Karamanlidika

If one ever needed a reminder that greek, turkish and perhaps other eastern mediterranean cuisines are related, a visit at Karamanlidika is that reminder. As a Turk myself, I found heaps of dishes that I know from home, and the next table was a central asian couple that was equally delighted. The place is in the cash&carry district of Athens, so it also caters for other food places, but also serves food. The queue outside tells you how famous it is. But beware: it is perhaps not the place for your average greeek food. The place is a shop for cold cuts, sausages, cheeses and condiments for all these, so the food is neatly centred around these. And delicious they are! Authentic mediterranenan Mezze served by friendly and competent staff. If you have been to Turkey to eat Mezze, you will not be disappointed here. I will certainly be back next time! Cok teshekkür & Sas efcharistó! 5*

Had to try this place, as a long line always forms outside. Small amount of seating inside so usually a wait, however we made a reservation. Food was delicious and flavorful. Nice window seat to people watch. Service was somewhat slow, I think they were short staffed. Enjoyed the fresh bread and beer selection, was able to get Non Alcoholic.

I visited twice - once for lunch, another time for dinner - and enjoyed both experiences. The food was well seasoned and had great flavours, and the staff were friendly. I appreciated that a server gave me a heads up that the eel dish was served cold - it was a wonderful dish, but I was glad to know what to expect. I tried the meatballs, potato salad with mustard dressing, smoked eel from Anta, and aubergines & zucchini in Cappadocian sauce. All were very good. I didn't need a reservation for a solo late lunch, but I recommend a reservation for dinner.

On the way back to our hotel, we saw a long line of locals waiting outside this restaurant, so we decided to give it a try. It turned out to be an amazing choice! The restaurant has an open kitchen and a bar that looks like a traditional butcher shop, creating a great atmosphere as soon as you walk in. Right after sitting down, we were offered complimentary ham and cheese — even though it was free, the quality was impressive. We ordered sausages, meatballs, and smoked fish appetizers. The portions were generous, and every dish was incredibly delicious. We ended up finishing everything and still felt like we wanted more. After the meal, the restaurant also served complimentary yogurt with shredded carrots for dessert, which was refreshing and surprisingly tasty. When leaving, the friendly owner personally asked about our dining experience, which made us feel truly welcomed. The only downside was that the waitress who took our order didn’t smile at all and looked rather unfriendly — probably because it was too busy. Overall, the food, atmosphere, and hospitality were excellent. Definitely worth a visit!

It was pretty busy when we arrived, and we had to wait in line for a bit. A staff member eventually welcomed us and invited us in, but then disappeared into the crowd. Since no one else guided us, we assumed we could pick our own table and sat down. Just a few seconds later, another staff member approached us with a pretty rude tone, asking if the manager had told us to sit. We tried to explain, but he didn’t listen and told us to leave, which felt quite disrespectful. While we were still trying to clarify, the woman who originally welcomed us came back and asked us to follow her. She then seated us in the semi-outdoor area, and thankfully, things improved from there. The rest of the staff were really friendly and helpful. From taking our order to serving the food, they were polite and attentive. One even asked how we liked the food, which we really appreciated. The food itself was delicious, we’d give it a solid 9 out of 10. And as a nice surprise, they even gave us a complimentary dessert at the end! Overall, a rocky start, but it ended on a good note✨

If one ever needed a reminder that greek, turkish and perhaps other eastern mediterranean cuisines are related, a visit at Karamanlidika is that reminder. As a Turk myself, I found heaps of dishes that I know from home, and the next table was a central asian couple that was equally delighted. The place is in the cash&carry district of Athens, so it also caters for other food places, but also serves food. The queue outside tells you how famous it is. But beware: it is perhaps not the place for your average greeek food. The place is a shop for cold cuts, sausages, cheeses and condiments for all these, so the food is neatly centred around these. And delicious they are! Authentic mediterranenan Mezze served by friendly and competent staff. If you have been to Turkey to eat Mezze, you will not be disappointed here. I will certainly be back next time! Cok teshekkür & Sas efcharistó! 5*