens Market has been an oasis for many downtown business people, residents, politicians, judges, and lawyers who have sought refuge during lunch or after work. Many of them saddle up to the wrap-around wooden bar and take a seat, order their favorite beverage, and relax with the other customers. Others come here before the theatre, the ballet, or the opera and know that the servers at Athens Market will make sure that they make it to the show on time.
But, let's be honest. Most people come for the food, of course. But most people keep coming back for one reason - Mary. The long-time owner of Athens Market is Mary Pappas. If Mary is in town, she takes her post at Athens Market to accommodate the dinner crowd. You can hear Mary's wonderful laugh echo through the dining room as customers tell her of their latest adventures or exploits. If Mary does not know you, she is the type of proprietor who will come by and introduce herself to you.
Credit: Fred Greaves Photos
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Mary comes from a long line of women restaurateurs. In fact, her sister Stella Kalamara owns California Cuisine in Hillcrest, her other sister Vicky Anastasopoulos owns Athens Market Café in Carmel Mountain, sister Dena owns a Mexican restaurant in the North County. And to top it all off, the sisters' mother, Soula, makes the desserts for Athens Market.
The Athens Market was actually first owned by Mary's aunt, Veneta Theodorelos, who operated it as a deli/market. It was Venetta who first took in Mary in 1961 when she came over to the United States from Greece. Mary went to local public schools and learned English. After completing her public schooling, Mary went straight to work in the restaurant business.
Eventually, Veneta decided to turn the reins of Athens Market to Mary. Mary took advantage of the opportunity and assumed the responsibility of filling her aunt's shoes. Mary added her own touches to Athens Market and started serving dinner a couple of nights a week. Little by little, Mary added more dinner nights and even brought in belly dancers on weekend nights to bring the excitement of Greece to the Gaslamp. Like Ingrid Croce, Mary Pappas was the other early modern-day pioneer of the Gaslamp when the crime rate was high, porno shops dominated the urban landscape, and most San Diegans were afraid to even go the Gaslamp.
As downtown redevelopment began to slowly start 1986, Mary changed locations to be just on the other side of the new Horton Plaza. It was a wise move since people could park at Horton Plaza for three hours for free (you still can). Mary moved into the historic Senator Building (she owns the building) which houses office space on the top floors and Athens Market occupies about ¾ of the lower floor. Mary also moved her residence a block away from Athens Market so that she could be even closer to her restaurant.
This hand's on approach has earned Mary many loyal customers and yes, even new friends. All the recipes are from Mary's family and they are authentic examples of Greek food. Many of the dishes on the menu can only be found at Mary's. For example, the melitzanosalata (eggplant dip), the fakee (lentil soup), and the octopothakia (grilled marinated baby octopus) are found nowhere else in San Diego. We admit that we are suckers for the grilled octopus as well as the hummus. By the way, nobody in San Diego makes as good as hummus as Athens Market - we have tried many hummus in and she makes the best one.
Greek desserts are one of Athens Market specialties as well. Do yourself a favor, save some room for dessert, and order some Greek coffee or a Metaxa (Greek brandy) and have baklava, yalaktobouriko (vanilla custard in filo with honey), rizoyalo (rice pudding), and/or kourabiethes (almond cookies with powdered sugar). Remember, no one else makes this selection of desserts in San Diego and no one except Mary has a secret weapon who makes the desserts - her mother!
If you want to have a culinary adventure that goes beyond gyros and sadziki, go Downtown and try Athens Market. Ask the server if Mary is there (they are used to this question). If Mary is there, let her know we sent you. She will take such good care of you. Who knows? Maybe the music will inspire Mary and she will start dancing to the Greek music that plays softly in the background. Or, she will ask you to pay attention to the "new guy" that provides live entertainment on the weekends. Whatever the case, you will have a great experience at Athens Market Taverna.
OPA!
Reservations are suggested for dinner. Please call the restaurant at (619)234-1955. Lunch hours are from Monday-Friday from 11:30am-4:00pm. Dinner hours are from Monday-Saturday from 4:00pm-10:00pm. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.
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