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Recently, my companion and I went to Calósta. She had noticed the restaurant during an evening stroll through Munich's city center, but hadn't yet recognized it as Greek. When we were recently looking for somewhere to sit down, eat, and chat, she remembered Calósta. We went there relatively spontaneously, without a reservation. The restaurant is located on a small side street, branching off Sendlinger Straße, and is most easily reached by public transport via Sendlinger Tor.
We entered and immediately felt comfortable with the ambiance. The bright, welcoming restaurant is long and narrow, with the bar located at the front on a slightly raised platform. The restaurant's kitchen is tucked away behind it. At the back (facing the street), numerous sturdy wooden tables with white chairs are arranged along the side glass wall – each one lit with a candle and already set. We were greeted by a friendly waiter, allowed to choose our own table, and sat down. Behind us, at a larger table, sat about four or five women, and to our right, at two tables for two that had been pushed together, sat many more women. I mention this in such detail because, as the evening progressed, my companion and I practically had to shout at each other (no exaggeration!) to hear ourselves speak. The two tables were so incredibly loud that we could barely hear what the person opposite us was saying. This was certainly partly due to the noise level, but more so to the layout of the premises: relatively high ceilings and the restaurant's narrow, elongated floor plan undoubtedly contributed to the terrible noise during our visit. In addition, almost no other tables were occupied.
Once seated, we were presented with the concise menus, including the weekly specials. A wine list, featuring various wines available for order at the restaurant, was already on the table. Outside, the current weekly menu was also displayed in a small showcase. This will likely no longer be current by the time you visit – should you decide to stop by – but the photos in this article will give you an idea of what's on offer. For example, tuna tartare for €11.90, risotto with chicken, mushrooms, and vegetables for €10.70, grilled sea bream fillet with vegetables for €10.90, various salads, and much more. During our visit, we opted against a more elaborate dish from the weekly specials (since we were only lightly hungry) and, in addition to a juice spritzer (0.4l/€3.60) and a small still water (0.25l/€2.80), chose the oven-roasted eggplant with feta cheese for €7.90 and a mixed salad with Florinis halloumi and oyster mushrooms for €8.50. Admittedly, we only realized we were at a Greek restaurant when looking at the menu – some might have guessed from the name 😉 – and joked that we found it remarkable to see both typical Greek dishes like "Suzukakia" – meatballs in tomato sauce with rice and salad – and spaghetti Bolognese on the menu. As is typical for Greek restaurants, vegetarians aren't well catered for at Calósta.
Immediately after ordering, we received a fresh bread basket filled with soft, fresh bread, which was replenished whenever we asked for more. My salad and my companion's dish were both perfectly fine. The salad was a bit coarsely chopped, but very fresh and well-dressed. My companion's eggplant – I tried a bite – was also delicious. Nothing particularly fancy, of course, but a very satisfying light snack.
In total, we paid €25 including tip, which is reasonable considering we only ordered an appetizer (aubergine) from the menu, a salad, and two simple non-alcoholic drinks. Overall, the restaurant has a very pleasant ambiance, decor, and atmosphere, and I would definitely come back. I might even return for a longer stay with an appetizer, main course, and dessert. (Desserts are a permanent part of the menu and cost between €4.50 and €4.90. They offer halva, crème caramel, kataifi, and Greek yogurt with honey and fresh fruit.) The service was also good. During our visit, there was only one waiter responsible for all the tables. He served us in a friendly and pleasant manner. A definite no-go, or rather, a negative aspect, was the noise level. While the two groups of women certainly weren't the quietest, there were hardly any other tables occupied around us, and it was unbearably loud. The small bar in the restaurant isn't really suitable for sitting down; it serves more as a visual centerpiece. The cozy terrace, perfect for warmer days, is definitely worth mentioning. This little Greek restaurant only opened at the end of 2013 and celebrated its grand opening with a buffet and delicious food, inviting a large crowd.
So, I can't really advise against a visit – quite the opposite, in fact: the atmosphere and everything about it is fantastic. Maybe you should just give it a try. It's best to reserve in advance – you don't want to come for nothing. And bring cash, because unfortunately, card payments aren't accepted at Calósta, which I always find a bit inconvenient. Enjoy your Greek meal and bon appétit!.
I'll be back: There's nothing inherently wrong with it. However, if you value a quiet environment, this isn't the place for you. The food was delicious and the service was good.
Place visited: Calósta
Address: Altheimer Eck 14, 80331 Munich
Website: Calósta
Pictures:
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