Fresh User Reviews for Greek in Sydney

4.8 Average

Food  2      Ambience  6      Service  9      Value  2     

I was eager to dine at Apollo, the street view was promising and the place was packed at 6:30pm.

Unfortunately, I found it quite disappointing. I am certain that I would not recommend or re-visit this restaurant. The vibe and hype is there and the fit out is trendy with exposed cement walls, the food lets it down.

I found that most dishes were very heavy and very salty. The lamb seemed like it was cooked in duck fat, the fried cheese was very salty, and so were the side potatoes. The whole menu could really only be shared. I would imagine the heaviness would be too much if you ordered a dish to yourself. The salad was the only thing on the menu that promised to cut through the heavy salty grease and even that was disappointing with a big slice of salty fetta with oil placed on top.

For what we got it was far too expensive. We left the venue paying $85 each for a table of 7, too steep for share style between that many people.

I left feeling hungry and with a significantly lighter wallet.

May 31, 2012

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  8     

Went to Xanthi for lunch on Sunday. We had the banquet and were pleased overall with food and service. Best dish was the haloumi with figs. Worst was the octopus which was simply not up to Greek standards.

One other thing, we tried to book this restaurant by phone a couple of days ago and again on the following day. We made over 8 phone calls and all were un-answered, ringing to a fax tone. So I suggest you don't bother to call and just show up. If they are not answering their phone then booking are likely to be low and the chance of an impromptu seat are good.

May 27, 2012

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  10     

The only place that you could get more traditional Greek food is from either my aunt's house or if you go to Greece.

The taramosalata was to die for smooth and just the right amount of egg roe, the fried calamari was not oily and was heaven, the meat platter with various kontosouvli, greek sausage, bifteki and grilled chicken was adequate for 2 persons.

Overall the service was good but the waiters looked tense and were in a hurry to clean up as soon as we finished each plate or meal. Overall a great place to go Meet the Greek.

May 27, 2012

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

Food - entrees, mains and desserts were delicious. Ambience - Greek theme, happy, satisfied diners and soft background music. Service - prompt and not intrusive. Value - quailty dining at a good price. That is all.

May 27, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  8     

This place is good. Bit pricey, but that's what you would expect to pay at a decent restaurant in the city. Tried to be adventurous and try the watermelon salad. Wasn't a good choice, but everything else was above average.

May 27, 2012

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

Went last week and found a real diamond, highly recommended.

May 27, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

One of the best dining experiences we've had. Went early on a Saturday with no booking. Waiter was really helpful, suggested wine and an entree for us (we asked for suggestions on these). Both were super tasty.

Mains were awesome, lamb skarra was great. Portion size was pretty decent too. More great service and conversation throughout the meal. Sticky date pudding finished us off. Not the cheapest place, however, great service, good food and many more menu choices means we'll be back for sure!

May 26, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

A fantastic restaurant! I went with my husband, sister and brother-in-law and we had the set menu. The food came out really quickly. There were a lot of 'tapas' style dishes so we were able to taste many different foods. All of the dishes were good size and cooked to perfection! The set menu was definitely value for money. I would love to go back again!

May 26, 2012

4.3 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  2      Service  3      Value  5     

We went to Xanthi at lunchtime on a Friday and ordered the "express banquet" plus some croquettes. It started with a trio of dips which were quite good. Extra bread cost just $3. Then a very long wait until we got the next dish of haloumi. Salty and a bit firm, but not too bad. Dolmades were next, again very salty.

The calamari had a spice that was not to our taste, and again was very salty. The lamb skarras was amazing as usual (having had it at Perama many times in the past). The croquettes that were ordered never came, but we were too full to care. The baklava ice-cream was good. Loved the onion and the fetta in the salad, but down the bottom of the bowl there was far too much olive oil.

The service was poor. Very very slow between dishes. There was nothing express about this "express lunch banquet". The restaurant was packed though.

The ambience was slightly better than when we came for dinner about a year ago. Back then the kitchen staff was yelling "service" constantly. Thankfully the volume has been turned down, but we did see him getting angry and berating other staff again. It was, however, extremely busy and he would have been under tremendous pressure.

Overall, we prefer the experience we used to have somewhere else.

May 25, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

Better than average Greek tavern. As others have said, this place is ideal for a large party (which makes sense, given the definition of the word "parea" on the restaurant wall).

May 25, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

Have been Eating at the yeeros Shop for many years now since I was a child and would go with the family.

Definitely the best feed out there best yeeros and Chips. I always take friends there and always get the same response that they will no longer be able to feel the same about a normal kebab as the yeeros there is mind blowingly awesome.

May 24, 2012

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  10     

My family dined here for the second time last night after being very impressed with our first visit and again every dish we tried was exceptional. This is the best greek food I had in along time. The place has a fantastic ambience about it too, the fit out is great and the greek music playing in the background, (not too loud) sets the mood. Looking forward to many more pleasant evenings here.

Great value also for the high quality of the meals.

May 23, 2012

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

The food here was fantastic, fresh crisp flavours, which are often not forthcoming in Greek food. The best pita bread I have ever tasted, fantastic souvlaki, the meat are very tender and wonderful moussaka. I think we caught them on a bad might and they were a little understaffed, so a little slow, but extremely pleasant and helpful, nothing was too much trouble, we'll be back.

May 21, 2012

3.8 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  2      Value  3     

Too loud, not a real restaurant, more of a bar. Will not go there again,

May 20, 2012

5.5 Average

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  3      Value  5     

Saturday nights puts too many tables in restaurant! Gets too packed, service goes right down, staff lose it, far too noisy, it's worse than going to the club.

May 20, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Stopped in here for a late sunday lunch. Were very lucky to get a seat inside as a couple had just left, otherwise there was a wait for inside.

We got our orders in pretty quick and service was friendly. Food came in adequate time and it was really good. Seafood pizza which was simple yet very tasty and the saganaki prawns which were also fresh, plump and full of flavour. We choose the nutella pizza for dessert which was great, smothered in nutella!

Overall there was a real buzz here and it showed with the food. Seems a great little place for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Response from Management:
Your kind words are a credit to our team, we are so grateful and encouraged by your comments.
I read your review & score with simple gratefulness and it’s so encouraging to strive and get even better.
We are humbled, we care and value genuine comments and feedback from real and genuine customers.
Thank you.
Best regards
Tom

May 20, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

This place is awesome! Me and by boyfriend have been loyal customers since the beginning in the smaller cafe a few doors down so we we're very excited to find out the big space on the corner would be opening as the larger and improved Espresso Organica. Its so much more spacious than the first cafe and a great place to meet with family and friends over a great coffee or a lovely meal.

My boyfriend finds the coffee to be one of the best in Sydney. He always raves about the double macchiato which is always done perfect, layers and everything. I'm not a coffee drinker, due to health issues but never miss out as there are plenty of drink options on the menu. I usually tend to go for the herbal teas which are wonderful loose leaf infusions. There are so many to choose from.

It's not just the great coffee's that keep us coming back, the food here is no ordinary cafe food. It's Mediterranean fresh, flavoursome dishes, made from scratch which we can't resist coming back for. Dishes like prawn saganaki, souvlaki and halloumi mezze are some of our favorites. Only wish they also did gluten free pizzas as their wood fired pizzas smell and look and divine. Hopefully one day.

As for the service sure the cafe has grown, they are always busy, and the staff are always on the go serving customers. However, we have found they have always been warm and friendly and try get everyone seated as quick as possible. The smell of coffee and buzzy atmosphere helps keep us patient when we drop by last minute.

We are fortunate to live locally and enjoy Espresso Organica on a regular basis, however, even if you're not from the area book a table and give Sunday breakfast of lunch a try, you will not be disappointed. We recommend it to all lovers of coffee and glorious food!

Response from Management:
We are so grateful by your comments, your favorable review means a lot to us and we are truly very humbled.
When we first expanded our business, we were swamped by one review reviewers some of them very Deceptive. It’s wonderful and so encouraging to read your kind words about our service, food and coffee.
It’s such a confidence booster and great feeling to be recognised for our efforts to provide only the best for our customers. I am so pleased and humbled that you boyfriend rates our coffee as one of Sydney’s best. I know he will be pleased and justified to know that after the recognition we got from The Sydney Morning Herald Every Day Eats Guide 2012, rating our food and coffee among Sydney’s best, we got another recognition this time from The Good Cafe Guide 2012 out in June,recognising us among Sydney’s best as well. The bar is lifted very high now and we constantly try our utmost not to disappoint our customers especially regular and loyal like yourselves.
Thank you very much.
Your kind words are a credit to our team.
Best Regards
Tom

May 20, 2012

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

We think this is the best Greek food at Brighton le sands. Reasonable value, but excellent quality.

May 20, 2012

4.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  4      Value  3     

Ok food, certainly not the best around and way over-priced.

May 20, 2012

3.8 Below Average

Food  8      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  3     

I used to go to this place when they were at their old location.

Now they have moved to a bigger venue and I feel as though they can't keep up with demand. Their staff are rude and they don't even take notice of you when you first arrive. The only thing going for this place now is the food.

I will never return again unless they hire staff who actually care about serving their customers.

Response from Management:
I am pleased to hear you liked our food and you rate it as exceptionally good.
It’s true that since we moved to new and bigger premises, 4 months ago, the queues are endless. We must be doing something right.
Maybe the way we running our floor is a little bit deferent from your everyday café and that is to keep up with the demand, as you correctly stated yourself. Only our floor manager greets customers at the door next to the sign “please wait to be seated” and seats every customer. Our waiters are very busy serving at the tables, that doesn’t mean they are necessarily rude. If every wait staff was to stop and greet customers at the door, our service would be chaotic and the queues would be even longer.
Our staff are always very polite, obliging and they do care very much.
Thank you again for your patronage and we are hoping to see you again soon.
I am very sorry that I have to defend our hard working staff.
Fake reviews are especially rampant in the café/restaurant industry. When a good review surfaces from a REAL customer, you will suddenly see a flood of bad reviews all within a couple of days to push down the good review. I like to think that is just a coincidence. It happens time after time and doesn’t make any sense, completely opposed opinions and most of the time it’s not very hard to pick up clues about deception. We listen to what every reviewer has to say. We are not perfect, but we strive to get better and provide our customers with better service all the time.
Thank you very much we appreciate your feedback.
Best regards
Tom

May 18, 2012