Avli Lefkada — Restaurant in Lefkada Municipality

So... it has been 2 weeks since dining at Avli. Actually, we ate here on 2 occasions. Following an acceptable experience the first time (despite half-full glasses of wine being removed from the table whilst taking photos - bottled wine NOT carafe), we thought we would return for our penultimate evening.

Do not get me wrong: the setting is lovely and very atmospheric, service is relaxed (which we like - dinner should be an event, not a sprint), the wine was superb!

Regarding the food: very, very, good! Simple, tasty, traditional, fresh and obviously cooked with care/attention. BRAVO! How the ladies survive in the kitchen when temperatures are above 40oC is beyond me! BRAVO AGAIN!

The issue that I had was during our 2nd visit. We were advised of the daily special and informed that it was the last portion available... of course I grabbed it before it was too late.

The special was superb! I was in heaven. A melt-in-the-mouth 'portion' of expertly prepared 'Leg of Lamb'. Utterly unforgettable and this was relayed to the owners, along with a request to compliment the kitchen for such an exquisite dish. BRAVO, BRAVO AGAIN!

OK, it may not be the most exciting option nor anything special in-terms of presentation... but when in Greece, eat Lamb (aka Lamp)...

After being presented with the bill, I was a little surprised at the amount, considering an almost identical order the 1st time was significantly less.

Hey, not a big issue, we are on holiday after all. Paid in cash and no change was forthcoming - during the excessive period in which we were waiting for the above to arrive, I thought to have a closer look at the bill...

€25 for the last 'portion' from a very large leg of lamb! That is nearly the most expensive item on the PRINTED menu.

Now, I am not one of those people that jumps straight to social media, without addressing the issue in person. The response from the owner face-to-face? "Lamb(p) is very expensive"; of course it is but I ordered a PORTION not the whole leg!!!

To add insult to injury the bill for that particular dish wasn't itemised nor were prices relayed at time of order. Just a €25 charge under the heading of 'extras/others'.

Am I to blame? Possibly. Should I have requested the price prior to selection? Definately. The reason I didnt? Trust.

I have lived and worked in Greece for several years, I love the culture and her people, I speak some Greek but understand a lot more!

Lesson learnt; it is just so bloody annoying that this particular incident has made me question all the beliefs that I once held as sacred.

Advice for the Future: Don't screw your clientele or your reputation for the sake of a few euros. If you didn't do that, then you would have received the same amount of money via a nice tip... a tip that wouldn't be subject to TAX!

P.S: your food is amazing and the position of the Taverna is prime!...

This place has definitely been one the highlight of my holiday in Lefkada and I’m sure it would be for any foodie like me. The location is simple and elegant, at the same time extremely welcoming and cozy. The service and the staff from the owner to the waiters are exceptional, they welcome you with a smile and they are capable to make incredible drinks and help you with suggestions and recommendations on the menu. Now the best part, the food! The menu is all very interesting so we had different dishes from starters to main. The beef cheek was incredible, it melted like butter and the taste was comparable to what you find in Michelin starred restaurants! Also the pastas and risotto that my friends had were equally outstanding (and I can be reeeeeeally fussy about pasta). I can’t do nothing but highly recommend this place to all visitors of Lefkada, it’s a real treat! I really hope to come back before leaving the island and if not I really hope to do so in a very...

HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE! WOULD NEVER EAT HERE AGAIN!

the waiter will tell you that your mains and starters can’t arrive together.

Our mains came out before our starters. They completely forgot about my starter, we had to ask for it 20mins later. It came out completely frozen inside (it was the deep fried cheese). We sent it back. And again they bought out a new one that was frozen too.

The taramasalata dip came out. It tasted so sour and lemony we couldn’t eat it. We told the waiter it was inedible she said “no the dip is good. It’s your taste, everyone else likes it and you must pay for it”

The waiter was so so rude to all of us.

Also check your bills at the end, they will add on 10€ or so, and will say it’s “taxes” in fact it not taxes it’s a tip they add to the bill.

The owner will also reply to your google reviews telling you “your crazy and need to see a doctor” all because we said the truth...