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Recently, I spontaneously went out one evening with my companion – and on the advice of my dear colleague Adrian (who also recommended the La Sputino (recommended) – at Elia's, a Greek restaurant on Herzogstrasse in Schwabing. It can be reached via subway line 2 – Hohenzollernplatz stop.
Upon entering, we were immediately greeted by a waiter, and I informed him that I had reserved a table 20 minutes earlier. We were led along the long, dark wooden bar with its dark bar stools and past the dark wooden tables, which were not even half full, with upholstered benches and simple wooden chairs. From there, we entered a separate room to the right with another seven to ten tables. The atmosphere and ambiance at Restaurant Elia is very cozy, and you immediately feel at ease: parquet floors, pictures on the white walls, subtle lighting, candles and lilies on the tables, exposed brick walls in the passageway to the second dining room, an L-shaped layout, orchids and various plants on the windowsills, and a soft orange light behind the benches, which gives the walls a slightly yellow tint. Overall, the lighting is subdued, creating a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant has approximately 25 tables and bar seating in total.
The Menus The menus were handed to us openly by a friendly waiter. The menus aren't particularly extensive, and as is typical for Greek restaurants, the selection for vegetarians is rather limited. (However, I've been to Greek restaurants where there were easily 10-15 vegetarian dishes.) At Elia, there are cold and hot appetizers ranging from €3.90 to €10.80. These range from simple tzatziki and peppers stuffed with feta cheese to grilled octopus. We didn't order any appetizers during our visit, but overall, there's a good selection. Salads at Elia range from €4.50 for a mixed salad to €12.80 for octopus on a salad plate. I briefly considered ordering the grilled goat cheese with honey and walnuts on a salad for €11.80, but then changed my mind and opted for the vegetable plate – not a very good decision. The potatoes on the vegetable plate were far too hard, and overall the presentation was rather bland, with vegetables that were too firm to the bite and nothing particularly exciting. I understand, of course, that such a dish leaves little room for creativity, but it still felt somewhat uninspired and borderline acceptable for €10. My companion chose gyros with tzatziki and salad for €11.80. Grilled dishes at Elia go up to €21 – king prawns with rice and salad. Besides the salads, appetizers, and grilled or oven-baked dishes, there are only three different desserts (€3.90-€4.50) – typical Greek yogurt with honey, halva, baklava (phyllo pastry with walnuts), and vanilla ice cream. I didn't try it at Elia, but in my opinion, baklava is always worth a try.
Overall, it was a pleasant evening. The waiter checked on us regularly to make sure everything was alright. As mentioned, the atmosphere is cozy, and it's easy to linger over a glass of wine. (My companion chose a glass of wine – a semi-sweet white Imiglikos for €4.20/0.2l.) I had still water. The wine was delicious and sweeter than expected, but a good choice nonetheless. After we ordered our main courses, a small bowl of olives and a small bread basket were placed on the table. The bread was fine, nothing special. I passed on the olives due to my general aversion to them. Card payments are accepted at the restaurant. We paid €34 including tip, but we didn't receive any ouzo or other small drinks with the bill – unusual for a Greek restaurant. There's nothing inherently wrong with a visit, but I wouldn't necessarily go back. There weren't many vegetarian options, and it could be better. The staff, while friendly, also seemed a bit arrogant, and some of the food was borderline acceptable. If you're ever in the area, you could give it a try, but if you've already found your favorite Greek restaurant, stick with it. As always, the company you're with also plays a role in whether it's a pleasant evening. 🙂
I'll be back: Not right now. I'd rather try something new.
Place visited: Elia
Address: Herzogstrasse 90, 80796 Munich
Website
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