The Athenian restaurant offers fresh and flavour-rich dishes that are inspired by the unforgettable spices and techniques used in the cuisine of Athens, Greece. Find out why this quickly growing chain has swept through London.
At The Athenian, souvlaki and gyros are the specialities. The souvlaki and gyro meats are prepared with a top-secret recipe that utilizes meats marinated in Greek herbs, olive oil and lemon. The meat is then grilled and placed inside The Athenian’s delicious homemade pitta.
The Athenian has come a long way since founder Tim Vasilakis opened up the vendor stall in 2014. Today the restaurant has locations in Victoria, White City and Shoreditch, among countless others.
I recently headed down to the Athenian myself to see what the fuss was about – and wasn’t disappointed. During my visit I sampled the loaded lamb souvlaki, the halloumi fries and the plant-based chicken nuggets. The souvlaki had a delicious sauce on the side and was served with a refreshing side salad bursting with flavour. The main dish itself was generously seasoned and garnished with plenty of fragrant coriander. The halloumi fries were a knockout. Excellently crisp on the outside and warm on the cheesy inside they were impossible to put down. I was pleased to try out the plant-based chicken nuggets as well. They, like the halloumi fries, were perfectly cooked and incredibly tender.
The Athenian also offers plenty of plant-based alternatives like vegan gyros and “chicken” nuggets. Furthermore, items can be ordered without pitta, “naked” for fewer carbs and you can even opt-in for dairy-free side dips.
Impressively, if you’re ordering your souvlaki for take-away or for delivery, all of the packaging will be entirely biodegradable.
The inspiration for serving souvlaki at The Athenian came from owner Tim Vasilakis noticing that there was seldom any souvlaki being served in London, while souvlaki is a dish commonly consumed in Athens and in Greece in general. As well as an impressive range of mains, The Athenian also offers a vast array of greek desserts and soft drinks. I was very impressed by the vast array of options on offer and it took a lot of restraint to not order everything on the menu! The next time you are looking for an authentic taste of Greek street food in the heart of the city, look no further than The Athenian.
Head to their website to find out how you can get delivery or to find the closest Athenian restaurant to you.
