Located in the heart of the old city quarter of downtown Nanaimo, Asteras is an authentic Greek restaurant known for it's traditional, delicious foods, warm Greek atmosphere and a focus on excellent service.
Locally owned and operated, with long standing experience preparing traditional Greek foods, we invite you to step into our restaurant, housed in a heritage home over 100 years old, and allow yourself to be embraced by the warmth of traditional Greek hospitality.Choose from sensational, traditional recipies, all originating from Crete, an island renowned for its healthy diet made up of fresh and simple ingredients.
Locally owned and operated, with long standing experience preparing traditional Greek foods, we invite you to step into our restaurant, housed in a heritage home over 100 years old, and allow yourself to be embraced by the warmth of traditional Greek hospitality.Choose from sensational, traditional recipies, all originating from Crete, an island renowned for its healthy diet made up of fresh and simple ingredients.
Services
Located in the heart of the Mediterranean, Greece is well known for its love of great fresh food and drink, and a festive, warm style of dining. Being a central port from the dawn of history, Greek cuisine draws on many influences from the Middle East to Southern Europe, yet has long-standing unique traditions of its own.
Greek Salad (tomato, cucumber, green pepper, onion, feta & olive oil). Marouli Salad (finely chopped romaine, green onions, capers & fresh dill in a red wine vinaigrette). Caesar Salad (tossed in housemade dressing). Baclava (layers of phyllo pastry baked with walnuts and almond, topped with house made honey sauce).
Reviews (25)
Cin C.
Dec 24, 2021
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Astera's is located inside a residential house that has been remodeled to a restaurant. It keeps it's warmth and welcoming atmosphere with the help of the friendly staff and amazing meals. Highly recommend reservations as they fill out quickly and get quite busy. We came by early on a Wednesday (like the moment they opened) and was lucky enough to get seated with a generous time limit.
Listen to the specials, as there may be something that catches your ear (and your stomach). We had the shrimp appetizer special, pita bread, roasted lamb and the chicken pasta special. The shrimp appetizer
Listen to the specials, as there may be something that catches your ear (and your stomach). We had the shrimp appetizer special, pita bread, roasted lamb and the chicken pasta special. The shrimp appetizer
T. Rey
Nov 14, 2021
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Kay Lannan
Sep 10, 2021
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Stephanie T.
Sep 07, 2021
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Really delicious Greek food, on par with some of my favourite Greek restaurants in Vancouver and Toronto.
The restaurant is super busy, so I'd highly recommend making a reservation a week or two in advance. They have a lot of tables and staff, but even then it took us quite awhile to be seated despite our 8 pm reservation. A couple of parties that arrived before us were seated first, for some reason. Service is very friendly - they are just super busy so things can move slowly. The food came relatively fast as well. We opted to sit in their outdoor patio - it's very spacious and pretty
The restaurant is super busy, so I'd highly recommend making a reservation a week or two in advance. They have a lot of tables and staff, but even then it took us quite awhile to be seated despite our 8 pm reservation. A couple of parties that arrived before us were seated first, for some reason. Service is very friendly - they are just super busy so things can move slowly. The food came relatively fast as well. We opted to sit in their outdoor patio - it's very spacious and pretty
Jono J.
Aug 30, 2021
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The most delicious Greek food I may have ever had.
Had an incredible appy of garlicky spot prawns with tomato and little bits of a melted cheese - my wife and I could not believe what a flavour bomb it was. Mind blowing.
Scrumptious lamb souvlaki and spanakopita. Recommend making a reservation or going early as it was packed and busy but excellent wait staff and a really lovely ambience.
Had an incredible appy of garlicky spot prawns with tomato and little bits of a melted cheese - my wife and I could not believe what a flavour bomb it was. Mind blowing.
Scrumptious lamb souvlaki and spanakopita. Recommend making a reservation or going early as it was packed and busy but excellent wait staff and a really lovely ambience.
Aaron Burke
Aug 28, 2021
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Zach F.
Aug 22, 2021
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Lara P.
Aug 09, 2021
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Amazing friendly atmosphere, such sweet and caring staff. They made my friends birthday special by singing happy birthday to him and bringing him a treat. The food was amazing and decently priced for the quality you get. The whole space is very well decorated, dimly lit at night for a romantic vibe. would come back again:)
Gaz H.
Aug 05, 2021
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Dimitri F.
Jul 31, 2021
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Marina Kreimer
Jul 31, 2021
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Deborah Johnston
Jul 24, 2021
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Arinaa Es
Jul 12, 2021
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Welcoming nice guy made the first impression at the place. We was in nanaimo for half a day and made our mind to have a greek food. The all stuff were hospitable. BUT we were waiting for food more than half an hour however it was tasty. In the end we ordered tea with baklava and again waiting for tea half an hour as they noticed then they told us not required to pay for baklava, it's on us.
The place was cozy and I'd liked that.
The place was cozy and I'd liked that.
Thomas Darling
May 02, 2021
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There is a reason Asteras consistently ranks as one of the best restaurants in Nanaimo. Knowledgeable, hospitable and welcoming staff in an authentic Greek atmosphere. The food is incredible right down to the very last bite. No matter what you order off of the menu, you really can't go wrong. Big portions, so come hungry!
Meghana Reddy
Sep 21, 2020
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Try the fried Calamari here, you won’t regret it!
We got the platters with calamari and chicken, the portions were huge. Pita bread was warm and super fresh!
Most of all, excellent service and ambience.
Everybody here, including other customers dining in were easy to talk to and make warm conversations!
We got seated to a lovely view on a rainy day.
It was one of the best dining experiences.
Will make sure to make a stop whenever in Nanaimo!
We got the platters with calamari and chicken, the portions were huge. Pita bread was warm and super fresh!
Most of all, excellent service and ambience.
Everybody here, including other customers dining in were easy to talk to and make warm conversations!
We got seated to a lovely view on a rainy day.
It was one of the best dining experiences.
Will make sure to make a stop whenever in Nanaimo!
Tami S.
Aug 09, 2019
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5 years later we returned! With our kids, and our experience this time was amazing! The food was excellent. Our teenage daughter loved the vegetarian mousaka. Portions were big. We had an appetizer, the rest of my family had meals, I shared it all, and we all were very full! Of course we saved room for dessert. The ekmek was to die for!
Service was on point. Once again, we will be back!
Service was on point. Once again, we will be back!
Kevin T.
Aug 01, 2019
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Showed up without a reservation at 9:00 to a full, boisterous restaurant full of happy people.
I was concerned we wouldn't get a table, but the owner stepped right up with a friendly welcome as soon as we walked in and had a table for four ready in moments.
From the smiles and contented people leaving, we could tell we had chosen well, and wow had we ever!
The atmosphere is happy, excited and busy. The service was excellent and professional, with the menu options clearly explained, and the staff all look happy to work there.
The food was incredibly good, I had the lamb/shrimp/chicken trio
I was concerned we wouldn't get a table, but the owner stepped right up with a friendly welcome as soon as we walked in and had a table for four ready in moments.
From the smiles and contented people leaving, we could tell we had chosen well, and wow had we ever!
The atmosphere is happy, excited and busy. The service was excellent and professional, with the menu options clearly explained, and the staff all look happy to work there.
The food was incredibly good, I had the lamb/shrimp/chicken trio
Lauren G.
Jul 29, 2019
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We loved the food, atmosphere and service here!
We ordered the fried cheese app and it was excellent. Got the meatballs which were aromatic and served with the freshest tzatziki ever. Then we shared the half chicken, with a delicious crispy skin and tender juicy chicken, which came with tasty rice, Greek salad and more awesome tzatziki sauce. Our server was so nice and full of great suggestions. I brought a birthday cake in too and they brought it over and sang for us and gave us really nice cake knife and spatula to serve it. She brought us an after dinner shooter, too. The owner checked on us
We ordered the fried cheese app and it was excellent. Got the meatballs which were aromatic and served with the freshest tzatziki ever. Then we shared the half chicken, with a delicious crispy skin and tender juicy chicken, which came with tasty rice, Greek salad and more awesome tzatziki sauce. Our server was so nice and full of great suggestions. I brought a birthday cake in too and they brought it over and sang for us and gave us really nice cake knife and spatula to serve it. She brought us an after dinner shooter, too. The owner checked on us
Lisa G.
Jun 20, 2019
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Our "go to" restaurant in Nanaimo. Great food, awesome service...menu is small but perfectly complete. So many great dishes...lamb, grilled squid, moussaka...I've had every dish on the menu and everything is great.
Price is fair for what you get. Platters for sharing are my favourite as they give you lots of food with a variety of options.
Peter, the owner, is an amazing host and generally on premises. He and his top notch staff take pride in every aspect of this restaurant. Someone will welcome you as soon as you walk in the door, even when it's busy. Peter often checks
Price is fair for what you get. Platters for sharing are my favourite as they give you lots of food with a variety of options.
Peter, the owner, is an amazing host and generally on premises. He and his top notch staff take pride in every aspect of this restaurant. Someone will welcome you as soon as you walk in the door, even when it's busy. Peter often checks
Foodie F.
Mar 09, 2019
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What a cute setting for a Greek restaurant. Lovely little house with indoor patio extension. Quaint!!
The roast lamb was sooooo moist and tender and flavorful. Light sauce or pan drippings on top. Only a couple carrots, one potato and Greek salad but it was enough for a lunch serving. Kinda pricey at $20 for lunch entree but not considering the quality and taste of what you're getting. I have to say that this lamb was better than I've had at Greek restaurants in Vancouver that's for sure.
Ended with the ekmek dessert. Whipped cream was lovely and fluffy. The base of shredded
The roast lamb was sooooo moist and tender and flavorful. Light sauce or pan drippings on top. Only a couple carrots, one potato and Greek salad but it was enough for a lunch serving. Kinda pricey at $20 for lunch entree but not considering the quality and taste of what you're getting. I have to say that this lamb was better than I've had at Greek restaurants in Vancouver that's for sure.
Ended with the ekmek dessert. Whipped cream was lovely and fluffy. The base of shredded
David G.
Jun 11, 2018
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Richard G.
May 27, 2018
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Street appeal. Ever driven by a Street of Dreams house that immediately made you want to live there? Astera's is that kind of restaurant -- you look up at it from the street, see the customers happily eating inside, feel the lush surroundings and Greek-ness pulling at you, and it's like there's this tractor beam that inexorably draws you inside.
One dish. The one food item that immediately won my wife and daughter and I over during our lunch there yesterday was the simple hummus and pita appetizer. Simply delicious.
We had entree salads, and I had the lentil soup, and the flavors
One dish. The one food item that immediately won my wife and daughter and I over during our lunch there yesterday was the simple hummus and pita appetizer. Simply delicious.
We had entree salads, and I had the lentil soup, and the flavors
Melissa B.
Apr 27, 2018
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What an absolutely hidden gem - perfectly the definition of "where do the locals eat". This beautiful Greek restaurant is tucked off the main streets into a beautiful blue house that will make you feel like "damn, what a perfect date spot" as you walk up hand in hand with your partner.
This spot will absolutely blow your socks off. Their menu is traditional but still friendly to all ages. I personally have a dairy allergy and was upset that I couldn't crush souvlaki as they marinate theirs in Greek yogurt but my partner said it added a perfect juicy flavor that was to
This spot will absolutely blow your socks off. Their menu is traditional but still friendly to all ages. I personally have a dairy allergy and was upset that I couldn't crush souvlaki as they marinate theirs in Greek yogurt but my partner said it added a perfect juicy flavor that was to
Caroline M.
Oct 13, 2017
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This beautiful restaurant is situated in Nanimo. It's on a beautiful block that has an old world charm. The entrance is a georgous house with marble tiles leading up to the front door.
You open a blue door and enter a warm and cosy seating area where a man, presumably the owner, greets you. We were seated at a nice table for three. I had to take a moment to soak it all in. The details were ornate and charming. Candles were on our blue clothed tables and the evening was that of a wonderful night with two amazing new friends I had met on my solo trip.
The wait staff were delightful and diligent
You open a blue door and enter a warm and cosy seating area where a man, presumably the owner, greets you. We were seated at a nice table for three. I had to take a moment to soak it all in. The details were ornate and charming. Candles were on our blue clothed tables and the evening was that of a wonderful night with two amazing new friends I had met on my solo trip.
The wait staff were delightful and diligent
Dean C.
Jul 26, 2017
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7/2/17
We actually just came back from a week long trip island hopping in Greece as well as Athens!, and being foodies trust me, we went way out of our way to sample as much of the local cuisine as we possibly could. All the tastes, smells, and scenes are still fresh in my mind...
So, I do not say this lightly... but, this restaurant makes better traditional Greek food than most of the real Greek restaurants in Greece! And I don't mean "Americanizing/Canadianizing" the food... I mean the same traditional dishes but with more rustic textures, more complexity, and generally more
We actually just came back from a week long trip island hopping in Greece as well as Athens!, and being foodies trust me, we went way out of our way to sample as much of the local cuisine as we possibly could. All the tastes, smells, and scenes are still fresh in my mind...
So, I do not say this lightly... but, this restaurant makes better traditional Greek food than most of the real Greek restaurants in Greece! And I don't mean "Americanizing/Canadianizing" the food... I mean the same traditional dishes but with more rustic textures, more complexity, and generally more
