The only way to do a Greek dinner with friends is order everything and share. The food here will make you question if you want to share at all. We had the toasted chicken, a greek salad, huloumi, grilled octopus,the cheese saganaki and fries for good measure. Everything was delicious and I wanted more. The service was attentive and nice. It didnt stand out but thats actually what I consider great service. If I could take the entire decor from this restaurant and put it in my living room I would be the envy of every PTA mom. Go for happy hour, stay for dinner and make a reservation to come back. read more

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

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A friend brought me here to celebrate my birthday since Balos had been on my list for quite some time, and I'd heard so many wonderful things. Unfortunately, the evening got off to a rather frustrating start. The restaurant was packed like a can of sardines, and despite having a 9:30 reservation, we waited an HOUR AND A HALF to be seated! Definitely not the start I envisioned for my birthday dinner. Fortunately, the evening improved once we were finally seated. The aesthetics were aestheticing. The food was good. I ordered the lobster pasta, baklava, and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. The real highlight, however, was the atmosphere. Around midnight, the restaurant transforms into a lively, Mykonos-inspired party scene, complete with napkins flying through the air. Such a fun vibe! Overall, I enjoyed myself, but the excessive wait despite having a reservation was a major drawback. I'd consider returning for the atmosphere, but I certainly hope the reservation experience improves. read more

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I came to Balos for a friend's milestone 40th birthday brunch with a group of approximately 11-12 people. Unfortunately, the overall experience was a bit disappointing, especially considering our final bill was around $1,700. For larger parties, you're required to pre-select a menu, which is completely understandable. However, what wasn't made clear was that certain items, such as steak, came with an additional charge. These upcharges were not noted on the menu we were provided, so naturally, several people ordered under the impression that everything was included in the flat rate. This, along with other billing discrepancies, made the final bill unnecessarily confusing. For a restaurant accommodating large groups, I would expect much better transparency with pricing. The food itself was a mixed experience. The appetizers and salads were absolutely amazing and easily the highlight of the meal. I ordered the steak and eggs for my entrée, but unfortunately, I found it extremely salty. Overall, the food was just okay. Another disappointment was the birthday experience. We noticed another table celebrating a birthday received a dessert, singing, and noticeably more attention from the staff. Meanwhile, our group was celebrating a milestone 40th birthday, and we didn't receive anything comparable. I certainly don't expect special treatment simply because we're spending a significant amount of money, but consistency in how celebrations are handled would have been appreciated. We did opt for the bottomless drinks and brunch menu, so I understand how the bill can add up. However, when you're spending approximately $1,700, clear communicati on, accurate billing, and attentive service should be a given. I might consider returning for dinner again, but I'm not sure I would choose Balos again for brunch, particularly with a large group. My advice: If you're planning a group brunch, especially for a birthday, confirm all additional menu charges beforehand, carefully review your final bill, and ask exactly what's included in the birthday celebration experience. I wish we had known these things in advance, as it would have made for a much smoother and more enjoyable celebration. read more

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First dinner date out with my gf who just moved back home! This place is gorgeous, modern, and has a nice coastal like vibe. We were seated promptly, overall the service was nice! We enjoyed a variety items off the menu. Our absolute least favorite were the sea bass skewers, they were insanely bland so we were quite disappointed. The table bread though? Very good. The crab cakes and steak frites were fine, nothing exceptional but made up for the skewers for sure. The Brussels were just meh. We both enjoyed our martinis though! We'd definitely come back to try other items. read more

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Unfortunately, Balos missed the mark for us, especially considering we traveled from out of town specifically to celebrate my best friend's birthday. We love traveling for food and had high expectations for this experience, but the restaurant was very subpar and did not live up to what we anticipated. The best thing we had throughout the entire meal was honestly the bread and hummus. After receiving our water, there was a significant wait before anyone came over to take our drink order. The wait was so long that we ultimately placed our drink and food orders at the same time. When our food arrived, it was not hot, unlike the dishes we noticed being served to other tables around us. The birthday girl ordered the Greek Roasted Chicken and said it was overwhelmingly lemony. She decided not to send it back because we were already disappointed with the overall experience. The lobster pasta was decent, and the best part was definitely the generous amount of lobster. What was most frustrating, however, was being charged for items we had simply inquired about but never ordered or said we wanted. We were already so over the experience and ready to leave that we didn't even make a big issue of it at the time. For example, we were charged for a shot of Don Julio that, when it arrived, tasted watered down. We were also told by our waiter that he had "something for the birthday girl," and a piece of chocolate cake was brought to the table. We assumed this was a complimentary birthday gesture, only to find that we had been charged for it as well. There were simply too many small disappointments throughout the evening, and for a restaurant of this caliber especially one we traveled to for a special celebration we expected much more. I really wanted to love Balos, but based on our experience, I would not revisit at this time. read more

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

We had such a great experience at Balos Brunch! The espresso martinis were absolutely delicious, and the octopus was amazing as well. A special shoutout to Davidé, our bartender, who was incredibly helpful, hospitable, and so much fun to talk to! He really made our experience even more enjoyable. Great food, delicious drinks, and outstanding service. We'll definitely be back! read more

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

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I ordered the roasted chicken and fried eggplant, and both were delicious. The chicken was flavorful, and the fried eggplant was a great addition to the meal. The atmosphere is also beautiful and makes it a great spot for a nice dinner. read more

Balos Estiatorio - Roasted chicken, fried eggplant - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This will be my 3rd brunch since May and I'll be back again next week. Every group of people I bring here falls in love with not only the vibe but the food and service. The aesthetic is gorgeous and the entire restaurant just feels like an experience. The grilled octopus appetizer was cooked perfectly...tender with a nice char and thankfully not a hint of that super chewy texture you sometimes get with octopus. The french toast was also great. I loved that it wasn't overly sweet, so you can actually taste the bread and all of the toppings instead of everything just tasting like sugar. What keeps bringing me back is that Balos has so much on the menu that I want to try since I love Mediterranean food. Also, the service has always been great in my experience. Josh was my server the last time and he was amazing! read more

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I've been to Balos a few times and I cannot believe I haven't written a review. This place is fantastic. The employees are all extremely nice and hospitable. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and it's always a vibe in there. The food is amazing. It's probably some of the best calamari in the area. There isn't a bad thing on the menu and so far I've had the lamb chops, steak kabobs, Balos chips, crab cakes, lobster pasta, fries, roasted chicken, chocolate cake and the crème brûlée. I've heard they do a napkin toss late night so I have to go back and check that out. This is one you cannot miss. read more

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Came here last weekend, thoroughly disappointed. The restaurant was freezing cold, and at one point in the evening m, we were all shivering which made our experience pretty unpleasant to begin with. We started with the spanakopitas and Greek salad. Both were fine, nothing to write home about, but also it's pretty hard to screw up a Greek salad. We ordered the moussaka and the filet skewers. The moussaka was lacking seasoning, it was so incredibly bland, and the portion was ridiculously tiny. And the skewers arrived with pita that was more on the burnt side than charred, as described on the menu. We felt like our waitress was being spread incredibly thin, and felt she could not attend to our needs or check in because she seemed so frazzled. Felt the food and service was way overpriced for what we received, and would consider telling others to avoid visiting while you're in town. read more

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

We recently celebrated my fiancé's belated birthday with friends at Balos in DC. The friends are locals, and this restaurant was highly recommended. I can see why, because it had a lively vibe from start to finish. Our reservation was at 8pm, and we had enjoyed some cocktails earlier in the evening. It was espresso martini o'clock, and I was delighted to see they had multiple options to choose from. I settled on the S'mores iteration (Grey Goose, white and dark chocolate liqueur, toasted marshmallow). Much to my surprise, the marshmallows were lit ablaze tableside! This was such a fun way to kick it all off. The hard part was deciding what food to order. Luckily, everyone was down with splitting multiple plates, so we could get a little taste of everything. Before our cocktails arrived, we enjoyed complimentary hummus and pita bread. Let me tell you, this was the most pillowy, soft pita bread I've ever had. I couldn't get enough, so we obviously had to order Classic Spreads to get more. We chose tzatziki, crazy feta, and Melitzanosalata. We also ordered the Grilled Octopus, Gyro Eggroll, and Calamari. The Calamari was my favorite of the appetizer round. It was so delicate and perfectly cooked with just the right amount of fried goodness. The Grilled Octopus was also probably the best cooked octopus I've ever had. It wasn't chewy like I've experienced in the past, and the red onions, capers, fava purée, and roasted peppers added a nice depth of flavor. The Gyro Eggroll was a little dry and gamey for me; not even the tzatziki served with it could save it. For our mains, we shared the Swordfish Kebab, Lamb Chops, and Moussaka. The Lamb Chops were my favorite out of the entrees. It was a nice touch that our waiter offered to add a lamb chop since there were 4 of us, and it is typically served as three lamb chops. They were cooked perfectly to the temperature we requested. The Swordfish Kebab was sadly a miss for me. I thought it was oversalted, and the sautéed broccolini served with it was undercooked. The Moussaka was a fun hybrid dish with Greek-style lasagna layered with eggplant, potato, ground beef, and béchamel. As the meal wound down, the atmosphere became even more animated with a live DJ. The servers brought out Greek flags and danced with the patrons as they waved them. We stuck around at the bar, continuing to enjoy drinks and the ambiance. Balos strikes a balance of great energy without sacrificing the quality of the food and service. Thank you for helping us continue the birthday celebrations all night long! read more

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I came here with a colleague for lunch, and the restaurant is beautiful. The service was incredible, and 99% of the food was excellent. The dips were fantastic, and the eggplant and zucchini chips were surprisingly light, crispy, and delicious. My colleague ordered the lamb shank, which was tender and full of flavor. The only reason I'm giving 4 out of 5 stars instead of 5 is the whole fish. It was highly recommended and presented as being deboned, filleted, and easy to eat, but unfortunately it didn't have much flavor and had a ton of bones, so I could barely eat it. My recommendation would be to skip the whole fish, but everything else was incredible. I would absolutely come back. read more

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

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Balos definitely met my expectations with their food selections! My family and I enjoyed every single part of our meals. We came here to celebrate Mother's Day with our mom, and Balos was so kind to gift every mother with a rose and locally-crafted coffee. Because it was so busy this day, we did have to wait a bit for our food. Our waiter seemed overwhelmed, but he eventually brought us the complimentary pita bread and hummus after some time. For my drink I ordered the matcha cocktail, and this tasted absolutely delicious. I ordered the crab cake benedict for my entree, which came with roasted breakfast potatoes. I loved every bit of it! There was enough to take as leftovers, too! We also really enjoyed the show that was put on in the middle of our dining experience. Very entertaining! And I can't forget to mention how beautiful of a restaurant it is! We were able to take lovely pictures with our mom. As a heads up, they will not seat you or put your name on the list until every person in your party is present, even though we had a reservation. This wait was a bit frustrating since one of my family members had trouble finding parking and all garages nearby were closed because it was a Sunday. The host also seemed frustrated and wasn't the friendliest. I recommend Balos offering valet parking if they continue instilling this rule and to avoid long waiting times for patrons. read more

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I love Balos! I rated 4 stars only because the service can be spotty in the mix of the vibes and I've experience orders getting mixed up quite a few times. Other than that, no complaints! I went for my birthday over a year ago and had to go back. Little did I know it would be a back to back visit with my girls. I went for an impromptu dinner on a Friday (didn't eat here -- mainly drinks) and less than 24 hours I returned back for brunch Saturday afternoon. LOL! It was so worth it. The only downfall was they completely butchered my drink Friday and served me mezcal (which I hate) with the Butterfly Pea Margarita. This was fixed once I raised the issue after the bartender tried my drink hisself. I ordered the Matcha Espresso Martini which was probably my fav -- it was very light and delicious. For brunch, the Crab Cake Benedict is a MUST. The crab cake is so tender & delicious. Also, highly recommend participating in the bottomless espresso martinis if you plan to order more than 2 drinks. FYI -- the whole table has to participate. I ordered the Honey Lavender and Orange Chocolate Carajillo. My favorite for brunch was definitely the Honey Lavender, but overall I would say the Matcha is my first & foremost. Please expect to have a great time here -- the vibes are unmatched from the employees, djs, guitarist, all the above. Come for the experience and be sure to participate in the napkin tossing & flag wave. It's a must! read more

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10/10 experience! Balos Brunch is the place to be--very festive and celebratory with upbeat music, waving country flags, and napkins in the air. The ambiance is beautiful, with chic boho and floral décor. We did the prix fixe brunch menu, and everything was delicious. The tuna tartare, grilled octopus, and lobster & crab Benedict were standouts. The baklava and drinks were also very good. Niko, our server, was attentive, fun, and truly made the experience worth it. I would love to return and highly recommend read more

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The restaurant is very crowded. We had a reservation but we still waited 30 min but we were prepared from TikTok. They give complimentary wine I did not drink any & I wasn't offered any.Tust was disappointing. I got a blood orange margarita from the bar that took about 15 minutes , it was strong so I liked it. The bar was super crowded but those bartenders did a great job. Once seated you get pita & hummus so good. Appetizer von got octopus I had a Greek salad $29 not an appetizer. Entrees I got lamb chops and Von got some steak kabob. My lamb chops were $68 I think and drinks $21 each. Prices were good our check was almost $300 and we had a lot of good. They did napkin toss and party line it was fun. This place is very trendy and authentic I loved that. I saw a bunch of photographers outside I'm assuming they work for the restaurant and take pictures of customers coming in but again I'm not sure. Overall experience really good and I'm going to come back and try the brunch. 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 dined here on a Saturday night. The place had a great vibe with lots of nicely dressed people (thanks to the dress code). Service was amazing from the time I arrived at the hostess stand to the dining experience. The staff were very lively and they seemed to enjoy working together and exhibited a teamwork approach. I didn't have drinks however the menu looked amazing and the bar hD a nice selection of all the top shelf liquors. I ordered the Lamb Chops, Greek potatoes and the Brussels sprouts. Everything was cooked perfectly. No notes. This restaurant is expensive but I think it was worth it for the quality of food. read more

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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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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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

Absolutely amazing meal! Definitely order the balos chips (zucchini chips), also loved the fish and the Brussels sprouts, and the cheesecake! Everything was delicious. The space is well designed and super warm lighting so it's a nice atmosphere. read more

In short, we felt rushed, and our server was not attentive. Even after asking for another server, we ultimately decided to leave and dine at another establishment. As an avid restaurant lover and someone who genuinely enjoys trying different restaurants, I was disappointed. I kept thinking, maybe it's a busy night, maybe they're short-staffed, maybe it's this or maybe it's that. But at the end of the day, we all know the importance of a first impression. It doesn't matter whether it's a busy day or a busy night--first impressions are still first impressions. read more

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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Went here for my birthday for brunch and had an amazing experience with their bottomless $45 cocktail deal and $45 3 course meal. Portion sizes were great and I definitely got my moneys worth (about 90 total). The service was great! This is a place I recommend to go on a date or just a fun time with friends! read more

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

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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I came for the napkin toss, but definitely stayed for the vibe!!? this experience was breathtaking... phenomenal drinks great music, great ambience super social people. From having my best friend, get the opportunity to wave around a huge flag to throwing napkins around the restaurant to a hand-delivered amazing crème brûlée. I have nothing but great things to say about this experience and will definitely be back. We came in for my birthday dinner and it was very busy. I'm so happy we made a reservation beforehand because walking in on a Saturday night would've been nearly impossible. All of our drinks were great we didn't really come to eat, but we got a couple of appetizers which were also phenomenal 10 out of 10 great experience. read more

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

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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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I went to here for brunch, and it was great. While I know they're known for dinner, the brunch was fun. They offer unlimited espresso martinis, and I really loved how they balanced the flavors -- some sweet, some more subtle. I had the crab egg Benedict, which was fantastic, and the octopus starter was a standout. The cheesecake dessert was also incredible. I'll absolutely come back for brunch again, and I can't wait to try their dinner next time! read more

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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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We had a reservation for 10 PM on Saturday night, but we didn't get seated until around 10:30. It took talking to at least three different people, all of whom promised to return in a minute and then just vanished. The place was a chaotic mess, with long waits just to order drinks at the bar, and the bartenders were so clueless they couldn't even remember their own drink recipes. Once we finally got to our table, no one even bothered to check on us. I had to flag down a guy who looked like a manager just to get some water. By that point, we were already frustrated and way too hungry to wait any longer. We ended up leaving at 10:45 very upser without even ordering. Save yourself the trouble and avoid this place! read more

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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Food is mid. If you go just get drinks. Crab cakes were full of small shells. Octopus appetizer is good but not necessarily worth the price.

I LOVED Balos in 2024-2025. Food and drinks were amazing! And the bottomless espresso martinis were also yummy! But in 2026 I feel like things have changed. The food quality is dramatically different but prices are higher. Also the price for the bottomless martinis is higher as well. I don't think the quality of food should decline while the prices increase. Overall, I had a great time and loved the live music! 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

We had a 10:30 reservation and at 11:30 we still had not been seated. I wish I could have at least tried the food but we never got to eat because the kitchen was closed. We ended up leaving because we were so hungry and didn't want to wait. I think the problem is, people come and stay for long periods of time. But the restaurant needs to do a better job of putting people on a time limit. No reason to wait for an entire hour and never get called. Besides that, the ambiance is nice but it was overly crowded. read more

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

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

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