The Real Greek — Restaurant in Braintree

Took my parents here for a late Mother’s Day meal on a fairly quiet Monday night. I’d not really tried Greek food up until recently from street-food style stalls. The real Greek was not what I was expecting but not in a bad way. I thought we would be in for some nice Greek style wraps and burgers with halloumi fries but what we got was a very elaborate and seemingly authentic Greek restaurant experience.

I usually avoid these sort of experiences as they are usually quite out of our comfort zone. Initially looking at the menu with a variety of different sharing dishes and smaller individual dishes that are meant to be ordered in combination seemed quite overwhelming and a bit confusing. However our waitress Ellie was amazing.

She was very friendly, approachable and knowledgeable. Ellie helped all of us understand the menus and an authentic greek dining experience better (including my elderly father who’s not very worldly at times).

Ellie gave a lot of valuable input in our order that really made us all feel confident we were going to have the best experience possible. The suggestions she gave didn’t just feel like some kind of upselling tactic but genuine recommendations from someone who is really passionate about the food.

The restaurant itself was fairly quiet as it was a Monday night but it still had a really great atmosphere. The outdoor seating area looked gorgeous and all of us agreed that it would be lovely to eat outside in nicer weather.

The food was amazing. My personal favourite was the Salt Cod.

Really great dining experience that really felt like a traditional Greek experience more than just a meal.

My only critique was that, on the round table we were sat at, felt like there was quite a limited space for 4 people and several dishes. But this is only a very minor complaint from me and didn’t overly take away from the experience personally.

Big thank you again to Ellie who I believe was genuinely the catalyst in us being able to really enjoy the experience to its fullest. She was very friendly, funny and experienced throughout. 100%...

If I could give this place more than 5 stars, I would! From the moment I stepped through the door, I was transported to Greece. The warm ambiance, authentic décor, and tantalizing aromas instantly set the stage for what would be an extraordinary meal.

The food—oh my goodness, the food! Every dish was a celebration of flavour. The tzatziki was creamy and fresh, the spinach pie was perfectly flaky, and the grilled octopus was nothing short of heavenly. And the lamb souvlaki? Melted in my mouth like butter. It’s clear that the chefs here have mastered the art of authentic Greek cuisine with a modern twist.

But what truly elevated my experience was the service, and I have to give a special shout-out to Mia, who was absolutely phenomenal. From the second I was seated, Mia was attentive without being overbearing, offering fantastic recommendations and explaining each dish with such passion that I couldn’t wait to try everything. Her genuine warmth and knowledge of the menu made me feel like I was being served by a close friend, and she ensured that my entire dining experience was flawless from start to finish.

Mia’s attention to detail was impeccable—my water glass was never empty, and she timed each course perfectly, making sure I could savour every bite. Her enthusiasm for the restaurant and its food was contagious, and it made the evening even more enjoyable. It's rare to find such outstanding service that feels both professional and personal, but Mia delivered that in spades.

This is more than just a restaurant; it’s an experience. Whether you're a lover of Greek food or new to the cuisine, this place will exceed your expectations. I’ll be back again and again, and I’ll be requesting Mia as my server every time!

Well done to the entire team for creating such a memorable evening. I will be coming...

Just been at the Real Greek Braintree for lunch and I have to say that our expectations were no met at all. First, the waiting time for each course was way too long. I appreciate that there are busy periods however this can be managed with more part time staff or better table management (having been a restaurant manager for years, I have a pretty good idea). On the seafood platter that was brought to our table I can honestly say that for a 50 Pound course, there wasn't much that we liked. The grilled octopus was so chewy and hard that my wife could not eat It. The prawns in the skewer were overcooked and the fact that the heads of the prawns were in a completely different side of the plate and burned, should have given the chef a clue. We reported this to the waitress which replied that She would notify the kitchen. The only positive note were the courgette fritters (not included in the platter) which were passable. After such a "great" main course we decided to try the dessert and I was certainly not expecting to injure myself like i did. I ordered a filo pastry custard pie with ice crem and when eventually It arrived, the waitress did not even mention that the pie could be hot inside. Not expecting anything of the sort when I put the First piece in my mouth, I was literally burnt by the custard which was boiling hot. When we asked for the bill and I told Who we think was the Manager he Simply replied "Yes, it's hot" to which my reply was "No one told us when It was brought to the table" only to be Met by him starring in to the abiss. What a...