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Bouzyos the Greek Taverna
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
1815 Commercial DrVancouver, BC V5N 4A6
Neighbourhoods: Grandview-Woodlands, The Drive
(604) 254-2533
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
12 reviews for Bouzyos the Greek Taverna
12 reviews in English
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Review from Sarah D.
5/23/2011
I know Bouzyos very recently changed their menu, but if you ask, you can get them to make their Kalamari Fourno which is absolutely to DIE for. Stuffed with shrimp and other yummy goodness, they bake their stuffed calamari in the oven with tomato sauce. It's different than the deep-fried calamari that you typically get in Greek restaurants, and it's absolutely delicious.
Worth noting, Bouzyos also does catering. My office ordered Greek food for everyone (we're talkin' 100ish people), and even though they were cooking on such a large scale, the food was still delicious. They also have a private area in the back of the restaurant that I'm willing to bet can be booked for functions.
Overall, this is a solid addition to the other restaurants on the Drive. -
Review from John P.
Surrey, BC
7/9/2011
Great new menu and a choice to order sides of rice potatoes or salads. Greek meals have always been too big, and I like to eat everything on my plate, so it's nice to not have both rice and potatoes and pita on every entree. The filo shrimp were excellent. A good size shrimp coated in shredded filo. The appys are good so we just had 3 and we were full.\,
last time. The chef came out and toured the room making sure evreything was good. He brought over some samplers of desserts. There was a singer on guitar. Great spot on Commercial drive. I've been back with a few friends and more have gone back since, all happy with the head's up. -
Review from Rheanna F.
Vancouver, BC
4/11/2011
I think it's safe to say i've found the place on the Drive i'll visit whenever i want Greek food. Not only was the food delicious, but there is a kitty who lives in the alley behind their store who they feed!! And she is very, very fluffy. Stray kitties do depress me a little, but she looked quite healthy so they must be feeding her really well.
On a related note, i probably ruined the dining experience for the people at the table next to mine since i was constantly craning my neck and waving at the kitty who was sitting outside waiting for her dinner. I'm sort of relieved that i don't see another review saying 'our dinner- nay, our whole lives!- were ruined by a crazy cat lady at the table next to ours.'
I shared a seafood appy platter for two (it easily could have fed three) and LOVED the grilled squid. It was really good in that way that makes you nervous for how fattening it must be, so i've put it on my mental list of things i will go to town on if i ever let myself go. Same with their hummus. It was delicious and tasted sort of cheesy and buttery. Is that normal? I don't think so, but i wasn't complaining.
In conclusion: Come for the cat, stay for the food. -
Review from Benson H.
Vancouver, BC
11/16/2011
Many times it's hard to differentiate a very good Greek restaurant amongst so many Tavernas. I went there because of my Entertainment coupon and I was satisfied with the solid dishes and good service. I went there on another night when the regular chef was on his day off, and the food did suffer a bit. My third time when the regular chef was in, the food was back to its usual solid quality. So I would have to say very consistent points when the regular chefs are in the house. I think Mondays are his day off ;)
-
Review from Mike C.
Vancouver, BC
2/17/2010
Olympic fever guided us to Greek food opening weekend. The evening started well with a friendly hostess, ready table, and restaurant fairly full at the early hour of 6PM. A nice bottle of Boutaras white wine made us feel pretty good about our restaurant choice, and then the food arrived and it was all downhill.
Seafood sampler appy (sized for 2 was enough for 3 of us) had a decent grilled calamari, but the other components were overcooked and old. Followed by the Bouzyos dinner for 2 (tough lamb shanks, strange tasting moussaka, under-done potatoes on a huge mound of rice) was too much food (as warned by our lovely waitress) and our friend had stuffed calamari that was a repeat of one of the appetizers.
Live music blared starting 30 minutes into the meal-- nothing like Elvis and Neil Diamond tunes to kill any Greek mood that the food hadn't already bludgeoned. Capping the evening was a tab of $50 each and stomach cramps for at least two of us. Never again. -
Review from Sheila W.
BC
12/9/2008
I went to Bouzyos for lunch with some friends in the summer. We happily sat on their side patio in the sun and chatted while we enjoyed our lunch. The patio really isn't all that atmospheric, it's just a gated area in the parking lot, really. Our server was very attentive and helpful to my friend who was there with her toddler.
At one point a questionable character came over the fence and asked for money from the man sitting at the table next to us. Turned out he was the owner and he'd employed the fence-jumper in question to wash his front windows. So I guess that could be taken as a good community member. But as customers we were a bit started.
The food was OK. I actually favour the saganaki (especially) and most other components of my souvlaki plate at Apollonia. I also find Apollonia to have better overall value-for-money. I would definitely like to go back at dinner and sit inside and try the lamb that Bouzyos is known for. After living in Greece for half a year, I often have cravings for the delicious, garlicky cuisine that is Greek food. -
Review from Kelley R.
Vancouver, BC
7/28/2009
My lunch at Bouzyos was delightful. We sat on the patio under the shade of a big umbrella and order from their large selection of lunch items. I had the Lamb Souvlaki and my companion had the Prawns. Both were cooked perfectly and served with a nice sized Greek salad, rice, potatoes, and pita. Quite a large spread for the $10-$12 price tag. We left full with snacks packed up for later.
Our server was attentive and helpful and the dinner menu looked so good that I will definitely be back soon to sample it. -
Review from Geoff G.
Vancouver, BC
8/31/2010
I hadn't been to Bouzyos in around ten years, and I had fond memories and we were in the neighbourhood last night, we popped in. The food was delicious - We just divided up some appies. While I don't eat things that breathe water, my wife said the kalamari was great - Pan fried, not deep fried, and rich in garlic. The greek salad was full of feta and great olive oil and more garlic (yum). My keftedes were tender and bursting with flavor and the tzatziki was light and fluffy, with a great blend of spices. Finally, the saganaki was served burning hot, just like I like it. Service was good too. We'll be back.
-
Review from Simon R.
BC
12/2/2008 1 photo
While it has all the staples of a classic Greek restaurant, like arched marble walkways in between rooms, and wonderful murals of Greek beaches on the walls, Bouzyos rejects the stereotypical blue and white colors of the national flag and successfully defines itself as a unique and upscale fine dining establishment.
The mood is romantic and professional, with well-dressed clientele celebrating birthdays and smoking on the outdoor veranda. I recommend the lamb shank, served with rosemary potatoes, roasted vegetables, and rice pilaf. You'll also want to dabble in the appetizers, like oysters or clams, or even just the humous platter, made with real sesame paste and not just peanut butter.
All said and done, Bouzyos will set you back quite a bit financially, but everyone deserved to be spoiled once in a while. You could always save a bit of cash by pre-drinking some fine wine before going. -
Review from Noa G.
Vancouver, BC
10/15/2008 1 photo
I'm all about tasty, authentic Greek food, and Bouzyos seems to be on the same page as me! The food tastes great, and the atmosphere at this Commercial Drive taverna is fun and casual. Be sure to try the traditional dishes like souvlaki as well as some menu items you may not have heard of before, like lamb stamnas (lamb and veggies baked in an unglazed pot) and papoutzaki (baked zucchini stuffed with crab and cream cheese).
Bouzyos is well-known for its seafood specialties -- I'm talking stuffed calamari and the Mediterranean prawn and scallop platter. And don't get me started on dessert! Make way for baklava and a Greek-version of crème caramel that are to die for.
Besides the food, there's a dance floor across from the dining area that opens up on weekends to a live band, and an outdoor patio available when the weather's nice. -
Review from Rachel W.
Burnaby, BC
9/26/2010
RUN! RUN AWAY! If you are looking for some great Greek food, large portions and nice atmosphere isn't the place for you. Heck, this place isn't for me and I won't be going back.
Up front I will say I have spent some time in Greece and I love to go to the various Greek restaurants around Vancouver. I know that the food that was prepared for me in Athens, in the Plaka or on the islands of Santorini and Crete are miles above some of the local interpretations here but it doesn't mean I don't appreciate a good meal.
Popped in on a Thursday night, they were not very busy and I soon found out why. After being seated and ignored for more than 15 mins (all the while trying to flag someone down) our waitress appeared with some water and to take out orders. The descriptions from the menu make everything sound mouthwatering and we eagerly awaited the Roast Lamb and Moussaka.
I will admit that we did not have to wait too long for the orders (another 15-20 mins) but it was AWFUL. I'm not even sure the Roast Lamb that came to the table was lamb or some kind of spam. It was dry, hard and with little flavour.
The Moussaka was very, very greasy and the sauce used with the beef in it tasted like it was Ragu sauce...stuff from a can and very bland.
The sides that came with both dishes included rice (not fully cooked) baked potato (small and again, no flavour) and Greek Salad (covered in oil, too much feta to try to give it flavour and a huge dumping of old tasting Oregano).
Lady at the table beside us let the waitress know (in a very nice way I should add) that her calamari came to the table cold...they took it away and brought it back heated up - not a fresh batch - heated up and now hard and chewy - I felt bad for her.
What a waste of time, (originally I'm sure) good food and money.
There are many other places on the Drive to go eat and I suggest you try them...but this isn't one of them. And if you want GREAT GREEK FOOD, PLEASE, for the love of your taste buds and tummy, go somewhere else. -
Review from Anon Y.
Richmond, BC
6/22/2011
Ok, where to start.
Lets start with the positives. The food is usually tasty. Not fantastic, but above average. The problem with Bouzyos is organization and now price.
-I was there and ordered the grilled salmon, as did someone else at my table. I got both fillets, he got neither.
-I just finished a chicken breast that was uncooked in the middle.
-My coworkers just finished their $11.00 souvlaki that included 1 skewer and a potato. No rice or anything else. Coworker is now going somewhere else for second lunch.
-We had a larger group for a birthday and were subjected to a mandatory tip of 20% or 25%. Our waters were never kept full, our waitress was MIA most of the time and it seemed like we were inconveniencing them by just being there. Actually, it wasn't even busy that day, we were the only group.
There are more experiences that I could relate, as I was really trying to give them a chance and I wanted to complete the menu. However, if you don't have anything nice to say...
I will not be returning to Bouzyos.
