I was in Athens very recently for a seminar and I found the opportunity to go out for a local taste at the center of the city and specific at the most nice and graphical area called Plaka.
Knowing the area I was also expecting to pay high prices and not necessarily been valued for money, after walking around for some time the Ydria restaurant Athens got my attention mostly for the beautiful nice gardens that has outside and as it was a nice warm night I have chosen it for my culinary journey and at the same time to taste the gastronomical gifts that the area has to offer.
The welcome from the waiters was very warm and no different of what you would expect from Greek people, I was very shortly escorted to my table and at the same time an another waiter brought a glass bottle of mineral water that had the name of the restaurant on it “YdRiA” and that was very impressive I have to admit.
In the menu you can see mostly what the other restaurants have in the area , choices like “Ladotiri” , “Mousaka”, “Pork Chops” , “Tirokauteri” , “Mixed Grill” and mostly whatever comes in meat. I have chosen the Greek Salad and the Mixed grill as I believe that I would get pretty much an overall of the tastes of what this restaurant and its Chef has to offer, for drink I ordered the “Alfa” local beer.
In the meanwhile as I was waiting, I was inspecting the table décor which it was wood and white tablecloth on it and it was spotless I have to say , the chairs are very comfortable and are in a bamboo style, forks, knifes, glasses were also respectfully clean and in general the space around was just relaxing offering a nice tranquillity, the only thing I hate is the ashtray on the table and being an ex-smoker I just really can’t stand the slightly smell of cigarette and I truly believe that waiters should ask you if you want it to be brought on the table rather been there taking useless space on the table.
Finally the Greek Salad came in a short time after the initial order and it really looked …..Ok! Really not amazing , but just ok , the feta cheese was fresh you could feel the saltiness and while biting the chunks in your mouth could feel the water that this feta was just came out from its new opened box.
The vegetables like the green pepper, onions, tomato and cucumber were also freshly chopped and were giving a nice fresh taste in a combination with the Greek black salted olives and surely the dried oregano really combines everything nicely together making it pleasantly nice, ok not the best salad I had but it was tasty and fresh.
Then the main dish came along the famous Mixed Grill, first impression was not very well as I was thinking where is the “Greek Gyros” and the “Greek Soulvaki” , where is the famous “Greek Prizola” which is the pork chop , instead inside the plate where chunks of chicken fillet and pork fillet , Greek Sausage reminding me mostly the supermarket’s hot dogs , fried potatoes, coleslaw , mustard and barbeque sauce , now really the last 3 are not Greek and why should be served in a supposedly Greek dish!
The taste was good, freshly made, but really nothing special and my theory is one thing to grab something just to have your stomach full and something else to get a real nice culinary experience, in this case was just the first.
And then the bill came along and disaster got strike, personally I would pay any amount of money for a meal that really deserves to be paid that amount, but paying for this dinner for just a single person 54 euro I really find it over and above.
The big question is, would I go again to this place for dinner? Well absolutely not for the simple reason that there are many other Restaurants in the area which you can get a real Greek food in a more reasonable pricing , a small tip is be careful as you will not be given a proper receipt for your bill so please ask for it!
Ydria Restaurant Athens at Plaka ,