AVENUE BISTRO & BAR

The new Avenue Bistro hosted at Metropolitan Hotel is a recent opening in Athens. The place comes  with high credentials, since the menu is suggested by 3 star Michel Roux and executed by Aris Petretzikis (winner of 1st Greek Master Chef TV competition). The place keeps the high standards of the 5-star hotel, with simple and cozy decoration that fits with the bistro concept. Service is also exceptional being polite, immediate and informative as needed (which is not always the case even in expensive Athens restaurants).

All the menu starters and appetizers we tasted were worthy of the French tradition. We ordered souffle, tarte and onion soup - everything was smooth and tasty - and the clear winner was the fine souffle with goat cheese. The main dishes were of significant proportions and well structured. My sugestion among the duck, chicken, salmon and the saffron codfish would be the codfish - soft as butter, no hint of fish odour with the delicate saffron spice, is the best approach of  the codfish fillet we have tasted so far in Athens. A nice surprise was the reasonable prices of the wine list that also included several Greek original varieties which can be a nice introduction into Greek wines for the business or recreational visitor. For the record, we tried a fruity bottle of  Techni Alipias White, a combination of Sauvignon Blanc and Assyrtiko produced in Northern Greece (Drama). Market price is ~ 12 euro and @ Avenue was priced at ~23 - a healthy policy that other restaurants must aslo follow

What was less impressive and almost disappointing - especially if you take into consideration the French tradition - was the dessert part. Some discent sweets, but I dare say, nothing noticeable here.

Overall a good value for money proposal (~40euro/person with one bottle of wine split in 4) with the French bistro style evident in all aspects, but not something outstanding as suggested by the venue credentials. It is still worth to visit and enjoy and certainly high on the recommendation list for non-Greek cuisine in Athens.

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