by Bridget Schiller (6 reviews) - URBANSPOON
Likes it - Amazing! You walk in to the tiny place & are greeted by Al, the entertainment for the evening. After (attempting) to place an order, & being corrected by Al, I was served the best plate of food ever! The maza platter is huge but a must have. Then after saying what I think I want, I recurved, in a very timely manner, what I didn't order. I ate it anyway & gladly as it was perfect! My quick bite turned out to be a full out meal & 1/2. I took 2 boxes home with me & went to be dreaming of left overs. Just smile & chat with Al & he'll give you a good price & some to die for dessert before he sends you on your way.

Incredible and Authentic!" by ionyka (4 reviews) - URBANSPOON
Really likes it - Having gone twice because I just learned about this place I have to say it is the best by far for mediterranean food. The falafel is incredible and the hummus is to die for. All the food is fresh and prepared in a very authentic way. Extremely satisfied with everything I have had there so far and will continue to go back.

"Simply Wonderful" by libhock (1 review) - URBANSPOON
Likes it - I found this restaurant on Urban Spoon and decided to give it a try. Definitely an excellent choice. The service was excellent. The owner made you feel as if he had known you for years. On top of the service the food was amazing. So delicious. If you are a fan of Mediterranean food definitely give Cafe Agora a try.

Jesse W. – YELP
Well, even without Al's personal attention during our dining experience, this was the best Med food that any of us have ever eaten. From the awesome appetizer, to the most tender and tasty chicken kebobs we've ever eaten, this place passed our test with flying colors.

When my girlfriend mentioned that she had only ever eaten good falafel when she was in Israel, Al quickly went in the back and had the bring up some of his falafel for the Pepsi challenge. It was terrific; I mean really, really good.

The only thing that probably wasn't a slam dunk with everyone at the table was the dessert, but Greek/Med desserts have never been my favorite thing.
And what can you say about Al? He's terrific. A genuinely kind  and enjoyable person who certainly adds a whole other dimension to your dining experience. Be warned though, if you are the kind of person that likes to be left alone while you are dining, this place is not for you.

Justin B. – YELP
We walked into cafe agora on a Sunday night. From across the room Al saw us and asked if we'd been there before which led us directly to the beautiful display of his yummy looking wares.

There weren't many people in the restaurant with us but the food was delightful and so was Al.  His personal recommendations turned out to be great and the whole experience was memorable and commendable. I'd definitely go back.... and considering my parents live only a few blocks from him... we definitely will.

Zack E. – YELP
 Good stuff.  I really enjoyed the place.  Al is a very friendly owner with a charming and welcoming personality which really gives the place a nice cosy touch.  
We came here late at night on Saturday and he was a gracious host.  We ordered the chicken kabob plate and he brought us out a sampler of the mezza and the baklava's at the end.  I thought the food was good and Al adds a nice touch to the whole experience.
The only knocks are the parking situation and the fact that the total price of the meal can be somewhat of a guessing game without the prices being posted.
Still most likely the best late night meal you can get in Atlanta.

Diana L. – YELP
Two words: loves it :)
Love the food. Love the service. Love the proprietor.
- Appetizer: Mixed Maza Platter
- Entree: Agora Mixed Grill
- Dessert: something delicious with two bites of baklava
Hours later, I'm still sated and in a good way. I ate and ate and ate. And wished for more. Wished for another stomach. Wished for more time.
Everything was d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s. The lamb was so moist and flavorful... *drool*
If it is your first time, you will receive friendly and excellent "hints" on what to order. In fact, they'll take care of it. They'll take care of you.
Trust. That's all you need :)

Chloe M. – YELP
I really love this place and can't imagine why I'm the last one in the city to tryi it.  The Maza Platter is a beauty to behold.  It has about 9 appetizers/dips.  The hummus was creamy with just the right amount of garlic and lemon juice, the sour cream-dill dip was divine -- thick and creamy. The eggplant salad was very flavorful. I found a new favorite in their Havuc Salatasi (a carrot salad of sorts) with shredded carrots, parsley, dill, yogurt, and spices. It was so good. The tabouli was perfect, as were the babaganush (an eggplant dip), the red bean salad, and everything else on the plate. The grilled pita bread that came on the side was the perfect accompaniment, although the size of the pieces made it very hard to actually get a good chunk of dip onto them. No matter, forks to the rescue and rescue they did.

The grilled platter came with an assortment of meats: beef and lamb gyros, lamb, chicken, beef, ground lamb. Every bit was as delectable as the next with my mouth sinking into tender, juicy morsels of meat that are full of flavor and grilled perfectly. I haven't had it any better than this.

But the best came in the form of a Gyro -- grilled soft, warm pita bread topped with tender slices of spit-roasted lamb and beef then topped with fresh shredded lettuce and tzatziki sauce. Tasty. Delicious. And the best in town.

I love everything about this place and can't wait to come back.

Blake K. – YELP
I went for lunch with a group of friends and the food could only be rivaled by the treatment!  Amazing!
Walked in and was greeted by the man behind the counter.  He asked in a wonderfully strong Turkish accent, "Have you been here before?"  Always a great sign.  He proceeded to explain to us what he recommended and gave us a free small sampler of their appetizers.  When he delivered the full on sampler to our table he explained what was in each dish and recommended his favorite combinations.

On that note, you MUST try the mixed maza platter.  

We also got some gyros and lamb salad.  The meat was impeccably cooked (and plentiful) and sauce was just the right amount (too often cheap meats are covered up with that mysterious gyro sauce.) Oh, and the Pistachio Baklava?  In tents.  One bite is all you need. It's absolutely mind blowing.
Overall?  Great place to bring friends.  Not all that romantic of a spot?  Mostly because its mean to be, as the menus say "for the people."

Alison B. – YELP
Every 5 star review of Cafe Agora is well deserved based on our first experience there last night.
This is just a gem of a place with Al the charismatic hands on owner/ operator involved at every step to make sure his guests are pleased with everything. the other guests were all first timers as well including two yelpers traveling from Chapel Hill, NC who spotted the great reviews on our fair site and wanted to check it out.

I loved the little mezze plate Al prepared gratis for us (the hummus is amazing, especially topped with a bit of the tomato/ garlic relish). My date loved the eggplant with the white creamy viscous dip as an accompaniment- wish I could remember what other ingredients were in that dip other than dill.
I ordered the chicken kebab, note that this is a plated item, not a gyro type kebab served in a warm pita (which they also feature- my date had the lamb one and swooned over every drippy/ messy/ glorious bite). The chicken was beautifully seasoned and cooked to the point of juicy, not dry. It was served over some type of amazing long grain rice (and I don't even typically care for rice) and accompanied by a great small Greek salad. Yum. Super Yum all around!

Absolutely 5 stars and truly the kind of place that yelp is all about- being able to discover these gems which you might not know about otherwise!

David S. – YELP 
Dear Yelp, can I give 6 stars?  Please?

I just went back today, and basically was indecisive on what to order, so Al suggested the mixed grill.  This is friggin GENIUS.  Why decide when you don't have to, when you can have it all?  It was superb, so much food, so many tastes, thank Zeus that my stomach has the ability to expand in cases of dire culinary emergency.  
And, maybe even more important than getting yummy food, Al gave me a bit of advice from his own life.  The jist of it was this "The best way to get ahead in life is with intelligence and kindness".  
All this and gyros, too??

Exactly like the real thing  by jalex2003 – CITYSEARCH
I go here all the time. I have lived abroad in a few different countries and when I saw the sign that said "doner kebab" in the window I knew I had to go there. The things they try to sell at Great Wraps etc aren't even close to the real thing. I consider myself to have very high standards for Gyros/Doners and these are really great. On top of that, Al is such a friendly guy and welcomes you like family after you have been there two or three times.

Funny that one person had a problem with the prices...I have noticed that prices aren't always the same. I have paid between 7 and 10 dollars for a gyro and a drink. I almost always bring him new customers, and when I do he provides free appetizers and desserts...but it isn't cheap if you have to pay for it all!!! I always joke that his prices change depending on how business was that day.
If you have ever been over to Europe and eaten at a hole in the wall doner joint, you'll notice that there are a lot of local repeat customers (like Cafe Agora) and prices can vary depending on the owner's mood. For me, this just adds to the experience--the obscure soccer on TV, the dusty bar, the strange wall decor and the at-times loud Turkish music also add to the ambience.

vimal p. – YELP
wow this place is awesome,
The Experience:
we walked in just before they were closing, the owner came out and said its cool to stay and eat. he asked us what we felt like eating and just started bringing out food, we never looked at a menu and all the food he bought out was awesome!
The Food:
Food was solid, I have eaten at many different Greek/Med places all over the country and this place is def in my top 5. We a hummus platter, then 2 meat platters, all with pita, very good and nice flavour.
The baklava was prob one of the best I had ever had, extra syrup solid!

Great Greek! by snowbunnyct – CITYSEARCH
This is a hidden gem! Food is very authentic and service is excellent. We went there last week and had a gyro wrap along with humus and pita bread. It was amazing! Quality of food is great and I highly recommend this to you and your family. Be sure to try the dessert-it's completely over the top. I will definitely be going back soon!

Pros: Thumbs up! Food is amazing!

Great place! Great fun  by chefhelen7 – CITYSEARCH
We went for brunch on a Saturday and were the first customers there. We ordered a meza platter and had every intention of ordering a sandwich also, that is until we got the meza platter. It was HUGE! It was also DELICIOUS! The spreads, dips and salads were fresh, beautifuly prepared, healthy and absolutely outstanding. We couldn't eat the sandwiches we had planned on so we came back 4 hours later to have them. We got the gyro and I got the kofte and they were also FANTASTIC. We also got to meet the owner and he is a pistol. He reminds me of another restauranteur that I know who wants to make sure you get everything CORRECT.

Al, the owner, is not willing to dumb down his food and his quality control is exacting. He sat with us and we talked for about an hour. I don't know who wouldn't think that this place is worth 5 stars but whoever that is has his head up his, well,you get the picture. Al always wants to make sure that you get a little "something extra" whether that is a small meza plate while you wait for your sandwiches, a fresh, beautiful piece of baklava or cake to end your meal with, or a cup of Turkish coffee while you talk with him.
I'm coming back at LEAST once every time that we are in town. Go here folks, it's the BEST you will ever have. It's like eating with a family full of great cooks and great people.
Pros: best middle eastern/turkish/greek food EVER!
Cons: none

Awesome!  by rhill285 – CITYSEARCH
This place rocks. not only is the food delicious, the people who work there are awesome. tonight i called in a takeout order, and got there a few minutes before it was supposed to be ready. while i waited, the guy cooking my food made me a small plate of appetizers and just handed it to me! try getting service like that in a chain restaurant. highly recommended...the baba ganoush and baklava are to die for
Pros: food, people, quick service
Cons: limited parking

Reviewed by JasonO5160 - ZAGAT
This restaurant is very unassuming, but provides exceptional food and outstanding service. Al, the owner, will treat you right. The gyros are fantastic and the mezza platter (specifically the carrots) will change your life. You will be hard-pressed to find a restaurant with a better combination of price and quality in Atlanta. The fact that Cafe Agora is in the middle of one of the nicest areas of Buckhead only makes it more notable.

Best gyro in Buckhead  by gtg202p – CITYSEARCH
Absolutely delicious. Al and his food have the distinct charm one would expect to find in a European city market. My visits have always been very enjoyable and I have personally never been ripped off, in fact I am usually given free sides while I wait or a discounted meal. It run by the type of man who understands the importance of repeat business and word-of-mouth marketing. I eat there almost once a week.

Pros: Very fast. Delicious. Great hours.
Cons: No real parking.

By rkischuk  -  IATE
Looking forward to celebrating American independence with lunch today at Al's Cafe Agora for the best gyro in town.

Reviewed by The Food Advocate  - ZAGAT
The owner is a natural-born salesman who takes great pride in his food. The gyros are close to perfection, and the sampler plate of hearty Greek and Turkish deli foods is fabulous.

By HannahAmick -  IATE
Cafe agora on Atlanta's east paces ferry. Hole in the wall. Delicious Greek food. The owner even fed me like a child.

We love Al by LeaLea - KUDZU
This is a complete dive. The mezza plate is my favorite, especially the carrot mixture. My friends and I make the pilgramage to "Al's" aka Cafe Agora at least monthly if not more.

Real Greek by  bananacat - KUDZU
This is really one of the best restaurants in Buckhead, in true Greek fasion, the prices are inconsistent, but the atmosphere is lively and the food superb. I would suggest trying the sampler platter of different dips/ veggies.

By southernsocial -  IATE
 To go food from Cafe Agora. It is a low key birthday with the family this year. Thankfully, real bday will involve rum on Friday.

Amazingly fresh Turkish dishes with service like you are part of the family by  cabaretshowjoe  - CITYSEARCH
Based on a friend's recommendation, we tried Cafe Agora this weekend, and we could not have been more pleased. Al made us a plate full of every appetizer and told us that we could not order until we finished it all! We were happy to oblige him...

For the main course, my wife loved the "sampler plate" Al made us so much that she ordered another for her full meal. I had tender, juicy lamb with yogurt sauce, delicious salad, and rice. I also ordered a glass of ouzo, but Al insisted I try the Turkish version called Raki. IT was an excellent suggestion, as it perfectly complimented the food.

The only knock is that you have to pay for parking, but it is worth it to sample the fresh, flavorful food and familial service.