To Rini — Restaurant in Athens

We had a mixed experience at To Rini.

We started with gavros marinatos, the fish carpaccio of the day (which tasted more like a ceviche), and zucchini noodles. The gavros were truly delicious and stood out among the starters. However, the portions of the first two dishes were quite small, which led us to order an additional main: the fresh fish of the day served with a spicy sauce, potatoes, and parsley.

Unfortunately, this dish took over 45 minutes to arrive. We even enquired about it as we were considering switching to dessert instead. The staff told us it was already being prepared and would be out in five minutes. When it finally came, the portion of fish was surprisingly small for a main course — and even worse, the potatoes were undercooked and inedible. We love potatoes, but we had to leave them all on the plate, as seen in the photos. No one on staff asked us about the meal or noticed the untouched food, which felt quite unprofessional.

It genuinely seemed like the kitchen rushed the dish after our complaint, compromising quality in the process.

To add to the discomfort, our table was placed right next to the kitchen, with poor ventilation. It felt as though we were dining inside the kitchen itself, surrounded by intense heat and, at times, unpleasant smells — including what seemed to be something burnt. We couldn’t wait to leave and take a shower when we got home.

That said, I do appreciate restaurants that prioritise quality over quantity, and I can tell there’s a strong team effort behind the design and preparation of these dishes. The creativity and detail are there — what’s missing is consistency and care in execution, especially under pressure.

This was our second visit, and sadly, we won’t be returning. There are far better dining options in Athens where both food and service are taken...

I absolutely adore this place and have visited it multiple times because it offers an exceptional experience. From the very first bite, I felt like I was transported back to my childhood while also embarking on a unique, modern culinary adventure.

The menu is a splendid fusion of traditional Greek flavors infused with a fresh and contemporary twist, resulting in a symphony of tastes that had my taste buds dancing with delight. Each dish boasts multiple layers of flavor, creating a delightful surprise with every bite. My personal favorites include the hilopites with shrimps, the salad with pink tomatoes, the slow-cooked goat, and the heavenly Panna Cotta and Crepes Suzette.

In addition to their delectable main courses, they also offer a brunch menu, coffee, and an array of homemade cakes and cookies that are nothing short of mind-blowing. My sweet indulgences of choice are the orange cake, carrot cake, and the delightful cookies.

The restaurant's ambiance is equally impressive, striking a perfect balance between contemporary and inviting with its industrial design and cozy atmosphere. The outdoor yard, a hidden gem, gives you the warm feeling of being a cherished guest in a dear friend's home.

What truly sets this place apart, however, is the incredibly warm and attentive staff, along with the owners themselves, who go above and beyond to make you feel like a special guest. Their hospitality is genuinely heartwarming.

I can't recommend this restaurant enough. It's a place where tradition meets innovation, where memories are revisited, and where you're made to feel like family.This place is a hidden culinary gem that truly deserves all the praise...

3 stars instead of 2.5 as I'd have wanted. I was very excited to visit for dinner, having read very good reviews. Unfortunately, To Rini did not live up to what I'd heard. The evening started off wrong, with my party seated at a table at a broken part of the pavement, making every move risky (what made this worse is that it's an easy repair, so you're wondering why it's been left that way). The food left me disappointed. I feel when you're doing traditional food with a twist, it has to be executed to perfection, particularly for the prices. The goat soup was good, but the minced rooster was lost in the pasta (maybe a different choice of pasta would be better). The "yiachni" potatoes could do with much less cinnamon. The rose wine, suggested as very popular, was rather indifferent. The crepes suzette were burned, both the dough and the caramelised sauce, and over-sweet, whereas the pannacotta was not firm and the distribution of pistachio on top made for very uneven mouthfuls. As for the service, although in the beginning our server was very attentive, as the evening wore on, it was becoming increasingly difficult to catch his attention. All in all, I wouldn't visit for dinner again. I'd maybe try the cakes earlier in the day, but after the excessive sweetness of the desserts, I'm sceptical. Update after response from owner: Being a civil engineer, I am aware of the relevant laws and also the cases where it is allowed for owners to fix the pavement in front of their property). In any case, to avoid exacerbating the damage due to the very fragile mortar, no seating should be...