Few Pacific Beach restaurants can claim more than three decades in the same location, but Cafe Athena at 1846 Garnet Ave, 92109, has been serving Greek and Mediterranean cuisine since 1990. The family-run restaurant is now led by co-owner Joe Farah, who took over alongside his father Tony and expanded the concept in 2019 with a full dining room renovation, a new bar program, and a refreshed Mediterranean menu. Each of the three distinctly decorated dining spaces carries a different Grecian island motif, seating nearly 150 guests across rooms that reviewers describe as light-filled, cozy, and quietly romantic. San Diego Magazine awarded Cafe Athena the title of Best Greek Restaurant in San Diego for four consecutive years, from 2006 through 2009, and the restaurant has also earned recognition from CityBeat and the Zagat Survey. Patisserie lovers heading west on Garnet will find The French Gourmet, a long-running bakery and bistro offering a European take on pastries, cakes, and catering. The menu at Cafe Athena stays rooted in traditional preparations — the gyros plate, avgolemono soup, and spanakopita are longtime favorites — while dishes like the salmon dolmas, grape-leaf-wrapped salmon, and the imam bayaldi, eggplant baked in tomato sauce, reflect the broader Mediterranean influence. The full bar introduced in the 2019 renovation features cocktails inspired by Greek mythology, handcrafted with Mediterranean ingredients. Happy hour runs daily from 3 to 6 p.m., pairing discounted drinks with small plates. The kitchen prepares almost everything from scratch daily, a commitment that has kept a loyal base of regulars returning weekly for over 35 years. Cafe Athena handles catering and private events for groups celebrating birthdays, rehearsal dinners, and other occasions. Mediterranean flavors in a more casual grab-and-go format are available nearby at Arslan's Gyros on Mission Blvd, where a Bosnian family serves fresh-carved gyros and Balkan specialties steps from the beach. The three rooms can be configured for parties of various sizes, and the restaurant accepts reservations for both lunch and dinner service.