City Grill — Restaurant in Municipality of Spata - Artemida

I admit that I'm usually quite strict with my reviews and rarely give 5 stars to a place I've visited, especially if it's not a landmark but a business. However, in the case of City Grill, I did give it 5 stars, and I'll explain why. First and foremost, the cost of an umbrella with two sunbeds, a chair, and a table is 10 euros, which I find to be a very reasonable price. Additionally, this charge is only applicable on weekends; there is no fee on other days. Well done! Especially considering that prices in other similar establishments have unjustifiably skyrocketed. Furthermore, there is no mandatory minimum consumption; you only need to order something. The sunbeds are a bit worn, but they serve their purpose. Each umbrella pole also features an additional fixed table, providing extra convenience. There is a small combination lock box on each umbrella pole as well, where you can securely store valuables such as money and mobile phones while swimming. Moreover, there is a convenient button to call a waiter or waitress to place an order, eliminating the need to search for them or raise your hand and hope to be noticed. The staff, including the waitstaff and the young man who collects the sunbed fee, along with all other employees, are incredibly polite, friendly, and helpful. They always greeted us with a smile and positive attitude, and their appearance was clean and well-groomed. Congratulations! I hope the business rewards them well, as they truly deserve it. After all, they are the main reason why I gave it 5 stars. The food is average but decent, not overpowering in taste or heaviness. A notable aspect of the business is the absence of music. Usually, such establishments have loud and irritating music that can be unpleasant and annoying. However, at City Grill, we could comfortably enjoy conversations or listen to the lively, happy crowd enjoying the beach and the sea. There is also a shower and a nearby lifeguard. The drawbacks, which are not related to the business itself but rather to the beach, include the challenge of finding parking space and, of course, the crowds. Nevertheless, since the sea remains shallow for at least seventy meters from the shore, it is ideal for children, and beachgoers are spread out rather than tightly packed together. Lastly, the restaurant area is truly delightful and clean, adorned with attractive furniture and cool decorations. I was impressed by the number of employees working there. Kudos to the business for not being understaffed and not leaving employees rushing around trying to keep up. Additionally, there is a disabled ramp to access the restaurant, although it is a bit steep. A disabled toilet is also available on the ground floor, as the other restrooms are located in the basement. The toilets are clean as well. City Grill isn't solely worth visiting for a swim; it's a great standalone option. It goes without saying that when we revisit this particular beach, we will choose to be served by this business again, provided we find an...

We were met by a waiter who gave us menus with no word . Three menus placed on the table for the five of us .

The same waiter then took our order . I noticed then that his nails were dirty and he clearly had some issue with his beard as he dug for potatoes .

We were then served some lovely hot fresh bread with dips . This was one of the two highlights of our visit .

After ordering our food we received our starters . Again very nice salads . We had to call the waiter back for drinks and he returned with drinks for three of our group but no glasses for two of us . I was fascinated with the dirty nails and not impressed with the fact he held some of the glasses by the lip edge .

We then received our mains which were various chicken dishes . They were healthy portions so no complaints there but mine came with 2 black hairs .

I sent it back and there were apologies and a free replacement was provided .

I thought of bringing this all up with the man standing in the middle of the floor wearing a black polo shirt who I took to be the team leader / shift manager . However after watching him pick his nose decided to...

The food was of good quality and the portions were generous, so no complaints there. Unfortunately, the service left a lot to be desired. The appetizer was placed on the table without a word of explanation, and the waiter immediately rushed off to greet someone he knew. There was no clarification on whether it was included in the price or not, which is something we would have expected.

When our main dishes arrived, they were handed to us directly rather than being set properly on the table. To make matters worse, the staff then started adjusting the sunshade right above our heads while we were eating, and only stopped when I asked if they were really serious about doing this.

Finally, asking for the bill turned into another test of patience: it took about 5–10 minutes before it arrived, and another 5–10 minutes before someone showed up so we could actually pay.

Overall, while the food itself was enjoyable, the service unfortunately overshadowed...