Caravin Wine & Wanderlust — Restaurant in Athens

If you love wine as an essential dining element, Caravin will be a rewarding experience. The four of us left agreeing that this was the most special meal we've shared in our 11 days in Greece. Here's why: I told our host that we enjoy wines and that once we'd selected our meze items (think of them as tapas or small plates), we'd welcome her wine pairing recommendations.

She arranged the sequence of the food delivery to best accompany the three different wines. (We had her pour wine by the glass rather than attempting to finish full bottles.) We started with shrimp soft tortilla mini tacos. Our host chose a delightful Macedonian white wine and described the flavor notes and showed us the region on a handheld map. Our next course was a porcini mushroom ravioli which also was complemented by the same white. One of our diners usually shuns ravioli and other stuffed pasta dishes but he enjoyed this enormously. The delicate flavor of the mushrooms came through and the pasta was al dente.

I wondered whether it was merely coincidence that this second dish paired so well with her first recommended wine. But it became clear that nothing was left to random luck. Our next meze was a hand pie filled with olives, grape/cherry tomatoes and herbs. She brought us a rose that surprised us. We typically think of rose as the choice of neophytes and casual wine drinkers. Our host explained that this wine is actually the product of red grapes typically used for a more intense wine, but that the rose is fermented without the skin of this grape variety. This was a deft pairing and we later asked to photograph the label; we want to seek out this rose back at home.

Our last course was a beef fajita plate accompanied by the full red wine fermented from the same grape variety as the rose. We each assembled the components onto our tortillas and sipped the wine. Our host thoughtfully pointed out that this particular red is best suited as a food accompaniment rather than as a sipping wine due to its higher than average tannin content.

We were not aiming for a heavy meal. But we also weren't prepared for the well orchestrated dining experience. We left feeling full owing to the pleasure of tasty dishes, a variety of world music, a knowledgeable and gracious host. And of course the deft wine pairings.

Reading my review you may have concluded that this might be more than you can afford. But our bill came to roughly 110 euros for the four of us. (I hasten to clarify that one of our party tends to minimize his wine consumption, so we ordered three glasses of wine for each of the three wine courses. Nevertheless, I hope you'll agree that this constitutes a modest dinner check for four diners.)

I realize the average review tends to be brief and rests solely on whether the reviewer was satisfied. But Caravin is so special. I wanted to provide enough insight that wine and food lovers will keep this Athens gem delighting diners for years to come. After all I want to relive the experience on future...

Caravin Wine & Wanderlust in Athens: a culinary journey through Greece! From the moment I stepped into this charming restaurant, I knew I was in for a treat. The warm and inviting atmosphere was palpable, with a cozy decor that transported me to a Greek village. The exceptional service was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the culinary journey they were about to take me on.

The menu was a masterclass in Greek cuisine, with dishes that perfectly balanced tradition and innovation. But the real showstopper was the Beef Tagliata, dry-aged for 200 days and served with white truffle powder, potato rocks, and grilled vegetables. The beef was tender, juicy, and full of depth, with a rich, savory flavor that was elevated by the earthy sweetness of the white truffle powder. The potato rocks added a delightful crunch, while the grilled vegetables provided a pop of color and freshness.

But what truly sets Caravin Wine & Wanderlust apart is the passion and dedication of its owners and managers, Leoni and Anna. Their warmth and hospitality are evident in every aspect of the restaurant, from the welcoming atmosphere to the carefully curated menu and wine selection.

In short, Caravin Wine & Wanderlust is a must-visit for anyone seeking an authentic, unforgettable dining experience in Athens. The warmth, passion, and dedication to culinary excellence are evident in every aspect of the restaurant. I can't wait to return and explore more...

Dinner for two. We have visited this place due to the high ratings, to give it a try. The restaurant was very clean and pretty and the personnel was very attentative. Unfortunately this is all this place had to offer, at least tonight. The food was mediocre at best. We had three dishes, and two glasses of wine. We had a rough start because we had to return the first dish after finding out it was not properly unfrozen (had ice in it). However I don’t think for a restaurant that charges above 20€/ person it is acceptable to find ice inside your food. So there’s that. Second dish, meatballs, was a solid 3/5 (again unacceptable for the price, and for such an easy dish) but we were hungry so we needed something to eat. Third plate was a disaster. The food had such a strong taste of lemon that you couldn’t taste the chicken. We didn’t finish it, but felt really uncomfortable to return it. The restaurant manager realized the problem and offered us an ice cream profiterole free of charge which we appreciated. However even the sweet was poorly made, so I couldn’t rate it more than 2/5. I feel really bad while writing this because the lady that served us was really nice, but if you want to charge premium then your dishes should be of premium quality. Please attend to the kitchen to see what’s...