Rembetiko — Restaurant in Vienna

This is a real Greek experience in the pulsating heart of modern and somehow soulless Vienna Donau City, dominated by skyscrapers, people in business suits running without any reason, and clean streets you could eat your dinner from. The Rembetiko is the very opposite. The restaurant is located at the shore of the Donau, letting you know from a distance that this is definitely not where the bearded yuppie is having lunch. Here, you can hear from 50 meters why Athens is not ruling the world anymore today even though it once was: These people are in constant argument even if there is a business that should be run. A family business, employing cousins regardless of their original profession as taxi drivers, construction workers, or tourist guides, mixed with Mediterranean temper, guarantees an unforgettable experience.

Getting a table for six included asking several people leave who occupied a table alone and had paid already – by the waiter – until we had one. Next highlight: The dishes had a number, but they were not ordered by the number on the menu (why should they?) which caused unbelievably entertaining discussions about what was ordered when the waiter came back to approve the order. Which I think I have never done in another restaurant, but the Rembetiko is always good for a surprise: Of course, I saw the stereotype Gyros with fries and Tzatziki, which is anyway an impossible combination if you still have taste buds.

I had lamb Crete style with olives, prepared as a stew with fresh tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic, and the mandatory infusion of thyme, majoran, and a bit of oregano. Sure, the lamb shoulder had been frozen and cut with the saw, but does that matter for a stew cooked on a low fire for hours? Sold for around € 12 definitely not. And here Tzatziki made a lot of sense paired with fresh flatbread and some vegetables. This dish was of really great taste and lit the classic torch of Greece in my soul. The menu provides fresh fish, a broad variety of what former gardeners can prepare in something like Greek-style but also some real highlights. Bring some time, a sense of humor and a heart full of love for authenticity and you will definitely come back to the Rembetiko. A clear five-star...

This restaurant doesn’t even deserve to be called a restaurant! We felt like we were on an episode of “kitchen nightmares”, and not even Gordon Ramsey could safe this place!! We ordered gyros. The food was so bland and gross. Everything tasted frozen and like it was heated up in the microwave. My boyfriend (who is greek btw) was completely shocked and disgusted by the food. We politely tried to talk to the waiter and than the chef, asking if the meat was fresh or frozen and expressing our disappointment in a calm and respectful way. The chef’s reaction was very aggressive and he didn’t even try to offer a solution. He was rude, arrogant and didn’t seem like someone who cares about food or his customers. On my way to the toilet (which was disgusting on its own, with no soap available) I had the pleasure to see the dirty disgusting kitchen. The grill looked like it hasn’t been cleaned since the restaurant opened. I even saw one of the employees carrying 4-5 huge bags of frozen food to the kitchen (fries etc) Not only did I have to witness all of this, but I even got cat called from one of the guys working in the kitchen! 🤢 On top of all of this, everything is disrespectfully overpriced. This place is absolutely disgusting in every way possible! And I wouldn’t recommend it to my worst enemy. No one with any self respect would expose themselves or their taste buds to this atrocity! I don’t understand how this place...

I went to this Greek restaurant on the Danube in Vienna yesterday with my friend, and unfortunately, the experience was very disappointing.

The waiter, a middle-aged man, was unfriendly from the start. We ordered two Coke Zero, but only one of them was actually sugar-free – the other was regular Coke. Later, we ordered two gyros plates and one garlic pita. The food arrived fairly quickly, but unfortunately, it was served cold. The meat had nothing to do with actual gyros – it tasted more like a basic kebab. The pita seemed like something store-bought and just reheated. The only decent part was the tzatziki.

Cleanliness was another issue. The cutlery and glasses were dirty. I had to wipe my glass with a napkin while the waiter watched and didn’t say a word.

At the end, I asked to pay by card because I didn’t have enough cash. I didn’t want to leave a tip after such poor service, but the waiter told me that paying by card automatically adds a 10% tip. I find that outrageous, misleading, and possibly even illegal.

I would never go back, and I don’t think anyone would be missing out by skipping this place....