April 10th, 2006

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Vancouver
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Vancouver’s Most Parasitic Restaurant

Stepho’s is a Greek restaurant in the West End, and a Vancouver institution. They’re renowned for huge portions and cheap prices (though my friends and family report that the portions are getting smaller and the prices are getting higher). They don’t take reservations, so every time I walk by, there’s a line up out the door. I walked by at 10:00pm last Saturday night, and there was a queue 20 people deep.

I haven’t been for years, because I refuse to wait in line for food. I’ll happily make a reservation, but life’s too short to sit around for a half an hour for the privilege of giving a business my money.

You can see a typical queue here (Matt, I’m borrowing your photo, click for larger version):

Stepho’s is at 1124 Davie Street. At 1106 Davie, about 5 stores away, is Taki’s Taverna, another Greek restaurant. I’m convinced that Taki’s exists as a remora to Stepho’s great white shark. When people are rebuffed by the big queue at Stepho’s, they wander down to Taki’s, walk in and sit down. Taki’s exists and thrives largely because Stepho’s is too popular.

Interesting, this site indicates that Taki’s food is superior to Stepho’s.

Comments: 18 Responses so far

Gar Fisher
April 10th, 2006
1:26 pm

It’s true, Taki’s is way better. Stepho’s food is no hell, and I don’t know why people persistently line up there, call it the herd mentality, I guess. There are far better Greek restaurants on the drive, with no line ups. The only restaurant that deserves it’s line up is Anton’s in Burnaby. If you go (to Anton’s) on Monday or Tuesday, you can beat the queue.

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John Bollwitt
April 10th, 2006
3:43 pm

I got my first taste of Stepho’s less than a month ago. After waiting in line for a little over 30 minutes, it was alright. And recently I’ve been on a calamari kick, trying out a lot of different places for comparison. I don’t know why, but it’s just something I do from time to time, club sandwiches being the longest running adventure in this OCD manner(best one I ever had being in Puerto Vallerta).

Stepho’s was alright, but there was a load of squid on my plate when it arrived. The food didn’t strike me as being that worthy of waiting in line for, at least the kind of waiting common to Stepho’s.

I will say that, as of this post, the best calamari that I have had is at the NY Grill on Denman. In terms of greek places, the Olympia, also on Denman, had a tasty calamari dinner. And the best roast lamb I’ve found was at Sympatico on 4th, out in Kits. Haven’t been there since last summer, but it was a great location to have a dinner for two.

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Chris
April 10th, 2006
4:13 pm

I feel the same way about the Naam. Been there twice, I believe, and had to wait both times. It was decent, but I don’t think it was worth waiting more than the standard 10-15 minutes that most restaurants have during peak hours.

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Andrea
April 10th, 2006
6:53 pm

Taki’s is way better than Stepho’s, but the prices are a bit higher and the portions are a bit smaller. You’re getting better food, though.

Stepho’s is about lining up with your friends for an hour and a half and gossiping and checking out the Davie Street scene. It’s not so much waiting to get into Stepho’s as it is a social experience for your early to mid 20s.

I don’t go to Stepho’s anymore. I go to Taki’s or Olympia. (But I absolutely disagree with the Olympia logo dispute. Olympia’s in the wrong.)

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Faraaz
April 10th, 2006
8:48 pm

I personally love Stepho’s. Like Andrea (above) said, it’s really getting out there for the social experience.

The food at Stepho’s is amazing even though for some people it’s not worth the wait in line.

Just grab some friends and head out there (provided there’s good weather).

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Pooya
April 10th, 2006
9:02 pm

hmm, I think they take reservations. We were there last Saturyday morning. Maybe they just take it for a large enough group.

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NetChick
April 11th, 2006
6:09 pm

Funny enough, when we walked by Stepho’s at… 11am! on Saturday morning, they were already lining up. Every time I’m in there I notice that they are very slow to clear the tables, and seat people. It reminds me of a nightclub trying to maintain a rep.

I do like their food though.

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Robert Sanzalone
April 12th, 2006
10:18 am

I’ve owned an apartment a couple of blocks away from Stephos and have lived in the West End for years. Stephos is GREAT if you give them a call and pick up your food. You can usually do the whole transaction (from call to returning home with a complete meal) within 15 minutes. I haven’t sat down there since their “expansion”. There’s too many people standing around your table waiting for your seat.

If I am NOT looking for big portions and cheap prices AND for a great place to bring friends or family to a QUIET place to enjoy a great meal, there are dozens of other places in town, Greek or otherwise. Stephos is not the place to enjoy and impress.

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Robert Sanzalone
April 12th, 2006
10:25 am

I’ve owned an apartment a couple of blocks away from Stephos and have lived in the West End for years. Stephos is GREAT if you give them a call and pick up your food. You can usually do the whole transaction (from call to returning home with a complete meal) within 15 minutes. I haven’t sat down there since their “expansion”. There’s too many people standing around your table waiting for your seat.

If I am NOT looking for big portions and cheap prices AND for a great place to bring friends or family to a QUIET place to enjoy a great meal, there are dozens of other places in town, Greek or otherwise. Stephos is not the place to enjoy and impress.

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nick
April 12th, 2006
2:29 pm

20 people really isn’t that bad.. I was at Bin 941 @ Burrard and Davie the other night and the wait was over 90 minutes. :| Needless to say we didn’t stick around… headed down to Yaletown and walked into one of the restaurants there that was busy but had no lineup.

What’s the deal with not taking reservations, anyway? Very annoying…

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Andrea
April 12th, 2006
4:34 pm

By not taking reservations, they can create that nightclub wait, even when the restaurant isn’t all that busy.

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nick
April 12th, 2006
6:16 pm

and a lineup is supposed to make people feel like eating there? meh. :|

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Dan
May 13th, 2006
1:15 pm

Lineups make more money and simplify logistics. No empty tables waiting for people, or juggling end of meals with incomming reservations.

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Donna
September 6th, 2006
9:31 pm

The food is good. Ordering for pickup is the best way to go, just don’t try to place a pickup order before 11:30am for 11:30am pickup. Stepho is popular, but why can’t I order it for lunch and why should I have to call back when they’re open @ 11:30am to place my order. Told my order will be ready in 20 mins. My lunch starts @ 11:30am and ends @ 12pm. If I have an office lunch or party I’ll call somewhere else. I wasn’t even allowed to order a caesar salad with chicken on it!!! Only after I spoke to management was I able. Mel is a horrible customer service person, and shouldn’t be employed in such a popular place. There are others who think the same. Doesn’t Stepho know how GREAT a place he’s got?? I don’t think Stepho’s Place will last if this continues into
the future. I will think twice before ordering again for lunch.

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Donna
September 6th, 2006
9:34 pm

Rumor has it that Taki’s cook use to be Stepho’s cook or had some connection with Stepho’s Place.

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Stephos Greek Taverna - The artificial line | ABlueStar
April 11th, 2007
9:01 am

[...] Some of the users on darrenbarefoot.com suggest that its the line its self that makes it so popular. When people walk by the see the long line and say to them selfs “that place must be good if its got such a long line”. It makes sense too, clubs and bars have know this for years(The Roxy comes to mind) . You see a long line in front of a club and you think to yourself that place must be popular, there has to be a pretty show in there, that place must be pretty exclusive I wonder if they would LET me in there. [...]

James Da
October 14th, 2007
6:56 pm

I found Bouzyos greek restaurant on http://www.findmycraving.com recently and went to it. They had some liver performers and it was a blast. Check it out and let me know what you think.

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Ricardo
October 6th, 2009
7:58 pm

It’s really quite simple. Stephos offers large portions at low prices. There is a segment of the population that goes for “cheap and lots of it”. I don’t like the quality of the food at the Stephos Factory. There are many, many better Greek restaurants in Vancouver. Try: The Ouzeri on West Broadway - old school and popular with the local Greek population. Simpatico on West 4th, not quite as good since the original owner passed away, but inexpensive and friendly. Piato, also on West 4th is really quite wonderful - the concept is “high end” greek dining (and the prices while higher than the other restaurants are not bad).

If you are in your early 20s, don’t care much about food, and don’t like spending money, go to Stephos. Otherwise, branch out and tryin something else.

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