The Real Greek promises Mediterranean magic - but does it deliver?
We visited The Real Greek in Covent Garden in search of authentic Athenian flavours, from mezze to baklava, but found a dining experience that, while friendly and affordable, didn’t quite land.
A few years ago I spent a summer living in Greece. I’m not claiming local status, but after inhaling my bodyweight in courgette fritters, I feel reasonably qualified to talk about the food. Ever since, I’ve been on a mission to find a London spot that delivers proper Mediterranean flavour — the kind that instantly catapults you back to a sticky Athenian afternoon.
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Enter The Real Greek in Covent Garden. It’s an intimate, friendly outpost of the London mini-chain and it ticks a lot of boxes: easy to book, wallet-friendly for WC2, and about as hassle-free as dining gets. However, in my opinion the food misses the mark. While the concept of the Filoxenia menu is a good one — a mix-and-match of mezze and souvlaki for £24 per person — the execution was mediocre.
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Our meal kicked off with a huge shot of olive oil as part of the restaurant’s attempt to bring a touch of Greek “wellness” to London. It’s a fun concept and an instant conversation starter, but the shot was huge — half the size would have been just as charming and far less heartburn-inducing.
There’s genuine appeal in sharing dips, grilled meats and crispy bites, but the flavours didn’t quite punch through and the brightness you expect from Greek cooking felt dialled down.
There were highs. The taramasalata was creamy, salty and moreish, especially when swiped through with pillowy pita bread. And the orange cake for dessert was a triumph - light, syrupy and sweet. If you visit, it’s a must-order.
But several dishes fell flat: the spanakopita was oily and bland, the meat was tough, and the halloumi arrived inexplicably crinkle-cut and drenched in honey. The courgette fritters (my favourite food in the world) were mushy to the point of baby food and lacked seasoning. Even the baklava was dry and tough.
The cocktails were a mixed bag too, the Greek sangria was wince-worthy, strong and sharp, but the Greek Iced Tea (alcoholic version) was delicious, refreshing and dangerously drinkable.
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It could easily have been an off night, and perhaps we ordered wrong. The friendly manager insisted we’d missed out on the prawns and the octopus tentacle — spotted at a neighbouring table looking genuinely impressive.
Ultimately, The Real Greek offers accessible Mediterranean plates and a breezy dining experience that scratches the surface of holiday nostalgia. But if you’re chasing that authentic Athens buzz, the kind served with sunshine, chaos and perfect courgette fritters, the search continues.