Athenian bar & grill — Restaurant in New Orleans

As a regular patron of the French Quarter and a long-time lover of Greek cuisine, I was thrilled to see this establishment under construction. From the moment I walked in, it was evident that the vision for this restaurant was a true tribute to Greece, and I couldn’t have been more excited to experience it firsthand.

The layout of the restaurant is wonderfully designed, offering an open view of the kitchen, which, in my opinion, adds to the overall dining experience. It allows guests to witness the pride and craftsmanship of the chefs, as well as the immaculate cleanliness of the kitchen. This transparency is something I deeply appreciate, and it enhances the entire atmosphere.

I’m happy to say that the wait for their opening was certainly worth it. Upon entering, I felt immediately transported to Greece. The friendly and authentic accent of our waiter, along with his attentive service, was a lovely touch that added to the cultural experience. He was more than happy to accommodate my request for Tzatziki sauce on my Chicken Kabob wrap, and he answered all of our questions with enthusiasm. My son thoroughly enjoyed the pork wrap, and we both found the mint lemonade refreshing—perfectly balanced, not overly sugary or minty.

As for pricing, I was pleasantly surprised. Considering the location in the heart of the French Quarter, I found the prices to be very reasonable—our meal came to approximately $30. What truly stood out, however, was the incredible value for the quality of food we received. Unlike many restaurants in the area that rely on pre-cooked meals, the freshness and flavor of their dishes truly shine. It’s clear that great care is taken in the preparation of each item.

I look forward to returning to try the Steak Dish, which I often use as a benchmark when evaluating a restaurant. Additionally, I noticed their well-stocked bar with an impressive selection of premium liquors and unique Greek drinks. Although I wasn’t able to sample them during this visit, I’m excited to try them on a future trip.

I also had the pleasure of meeting one of the managers, Ms. Polumi, who was an absolute delight to speak with. Her passion for the restaurant and its success was evident, and she certainly gave me the impression that this establishment is a labor of love.

The only regret I have from this visit is that I didn’t get to try one of the 12 varieties of Greek-style coffee, but I will certainly be back to enjoy one on my next visit. Our waiter mentioned that they are quite strong, which made me even more curious to...

The service here is terrible. When they were moving a table to accommodate our party, the holder of salt, pepper, oil and vinegar fell and smashed on the ground. One person in my party was cut by the glass and had oil and vinegar spilled all over them. The staff was not accommodating whatsoever, and was downright rude during the entire process. We had to REQUEST basic things like a bandaid for the cut, and there was no effort made to make amends. We had to ask them if we could get any of our food comped (we had ordered two appetizers), and they instead tried to offer us a free bottle of alcohol (which, by the way was tester-sized that comes free with their purchase order). This came after we already said none of us were drinking, and we additionally had someone under-21 at our table (they never checked our IDs). After a debated process, they offered to comp one of our appetizers. Also, one of the waiters had the bright idea to make fun of the situation, telling the person in our party "no more drinks for you." Overall, the lack of remorse and little-to-no effort to make up for a fairly egregious mistake led to us leaving after our appetizers. The staff at this restaurant is not thoughtful whatsoever, standoffish, and overall rude and uptight. I can confidently say I will never be dining here again, and I advise the same for...

We had a large group. But we are patient. However, they took way too long. First they took our drink order. Took a bit of time. After drinks were delivered, they took appetizer orders. Finally the apps came, but they still did not take our dinner order. We were there for over an hour and hungry. So we cut our losses and asked to tab out, because we had tickets for a ghost tour. We left hungry. The worst part is I ordered flaming cheese. After the flame went out, the cheese was still solid. It did not melt. We waited for pita to eat our cheese with. It was brought some time after we had to request it. When I got my ticket, I was charged $4 for pita. I asked if the app came with pita. The waiter said it did not. I was shocked. I asked if we were meant to just eat the cheese with a fork? The waiter said it was the first Greek restaurant he worked for and he would make recommendation to the owner…who is NOT Greek! It was a horrible experience. The service was awful. Other staff just sat on their phones 4 feet from our table ignoring us or offering to help. Sadly there was only one or two other tables of customers, so it is not like...