The Underdog® Flagship Store Thissio — Restaurant in Athens

I am a digital nomad and have been staying in Thisseio for three weeks. I was recommended this place by several peeps. I have given them money 5-6 times. The first time I came I had a delicious premium angus beef burger. I don’t eat beef often but occasionally order one if grass fed, organic, or premium. I have ordered food and spent 10-20 Euros each visit. They are overpriced and pretentious. It is set up for a place for workers and peeps who enjoy coffee, but it’s ridiculous the mark-up. Literally 8 Euros for some of the premium coffee BY THE CUP!

There are several employees who are kind but some are also dismissive and rude. Like today me sitting at the bar for 10 minutes being ignored after sitting. This has happened before.

The biggest complaint I have is that I have often been given cold drinks meant to be served HOT like specialty brewed coffee, lattes, and today TEA literally a LUKEWARM cut in porcelain and it was supposed to be yogi tea.. FURTHERMORE, I think it is super weird to serve a CUP of tea for 4 Euros! Usually eve in EXPENSIVE UK or ANY city like LA (who do tea brilliantly) - one is given a little teapot with either loose tea or bags…. And if one is a WORKER who is giving PREMIUM fees for a cup of tea, then one would be given the courtesy of refills of hot water into the tea cup. Today I said the tea was cold, and that it is often my hot drinks are cold. They apologised and gave me fresh cup that WAS hot…. Then after I had a few sips and my porcelain mug became lukewarm (the reason to serve tea in a stainless steel little teapot is so that you can top-up the cup with warmer water/ tea)…. They gave me some more hot water… but the second guy I asked this from again only put a SMALL amount of hot water LIKE IT IS A PREMIUM. I kept saying more more more and he would give another half inch. I said why don’t you serve it in tea pots and he said “this is the way we serve it here” and I tried to engage with him. HE JUST kept repeating that this is the way they serve it. DID NOT CARE to hear my feedback.. sigh sigh sigh bonny blighh bonnnyyyyyy…. So this is what sent me here! RUDE PEEPS!

UPDATE 29 January —— response to the 'response from owner' — Yes this spot is hip but they think they are the bees knees and don't have to court their loyal clients. The fact THE OWNER doesn't care that they CONSISTENTLY give LUKEWARM drinks that are supposed to be HOT - is super indicative of what I am saying! But I saw many other reviewers not as impressed as their rep as well. SO I am not alone. And obviously they don't care that I gave them my money for three weeks. Don't care about a 'loyal' customer... who also has my own network to INFLUENCE. I don't love the "tude" of several of the baristas... now I see where it came fro...

Supervisor's behavior was unprofessional, rude and patronizing. After buying 2 packs of freshly ground coffee a few months ago, I recently re-visited Underdog in order to have brunch. As I was leaving I mention to the supervisor that the premium coffee that I bought (14euros each) was completely unusable as it was too finely cut for my espresso machine. Upon a small lecture on how coffee changes its content whether your are in a mountain, island or 2 minutes from the coffee shop (which I am) and how I should have bought 5 packets of coffee with different grinds to eventually determine what works, he insisted that I am in denial to understand what he is telling me, multiple times.

Upon his constructive feedback on my cognitive impairment, I hope one day to grew and learn to understand. But for now and In the future I will make sure that I will either attend coffee workshops in order to better understand how to order the grind of the coffee or go with a small check of 100 euros in order to test every single grind size.

A few facts, the espresso machine was new, the barista asked me and I told him the exact model of my machine and he grinded accordingly, I have tried different grams and pressure upon brewing, the coffee was returned few months after the purchase due to covid restrictions.

In response to the owner's response; A - Three times you told me on how moisture is affecting coffee, three times i told you that I am 5 minutes from your shop and have tried brewing shortly after purchase. But trying to explain things three times prevents you three times from listening . B - You offered NOTHING, and I asked for nothing. You implied that prior to me buying any coffee I should try all the grinding settings. C - The espresso machine is a De' Longhi. D - I did not complain cause there was no reason to complain as I was not interested in getting anything out of it. I was waiting for the next time that I would visit to mention it. E- Thanks for your kind offer for the free workshop. However I will choose to continue having my mediocre coffee and not having to worry about the incomprehensible moisture...

The place is really nice and has a great vibe, but the service is not good at all. While We visited on a Saturday morning that was not at all busy and 4 people sat on an 8 people table. We had a big dog along with us, so we did not want to sqeeze her in a small table. So after we sat for a while and after water was served to us along with the menus, another waitress asked us to get up and sit on another table just in case another bigger party comes along. So we reluctantly got up and relocated. We intended to have brunch intially but after that we just ordered coffee and left after a while. Btw the table was empty this whole time. It was disappointing since on different occasions we have sat on said table, while being in a group of 4-5 people. In response to the owner, if you do not want dogs in your cafe please say so, but a table that is far from the other tables ( the big one, you know the one we sat and were told to get up from) was the thoughtful solution for us, in order to not bother the other customers or the dog itself. Nevertheless squeezing us on a small table where our feet all together could not fit,let alone the dog seems a cozier solution for you.

As an owner you should be able to accept criticism and respond with respect as the people's choices are providing for you. And customer should be treated well, as customer should treat well the place and people that serve him and provide services. The attitude shown in your response is really not appreciated and there are so many places to visit in Athens that I don't have to bother again. So keep your one star as I do not need it and I will keep my smiles and warmth and money for the places that deserve it....