Kafeneon — Restaurant in Newcastle upon Tyne

Really Really disappointing experience..... so many things been wrong even in a lunchtime not a busy dinner service... would just say if you are looking for a place to eat greek food that one is NOT a place you are looking to visit. Anyway wishing them all the best definitely last visit !

First of all, your waiters are kids who don't know anything about your menu, I had to point the dishes as they can't even pronounce the name of what you are serving ! Next is when you ask what type of beers you serve they only know Mythos and that's all , let's go to the next part which is starters are extremely disappointing, dolmades from a tin, hard like a stone ! Let's go to the Hummus which has a taste of curry that is not used in Greece, or maybe the sour tzatziki ! The main course was served even before we finish our starters some guy just came iut of nowhere and serve everything on the table without even asking to leave that on the side , all the food was dry , pork , sausage, chicken .... no seasoning on anything, to top it off there were black bits on all the meets from the dirty grill ( pan ) and the sizzler chicken feta or whatever it was called was served with cold rice and tasteless, i could just taste the sour tomatoes.... well let's talk about the pan fried feta cheese into the starters which from one side was well cooked with golden crust and the other side when I turned it was spongy.... never been offered another drink always have to look around for a waiters and at the end nobody offered desert menu or asked do we like something sweet and most important nobody asked why all the dishes coming back full with food. On top of that, have to go upstairs and wait on the bar to pay the bill where 5-6 people are justing around laughing. At the same time the table next to us paid downstairs .... With my wife being Greek and I am Bulgarian we definitely know what greek food is. So much tastier than what you pretend to be !!! We were looking forward to visiting after reading the previous reviews so it was quite the disappointment. We are definitely NOT a " keyboard lunatic " and you should not assume or judge people so quickly because their opinion doesn't suit you....

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

Food: 4/5

The food at Kafeneon was truly delightful. The flavours were authentic, and the dishes were prepared with evident care and expertise. Each bite transported us to the Mediterranean, with generous portion sizes that ensured we left feeling satisfied. The variety on the menu catered well to different tastes, and the prices were reasonable, offering good value for money.

Service: 4/5

The service was generally commendable. Our waiter was attentive and friendly, ensuring our dining experience was pleasant. However, a slight hiccup occurred with the special occasion. I had mentioned in our booking that it was my partner’s 30th birthday, but there was no acknowledgment or any form of celebration, despite the restaurant’s website suggesting they do something special for such occasions. This oversight was a bit disappointing.

Atmosphere: 2/5

Unfortunately, the atmosphere was the restaurant’s weak point during our visit. We were seated downstairs next to three extremely loud groups. The acoustics in the room amplified their noise, making it not only difficult to converse but also uncomfortable at times due to the unbearable volume. While the restaurant itself wasn’t directly at fault for the guests’ behaviour, it would have been appreciated if staff had acknowledged the issue or perhaps offered a different seating arrangement given the circumstances.

Overall: 4/5

Despite the noise issues and the missed birthday acknowledgment, Kafeneon offers a fantastic culinary experience with its delicious food and fair pricing. It’s a great spot for enjoying Greek cuisine, though it might be worth mentioning any special requests or seating preferences more emphatically during booking to ensure a more pleasant...

Very nice, cosy little place located on the Bigg Market. Only been twice, both at lunchtimes and the service has been good on both occasions. Today I opted for the Greek Burger, which has a piece of halloumi in it and it is a real handful. It came with a side order of fries and salad. The salad was really nice, looked and tasted fresh, which is really important. My partner opted for the chicken souvlaki, which looked and tasted as equally as nice as my burger. The service was good. We were not asked if everything was OK with our meals, which was fine by me as I don't like talking with a mouthful of food (plus the way I was demolishing my burger I think they knew everything was OK). Only downside is the gents' toilets are a little on the small side and I nearly smacked another patron in the face when opening the door to enter the toilets. However they were clean, which is the main thing. Highly recommend a visit to Kafeneon if you like Greek food or want to give Greek food a try for the first time as there is a lot on the menu to...