I've come to Balos a couple times for drinks, but never to eat. Always heard it was good, but never came. My girlfriends invited me to join them for dinner and finally, my chance to try Balos. We got seated right away in the middle of the restaurant. Our server was great, gave us recommendations, told us his favorites which I always appreciate. We shared the Greek salad, which I loved, big veggies and the olives were yummy, and great feta portions too! We also shared the spanikopita, the saganaki, and the grilled octopus. All were really good but the octopus really stood out. I ordered the lamb chops and they were grilled perfectly! So juicy and yummy. The girls had the beef kabob and the steak and everyone's meals were cooked perfectly. The portions are also pretty large! I was very impressed with Balos, better than I expected! Oh and don't skip dessert, get the creme brûlée! read more

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I had come to Balos before for lunch had the pri-fixe menu and it was good. Earned a return for a birthday dinner. Visited this past weekend for a birthday dinner, night life at Balos is NOTHING like the daytime. It was a full blown party! The DJ was pumping out EDM and the vibe was high. We were a pretty large party of about 12 people. I appreciated the host stand ladies making it happen to seat us together! For that the stars were earned! The server and the assistant were decent could've used a lot more communication on the charges for the birthday cake they brought out that no one asked for (charged $19-ultimately refunded) and the amount of bottles of water served at the table (we were told 5 but charged 8= $96). The food was solid and the napkin toss was a perfect ending to a birthday dinner. Where things go downhill, there was a security person with glasses who randomly came to the room the larger parties were sat at the tables telling us we needed to get out because he wanted to go home (while everyone was waiting for the server to return with the bill to sign). He then proceeded to identify himself as manager while wearing sunglasses (at 1am) and speaking dismissively and rudely to me in response to my ask of we got birthday cake we don't ask for nor ate and were charged for it... his response what?! You thought that sh** was free? He was more concerned about me leaving than providing assistance. In comes the beverage manager Zoe who identified herself as a manager and he walked off while she made the "oversight" right. She ended by giving me her card and ensuring the charge had been reversed. The charge wasn't the problem it was the lack of communication and ultimately being spoken to so rudely as a customer who had just paid a $1400 bill without problem. The service could most certainly use some work. Overall the food was good, fun time but won't be back! read more

Came here on a Sunday for brunch to celebrate my friend's birthday! My advice is to make reservations in advance and Hopefully you guys get Niko as your server! Atmosphere- 10/10. The restaurant is beautiful. From the decor to the people. It gets busy, so make reservations!! Service- 10/10 Niko made our first experience wonderful. He was super friendly and patient. And he went above and beyond to make our brunch experience worth it! David made our tableside drinks and he was awesome!! Zonia was quick to clear our table and replenish silverware after each course, always with. Smile! Drinks- 10/10 we opted for both the bottomless espresso martinis and the bellinis! The salted caramel espresso martini was the table-favorite, with s'mores and matcha coming in as 2nd & 3rd favs. Thanks again, David. Bellinis were delicious too! Food- calamari: 8.5/10-perfectly cooked with theeee most delicious sauces. Marinara + parsley aioli. Greek salad: 6/10 (the flavor was fine, but you have to cut up everything since it comes in such large pieces. Also, be careful, the olives still have the pit! ) Chicken Gyro: 8/10 Lamb Gyro: 8.5/10 Cheesecake: 10/10!!!!!!!! Baklava: 8/10 COMES WITH THE MOST DELICIOUS IVE CREAM!!! Ice cream by itself is a easy 10/10! Thanks again Niko, David and Zonia! read more

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We celebrated my wife's bday here this past weekend and it was amazing! We booked a private event for 9, the menu was already set and ready to go. We had the green salad, pita with spreads, calamari, balo chips, the cheese saganaki, New York strip, branzino, lamb chops and an assortment of deserts. There was more than enough food for 9. The service was fantastic, the table was kept clean, staff made sure we had clean plates in between each course. They packed up any food we didn't finish in between courses, they even refolded my cloth napkin. The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous, we booked from 630-9 so we got a glimpse of how they dim the lights and the music gets a little louder. Honestly the whole experience was worth the price. Everyone had 2 drinks and the grand total was a little over 230 a person. If you're going to celebrate, Balos is the place to do it at. read more

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Brunch was phenomenal - Brunch at Balos Estiatorio this past weekend was such a vibe. Their bottomless options are honestly a win across the board. The mimosas are $45 and the espresso martinis are $55, and if you go with the espresso martinis you can also get the mimosas, which feels like a major bonus. They offer a prix fixe menu that is super affordable with a great selection, plus an à la carte menu if you want to mix it up. Either way, there are plenty of good options to choose from. The ambiance here is always 10 out of 10. It is one of those spots that just feels good to be in. Our server José Andres was incredibly sweet, attentive, and communicative, which made the experience even better. I had such an amazing time catching up with my friend and overall it was a top tier brunch experience. I would absolutely come back again. read more

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I had a phenomenal experience booking a Large Party dinner at Balos recently. I wanted to treat my close friends/bridesmaids to a dinner out and Balos made the booking process super easy. We booked a 9:30pm reservation on a Saturday night as we wanted to plan our visit around the napkin toss. Payment / meal selection was all easy, and the food options were plentiful for our party of 6 with generous portion sizes for the family-styled options. The napkin toss was so much fun! Balos is a great location for a girls night, and so glad I went with them for this occasion. Would definitely recommend coming on a regular night as our experience was so much better than restaurant week last year. read more

Balos Estiatorio - dinner menu - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Solid 3.5 stars for my recent lunch experience at Balos. Atmosphere: The restaurant is aesthetically beautiful with lots of light and open space. Food: I came here for a group lunch with work colleagues. A few of them had been here before and had good things to say about the fare. We ordered from the "power lunch" menu which offered a smattering of options as part of an appetizer, entree, dessert combo. We appreciated that this was an option and seemed like the best option for us. I ordered the grilled octopus as an appetizer, lamb gyro for my entree, and baklava for dessert. My favorite was the grilled octopus. Highly recommend! The baklava was good as well but the lamb gyro was not my favorite. Service: Our waiters were attentive and kind. I do think while the servers were good, the service itself was slow. It took a very long time to receive our entrees and we ended up getting our desserts to go because we had been at the restaurant for almost two hours. Takeaway: I still want to try this spot for brunch or dinner. Hopefully the slow service was a one off! read more

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Balos has one of the best brunches in the city! I met up with friends here and we were promptly seated at our reservation time. They had a musician playing live Greek music in the dining room, which I thought was a nice touch. The atmosphere is lively, so it may be a bit difficult to have conversations. The prefixe brunch is the best deal, and I couldn't turn down adding the bottomless brunch drinks - they even have bottomless espresso martinis, and all of the flavors were pretty good. I had the Greek salad, lamb chops, and baklava. My friends enjoyed the steak and eggs and crab Benedict, and all of us loved our meals. I will definitely be back. read more

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Phenomenal Service but I paid $80 for mediocre food! Sunday brunch at Balos Estiatorio had the potential to be a good time but fell short. All the fanfare that's posted to IG was definitely missing. In fairness, this spot was picked by my brunch date. I enjoyed the branzino but the green salad was boring and the baklava was horrible. Three stars is for the service. Important to know before going... they don't split checks; even for our party of 2. read more

This is my third visit to Balos. I've come for brunch twice and dinner once. I personally think dinner is a slightly more fun experience than brunch, and the food options are better. A lot of the ladies enjoyed their meals specifically the salmon, chicken, and lamb chops. I ordered the Bronzino whole fish because that is a very Greek staple. I felt like they seasoned the fish and served it how I had it at many restaurants in Greece, but the fish quality was not great. They don't do a good job of handling seafood at this restaurant in my personal experience. Every time I order seafood here compared to many other high end restaurants in DC I always feel underwhelmed and I want to return my food to the kitchen. I would not recommend getting their seafood personally. Your table gets complimentary pita bread and hummus which is always warm and delicious!!! Bronzino whole fish 6/10 Pita & Hummus 9/10 Lemonade: 8/10 Mocktails: 7/10 The ambiance and service were great. Our waiter I sadly didn't ask for his name, but he made our experience awesome!! He was kind, super helpful, and you can tell he was experienced from how he handled a large group. We celebrated New Year's Day here and they still had all the decor up and it was LIT! I feel like you pay more for the vibes than the food. So hopefully they find ways to better their meal options. THE NAPKINS & DJ The Balos Dinner Experience normally they do the napkin throwing at 11 PM. It's soooo much funnnn! But they literally only do it for 10 minutes. It would be dope if they did it multiple times or for a little longer. Where it feels like the party never ends. The DJ was great, he played Afro house music. Reason for 3 stars: At the end of the day I still have to rate the restaurant on price and food quality. If I'm spending a lot a 10 min experience isn't enough to wow me if the food is lacking. read more

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Balos!!! I have heard so many good things about this restaurant and my experience did not live up to the expectations. For starters, we had a 10:30 reservation and we were not seated until almost 40 minutes later. After attempting to speak to the host multiple times, she seemed very overwhelmed and was assuring us that our table would be ready soon. There were so many people there that had a reservation and were waiting for a table...but there is no waiting area! The bar was packed because of people sitting and now the added group of people waiting? We were almost shoulder to shoulder with everyone that was waiting. As a restaurant that has a seemingly strict 2 hour table policy, it was being VERY poorly enforced. After we were seated and were able to order our food, our server was pretty inaccessible. Attempting to order a drink or anything else would take such a long time and the music was so loud it was hard to communicate to others to see if we could locate him. He would show up very infrequently which made me not want to order anything additionally. A couple pros were that the restaurant is beautiful! Also, napkin toss was a super fun and lively experience and the food was good once we received it. Although Balos attempted to compensate us for our wait, I was still severely disappointed and frustrated with our experience. A place with so many rules and expectations for its consumers not upholding its own expectations. I feel like had we not gone there hungry, it maybe would have been a more enjoyable experience. But the wait for our table and the infrequent service made it almost impossible. Although it was a fun place, I doubt that I will be returning. read more

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Balos is an incredible place to dine or enjoy a tea or dessert I ordered a baklava and enjoyed incredible honey ice cream and a crispy Philo dough baklava which was incredibly good. The matcha drink was exceptional as well and service was incredible the indoor ambience and decor was decorated with beautiful florals and live music. This is an amazing spot to visit with friends and experience a lively ambience anytime of day read more

Balos Estiatorio - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Balos is not just a restaurant--it is an experience. From the moment you walk in, the ambience pulls you in. It is warm, stylish, and inviting, making it perfect for everything, date night, girls' night out, or just a place to unwind and reconnect. I came with my girls, and we ended up staying for over three hours because the vibe was just that good. I started with the cucumber margarita, recommended by the bartender. I was a little hesitant at first, but let me tell you, IT WAS PERFECT! Refreshing, balanced, and exactly what I needed to ease into the night. Once we were seated, they brought out warm pita and fresh hummus, and that alone set the tone for the entire evening. From there, we shared the Greek salad, and it was absolutely top tier. Fresh, flavorful, and so good that even thinking about it now makes me want more. Next came the calamari, lightly fried and seasoned to perfection. Delicious on its own, but when you added the sauces? Game changer. Elevated in the best way. For my entrée, I ordered the lamb chops with fries, and listen--those lamb chops were seasoned to the bone. Don't ask me how I know, just trust me on this one. LOL Every bite was flavorful and cooked perfectly. I also had a taste of the Seafood Youvetsi, made with a white sauce instead of marinara, and I already know what I am ordering next time. No hesitation. Everything about Balos, from the food, to the drinks, to the atmosphere, was intentional and welcoming. This is the kind of place you go when you want more than a meal. You go for the moment, the connection, and the experience. read more

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I don't even know where to start I had the most amazing experience at Balos celebrating my birthday! Even with my friend (who was also celebrating her birthday) arriving an hour late, the Balos staff was incredibly accommodating and gracious. They treated us with top-notch service and the patience of saints. I am beyond grateful for how well they took care of us. Now... the food. OMG, the food was unbelievable! The grilled octopus was the best I've ever had no exaggeration. Perfectly tender, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The lamb was cooked to perfection: juicy, well-seasoned, and absolutely delicious. The fried eggplant and zucchini crisp was delightful, and the flaming cheese saganaki was a major highlight. It's one of my favorite dishes anywhere, and they executed it flawlessly. The drinks were strong and so good, and the price point is fantastic especially for DC. The vibes were immaculate. Elegant but fun, warm but lively. It truly felt like an experience, not just a meal. This was a birthday dinner I won't soon forget. Balos exceeded my expectations in every way, and I'll definitely be back! read more

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The ambiance was nice. Perfect for a date night or a girls night. The food was good. Drinks (French 75) were perfectly made. My husband had the Mediterranean salad, which was nice and filling. He enjoyed it. I had the Branzino and roasted vegetables. The Branzino was good, but nothing to write home about as far as flavor. The roasted vegetables were decent. While they were seasoned, they were heavily soaked in oil. The show stopper was the service; excellent customer service from the hostess, to the runners to the servers... everyone was super polite and attentive. We were stuffed after our food and the complimentary hummus and pita. I would definitely go back to try more menu items to include dessert, which looked delicious. read more

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Came here tonight with my girlfriends of 16 years for a birthday and the ONLY reason why I am leaving this review is to shout out Jose Andres, (our server) and Luigi (his bar back/support). I mean yes the food was great, but he made amazing recommendations, great conversation , and we never were looking for him to fill a need. The food and his service will have me back for sure. If I had to share a negative, one of the hostess came to our table stating there was another party waiting...but we were waiting for to go food and for him to pick up the check. Strange but nevertheless every other hostesses was amazing one even taking our group photo. That brings me to my last point; it is so beautifully decorated that I wish the "aesthetic" photo areas weren't in high traffic spots. Lighting is great but if you come on a busy night there's no way. Overall will be coming back for their brunch Jose mentioned and the brussel sprouts read more

Balos Estiatorio - Lobster risotto. He brought the head back because he noticed I didn't get a picture for my content lol like he's the best - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Balos was a great time for brunch! Fun energy and pretty good food, for the most part. The grilled octopus was one of the best starters on the menu. The pita bread and hummus was also delicious. I ordered Lamb Chops for my entree and was satisfied. It wasn't the best in terms of flavor, but I wasn't disappointed at all! I didn't love the pairing with fries. The s'mores espresso martini - my goodness. It was soooooo good. I love how their bottomless brunch drinks included various espresso martinis instead of just mimosas. The only thing I didn't appreciate was the server. He was a bit too "comfortable" with us to where it felt very unprofessional. His jokes and sarcasm didn't hit the mark. Thankfully a manager stepped in to usher things along. read more

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Love visiting Balos! The upscale atmosphere and gorgeous decor really add to the experience. They also turn it almost into a lounge on the weekends for 21+ and do a traditional Greek napkin toss around midnight which is so much fun! But let's get into the food: I've tried the brunch and dinner and loved both. The spanakopita is top tier and the balos burger was delicious as well. They only have two mocktails but both are good. For dinner, I had the Grilled Ora King Salmon and that was so tasty and I don't even like asparagus like that. However, it was filling and worth the price. The creme brûlée for dessert is a must!! I'd love to keep coming back to try more of their Greek dishes. The service is also friendly and efficient. They will keep coming around to make sure you're taken care of (but that also might be due to the 2 hour limit on your table lol). read more

Balos Estiatorio - crème brûlée - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Balos Balos Balos we NEED to talk about this BRUNCH. Oh my god, where do I begin. The decor is the perfect balance of luxury meets casual, and the wait staff was attentive, if not the most friendly. Both my friend and I got the chicken soup and the steak and eggs, which were both great, although my steak was a bit overcooked (still so flavorful). My favorite part was the baklava dessert, which is truly something you have to experience to believe. Even with the very minuscule hiccups, I'm so excited to enjoy this brunch again and again! read more

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Our waiter, José Andres, provided better-than-exceptional customer service. We were a party of six celebrating a birthday, and he went above and beyond to make sure the birthday girl felt special -- including offering our table champagne, which was such a thoughtful touch. I usually order the lamb chops, but José recommended the lobster pasta this time. I decided to switch it up based on his suggestion, and I'm so glad I did -- it was absolutely delicious and full of flavor. No regrets at all! The service, the ambiance, the food -- everything was top tier. We'll definitely be back for brunch (per José's recommendation). Highly suggest everyone check this place out! read more

Balos Estiatorio - Lobster Pasta - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

No valet, so on street parking is difficult to find, and there are no parking garages close to the restaurant. Bathroom lines are a problem. Food was good but overpriced, tax & surcharges were not worth the money. Oysters were meh. Brussel sprouts & lamb chops were good. Staff was attentive but missed an order due to noise level. Nice restaurant but reviews are overhyped. More of a bar step up than a restaurant IMO. read more

Balos Estiatorio - Lamb Chops - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Delicious appetizers, shrimp cocktail, grilled octopus and spanakopita. The sidewalk seating was perfect on a beautiful day for lunch. read more

Balos Estiatorio - Shrimp cocktail - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Brunch was great! Our server Milos was kind and very attentive. Me and my guest ordered the steak and eggs and it was delish! Oh the Greek salad was amazing and so fresh! Star of the show was the baklava and matcha and salted caramel martinis. I had a great time and it was very nice vibes! read more

Went to Balos for brunch and dinner and loved my experience both times! The food is absolutely delicious. I ordered the watermelon and feta, French toast, and custard dessert for brunch. For dinner, I ordered the fish. All hits, no misses. Everything was made to perfection. Service was 10/10. They were so attentive and friendly. It's a great vibe. read more

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Any place with flaming cheese is a yes in my book. And that's only part of the fun. This room is large and buzzy in a cool way. The restaurant has a really fun vibe, which sometimes includes a Greek napkin throw and a DJ. Great cocktail list and really extensive food menu. My daughter loved the chicken and the octopus was very tender. read more

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I had a great time at Balos for lunch! Seated at the bar, the service from Amber was awesome and she made great recommendations. I decided to do the Power Lunch option and everything I had to eat and drink was delicious. Starting with the hummus and warm bread followed by the delicious grilled octopus and perfectly cooked lamb chop, I enjoyed every bite. I look forward to returning to try other menu options soon! read more

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Everyone in the dmv area has probably seen the video of the napkin throwing rituals at Balos- well, the place is beautiful and spacious but that's about all it had going for it. The food wasn't good- way too salty and nothing special about it. The drinks are fine but I never asked for a complicated cocktail. The service is par and it seems like a very popular happy hour spot. My beau works in the same building so I would wait here after grabbing two spots at the bar before it was completely filled out. I'd go for their HH and bar but the one time I had a meal here was not impressive. I don't think I've heard anything good about this place's actual food- just that it's practically a club at night. read more

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Came here with friends to try out their brunch and bottomless brunch option and the food did not disappoint! You can either choose between the three course menu or ordering a la carte. We weren't a fan of the three course menu, I particularly didn't find an option that piqued my interest for the dessert or starter options. I ordered the balos burger a la carte and it tasted great! If you're debating, order the classic spread for the table, it's wonderful. I also tried my friend's dishes and they all were full of flavor. I would order any of the dishes again. Bottomless is all or nothing--the whole table has to opt in or order drinks a la carte. I love that they offer espresso martini variations and I'm surprised no other place does this for brunch, it's genius! We obviously ordered every flavor. Blueberry was the best flavor by miles. Second, salted caramel and I didn't care for the remaining flavors. This is a great brunch spot, with something for everyone. Would definitely recommend! read more

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SUPER trendy. For 3pm on a Sunday, this place was PACKED & JUMPING! Personally, I'm toooo old and sooo not interested in creating content so this was not my vibe buttt it is an absolutely BEAUTIFUL restaurant, with EXCELLENT service (shoutout to our bartender Ana and our server Niko), and DELICIOUS food. Triple threat, hands down. Our party of 11 (celebrating my daughter who earned her Master's degree from American University today) were all totally blown away with everything ... from the starters (grilled haloumi cheese and spicy feta) to the aioli for the calamari, to the perfectly seasoned NY strip to the tobiko (roe on the salmon) to the massive dessert platter! Nothing but praise for Balos. A must add to your bucket list. Just be warned ... if you prefer a more intimate, classy, family vibe ... avoid Friday and Saturday nights AND Sunday brunch. No shade ... that's just my #OldLadyGang #SeniorLiving priorities busting through! LOL! read more

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Went for a Saturday brunch to celebrate a baby shower. We had a private room in a section of the restaurant. As soon as guests arrived we were offered cocktail options or coffee. I opted for the mimosas which were amazing. For food, they brought out appetizers first. This consisted of different hummus and pimento cheese, pita bread, salad and a few Greek pastries. The pita bread was soft and fluffy. Pastries were a hit as well. We got to choose our entrees and everyone shared a bit of everything. I got the steak and eggs but also split to r baklava French toast. Both entrees were delicious. Ended the event with desserts! All the food was very good and the staff was super attentive and kind. I can't wait to come back to try more of their menu. read more

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Balos doesn't owe me a thing. I went for my boyfriend's birthday and it was truly a one of a kind experience. We had a 9:30 PM reservation and Elmer took care of us. He was excellent. The service was a 10 out of 10, and the food? Also a 10. Everything was so flavorful and unique. The drinks were amazing too. You'll definitely pay a pretty penny, but you won't be disappointed. The napkin throwing starts closer to closing. We stayed until around 11:30 PM when it kicked off. We ordered apps, drinks, entrees, and dessert, and everything was on point. The restaurant was spotless and the entire staff worked together to make sure everything flowed smoothly. The decor at Balos is beautiful and adds to the experience. I can't wait to go back for myself next time. Big thanks to Elmer for putting me onto that fig port wine. It added to the beautiful ending. read more

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I've been wanting to check Balos out for sometime, especially after seeing all the videos of the infamous napkin toss. My friend was visiting for the weekend, and I figured it would be a great experience for the both of us especially since we both appreciate and enjoy Mediterranean food. She also seemed intrigued by the napkin toss and festive atmosphere. I called ahead of time to ask when the toss would happen so I could time our reservation accordingly. I was told to make a reservation for 930 at the latest because it happens between 11-1130 on weekends. I went ahead and made a 9 pm reservation for Saturday night. My friend and I were running late due to delays on the train so we almost missed our table, but thankfully we got there just in the nick of time. We had an interesting seat that was more of a couch where we sat next to each other. I would have preferred to be across from each other, but it was fine. It was very lively and pretty busy when we were in there. Lots of people by the bar, and every table seemed full. Our waitress was alright, but could have been a bit more attentive in my opinion. She spent a lot of time at the table beside us, and barely checked in. Her colleagues paid more attention, and made sure we had water refills and that our food was good. I ordered the salmon that came with greens and a white sauce. It was very delicious, nicely seasoned, and there was tobiko on top which at first, I didn't get, but actually ended up really enjoying it. My friend had the ground lamb appetizer with rice and she really liked it. Overall, it was a decent experience. It's aesthetically appealing inside, and very elegant decor. The food is the showcase in terms of presentation and experience. I saw food come out in flames and just create a more interactive experience. However, there is a bit of wait time and we didn't get to see the napkin toss after all. Our waitress told us it would likely begin around 12 or maybe 1230. It just depended on the vibes. By this point it was 11 pm, and for me, it wasn't worth sitting around for another two hours. I don't know that I'd come back. Not sure if it is worth the hype or price. read more

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The bottomless drink option during brunch is 1000% worth it!! Drinks were strong and delicious and the waitress was on point with keeping them coming! Food came out hot and fast. You definitely need a reservation they were packed. read more

Balos Estiatorio - S'mores espresso martini - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I went to Balos Estiatorio for the pre-fix brunch and had a great experience. In addition to the prefix brunch I ordered the bottomless brunch cocktails. I started the meal with a classic espresso martini and the grilled octopus. The octopus was tender and the lemon paired nicely with the capers and vinegar that seasoned the octopus. The espresso martini had a nice balance of sweetness from the syrup and bitterness from the espresso. After my appetizer I got the steak and eggs. My steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare and had a lemony sauce that added extra flavor. The fries also added a nice side dish to eat with the runny eggs. I also ordered the galaktoboureko for desert; however, I ended up taking it home because I was so full. My only critique is that while the rest of the service was great I was a little confused about the table side espresso martini. My first espresso martini, the classic, was brought to me on a platter, while the second espresso martini called chocolate was prepared table side. My last espresso martini ,matcha, was also brought to me by a waiter on a platter. While this normally would not be a problem the menu listed them all as table side preparation so I was a little confused by the back and forth of actual table side preparation and being brought the drink fully prepared. Overall, I still had a wonderful experience at Balos and would return. read more

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This is my second time coming to Balos. The first time I came it was into dinner time and I was seated at a table and the food was delicious. I wanted to have an early dinner so I went to Balos after work. I didn't realize that during happy hour they don't seat people at a table, so I was asked to sit at the bar. No problem, as long as I can order from the full menu which I could. I ordered my food and again the food was delicious. The bartenders were lovely. Unfortunately, I'm taking away a star because as soon as I sat down I noticed the flies and fruit flies flying around me and my food. I tried to not let it bother me, but it was annoying to have to keep waving my hand over my food so that they don't go in my food. I was over it when I mosquito bite me. Would I come back to eat? Yes, but I would never eat at the bar. read more

Balos Estiatorio - Crispy Brussel sprouts - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Got sick within 40 minutes of eating the Balos Burger, was the only one at the table to order it, and was ill for the next 24 hours. I accept this could have been a one-off. The issue is how it was handled. 3 emails, 4 phone calls, 2 in-person visits, and no meaningful response. The only time I got any engagement was by physically going in. On one visit, senior management were in the restaurant but chose not to come over. I was told the issue would be escalated, and I never heard anything again. A chef also told me it is "impossible" to get food poisoning in under 24 hours, which is simply not true. I have eaten at a wide range of places, and this is the worst customer service I have experienced. Poor communication, no accountability, and no basic apology. read more

Today's visit I tried Balos' lunch express special $45 for 3 fabulous courses! The octopus (+ $10) was perfect! And for an appetizer was a very large portion. Underneath were whipped potatoes which were also very good. For my entree I had the seafood youvesett (+ $15) which was packed with seafood even the lobster head. It was different from the lamb youvesetti which is my favorite dish here. The orzo in this dish tasted more like Parmesan instead of the flavor of the sauce. Definitely a go to if you like seafood dishes. Lastly I had the cheesecake which was very rich in flavor and the candied cherries were super decadent. I think the only suggestion for desert would be the addition of whipped cream. read more

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Hubby and I went here for a date night- his pick! I was immediately drawn in my the vibrant ambiance "vibe". Very diverse crowd all there to socialize whilst enjoying some delicious food. The food was delicious, we are both fans of Mediterranean cuisine and cleared our plates. The stand outs were the octopus appetizer and the seafood dish that has an orzo pasta. We did the restaurant week dinner special which was a decent deal for the quality of the food. Otherwise, be prepared to spend a pretty penny. My only suggestion is to maybe clear out some of the tables. It was really close as I can tell they want to seat as many as possible. From a business lenses this makes sense, as a patron is a little annoying to have to squeeze between tables to get up. One lady knocked wine glasses down on the next table because her coat tail brushed up against the table. Wayyyyy too close. If they room out above 10 tables jut would be a much more enjoyable and spacious dining experience all around. Food and drinks are awesome, so kudos for that. read more

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what a gorgeous place! from the aesthetic inside, the beautifully curated menu, the service, all so wonderful. we tried a bit everything as me and my sisters enjoyed their sunday brunch. there was live music and the place was super lively so definitely make a reservation. they were very flexible as we moved ours around on the day but i wouldn't risk just walking in on a sunday. we did the pre fixed brunch option because it was def a great deal. ordered tuna tartare to start and a green salad. the baklava french toast and a mocktail they had on the menu. it was super refreshing. ended with baklava, which we took to go. tried a bit of my sis' lamb chops. love a good lamb moment. everything was so good and flavorful. enjoyed each bite truly. definitely want to go back and explore the dinner menu next time i'm in DC. read more

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I wish I could give it a 3.5. Went for brunch recently with a couple friends. The good: seated right away by a really welcoming host, server was friendly and attentive, food was great, good price point with the 3 course brunch options. The not so great: music was good and fun but it's loud, like can barely hear the person talking across the table from you loud (I'm getting old!). The timing was off, 30-40 minutes between app and main course. No one at my table really liked the drink they ordered. Despite the tough parts, I would absolutely go back for that spanakopita. Yum! read more

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