Fita — Restaurant in Athens

If this is the New Greek Cooking, I love it.

The food here is a joy. Light, nuanced, and sophisticated in the mouth without pretensions on the plate, all the art in the food itself, of which we ate every morsel.

The tomato salad refreshing and tasty, with a mixture of herbs that subtly enanhanced the robust tomato and perfectly chosen cheese.

The beetroot salad tender and earthy, with an almond skordalia that gave almost more marzipan than garlic and worked surprisingly well.

The fish, both tartare and cooked with risotto elegant, fresh, with perfect pairings of flavours, savoury and elevated.

The taramosalata, emulsified to mayonnaise smoothness, was the first taramosalata one of us has ever enjoyed.

The bread. I could give an entire review on the bread, sourdough-tangy, with a texture for sopping up the juices - and you will want to clean every plate - with just the right balance of moisture and lightness, savouriness and simplicity. This might be the best bread I’ve ever eaten.

Like (almost) everything else, the bread is presented simply: slices on a plate. As one member of our party of five said “everything tastes more interesting than it looks”. I’ve waxed scathing about restaurants that mistake elaborate plating for refined cooking. Fita reversed this. Plating like a taverna and cooking with an elegance and respect for Greek ingredients that feels like a glimpse into fine dining, Hellenic style.

For dessert, the coc (a sort of giant profiterole) looked just like the over-sweet pastry you can buy almost anywhere, but was airy and complex and a pleasure to eat. The deconstructed Pavlova is the exception to the simple plating rule, but not to the delightfulness, with columns of meringue stacked on its almost-yoghurt, super-light cream, and the fruit below showcasing its own sweetness.

The service was a bit slow, especially at the back of the garden where we were seated, but it’s hard to complain about anything when the food is so elegant, so honest, and such artistry has been given...

Totally overrated!! Limited menu, with wannabe dishes - some of the dishes are interesting as an idea, but the implementation wasn’t as expected. Tried the tomato salad, which was rightly balanced and great, as was the beef liver. The “sashimi” smoke eel and beetroot sushi had achieved the “rice texture” but the taste balance wasn’t there - eel was too thin and beetroot also extremely mild. The smoked eggplant was completely indifferent, and the fried frumenti (trahana) wasn’t fit for this. The cheese wasn’t felt at all. The onion dolma with octopus was tasty, yet the essence of fava and fennel wasn’t present. The absence of bottled/branded wine by the glass was a complete disappointment!!! The non-branded wine, served in 0.5lt increments was good, yet the fact they “dishonour” it by serving it with tavern like glass, instead of the wine glasses they bring with the bottled wine was annoying… We also waited 25mins to give out order.

The place is lean and modern, yet with no great ID. Also the metal chairs create a lot of noise.

Overall not a culinary experience, and not a place we...

Nestled in Neos Kosmos, not far from Koukaki, Every visit, the charm of Fita hits me anew. This spot has secured its spot among my Athenian favorites.

Picture this: Hipster charm, minimal vibes, an open kitchen and a laid-back outdoor spot. Just a little heads up – restrooms could use a makeover.

Service? They’re quick and pro, but the staff’s secret fatigue is poorly disguised. They look like they might rather be elsewhere.

Now, onto the star – the food. Honest and exceptional, Fita’s reimagining Greek cuisine with modern twists. Freshness is law, especially in their fish dishes. The menu is changing daily. Savor these: Greek salad, Grilled squid, Sardines, moussaka balls, their ceviche, fresh pasta with avgotaraho (bottarga - warning: it's an acquired taste, so approach with an open mind), fried potatoes. Don't miss the desserts. Sharing's the smart play.

Prices? Reasonable prices - Excellent value for money.

One tip: Book ahead.

Overall? Fita’s that carefree escape. One of Athens' finest...