Ela! Greek Taverna Restaurant-Dartmouth — Restaurant in Dartmouth

Serious Safety Concern – Metal Fragment Found in Meal (June 18, 2025)

Unfortunately, I’m going to have to leave a very poor review due to the experience I had on the evening of June 18th, 2025. Me and three of my good friends went to this location and had a dinner reservation for 6:30 p.m. Everything seemed fine at first. We ordered our food and waited. I got the chicken shawarma plate and was honestly excited to enjoy a good meal.

When our food came out, we all started eating. About 10 minutes in, I bit into something hard while chewing a piece of chicken. At first, I thought maybe it was a bone. But it was way too hard, so my next guess was plastic. I was completely shocked when I pulled a metal object out of my mouth that looked very much like a razor blade.

We immediately called over a man who was working there and showed him the piece of metal. Out of everyone we interacted with, he seemed the most genuinely concerned about what had just happened. Our waitress came over and he showed her what I had pulled out of my food. I was expecting more concern from her, but instead, she seemed kind of annoyed, like the whole situation was just a hassle for her.

She told us the piece of metal was from a machine in the kitchen. That made me seriously question how well their equipment is being maintained if parts are breaking off and ending up in someone’s meal.

What’s especially upsetting is thinking about what could have happened if I had swallowed it. I could’ve seriously injured my mouth, throat, or even ended up in the hospital with internal injuries. The situation could have gone from shocking to dangerous very quickly, and I’m honestly still shaken up about it.

At that point, I didn’t want to eat anything else, so they took the plate away. They offered to bring me something else, but I had completely lost my appetite and didn’t want anything from their kitchen anymore.

They didn’t charge me for the dish with the metal in it, which was expected. However they still charged the rest of my table full price for everything else. Considering how serious the situation was, I think the entire bill should have been taken care of. Our dinner was completely disrupted, and it became a stressful and disturbing experience.

I would still like to be reimbursed for the full amount of the bill. I believe that’s fair given the health risk, the lack of proper response from some staff, and the fact that the issue affected our entire table and not just me.

This experience honestly left me questioning the safety and cleanliness of their kitchen, and I won’t...

Was out for a date with my husband. First dinner date post tongue and neck cancer surgery.

Walked in to a very unexpected busy Wednesday around 7pm. Waited a little longer than most people care about at the door. As a career restaurant worker I could see it all unfolding.

Very quickly, the man who I will call BHOAT, Best Host of ALL TIME, greeted us after making a tray of drinks, filling a tray of waters ready for tables to be sat and making sure the servers were ok. Was so hospitable when clearly very busy.

We were sat at a lovely table, both of us excited to be out for our first date night post an oral cancer surgery. I manage a restaurant and could see that our server was servicing about 40ppl and we came in at the end of that unexpected service. Seems Wednesday is the new Friday!!!

As we were deciding, the guests next to us must have waited a little long. Jacqueline’s table side demeanour and apologetic tone made them leave happy and pleased with their meal.

Jacqueline greeted us with the biggest smile. Acknowledging we had decided our meal she took our order and was such a delight.

Food arrived tasty and delicious with her making a show of flaming cheese with a flare, actually.

Entrees came delicious as well. The highlight was still to come.

Told Jackie (Jacqueline, but we are now friends so….) after a question about the new pomegranate candies, we were celebrating my husband being able to go out for a date night dinner post a mouth cancer surgery.

She was so sweet, she brought us a bag of candies with a ribbon… special for us. Hugged her on the way out as she brought me to tears with her hospitality.

Jacqueline, thank you. You were so busy but you made us feel so loved and important.

10/10,...

Very poor experience. My sister and I visited this afternoon (Dartmouth Crossing location). My sister had had a Valentine’s Day dinner here and enjoyed it a few months ago. Today’s experience was night and day. We were seated promptly - good. Another server came over after we’d spent time with the menus, asked if we wanted something other than water, we didn’t. The server immediately turned her back and walked away without asking if we were ready to order. We were a little taken aback, but figured she’d be right back. She returned several minutes later, after making eye contact with us and immediately turning away to check on another table’s desserts. Seemed rushed and dismissive, even though there were very few people seated in the restaurant. We waited over 30 minutes for our meals. We were counting down to walking out when she came out of the kitchen. The food was very lacklustre for the price. Calamari was over cooked and rubbery. Lemon potatoes tasted like they had been cooked in vegetable stock and nothing else. Greek salad was fine, but it’s hard to screw up a Greek salad. Pork skewer was very bland and under seasoned. Aside from the Greek salad, this was the most tasteless and unappealing Greek food either my sister and I have ever experienced. I had to go up and ask for the bill, as no one checked in on us after we received our meals. Staff were just standing around. Poor service, meh food quality for a pretty inflated price, and an extended length of time waiting ensures neither my sister or I will ever eat at Ela! again, and I will very much recommend against...