Avli — Restaurant in Athens

We ordered tirokafteri, fava, potato salad, liver (large), and 200 ml of raki. Raki was ok, tirokafteri was tasty, potato salad was chunky and nothing special. I liked that the liver was juicy, but it's a matter of taste; some might find it a tad undercooked. The fava was steaming and practically in liquid form as it was probably microwaved. Its taste was underwhelming, too. All this and an additional portion of bread cost us 27 Euros. I also inquired about the rakomelo but didn't order when the waiter said they served it cold. I thought the service was fast; the bread and raki came first, then the mezes appeared one by one, and before we were done with them the liver was served.

The main appeal of this place is its lively atmosphere. People sit close to one another around two rows of little tables in a narrow alley; you could easily start chatting with people you didn't know. The island aesthetic created by the uneven stone ground below your feet and blue window frames on white walls add to the charm. Rembetiko plays through speakers. When we went there on a Friday around 7.30 PM, there were just a couple of tables available and soon the place was packed. New customers started a queue. People all around us were deep in conversation, it was clear that they were enjoying themselves. Most, if not all of them were Greek, by the way. So this is a popular spot for locals, apparently. Smoking is allowed, and commonplace.

This is the place for locals to share with their loved ones a few plates of familiar, inexpensive mezes that go well with booze and not have to worry about speaking too loudly, resisting the urge to smoke or to sing along when they feel like it. This is NOT the place for tourists to experience the best of Greek...

So this is quite a unique spot - it's nestled behind a nondescript door that you would otherwise miss. But what awaits behind is a marvel to see and taste.

You're in the alley between buildings, with white walls and blue accents matching the Greek flag. Tons of dingy tables and chairs are filled with people - and an older man and woman push through and free up a table for you to sit. You're given a relatively small menu with very affordable prices compared to the more central, touristy parts of Athens. Greek music blasts through speakers nestled above the alley in the rafters.

We had wine (€1.50 per glass) and, considering the price, it tasted quite decent. We ordered a medium sharing plate and a few other small dishes, like fried cheese, bread, and spicy cheese spread. The service was a bit slow and difficult to flag down - our food took maybe 30 minutes to be delivered from the relatively normal (for an apartment!) looking kitchen.

The food was tasty and reasonable, though the portions were small. For example, the Greek salad at €7 was our most expensive dish, but pretty simple, so I would prioritize other dishes. This, consider ordering a bit more than you usually would. Overall, all in, it was ~€15 per person or a bit less.

Overall, a great place to spend an evening surrounded by locals - and a very unique one at that. I...

I have mixed feelings about this place. I came on a busy Friday night around 8pm.

First, the food is quite good especially for the price. The place has a typical old school "koutouki" vibe. If you want to experience the Greece from back in the day, this place comes pretty close. The food consists of small plates that are meant to be shared between people.

On the other hand, the service really left a lot to be desired. I waited for an hour with my senior mother in line, only to see people jump in front of the queue and be told they were "φίλοι του αφεντικού" (the boss's friends) when we asked. Some of the waiters looked grumpy and annoyed in general when we asked for basic things. Maybe they just had a bad day, who knows? Others were more pleasant.

Anyway in the end the experience was not that bad. The food was good and we ended up paying 30 euros for two people, but the service experience just turned me off from this place.

My final thought is that this place must have been way better before social media and the onslaught of tourists and food "bloggers" who have managed to turn the place into a tourist trap. I'd come back but only on a less busy...