Koutouki Greek Estiatorio — Restaurant in Palm Desert

This was one of the worst dining experiences I have had in a long time. In short the food, service and environment were all HORRIBLE. We had a reservation but still had to wait over 45 minutes to get seated. The restaurant had no manager or anyone checking guests in. Not even a list of who had a reservation. The place was beyond chaotic and had only one waitress who was beyond spread thin and to add insult to injury she was rude. The service was as atrocious as the food. The owners were a couple in scramble mode at all times and could not seem to focus on anything. After a long wait we were eventually seated. It took another 15 minutes for the waitress to come by and then another 15 minutes before we even got water. The house wine I ordered was out of stock and the swill they brought me was so bad I had to send it back. Lets move on to the food. First the grilled octopus made one my friends sick. It was cold, slimy, chewy and clearly not fresh nor palatable. The takizi was watery and flavorless (I have had better from the grocery store). The saganaki should come flaming when served and instead it was just a greasy platter of fried cheese served with no flame. Moving on to the mains, the chicken was dry and overcooked and not a single person finished their meal and we were all hungry. Had the food even been mediocre we would have eaten it but it was just too bad to comsume. This place could use a visit from Chef Ramsey to try to right the sinking ship. When the bill came, I was shocked to see they charged us for extra pita and did not even offer to comp us a round of drinks after all the nonsense. When I asked the waitress about this she said there was nothing she could do and blamed us. She did not even attempt to speak w the owners and took no responsibility. She also proceeded to tell me that I did not even have a reservation (which I did from opentable but since they did not check us in I was not able to leave this review on opentable). I was beside myself with the piss poor service and attitude of this arrogant waitress and the clueless owners who had no regard for anything but overcharging for bad food and service not to mention the overly loud generic greek music blasting in the background to the point where you could not even have a conversation with people at your table. Furthermore they had set up our table in the middle of the walkway by the kitchen, jammed into a place where every busboy bumped into our table trying to serve others. And a belly dancer trying to dance around to this disturbing music with no where to go. This is gimmick restaurant that should not even appeal to tourists who don't know any better. We are locals in the area and wanted to try something new so we gave it a shot. Never again. I should have read the reviews more carefully. I hope I can save someone else from having a similar experience. To say this left a bad taste in my mouth would be an...

Most of the of food was mediocre at best. The dip plate for $19 had maybe a tablespoon or two of each of the 4 dips. The roast lamb at $39 was tender but does not come with potatoes but you can get a side for $8 (they were very good).

The Bougatasa which came on a wet plate (sugar water?) was a disappointment, putting it mildly. When the bill came every item was more expensive than the menu prices. The explanation was that they give a “discount” for cash. I explained that NOT charging 3.5% more than the menu prices is not giving a discount. Not sure there is better Greek around here but I am sure that I won't go back.

To the owner:

I feel that your response to my review is more informative to a prospective dinner than my review. The cynicism it takes to decide a diner is going to be a pain by the way he says “David, table for 3” is breathtaking!

Unfortunately your math skills are no better than your cooking skills. Two of the three of us gave cash to our buddy (a Greek by the way) who put the whole bill on his credit card.

Your menu does not in fact say you are going to pass on the credit card fees to the customer. What it says is that you will give a 3.5% discount for cash. That’s not what you are doing.

I grew up in the Mediterranean and know Greece and Greek food well. I did not complain as it was clear nothing I would say is going make any difference. Who serves a days old, cold bougatsa in a puddle of water?!!!

I do sincerely wish you and your resteraunt success. I just don’t see how you are going to get there by charging any more or...

I will start with the positive experience, the atmosfera, primarily the decoration in the outside front patio which we experience, was similar to the Greek one plus the Greek music was played in the speakers of course by the CD player, but nothing wrong with that. The service was 1 *star. The quality of food was 1 1/2 *star. I have to mention I'm originally from Europe and I visited Greece once, simply the food can not be compared with the food is actually served in Greece, way diffrent quality and flavor of food. I live in the present in USA, so if I have to cumparare the general quality of food is served in a European cuisine restaurant in the States I probably give a 2 stars, maximal 3 stars being indulgent. We had Koutouki Meze for 2 people, lots of food, large quantity of food but very low quality of food, the majority of food tasted being fried in a not really fresh oil (it was a Sunday night dinner, I may to mention). As a personal advice and personal taste I will appreciate much more if the quantity of the food to be 50% less, but the quality(the flavor, preferable organic products) of the food to be superior. The server should get a little better trained, he was just okay, average level of costumer service. But I understand is a family owned restaurant business and I kind of understand what that means, that's why I choose still to give a 3 stars feedback from a...