Ella Greek Cooking — Restaurant in Athens

Ella Urban Greek Cuisine, nestled in the vibrant heart of Athens, immediately captivates with its modern twist on the classic Greek taverna. My visit there, particularly on a bustling Christmas Eve afternoon, was an experience that beautifully melded contemporary flair with traditional Greek hospitality.

Ambiance: The restaurant's chic and urban design perfectly combines modern style with the warmth of traditional Greek elements, creating an inviting and stylish atmosphere. Service: The standout feature of Ella Urban Greek Cuisine is its staff, especially Dimitri, a waiter whose charm and attentiveness enhanced our dining experience significantly. Food Quality: The cuisine here is a testament to the freshness and quality of the ingredients used. Each dish presented a familiar taste of traditional taverna food, yet with a delightful modern presentation that tantalized the taste buds. Price: Considering the exceptional quality of food and service, the prices are justifiably matched, offering excellent value for money.

Ella Urban Greek Cuisine's ability to marry traditional Greek flavors with modern culinary techniques stands out. It's a refreshing take on Greek cuisine that respects traditional roots while embracing contemporary trends.

The warmth and professionalism of Dimitri, particularly on a busy day like Christmas Eve, made our visit unforgettable. His friendly approach and deep knowledge of the menu greatly enriched our dining experience.

I highly recommend Ella Urban Greek Cuisine to anyone seeking a unique and high-quality dining experience in Athens. It's a perfect destination for both locals and visitors looking for a modern interpretation of Greek culinary traditions.

Ella Urban Greek Cuisine is a standout establishment in Athens, skillfully blending the best of traditional Greek taverna food with a modern touch. The freshness of the ingredients, combined with exceptional service, particularly from staff like Dimitri, makes it a must-visit destination.

5/5 stars – An exemplary choice for its innovative cuisine, outstanding service, and...

I decided to book Ella Greek Cooking after seeing glowing reviews on Google. My experience on the other hand was not the same and I left feeling really disappointed with both the food and service.

I booked a table for 9pm and arrived at the restaurant promptly on time. A party who had not made a reservation was seated inside the restaurant whereas the first table we were offered was outside and on the sidewalk. It did not appear that any tables were reserved and it was a first come first serve basis. This defeats the purpose of booking a table and having a reservation system. The second table was at the bar facing a parking lot. The final table (as I had said I would like to have a table in the courtyard) was given to us after 5-10minutes wait. The restaurant was extremely under-staffed and in the courtyard there was only one waiter. The waiter informed us that our table was ready and guided us to our table but it was un-cleaned and had plates from the last customer. We stood on the side and watched him clean the table. When we were ready to order, there was no one available to take our order. We signaled repeatedly that we would like to order and it took 10 minutes or so before the waiter could come and take our orders.

The wait on the food was also another downside. The salad came promptly after 10 minutes, however our mains took very long. We had to chase our mains and it came eventually after the chaser.

At the end of the meal, my husband had informed the waiter of the long wait time for the food. He offered us a drink on the house as an apology to make up for the long wait time. We said we were fine and he offered us some sweets.

The food itself was nothing to rave about. My husband ordered the special which was pasta with Salmon. There were hardly any salmon pieces in the pasta. The kebab I had ordered had a strong gamey smell from the lamb.

Overall, we left feeling very disappointed and wished we had dined elsewhere. The restaurant needs to hire more staff. The waiter was trying his best which we...

Ella is a restaurant that I always come back to whenever I'm in Athens (and often multiple times to make sure I've tried most of the seasonal items on the menu). People often think that you need to find Taverna food as soon as you arrive in Greece - which you can find in Athens, of course, but rather save that for the islands. Athens is where you get contemporary Greek cuisine, and Ella does it SO well.

Many years ago, I had a peach panna cotta desert here that I still talk about, because the experience of the first spoonful felt like a peach tree had first flowered, and then fruited, in my mouth. You don't get that kind of dish without some playfulness on the menu - so you can hit some misses on it!

But the kebab yiartlou and the giovetsi are regular menu items, and they're delicious! As are almost any of the salads. I have a soft spot as well for the lamb fricasse, but the pistachio flavouring would get a little intense if you had to eat the entire plate on your own. Rather order a few dishes to share with a group - and you get to taste more that way.

The service can get erratic when they're busy, so late lunches and late dinners work better. Also the outside tables are just off the street, so expect street performers to wander through playing drums and harmonicas every 15 minutes or so at night, which can get very loud (this calms down from about 21:30, which is another reason to go for a later dinner). Try to get a table further into the...