Yamas Taverna Kelowna
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⭐ Yamas Taverna is known for Roast Lamb and Calamari.
🇬🇷 Yamas Greek Restaurant has been a downtown Kelowna fixture for decades, holding onto the warm, old-school taverna character that generations of customers remember.
Located on Ellis Street, the restaurant feels noticeably different from many of the city's newer dining rooms, with traditional Greek décor, softly lit tables and Greek music creating a cozy setting for date nights, family dinners and celebrations. Some customers have been coming for 20 or even 30 years, while birthdays, anniversaries and large group gatherings have become a regular part of the scene. Belly-dancing performances have added another memorable touch to special evenings over the years, and the restaurant's generous portions make its large sharing platters especially suited to groups. Roast lamb has emerged as the unmistakable longtime favourite, joined by calamari, souvlaki, Greek ribs, moussaka and flaming saganaki at a restaurant that has become as much a piece of downtown Kelowna history as a place to go for Greek food.
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🍽️ Yamas Taverna Menu
🥗 Salads
Fresh Greek-inspired salads prepared with crisp vegetables, cheeses and house dressings. Chicken or prawns can be added to any salad.
Greek Salad
Fresh tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and cucumbers with feta cheese and Kalamata olives, finished with house dressing.
Caesar Salad
Romaine lettuce with garlic croutons, tossed in a creamy dressing made with olive oil, lemon and Parmesan.
Athenian Salad
Chopped romaine lettuce with green onions, tomatoes and a hint of dill, tossed with olive oil and red wine vinegar.
🥙 Yamas Orektika
Traditional Greek appetizers and shareable plates featuring house-made dips, seafood, savoury pastries and grilled favourites.
Tzatziki & Pita
Creamy yogurt with cucumber and freshly crushed garlic, served with pita.
Homous & Pita
Chickpea hummus blended with tahini and garlic, served with pita.
Roasted Red Pepper Homous & Pita
Roasted red pepper hummus with chickpeas, tahini and garlic, served with pita.
Trio of Dips
Pita bread served with tzatziki, hummus and roasted red pepper hummus.
Dolmathes
Vine leaves filled with lean ground beef and rice, served with an egg lemon sauce.
Garlic Prawns
Jumbo prawns cooked in white wine, butter and freshly crushed garlic.
Prawns Uvetsi
Jumbo prawns baked in a tomato and feta cheese sauce.
Spanakopita
Spinach, feta and ricotta cheese wrapped in flaky filo pastry.
Kalamari
Lightly deep-fried squid served with tzatziki for dipping.
Greek or BBQ Rib Appy
Tender pork ribs prepared Greek-style or with BBQ sauce.
Pikelia Platter
A shareable combination of spanakopita, keftethes, dolmathes, kalamari, hummus, tzatziki and pita.
Keftethes
Authentic Greek-style meatballs.
Saganaki
Imported cheese pan-fried until golden. Flambéed tableside option available.
Wings
Chicken wings with your choice of Greek or hot seasoning.
Feta & Olives
Feta cheese and olives served with a slice of pita bread.
Tiropita Cheese Pies
Greek-style cheese pies wrapped in pastry.
Pita Bread
Warm pita bread.
🍢 Yamas Souvlaki
Grilled souvlaki served with freshly made Greek salad, lemon roast potatoes, rice pilaf and tzatziki. Pita bread can be added.
Chicken Souvlaki
Grilled chicken souvlaki served with traditional Greek accompaniments.
Lamb Souvlaki
Grilled lamb souvlaki served with traditional Greek accompaniments.
Prawn Souvlaki
Grilled prawn souvlaki served with traditional Greek accompaniments.
Beef Souvlaki
Grilled beef souvlaki served with traditional Greek accompaniments.
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🍽️ Yamas Specialties
Traditional Greek entrées served with freshly made Greek salad, lemon roast potatoes and rice pilaf.
Mousaka
Baked layers of eggplant, zucchini, ground beef and potatoes topped with béchamel.
Lahanika
Spinach, feta and ricotta cheese wrapped in flaky filo pastry.
Greek Ribs or BBQ Ribs
Tender pork baby back ribs prepared Greek-style or with BBQ sauce.
Lamb Chops
Lamb chops marinated with special Greek spices and cooked to your liking.
Kalamari Dinner
Lightly fried calamari served as a complete Greek dinner.
Garlic Prawns or Prawns Uvetsi
Choice of garlic prawns or jumbo prawns baked in tomato and feta sauce, served as a complete dinner.
Roast Lamb
Slow-roasted lamb prepared until tender.
Rack of Lamb
Rack of lamb served with traditional Greek accompaniments.
Dolmathes Dinner
Vine leaves filled with lean ground beef and rice, served with egg lemon sauce.
🐟 Seafood & Steaks
Seafood and steak entrées served with fresh vegetables, lemon roast potatoes and rice pilaf.
Lobster
Two succulent lobster tails baked in garlic butter.
Alaskan King Crab
One pound of Alaskan king crab.
Seafood Medley
A combination of Alaskan king crab, lobster tail and garlic prawns.
New York Steak
Centre-cut New York steak charbroiled to your liking.
🍝 Pastas
Italian-inspired pasta dishes featuring seafood, house-made sauces and comforting baked favourites.
Seafood Linguini
Coho salmon, prawns and cherry tomatoes in a creamy dill caper sauce with pita bread. Lobster tail can be added.
Baked Lasagna
Layers of pasta with seasoned ground lamb and beef in house-made sauce, served with garlic toast.
Linguini & Meatballs
Linguini and meatballs tossed in a house-made tomato basil sauce, served with pita.
Pesto Chicken Linguini
Chicken, broccoli and red peppers tossed with linguini in a pesto cream sauce, served with pita.
🍽️ Yamas Pikelias
Generous sharing platters for two featuring combinations of Greek specialties, seafood, souvlaki and traditional accompaniments.
Onassis Platter
Mousaka, roast lamb, dolmathes and spanakopita, served with Greek salad, lemon roast potatoes, rice pilaf and tzatziki.
Athenian Platter
Chicken souvlaki, lamb chops, dolmathes and spanakopita, served with Athenian salad, lemon roast potatoes, rice pilaf and tzatziki.
Mediterranean Platter
Two New York steaks, Alaskan king crab, jumbo garlic prawns and kalamari, served with Athenian salad, lemon roast potatoes, rice pilaf and tzatziki.
Solmaki Platter
All four souvlaki varieties served with Greek salad, rice pilaf, lemon potatoes and house-made tzatziki.
Santorini Platter
Two lobster tails, Alaskan king crab, jumbo garlic prawns and kalamari, served with Athenian salad, lemon roast potatoes, rice pilaf and tzatziki.
Yamas Platter
Mousaka, jumbo garlic prawns, kalamari, lamb souvlaki and dolmathes, served with Greek salad, lemon roast potatoes, rice pilaf and tzatziki.
⭐ Yamas Taverna Favourites
These selections are based on dishes commonly praised in Google reviews.
Roast Lamb
The clearest house favourite, with longtime customers repeatedly returning for the slow-roasted lamb and praising its tenderness, generous portion and rich flavour.
Calamari
One of Yamas' most frequently recommended dishes, known for tender calamari in a light, crisp coating and ordered both as an appetizer and a full dinner.
Chicken Souvlaki
A longstanding Greek classic at Yamas, with customers regularly praising the tender chicken, seasoning and traditional accompaniments.
Lamb Souvlaki
Another strong souvlaki favourite, particularly appreciated by diners looking for a grilled alternative to the restaurant's signature roast lamb.
Yamas Platters
Large combination platters are a popular way to experience the menu, bringing several Greek specialties together and earning frequent praise for their variety and substantial portions.
Greek Ribs
Tender Greek-seasoned ribs have developed a loyal following and are repeatedly mentioned alongside the restaurant's lamb and souvlaki dishes.
Moussaka
A traditional comfort-food favourite that appears regularly in recommendations from both dine-in and takeout customers.
Saganaki
The flaming cheese appetizer is a memorable beginning to a meal and a recurring recommendation from customers who enjoy the tableside presentation.
Spanakopita
The spinach-filled Greek pastry is a popular appetizer and a frequent component of Yamas' combination platters.
Tzatziki & Pita
Fresh pita with tzatziki is a simple but consistently praised starter, often ordered alongside calamari and other shared appetizers.
Ekmek
A standout dessert with a particularly devoted following, including longtime customers who specifically recommend saving room for it.
Baklava
The classic Greek pastry remains another popular finish to dinner and receives repeat praise from customers ordering both dine-in and takeout.
🍽️ Dining Experience
This section summarizes information from restaurant sources, customer reviews and other public sources.
Old-School Greek Taverna
Yamas has a traditional atmosphere that stands apart from many of Kelowna's newer restaurants, with Greek décor, warm lighting and music creating the feel of a classic neighbourhood taverna.
Decades in Kelowna
The restaurant has an unusually loyal following, with customers describing visits stretching back 10, 20 and even more than 30 years.
Cozy Atmosphere
Warm lighting and a traditional interior give Yamas an intimate character that customers frequently choose for relaxed dinners and date nights.
Greek Music
Greek music is a longstanding part of the atmosphere, adding to the restaurant's traditional character without turning the dining room into a sports-bar or television-focused setting.
Belly Dancing
Belly-dancing performances have been a memorable part of the Yamas experience over the years, with customers describing dancers involving diners and adding entertainment to special evenings.
Family-Friendly
Yamas regularly welcomes families, with longtime customers returning with children and extended family for dinners and celebrations.
Celebrations
Birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas parties and other special occasions appear throughout customer feedback, often accompanied by complimentary desserts or other personal touches.
Large Groups
The restaurant has a strong track record with group dinners, including celebrations and staff parties ranging from small gatherings to groups of several dozen people.
Busy Evenings
Yamas can fill quickly during popular dinner periods and special occasions, making reservations worthwhile for larger groups or particularly busy nights.
🅿️ Parking & Accessibility
This section summarizes information from restaurant sources, customer reviews and other public sources.
Adjacent Parking
Customers report a small parking area beside the restaurant, providing a convenient option when spaces are available.
Evening Parking
Longtime customers have specifically mentioned free evening parking beside the restaurant, although availability and current parking restrictions can vary.
Downtown Alternatives
Yamas' central Ellis Street location provides additional downtown parking options when the spaces immediately beside the restaurant are occupied.
📍 Landmarks & Location
This section summarizes information from restaurant sources, customer reviews and other public sources.
Downtown Kelowna
Yamas Greek Restaurant is located at 1630 Ellis Street in downtown Kelowna, placing the longstanding taverna within the city's central dining district.
Ellis Street
The restaurant sits along Ellis Street and has remained a familiar downtown destination through decades of changes in Kelowna's restaurant scene.
Longtime Downtown Fixture
Generations of customers describe returning to Yamas over many years, giving the restaurant a history in downtown Kelowna that predates much of the area's newer dining scene.
Walkable Downtown Setting
Customers staying or spending time downtown regularly describe reaching Yamas on foot, making it convenient for a dinner while exploring central Kelowna.
📱 Ordering Options
This section summarizes information from restaurant sources, customer reviews and other public sources.
Dine-In
Full table service is available in the traditional Greek dining room, with dinner ranging from casual meals to dates, family gatherings and celebrations.
Takeout
Yamas has a well-established takeout business, with customers regularly ordering souvlaki, roast lamb, ribs, moussaka and other Greek favourites to enjoy at home.
Delivery
Delivery has been available for individual meals as well as larger orders, with customers describing food arriving at homes, hotels and private gatherings.
Group Dining
The restaurant regularly accommodates birthday parties, family gatherings, staff dinners and other larger groups.
Private Gatherings
Large food orders can accommodate off-site celebrations, with customer feedback describing successful meals delivered for private parties.
Reservations
Reservations are useful during busy dinner periods and for larger parties, when the restaurant can become particularly busy.
💬 Customer Feedback
This section summarizes recurring themes in customer reviews.
Roast Lamb Is the Signature Favourite
No dish receives more consistent praise than the roast lamb, with longtime customers returning specifically for it and some describing it as among the best lamb they have eaten.
Calamari Has a Strong Following
Tender calamari is another recurring favourite, with customers frequently recommending it as either an appetizer or dinner.
Generous Portions Are a Hallmark
Large servings appear throughout decades of customer feedback, particularly for roast lamb, souvlaki dinners and the substantial sharing platters.
The Platters Are Made for Sharing
Combination platters are especially popular with couples and groups, sometimes arriving with enough food to crowd the table and frequently leaving diners with leftovers.
Service Builds Loyalty
Friendly, knowledgeable servers receive consistent praise, with customers particularly appreciating menu recommendations and attentive service during celebrations.
Longtime Customers Keep Returning
Some diners have been visiting for decades, and many reviews describe Yamas as a restaurant they return to whenever they are in Kelowna.
The Atmosphere Is Deliberately Traditional
Greek music, warm lighting and old-school décor give Yamas a personality that longtime customers appreciate precisely because it has not been transformed into a modern restaurant.
It Can Be Quite Dark
The mood lighting creates an intimate atmosphere, although several customers find parts of the dining room dark enough to make reading the menu difficult.
Value Is Generally Well Regarded
Large portions and combination platters lead many customers to consider Yamas good value, although individual opinions about pricing vary.
Food Experiences Occasionally Vary
Most feedback is strongly positive and remarkably consistent over many years, although occasional customers report dry meat, bland seasoning or dishes that fall short of previous visits.
Groups Are Handled Well
Reviews from birthdays, staff parties and gatherings repeatedly praise the restaurant's ability to serve larger parties while maintaining friendly service.
A Kelowna Favourite Across Generations
Few themes are as consistent as longevity, with customers returning after years away and finding much of the food, atmosphere and character they remember.
