During our holiday to Santorini, it was rather hard to find good quality food at acceptable prices. We were recommended The Athenian House which has a fantastic setting for sunset views, and decided to give one of its two fine-dining set menus (five courses for €85/ seven for €120) a go. We are prepared to pay for very good food, but the food and service provided at The Athenian House simply is not worth the money.
The waiting staff were all very standard waiting staff, not particularly friendly, and completely unaware of what fine dining service should amount to. Bread was served without any butter or olive oil (which was provided when requested). Wines and waters were rarely topped up. The meal felt entirely rushed, as if the food was just being plated and sent out on a conveyor belt.
As to the food itself, it wasn’t all bad, the Greek Salad was very nice, the Fava Bean starter has some good flavours, and the Shrimp Linguini was surprisingly fragrant - but nothing was standout. And the other dishes I had, and those my partner chose, were disappointing, uninspired, and in some case really quite odd - the Baklava dessert (at the point where some redemption could be returned) has been bastardised into some deconstructed form involving peanut butter and chocolate spread and not in a good way... The cheapest bottle of wine on the menu is also a princely €47. Now whilst this wouldn’t be out of keeping with the food prices, the food quality just didn’t marry-up with the food prices and so the entire evening felt like an organised shake-down.
Whilst there were some good plates, in the main this is going to disappoint, it seems there is an inexperienced kitchen and staff body, playing at fine dining.