Yianni’s Taverna & The Euro Lounge

The Scene

Embodying the Greek credo of “enter as a stranger and leave as a friend,” Yianni’s Taverna brings the sunny hospitality of a Grecian isle to a verdant Bethlehem hillside. The fresh and airy décor, accented in deep Mediterranean blue, includes a new pergola-topped patio, a roomy lounge filled with conversational clusters of comfy white leather chairs and an open-concept grill.

The Cuisine

Classic Greek cuisine tweaked for modern tastes includes spit-roasted lamb, moussaka, gyros, and whole grilled fish, showcased fresh in a market-style display. A vast menu, offering many vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, features diverse, sharable small-plate mezedes, from phyllo-wrapped spinach puffs and grape leaves to grilled octopus and saganaki, a signature cheese flambé.

Q&A with Eleni Zannakis, co-owner and clan matriarch

How does this restaurant reflect your family heritage?

Thirty-eight years ago my mother gave us the recipes for this restaurant and we tried to continue that tradition. But we were ready for change and the kids stepped in and they did a good job.