The Real Greek (Covent Garden)

Had never heard of or read any of the reviews of this place before going tonight, but had a great time.

Great atmosphere, comfortable albeit tables too small and fantastic service. We had one waitress the whole evening so maybe we hit the jackpot with her, but she was attentive without being intrusive, friendly and genuinely so, and very helpful with advising on the menu.

As for the food, I've not had much Greek food at all so I'm not the best judge, but I am an experienced eater generally. Tsadziki was delicious though the hummus not as nice as ones I've had before (but perhaps that's the difference between Greek hummus vs the Israeli/Lebanese hummus I'm more accustomed to). As for the other dishes whose names I can't remember, good but not fantastic.

However, thanks to the service, the atmosphere, and the value for money, I will definitely be going back again.
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Alec O
9 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, October 12, 2011

I am greek and the Real Greek in Covent Garden (or any other branch) is nowhere near real Greek food. It is overpriced and pertains to be real greek. It is awful. The food has greek names like Greek kebab, but is not a "real" taste at all. It is aimed at people who may have been to Greece on holiday or would like to go and who feel they may be eating "real" greek taste.........sorry you are not eating real greek. If you were the taste would be a sensation.
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Sotiroulla Fisher
0 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, July 31, 2011

The best dish at this restaurant is the chips. No, really, I. Am deadly serious. Everything else is just not edible at all. I feel so cheated out of 50 pounds. But that's okay, it's not my money anyway.
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2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Friday, July 08, 2011

Ate here last night. Uncomfortable chairs. Smelly building (? sick building). Lamb skewer had odd, chemical smell and appeared to have been re-heated rather than freshly cooked. Lamb cutlets charred black on outside and undercooked inside; knife did not make any impression on them. 2 drinks glasses were dirty.

Mains brought soon after starters and had to be left to get cold whilst finishing the starters.

We frequently eat Greek food and have done so for 30 years. This is just too pathetic a pretence. Will not waste time/money on any of their outlets again.
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Don
1 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, March 10, 2011

I am coming back to London to see Dirty Dancing with 7 female members of my family on Saturday. I hope we can all fit in! I have been here 3 or 4 times and absolutely love it! Staff are great, food is amazing and served really quickly.

A little bit of Greece in the heart of our very own big city!
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Laura
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, January 19, 2011

My daughter and I recently visited London and had a late lunch at this restaurant. Although it could not be called a Greek Taverna as such, it certainly did not lack atmosphere and the staff could not have been more attentive. We had one of their meze offerings and it was served in a most unusual way - on something that can only be described as a "cake stand". The Hummous was outstanding and the Gigantes were to die for. The Pork and Chicken skewers were the best I have had outside of Greece and the ice-cold Retsina just enhanced the fresh flavours. The Tiropitakia were sensational. So if you are looking for the genuine Greek Taverna experience then you will not find it here. What you will find is well cooked, well presented Greek food served in a relaxed atmosphere.
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Marie Watson
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, May 19, 2010

This place was amazing! Awesome food, great atmosphere, excellent service, what a great night! YOU MUST GO!!
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9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Saturday, May 15, 2010

I had the misfortune of having lunch earlier at this joke of a restaurant.

I am assuming by the reviews I have read that I am talking about the lady who greeted us. She didn't seem to give a damn or know how to smile.

The Greek salad consisted of extra large chunks of tomatoes a few red onion slices and honestly 4 lumps of feta!!! The Lamb Kefte was tasteless and worryingly undercooked and their version of saffron rice just does not work. We paid for our drinks and left.

Don't waste your time and money...
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1 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Sunday, April 25, 2010

I just saw the last review and couldn't agree more. We ate at this branch a few weeks ago when we had some friends over from Greece and thought we should try it, after walking past many times. What a disaster. We were so embarassed that we half left our 'souvlaki' and went for a pub meal.

The food quality is lousy. Tasteless plastic food served with attitude. Not a greek in sight, but eastern europen manager and waitresses who barely acknowledged you. Unless you questioned something, and then you got attitude. They dont look like they enjoy working there, and is shows! I can't believe that they can actually serve this rubbish up and actually get away with it. its expensive and not worth the money. The souvlaki tasted like it has had McDonalds sauce in it, but brown and salty - what on earth is that?

Shame that "Real Greek" tag is used for this 'food'. Its anything but and is just plain awful. My vote also for one of the worst central london restaurants. bad food, bad service, and just "bad".
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0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, April 06, 2010

What a joke. Got caught in town later with the family and ate there as an option for quicker and hopefully better meal. I should have just thrown the money in the bin. Without a doubt, the worst restaurant I have been to in London - period. An insult. I am Greek, and even without my 'Greek hat on', it was rubbish.

Firstly, the Eastern European staff waited forever before getting to us. We ordered Tsaganki (fried cheese), dolmathes (stuffed vine leaves), taramosalata, grilled octopus, followed by 2 fries and yiros', and a greek salad. Wow is all I can say. The taramosalata was so tasteless that it made Sainbsury's version taste phenomenal. We sent the dolmades back and told the manager to take it off the bill, because what we got were about 5 'black pudding' looking tough, uncheweable balls. Inside was a chickpea like paste, no rice which was revolting. The only half okay item was the octopus, but however, the portions were so small that they were a joke.

The best was to come. We received 3 portions of chips and when we explained to the waitress that it we ordered 2, she proceeded to outright argue that we ordered 3. She turned her back, mouthing off to the manager as she went. I called her back and in front of the entire restaurant proceeded to explain to her what we ordered and to not asnwer back - haf yelling at her at this point. She then proceeded back to where the manager was, still giving lip. He was of the same ilk as her and they proceeded to converse in another language. The yiros' though were a shocker. A sliver of meat in the lamb ones, tough and covered with a brown tangy sauce. And the salad that finally arrived was worth framing! 2 bits of tomatoes, a couple of cucumber slices, a small buit of feta. All for almost £4.

We checked the bill that the chips and dolmathes had been removed, paid and left. There was sime silver lining though. Still hungrly, whilst deciding outside where to go, we managed to persuade a couple of other groups to go elsewhere.

Seriously, people, if you read these reviews and still go, you are crazy. Pity we didn't check first, but were impulse buyers at the last minute. To us, this would be the only way that this place could pull people - anybody who has eaten there before would certainly not return. Sadly, what happens when chains get bought by VC type outfits who turn them into tasteless expensive tourist traps that serve shockingly bad food to squeeze margins and raise PE ratios.

Stay away....whatever you do...stay away.
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Tassos
1 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Sunday, April 04, 2010