Hellenic Republic

Sheena king

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February 12, 2026

A must-visit, even during a soft opening. This was our second visit to the newly opened location in Coral Springs, and we’ve been loyal fans of Chef Nikol Zarbalas and her incredible food for years—supporting and enjoying every one of her past ventures. We arrived early and were pleasantly surprised to see a line already forming at 11:40 a.m. We ended up being the second table seated, which says a lot about the buzz around this restaurant. While the team is still working through the soft-opening phase, our server was incredibly attentive and made us feel genuinely cared for from start to finish. The menu is robust with so many tempting options that narrowing it down was tough. We landed on the Greek Fries with Gyro, Fried Greek Tomatoes, Sesame Fried Feta, and the clear star of the show: the Kataifi Fried Shrimp Lollipops—absolutely outstanding and worth the visit alone. Some of our photos were taken after we started eating because, honestly, we came to enjoy the food, not stage a photoshoot—and that should tell you everything you need to know. Every dish was delicious, full of flavor, and thoughtfully prepared. My wife especially loved the sangria. We also received a Greek salad that we were owed from a previous takeout order, and wow—it’s enormous and incredibly fresh. Chef and her team are doing an amazing job. Even with the inevitable kinks that come with opening a new restaurant, she clearly prioritizes her guests and makes sure everyone is taken care of. That level of care and hospitality really stands out. We’ll absolutely be back—and we can’t wait to see Hellenic Hellenic continue to shine as it settles into its stride.

Jason Perlow

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February 26, 2026

Some say the third time is the charm—but Nikol Zarbalas’ restaurants have been charming people since day one, myself included. What’s changed over time isn’t the food, but the space. Each iteration came with a built-in constraint. Hellenic Republic was beloved but far too small, spilling into outdoor seating that became punishing during warmer months thanks to unreliable AC. Food Republic followed—short-lived, slightly larger, but still tight, again leaning on outdoor seating to cope with demand. Now comes Hellenic, in the former Waao! Market space—and this is where everything finally clicks. The room seats roughly 187, with a full bar and a genuinely comfortable café-style lounge—cushy chairs, love seats, and space to linger. Food Republic’s signature bric-a-brac, tchotchkes, chandelier, and familiar objects are all here, preserved—but now they’re allowed to breathe. The massive open layout means generous table spacing, no sense of crowding, and a welcome feeling of air and ease. It’s familiar, but no longer claustrophobic. The menu is exactly what you want it to be: Nikol’s greatest hits from the original Hellenic Republic, blended with Food Republic’s modern Greek diner staples and a full brunch program. The execution is confident and consistent—the flavors you remember, scaled properly. It’s the same restaurant, just bigger. Roughly 3.27 times bigger, if we’re being precise. The vibe now feels closer to a large Tarpon Springs or Astoria spot, or even the old Zorba’s in Delray—but in the best possible way. Rachel and I ordered conservatively. She went with the lamb bowl topped with fried halloumi; I ordered the seafood orzotto in lemon cream. Normally this dish comes with orzo (or barley, traditionally), but after selling around ninety lamb bowls that day, the kitchen had run out. Instead, Nikol sent it out made as actual risotto. Rice. Am I complaining? Absolutely not. It was excellent. Maybe she was messing with me. Who knows. On a Tuesday night, the place was already buzzing, servers moving fast and focused, the room fully alive. This is the version of the restaurant that finally makes sense. I’ll be eating here at least twice a month—and I’m genuinely glad it’s back.

Tracy Cooper

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February 11, 2026

I absolutely love the concept, this is a community restaurant and I would love to support it. The service was prompt and terrific. Ambiance is welcoming and outstanding. I was a little disappointed in the food just simply because they put pickled onions on everything, and copious amounts of them. We had four different dishes and they were all decently good but nothing spectacular. I wish it was a little better so that we would frequent this place more often. I am going to try it again for some of their appetizers because that saganaki AKA fried cheese was delicious. The octopus was pretty good, the gyro pita was very good, but the fries were soggy and unappealing. Moussaka wasn't the best. Everything was very decent just not spectacular. Like we've had better other places, but this is good if you need a Greek fix. Also, they have only been open a month so hopefully they just continue to improve.

Yoli Hernandez

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February 17, 2026

Was so glad we decided to go try it out since they opened at the new location. We loved the new place. The place is gorgeous, the food is amazing and the service was absolutely fantastic!! Will definitely come back again and again. Will be making reservations for brunch on Sunday soon. * * * UPDATE * * *UPDATE * * * The reservation for Sunday Brunch was made as previously stated. We visited on February 15th. Walked in and were seated quickly. We ordered the Chicken & Waffles and the Philly Cheesesteak. We've had multiple cheesesteaks from across the country and this is by far the best. It's made from chopped ribeye. The meat was perfectly seasoned, at an excellent price, and very generous with the portion size. 10 out of 10!!! The Chicken & Waffles was wonderful as well. I don't normally get this meal but had to try it at this establishment and I have to say it was delicious!! They had a DJ and the music was so good. The vibe was amazing!! We were moving and grooving in our chair. We most definitely will be back:) I honestly wanted to make our next reservations the moment we walked out…lol!!!

j handy (Handyman review)

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February 07, 2026

Soft open review- Since i never tried thier original place i feel this review is not biased. Mid- everything just ok food wise. I appreciate new takes on old favorites but for somethings it just wasn't my flavor. Falafel was tasty but creamy middle like mashed potatoes hmmm. Was that taziki or whipped greek yogurt sauce? The sliders good but more American bland than what they should be. Grape leafs very good and moist! Smothered chicken was overly Smothered! Wheres the rice, vegetable, chicken? Oh yeah its under the 2 pounds of sauce.... baklava was cold and chewy, may i suggest a saute in butter. Everything needed more salt and spices. Other customers food looked outstanding so we will return. Service was super friendly and helpful! Love the interior decoration! A great addition to that area. Prices A+