To truly understand the restaurant’s history, it is important to start from the beginning. More than two generations ago in the small mountain village of Levidi, Greece, the Pappasaphiropoulos family ran a restaurant and hotel in the town square. John and Soula Pappas raised five daughters in Levidi without running water or electricity, and all of the girls grew up learning the family trade. Preparing authentic Greek food with only the freshest highest quality ingredients, the family never compromised.&nb sp; Of the five girls, Dena, Mary, Stella, Vickie, and Athena, four have moved to San Diego and carried on the family tradition, all own restaurants.

The Athens Market began downtown in the historic Gaslamp District of San Diego in the late 1950’s and was just that, a local market specializing in Greek ingredients.

It was not until the early 1970’s that Mary Pappas (as the name was shortened upon moving to America) bought the business from her Aunt Veneta. Recognizing that more and more people wanted prepared meals rather than just the ingredients, Mary began to cater to her regular customers by serving them some of the meals she prepared that day.. The special “Pappas family touch” that seems to make every dish delicious soon made the Athens Market a hotspot for downtown professionals wanting a good home cooked lunch. So Mary removed all remnants of the grocery store and created the Athens Market Taverna. Originally opening on ly for lunch, the business grew. With the help of her sister Stella and brother-in-law Dino Kalamaras, they opened the Taverna for dinner as well. Business quickly grew and by 1984 they needed more space.

Mary moved the business to its current location on the corner of First and F Street. It quickly became recognized as the premiere restaurant in San Diego specializing in Greek Cuisine. Also having learned the art of cooking from her father in Levidi, Vickie, with her husband Nick Anastasopoulos expanded the business once again.

In 1994 Nick and Vickie gave Northern San Diegans a chance to enjoy the family recipes when they opened the Athens Market Café in Carmel Mountain Ranch. It is a “hands on” family business where it is rare to not find at least one family member hard at work. Whether it’s Vickie cooking up a storm, preparing meals in the kitchen, or Nick peeking his head out to help in the dining room while running the operations behind the scenes one of them are usually there. It is not unusual to find their children Angie and John along with and the rest of the wait staff eagerly serving guests great home style Greek entrees. Don’t be surprised if you hear Nick or Vickie call out “dad” as “Mr. A,” Nick’s father, can usually be found l ending a helping hand during lunch or keeping an eye on the place during dinner while dining with his wife of sixty years, Angie.

We go out of our way to make every guest feel welcomed into our Big Fat Greek Family. The sounds of “OOPA” resonate throughout the restaurant when Saganaki is flambéed tableside, and the music of Greece envelopes the dining room throughout the day.

Both locations have won numerous consumer awards for Best Greek Restaurant in San Diego and have been recognized for their community involvement and generosity towards their neighbors. Welcome and Yasu!

Visit Athens Market Taverna in Downtown San Diego

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