Taverna Saita — Restaurant in Athens

The Gem in Plaka

You know when you walk around in a turist area, and you find that place where half the customers seem to be locals- then you should know that this IS the place to eat.

While several other restaurants and tavernas were half-full during peak hour and had staff trying to lead you inside- at Taverna Saita we had to wait to be seated as it was bustling all the time! Trust me, you want to wait those 5-10 mins. We ended up enjoying the food and service so much that we dined daily there for 3 days. No point looking for pearls when you've found the diamond! It's hard to recommend one dish, because frankly all those we have tasted were good. However, we recommend checking out the daily specials that are not on the menu- these are family recipes that have been passed down from generations, and none disappointed! Other things to try are the zucchini balls, the baked eggplant (grandmas recipe) and generally all the salads and the souvlaki special. No wonder this place has been open for over 62 years, and is still going strong!

The staff, and especially the two brothers belonging to the family- push up the service and make you feel really welcome. I want to recall several events where the waitstaff adviced us from ordering food that will be excessive and we would not be likely to finish. Another event during our first meal, we were so pleased with the food and the service- and wanted to overtip. However, the staff asked us for LESS, as this service is their standard and it was not needed to overpay for something so simple as good service and food.

All the meals were generously served and not overpriced at ALL. Here you will get your money's worth! During 3 days and five meals, our bills span from 40-70€ (for three people)- this including several dishes, drinks and desserts. We consider this very affordable in such a busy area. Should we ever return to Athens, this is where...

Finding genuine home-cooked food in a touristy area of a capital city it's a feat. We were lucky to find Saita Taverna! If you eat here, you will feel like you are being fed by a Greek grandma! In a quaint cobbled pedestrian street, sunlit and peaceful, Saita's tables are dotted under a canopy of trees in the neighbourhood of a quintessential small church - this was the setting for our meal. Having experienced excellent greek cooking in the family I’m not easily pleased, but all traditional Greek dishes we had at Saita were flawless, and we had many because they were super fresh and super flavoursome. Hand-cut chips cooked in fresh oil - how often do you find these in a busy place..!? Crispy yet cloud-like courgette balls, tender lamb melting in your mouth, perfectly layered moussaka, tasty and soft oven-cooked aubergine with feta, horta, salads - not a single dish disappointed, and the white house wine was crisp and refreshing. I could go on… We were looked after by the family that have been running this place for over 50 yeas ever since a grandma started it off. Don’t miss it! Many locals eat here too. Honestly, you will want to return for more because the food is so fresh, authentic, and made with a genuine love for the ingredients. It will not break your bank either! You could go for kebabs down the road deeper into Plaka, but that will be a mistake, trust me, we did that on our first evening until we...

It was a very lovely out-of-the-way place that my best friend selected at random as we wandered the streets our first night in Athens! The waitstaff were very friendly and were very patient and encouraging of my efforts to pronounce the names of the dishes in Greek. It was worth stumbling through the language lesson to see them smile and show visible appreciation for my earnest efforts! That all being said, the food was great, simple but authentic in all the ways that made you feel like you were having a 'Greek' meal any local would enjoy on a regular Tuesday. The bread was especially soft and chewy and paired wonderfully with the Feta, and the Souvlaki was so juicy and worth it! A very relaxed and causal environment, and a great place to people watch! Had the pleasure of watching a giant moving truck squeeze itself between the restaurants seating areas, and I made friends with one of the furry locals who enjoyed some of my meat scraps.

All in all, it was a worthwhile meal and experience, to the point I went back as a way to wrap up my time in Athens, and the meal was just as worth it as the first goaround. Would recommend for Americans without hesitation! Also, last note, be sure to try the Fried...