Estiatorio Plaka — Restaurant in Baltimore

I’ve driven past Estiatorio Plaka’s billboard on I-83 for months and I finally got the time to eat there. I've heard second-hand comments from sources to be left unnamed that it was “too fancy,” “not Greek enough,” "desserts better than the food".

Curiosity (and nostalgia—I still mourn the slow decline and ultimate demise recently of Ikaros, my go-to Greek restaurant since 1984) finally pulled me in for Saturday lunch with my wife and two daughters.

Verdict? This restaurant is great!

Location & first impressions

Yes, the two-block stretch of Eastern Avenue has seen better days. As we all know, Highlandtown began as a working-class enclave of German and Eastern-European immigrants, then flourished after World War II as Baltimore’s main Greek neighborhood—busy Eastern Avenue diners, bakeries, and middle-class row-homes anchored a tight community around St Nicks. In the 1970s the loss of manufacturing jobs and suburban flight thinned that Greek core; by the 1980s most second-generation families had moved east to the county, leaving vacant storefronts and a declining retail strip. Highlandtown shows the wear of disinvestment—empty buildings, litter, and crime.

Estiatorio Plaka is a culinary oasis.

There’s a well-lit lot directly across the street, and the area felt safe. Cross the threshold and you’re a world away from the outside: pristine white walls, fancy decor, comfortable tables and chairs, Greek pop on the speakers, and staff greeting you in Greek-accented English. The sparkling new bakery case up front rivals anything I’ve seen in Athens (and easily outshines D.C.).

What we ordered

Pork souvlaki & hand-cut fries – Charred, juicy, dusted with oregano; fries crisp and perfectly salted. Easily top 1 %—better than most plates I’ve had in Greece.

French-bread galaktoboureko – Think custard-filled french toast. The custard is home made. I never knew French bread could taste this good. It's a fancy bougatsa for breakfast.

Fried chicken with loukoumades – Light, crackling crust paired with honey-drizzled dough puffs that carried a whisper of brandy. Heaven.

Dakos salad – The lone misstep; They have to work on this one.

Service & value Servers were warm, knowledgeable, and proud of their menu without hovering. Given the quality of food and the reasonable price, I consider it a bargain.

Bottom line

Estiatorio Plaka fills the void Ikaros and Samos left behind and then some. It’s now my favorite Greek spot in Baltimore, and I’m already plotting a dinner visit.

If you want an authentic, joyful Greek escape,...

Our recent dinner gathering at Estiatorio Plaka was nothing short of memorable. Organized by our dear friend Dr. JP, a connoisseur of Greek cuisine, it felt like a reunion of old friends back through decades, treated with authentic Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. Located in the heart of vibrant Greek Town just north of Baltimore City, Estiatorio Plaka welcome us with its freshly painted cream-white facade, reminiscent of the charming architecture found in Greece. Stepping inside, we were greeted by the melodic strains of live music, and the modern interior transported us to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean. Our culinary adventure began with a tantalizing selection of appetizers, chosen by Dr. JP, including the perfectly grilled octopus and the Dolmade Kasou, Greek stuffed grape leaves bursting with flavor. Accompanied by a glass of La Lu Di Moschofilero, a crisp Greek white wine with a bright lemon hue, it was the ideal start to our evening especially in a warm weather. For the main course, three of us indulged in the freshest catch of the day, while Dr. CD opted for the mixed vegetable pikilia, a colorful and satisfying choice. My selection, the whole grilled Mediterranean seabream known as Tsipoura, paired harmoniously with a glass of Assyrtiko, personally selected by Dr. JP, greeted me with its distinctive Santorini flavors. The unexpected highlight of the evening was the mesmerizing belly dance performance, which added an extra layer of excitement and joy to our dining experience. Note to future diners: don't miss this Wednesday only evening show! To round off our meal, Dr. JP recommended Galaktobouerko as my dessert, a divine Greek custard pie layered with crunchy phyllo, while Drs AS and JP enjoyed beautifully presented after-dinner coffees served in traditional Greek coffee sets. In summary, our evening at Estiatorio Plaka was a perfect blend of delectable cuisine, enchanting entertainment, and cherished camaraderie. It's a dining experience that I will treasure for years to come, and one that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking an unforgettable taste of Greece in the heart...

Our experience here was not even average at best. My family and I were very excited to come here because we heard such great things and it turned out to be quite the opposite. In the beginning of our dining and throughout the meal they dimmed the lights three different times to the point where they might as well just have been off entirely. Never experienced that while dining thats for sure. The waitress was sweet, but did not go above or beyond. I was dining with three other family members and three of us received our food except for my mom. The three of us who ate were nearly done our meal and my mom's food still had not come out. We asked the host that was walking by to please grab our waitress because we had not seen her for some time and another ten minutes passed before she came to the table. My mom then asked where her food was and the waitress said that they had sold it to someone else... yes thats right, and we were the only table in the dining room. Then a lady manager came over 5 minutes later and did not even apologize and said she would check the kitchen. Some more time went by and they finally brought out my moms dish when the rest of us needed to-go boxes. My mom had ordered the Arni Yiouvetsi and the lamb meat was so tough to the point she could not even get it off the bone with her knife. She then explained to the waitress what was wrong and the waitress was honest and said that earlier tables had complained that their chicken and lamb dishes were unedible because they were tough. The lady manager then came back and said sorry but then told my mom she probably didn't like it because of having different styles of the same dish from other places which was not the case. Honestly so disappointed with the food and staff, especially the manager. They took off my moms dish and that was the least they could do. Do yourself and your wallet a favor and avoid this place. Ikaros blows this place out...