Entering Athena’s Greek & American Cuisine is like walking into a high-end restaurant in the heart of Athens, Greece. It’s strictly class, with a casual atmosphere!

With its modern, sleek Greek décor and a seating capacity of 130, it grabs your attention. The beautiful Athena’s opened on June 11th in Ellisville. “It’s a family run restaurant all the way,” said co-owners Ervin Lekaj and Tharrino Patakas. “We treat our customers like family too, and they feel that way as they walk in.”

Head Chef Lekaj was born in Athens, and trained as a chef in Greece before coming to St. Louis six years ago. Patakas has a restaurant background in his family; his father, Gus Patakas, is a familiar face at The Tenderloin Room at the Chase Park Plaza. Lekaj’s connection is with his wife’s family; his; his father-in-law is Spiro Mellos. Spiro Mellos worked at the Top of the Seventh-Clayton for 15 years.

Athena’s serves both Greek and American fare for lunch and dinner. “Everything is made fresh daily,” Lekaj said. The lunch menu includes traditional dolmades, (stuffed grape leaves), “Gyro” pizza, Mousaka (eggplant casserole), Pastito (a macaroni dish) and Kabobs.

Dinners feature appetizers like Spanikopita (feta cheese & spinach in phyllo pastry) and grilled and seafood entrees, including steaks, lamb, lobster and salmon specialties.

Reservations are preferred. Athena’s also offers a full bar with a huge list of fine Greek wines in the mix. Smoking is permitted in the beautiful bar area, but not in the dinning room.

The restaurant offers catering and private parties. Reservations are recommended.