Rizes Greek Taverna

This was our second visit—the first was during their soft opening—and they have truly hit their stride. The service was above and beyond, with an incredibly friendly staff that made us feel welcome. The food was spot on; the octopus, in particular, was absolutely delicious. This place has set a new bar for dining in Hillsborough. It’s well worth the trip even if you're coming from another neighborhood. Plus, it’s BYOB, which is a great bonus!"

Rizes was everything I had anticipated and more! From the owner, Dimitri, greeting and welcoming us from the moment we walked in the door and throughout our meal, it was like I was back in Greece! From the warmth and hospitality, efficient service, perfect decor, and of course the delicious food and recipes, Rizes will certainly see us again!! I would recommend it to anyone for any event or celebration, big or small. Great for a quick bite to eat, like we did, sticking to a traditional family style way of eating, or to stay a while! There’s something for everyone and you’ll be planning the return before you even leave. Can’t wait to come back!

If I could give Rizes Greek Taverna more than five stars I would because it deserves ten stars after the meal we just had. We could smell the amazing food from outside before we even walked in the door so we knew we were in for a treat! The owner, Dimitri, welcomes you and you can tell he poured his whole heart into this restaurant and it shows in the food and the atmosphere. We felt like we were eating at his home! We had the octopus, calamari, saganaki and horiatiki salata for appetizers and all were phenomenal. For entrees we had the moussaka, the chicken souvlaki platter, the gyro platter and the lavraki and again, all incredible and authentic. We finished our meal with the galaktoboureko and it couldn’t have been more perfect. Make sure you don’t miss out on this place - the neighborhood is lucky to have Rizes!

10/10 would recommend.
The atmosphere in Rizes felt like a classic taverna in Greece. Fantastic service, with the owner Dimitri greeting us at the door and checking in on us while we ate. The food was delicious and authentic. We got a bunch of appetizers for the table: the horiatiki salad, the calamari, the tyrokafteri dip with pita, the saganaki, and the kolokithokeftedes. The salad and calamari were so fresh, with the calamari having a delicious bread coating and not tasting rubbery at all. The tyrokafteri was not too spicy and had a good amount of pita to go with it. The flaming saganaki had a light crunch and was perfectly melted on the inside. The kolokithokeftedes were large pieces that paired great with the tzatziki. We also got an order of gemista and a side of lemon roasted potatoes, both of which were cooked just right with a delicious blend of Greek spices. My personal favorite was the portokalopita we got for dessert. The presentation was beautiful, and it tasted just as great as it looked. The fact that it was brought to us perfectly warmed up shows me they know what they’re doing at Rizes. I’ll definitely be coming back soon!

My wife and I had an amazing experience at Rizes Greek Taverna during their soft opening! Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious — from the crispy calamari and tender grilled octopus to the fresh Greek salad and zucchini fritters with tzatziki, every dish was full of authentic flavor. We also had the paidakia (grilled baby lamb chops) with Greek lemon fries — the paidakia were cooked to perfection, juicy, tender, and full of that classic Greek taste. To finish, we shared the galaktoboureko, and it was absolutely delicious — the perfect sweet ending to a wonderful meal.

The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the owner Dimitri is a great guy who clearly takes pride in his food and in making guests feel at home.

If you’re looking for genuine Greek hospitality and incredible food, Rizes Greek Taverna is a must-visit. We can’t wait to go back to try more!