Geco Athens — Restaurant in Athens

I never leave poor reviews lightly and I've waited to do so to be less annoyed about our experiences. I was baffled actually that this highly rated and expensive restaurant could have treated us this poorly twice. We went late on a Saturday, and it was packed, we had a table in the far back corner with mainly large groups around us celebrating. It's that kind of place, has a loud party vibe but is fine dining with chic decor. People clearly come here for special occasions and a good time. We ourselves wanted the same. We had been to a few bars before dinner and were ready to continue our evening here. The guy who first served us was friendly but we waited so long to even order, probably 30 mins, then we only had a bread and feta spread and a main course each and we actually were there over 2 hours, the evening just dragged. Our wine was in a bucket across the room, my husband had to rescue it because otherwise we wouldn'thave had it with our food. No service in sight. Shortly after we arrived the table next to us left and it was at least 25 minutes before anyone cleared anything from it. This is acceptable in a cafe, but here this was shoddy and clearly they didn't have enough staff. The food was delicious. I loved the Cacio e pepe pasta, one of the best I've ever had. The chicken dish with crispy potatoes was also excellent. But my pasta, that I'd waited ages for, was cold. I would have said something but couldn't find anyone. So we just ate the food. When we were done we wanted to go to the bar, we had asked before dinner to reserve us a space for after we ate and they had said 'of course'. When we tried to ask if it was ready we were told 'of course' again and asked to wait one moment... well time went by, nothing, nobody. Then we ask again and he says 5 mins. 20 mins later I went back to the room. My husband stayed to speak to the manager. The whole meal had been a buzz kill. They offered us free drinks and dessert and said there was only space outside and not at the bar but I was already undressed and ready for bed when we got this offer. We had a couple of items removed from our bill by way of apology.

Moving on to the Monday night. We had dinner plans that fell through and being our last night I said to my husband, let's give the restaurant another chance, I'd love to eat that pasta again, but hot, and give these guys a chance to redeem themselves because they are highly rated and it's not Saturday night anymore. This time we could only sit either at the bar or on high chairs out the front. OK I said, at least we aren't hidden around the back. I sat in the chair when my hand caught some greasy smear and I turned to see the back of the chair had what I think was a large amount of butter on it that was now on my clothes and on my hands so I stand up and it takes 5 minutes to find anyone to bring something to clean it. We should have left. Not for the butter, for the wait. Again ordering took ages, we just ordered our mains. I resisted saying 'make sure its hot'. I shouldn't have. The food came. My pasta and my husbands DIY meat and wraps. We start eating. Cold. Both cold. This time I'm going to say something. But can I? No service anywhere! So we eat it. All the way through our meal, not one person comes anywhere near us to ask how dinner is. We finish and decide that instead of going to bed we will get the bill and try and rescue our evening at a cocktail bar where we know the people and we will have fun. Now to get the bill... we wait, we wait, we wait... in the end my husband gets up to go look for someone. They also don't ask about our meal. We decide we don't want to lose anymore time and will give them feedback at check out. At check out, the staff are friendly as always but when my husband tells them we had a bad experience, again, in the restaurant they respond with a 'thank you so much for your feedback we really value this to improve our services'. Which is great, but they didn't want any details or ask. So not really interested are you? The hotel is excellent FYI, see 5...

I don’t usually write reviews, but I was surprised by the high ratings this restaurant has on Google Maps. It made me wonder if the reviews are either fake or if we just had a bad experience! We dined here twice, and while the atmosphere and decor of the restaurant are excellent, the quality of the food does not match the prices.

The staff assured us that the food was amazing, but we found it to be quite average. There are better restaurants in Athens that offer higher quality dishes at more reasonable prices. On both occasions, our main courses arrived while we were still finishing our starters. At one point, the waiter even tried to take my starter away to serve the main courses. I had to explain that I wanted to finish my starter before moving on to the main dish. He understood and ensured that we received our freshly prepared mains about 10-15 minutes later, which worked well for us. However, it was strange that this happened on both occasions, which is disappointing for such a highly recommended restaurant.

Another issue was getting the staff's attention, particularly during breakfast when we felt completely ignored and had to repeatedly ask for help. It also took 25 minutes for our breakfast to arrive. The restaurant manager, however, was great, and if we saw him, he would be attentive towards us! Getting the bill was another challenge, as the staff seemed more interested in chatting with each other than attending to their customers. While I encountered several staff members who were arrogant and unfriendly, there were a few lovely staff who made us feel welcome, especially a bartender who made our drinks; I just sadly don't remember his name.

Overall, I believe this restaurant does not deserve its 4.9 rating on Google. The quality of food, and service is very low and needs significant improvement. When we return to Athens, we will definitely choose to dine at other restaurants rather than...

“The Ultimate Hot Spot for Elegance, Flavor, and Celebrity Appeal” If you’re looking for a chic, lively spot in Athens that balances elegance with a welcoming vibe, look no further than Geco Athens at the Gatsby Hotel. The atmosphere is sophisticated yet vibrant, making it a true haven for those seeking both style and substance. The clientele is as impressive as the setting, often frequented by notable personalities and celebrities, making it a hub for the city’s trendsetters.

From the moment we arrived, the team at Geco Athens made us feel like VIPs. Bartender Christos was fantastic, helping us choose the perfect aperitivo to start our evening with his expert recommendations. Meanwhile, the attentive floor manager, Thodorhs, took the time to explain the unique philosophy behind Geco Athens, making our experience all the more memorable.

The food was truly standout, with innovative dishes that are as delicious as they are creative. The seafood popsicles were a particular highlight – bursting with flavor and perfectly prepared, they’re a must-try. The tuna kebab was another exceptional dish, offering a fresh twist on a classic with a taste that was absolutely unforgettable. And don’t get me started on the mini burgers – addictive is an understatement!

Geco Athens is, without a doubt, the place to be in Athens right now. For anyone in search of a hot spot with a fantastic atmosphere, exceptional service, and food that will leave you craving more, Geco Athens at the Gatsby Hotel is...