ETEON Greek culture restaurant — Restaurant in Municipality of Rhodes

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Etèon, and I must say, it was an extraordinary experience from start to finish. From the moment we stepped foot in the door, we were greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that set the stage for a truly memorable evening.

The journey began with the Greek salad, a delightful dish that was assembled right in front of us. The freshness of the ingredients was evident, and the attention to detail was commendable. Every bite was a burst of flavor, and the combination of vibrant vegetables and tangy dressing was a true delight.

However, the real standout of the evening was the grilled octopus. It was a highlight for me personally, as it exceeded all expectations. The texture was incredibly soft and tender, a testament to the chef's skill in preparing this delicate seafood. The octopus was perfectly cooked and seasoned, creating a harmonious blend of flavors that left me wanting more.

Next up was the grilled calamari, a dish that showcased the chef's ability to elevate traditional Greek flavors. The calamari was cooked to perfection, tender and flavorful. The addition of mushrooms with metsovone cheese added a delightful twist, with just the right amount of spiciness to tantalize the taste buds.

One of the most memorable dishes of the evening was the seafood kritharoto, a Greek version of risotto. The umami flavors present in this dish were truly mind-blowing. Each spoonful was a symphony of flavors, with the mussels adding a touch of brininess that elevated the dish to new heights.

We couldn't resist trying the lamb, which was cooked in its own little baking sheet bag. The result was a tender and juicy masterpiece that melted in the mouth.

Even though we were already quite full, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to indulge in some desserts. The XXL cookie with two versions of chocolate was simply divine. Each bite was a rich and decadent experience that satisfied our sweet cravings.

However, the true star of the dessert menu was the baklava. This traditional Greek pastry was a revelation. Fresh, light, and bursting with pistachio flavors, it was a true delight for the senses. The balance of sweetness and nuttiness was absolutely perfect, and it left us with a lasting impression.

Throughout the evening, the service provided by Anna-Maria and Apollon was exceptional. They were attentive, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to ensure that our dining experience was nothing short of remarkable. The Chef also deserves a “hat’s off” and high praise for his artistry and ability to infuse traditional Greek dishes with a...

We had made a reservation, but when we arrived, all the tables were taken, and we ended up waiting 20 minutes before being seated. Not exactly a great start to the evening. A simple gesture like offering us a drink while we waited would have gone a long way, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

We decided to go for the Meze platter, expecting a nice variety of small dishes. What we got was five dips and a tiny portion of bread. To make matters worse, we had also ordered the spicy feta dip separately, which turned out to already be part of the platter, something they could’ve easily mentioned. Out of the five dips, we liked two, one was just a repeat of another, two weren’t to our taste, and one was just downright odd: a small bowl with half a cauliflower and a bell pepper. It didn’t look appetizing and definitely didn’t taste good either.

Throughout the meal, our glasses remained empty for quite a while, and no one came by to check if we wanted anything else to drink. We had to flag someone down ourselves. Even asking for something simple like a straw turned into a mini ordeal, we had to ask two different people before finally getting one.

One other thing that stood out: I had already noticed it on the menu, but seeing it in action was… underwhelming. A Greek salad was being “prepared at the table” next to us. Sounded fancy, but it really just meant dumping five pre-filled containers into a bowl and giving it a quick mix. Not sure why that needed to happen tableside, and it definitely didn’t add anything special.

What surprised me most was that there were quite a few Greek guests dining there. The food was okay but nothing remarkable. From my experience, local Greeks don’t usually go for mediocre versions of their own cuisine, so it left me wondering if we were just unlucky, or if this place is simply overrated.

To top it off, the Meze platter was more expensive on the bill than listed on the menu. The waiter said prices had changed just the day before and offered to fix it, but at that point, it wasn’t really about the one euro. It was just too many little disappointments in one evening.

In the end, we didn’t say anything to the staff. The place was packed and we started to doubt if it was just us. But looking back, the whole evening felt more frustrating than enjoyable. We won’t...

The atmosphere we saw from the outside drew us in. From the moment we entered, the friendly staff made us feel like we'd arrived somewhere special.

Despite not having a reservation, they quickly seated us at one of the best tables on the porch. After explaining that their restaurant was a classic Greek tavern style and that the food was traditional Greek, they handed us the menus and a sheet of paper with the day's specials.

The waiter who had attended to us returned a few minutes later to ask if we had any questions about the menus and if we wanted water.

Shortly after we placed our orders, another waiter arrived on a specially made rectangular wooden board with unleavened Greek bread, olive oil, rosemary, black olives, and olive paste. The waiter explained the ingredients on the board and how to consume them. While we were enjoying these delicious snacks, our orders arrived 10-12 minutes later: souvlaki, sea bream, seafood orzo, and kleftiko. The waiter explained the characteristics of each dish and how to serve it with which sauces, leaving us to enjoy our visual feast.

They suggested a white wine to complement our meals. With this wine, the visual feast turned into a feast of flavor. Every single dish we ordered was incredibly delicious and carefully prepared. I'd like to thank the chef and all the staff.

I'd like to thank the chef and...