Hatzikeli — Restaurant in Municipality of Rhodes

Evening started good, discussed with owner what we would like to eat namely Carpaccio Salmon, Grilled Octopus then a Greek plate of 5 pieces. Took a long time to get salmon, table of 6 next to us were waiting all this time to get served. Salmon was nice tasty and we liked. It went down hill from there. Table of 6 had ordered 2 big white fish for the table it took a long long time to come, while they waited they struggled to get attention for some wine when they did they brought white instead of red. Their fish was so dry they couldn’t eat it. They confronted the owner he said they were full and busy, they paid a lot of money and left disgusted. Meanwhile still awaiting the Octopus, twice they tried to deliver stuffed calamari and say I ordered it which I did not. Eventually Octopus arrived, have to say it was poor, not the size, but the quality. It was very tough although to be fair it was well Charcoaled so it was crispy at the end. I live in Spain and have had octopus cooked on charcoals many times and this was no where near like what I am used too. Two tables of 2 couples were behind us 1 had got a starter and some drinks the second was there for an hour and hadn’t even got a menu yet. A family sat down where the family of 6 had the dry fish, they were friends of the restaurant and were immediately served drinks then brought a starter of greens and two large plates of chipped potatoes. Very poor management and disrespect to the others waiting. The couple behind with no menu asked what’s going on, obviously they got up and left. We recommended a nice fish restaurant for them to try. Our Greek plate came, very very very cold splodge of potatoes and béchamel sauce, was supposed to be moussaka hard zucchini fritter un-edible stuffed green pepper which was poor and dolmades. Just after the Greek Plate was brought they gave us or bill which we hadn’t asked for. We had had enough and talked to the owner he called his sister and the both of them blamed each other very poor. The organisation in this restaurant is very poor the staff don’t know what they are doing they only look straight ahead and go to the tables directly in front of the restaurant if your at the side forget it. Even a Greek family (not friends of the restaurant) struggled to get attention of the waiters and left after one course. All in all probably one of the worst experiences we have had, started well then turned into a disaster. We would NOT RECOMMEND THIS ESTABLISHMENT. The management need to seriously look at how they are running their business and train their staff, they were walking around like headless chickens and achieving nothing. 4 tables that left tells the story wake up and take a good look at yourselves. Personally we think they are used to serving the Cruise Ship visitors who go once and don’t come back. Well we won’t be coming back to this restaurant there are far superior quality and friendly restaurants around that...

I would rate 5 stars for the nice food, no discussion it was very good quality. We were a couple and ordered 4 plates, fried squid, small fried fishes, grilled squid with lemon and symi shrimps, all was succulent. Issue was the service, maybe we were not lucky this Friday evening round 20h15... There was no so much people. Making our order we also asked one white wine glass and a Cola zero. Then after a while (found what very long) they came with some Greek bread this was ok, then waiting a long time they brought two of the plates, ok. But no drinks... We began eating while waiting for the drinks...I gently asked back for the drinks but nothing... We had practically ended with the two plates and no drinks... So I asked back for the drinks to one of the other waiters... They finally brought them but then we had finished the two first plates and not yet received the two next ones... So we drank... After long time again, we received the two next plates and were surprised the grilled squid was with mosterd sauce, what we did not order... But the waiter was already gone... So we wondered if this plate was for us or not... We waited to have one of the waiters and asked if this was for us because we ordered the one with lemon... The answer was yes and that this one was yet better than the lemon one 😕. So we began eating and asked two new drinks. And guess what? The same story... We waited long again, I gently asked back to have them, even to the boss whole asked the waiter to bring them, but again it lasted long. When they came with the two drinks (the same as first ones) I said thank you but we ate already the plates... But no excuse from them, nothing. I want to point out that the food was really good, even the mosterd squid. But imagine someone does not like mosterd? Finally we asked for the bill and surprise... They counted 5 drinks and not 4...because they were not synced between the several waiters for the bill. So I asked for the correction and paid. Was ok. When I asked for the receipt they told they could not give it to us... So I made a photo of it. Strange. By the way I gently told that it was a bit too long to wait and especially for the drinks.. The waiter said "sorry for that", it was appreciated. I'm not sure they understood what happened. That's all. Maybe we had no luck. Food = 5 stars Service = 1 star. That's why I set 3 stars. Would not...

I am a regular around the Greek islands, and I am appalled with my experience here at this restaurant.

We walked in without a reservation and were greeted warmly by the staff, who did their best to find us a table. We like to order a selection of starters to try different things, and at first everything seemed fine. The Greek salad was fresh, delicious, and good value for money.

Unfortunately, that’s where the positive experience ended. The stuffed peppers and shrimp saganaki arrived, and we immediately found a long black hair tangled in the cheese of the saganaki. When we brought this to the manager’s attention, she barely acknowledged us, took the plate away, and returned without any real apology. I asked for the bill, and instead of bringing it over, she rudely told us we had to go inside to get it.

Inside, the owner was busy with paperwork. When we asked for the bill, he insisted we pay before seeing it, which was already uncomfortable. After pressing him, he eventually showed us the receipt, and it was clear he had been about to overcharge us. After pointing this out, he reluctantly removed the saganaki from the bill, but his behavior only got worse. He was rude, dismissive, and made an incredibly inappropriate comment. He then began cursing and shouting in the restaurant, leaving us feeling extremely uncomfortable not to mention other customers.

What should have been a nice evening turned into an appalling experience. Between the hygiene issues, lack of professionalism and outright hostility from the owner, I cannot recommend this...