By 5:30pm on any given day, Yiayia’s Greek Kitchen is probably already full with a multi-general mix of birthday parties and families sneaking in an early night out. The dressed-up comfort food classics like moussaka and chicken souvlaki go well with a crowd that mixes jeans, pearls, and ‘80s ski jackets. The dining room is just as warm and eclectic, decked out with Pappas family photos and an indoor olive tree for good measure. Yiayia’s is the kind of reliably good restaurant you book when dinner needs to work for everyone, when your friends (or parents) want something that’s fancy, but not too fancy. The menu has a soft spot for citrus and butter, including savory pastries and a killer lemony octopus. Designed for sharing—with a kids menu to accommodate the many families you’ll see eating together—it’s best to start with the incredible mezedes and order more than you think you need. The spanakopita are a 200 out of 10, and the plump, beef-and-lamb packed dolmades are even better after you drag them through labneh. Most things here are top tier, though not everything wows (like an eggplant dip that’s perfectly fine), but that’s OK. With another Greek glass of wine or a tart Frozen Athenian Spritz in hand, and the music getting louder as the sun goes down and the children start leaving, you’ll only remember the excellent lamb shank and the great people watching, anyway.