Thomas 1971 Tavern — Restaurant in Athens

I see a lot of positive reviews but my experience was different.

We came in, and we were seated outside, which was just fine with us! The hostess was polite.

Our very smiley server seemed very efficient and in a hurry to take our order and get on with his work. Yet he was pleasant. The order was brought by a young lady and was almost tossed on the table. Really, it seemed like we weren't valued as customers.

Our server suggested an order of bread to start, with some dip and olive oil. Seriously, I believe there was no more than a teaspoon (not tablespoon) of olive oil, a couple of olives and a few diminuitive pieces of vegetables. There wouldn't have been enough for one person. At other restaurants we have ordered bread and received a nice portion. And then we ordered some more because the "village bread", as it is called, is wonderful! Often it is complimentary..

However, this was different. They had a sourdough bread, which was OK, but there was not much to make it tasty. Plus the dalmades were tasty but they certainly weren't overdoing the amount. We have ordered these from many restaurants and these were small. And 9 euros!

The moussaka was nice. The risotto was also nice.

The lamb wasn't cooked as well as other restaurants we have visited, and it was a smaller portion, but reasonable. Also it was 9 or 10 euros less than other restaurants where we ate, so a reasonable deal overall.

At one point I wanted to know where the washroom was located and a lady said in a very short manner "upstairs on the right" and walked away before I could even ask the question.

So overall it seemed like they were minimizing food (for increased profit) and the staff were not friendly. We have found staff at other restaurants to be somewhat interested in their clientele and able to relate to them. It makes for an enjoyable encounter.

So I would suggest another place if you are on vacation and really want to have a nice, relaxed time, somewhat friendly staff, and stellar food with...

Let me tell you about this place!

As soon as we walked up to the entrance, immediately welcomed, we chose to sit outside it was like 8pm, a bit cooler, perfect option! We were greeted by such a pleasant gentleman a few minutes after we sat down, he gave us the menus and ensured us if we need anything just let him know. I had already looked up this place and the reviews, I basically already knew what I wanted before coming here, or so I thought. When the waiter came over, I was looking at the drink menu, he said let me make you something! I said okay, I trust you! BEST DECISION! He brought me a lovely Japanese style mojito! It was delicious, very refreshing! We started chatting with a fellow customer, turns out hes friends with the owner, lovely guy! He recommended some dishes to try, so we did! We got this fried flakey dish with cheese inside and honey drizzled on top (can't remember the name) it was phenomenal! We also got the baked feta, amazing! We got some sour dough to dip in it, beautiful! For the main, I got the stuffed squid, oh my gentle that was delicious! Then for desert, I was going to get the baklava, the waiter said do you trust me? Well of course, he didn't steer me wrong on the drink so I said yes, I trust you. I have no idea what he brought out, some kind of pie sliced right out of the heavens. It had this candied top with a creamy almost custard like filling and a bottom I dont even know how to explain but it was perfect! To end it all off, the waiter brings over this little glass dish like you see in the movies, the ones people have in their living room with scotch in it. No idea what was in it, but he said it's good it's for digestion! Lol it was interesting but I can't complain. If you're in Athens, and you want a great experience with foods that touch your soul, this is the place you want to eat. The people are great, the food was amazing, the vibe, everything! What a...

An eye-opening experience of blatant RACISM.

I went to the restaurant with my mother and sister around 9:10 PM. We were the only people seated inside, right in front of the kitchen and just a table away from the payment counter. Despite it being a slow night with chefs twiddling their thumbs waiting for orders, we were completely ignored.

There were three waitstaff: a blonde woman, a dark-haired woman, and a bald man. The owners, an older couple, were also there, sitting at a table nearby working on a laptop. Despite the place being almost empty and us being right in their line of sight, we felt invisible.

When we finally got the menu after what felt like forever, another fifteen minutes passed without anyone taking our order. I made eye contact with the bald man twice and nodded to get his attention, but he just walked past us. The two women did the same, frequently passing by without acknowledging us.

Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore, and we decided to leave. I’ve never experienced such clear racism in my life. I was so excited to try this place because I thought it would be a great traditional spot, but it seems they’re stuck in 1900’s, judging by their treatment of foreigners.

I never write bad reviews because I know they can hurt businesses, but I can’t stay quiet about this kind of behavior. I urge you not to support places like this that show such clear discrimination.

We had such a wonderful time on the Greek islands, praising the openness and hospitality of the Greek people. But our first night in Athens left a sour taste in our mouths and changed our view of the...