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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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
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!
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.
2 years ago
Not what I initially planned for our 1st date night of 2025, however, this was the nicest pivot move I've done since I could dunk a basketball.. Lol! Balos was in my bookmarks so I was coming, I just didn't know when. On a cold Jan. 3rd, we warmed right up as soon as we entered and observed this beautiful restaurant. Once you enter, the huge bar lounge area is to the right but because we were on time, we didn't get to pre-game there like we would normally do. We were immediately seated eventhough it was pretty crowded given the snowy weather. Our server was super cool and accommodating. He was prompt and explained the menu like a true expert. He almost had me buying the 30oz Waygu Tomahawk but she's never that hungry to share such a masterpiece! I settled for the delicious lamb chops while she went for the lobster pasta. Pasta is her thing and she loved it. We both ordered the "VIP" for our cocktail and those things were addicting (strong and flavorful). The crab cakes that we ordered for our appetizer made us compare them to Ouzo Bay's in Bmore they were so good! I highly recommend Balos Estiatorio for your next fine dining experience.. You will absolutely love that you did!! read more
I've been hearing such great things about Balos, so was happy to finally try dinner with a group of friends for a birthday celebration. Overall, we enjoyed all of the dishes and appetizers that we ordered, the total check was pretty reasonable for the group and the atmosphere is fun and stylish. It was disappointing that the staff/server knew we were there for a birthday and we expected them to bring out a dessert/candle as a surprise but instead they brought dessert menu for us to place an order which kind of killed the moment. read more
3 months ago
Great place to dress up and come out for the night. It's pretty loud so don't expect to have a romantic date night. Most groups are there for a night out. Our waiter was nice and answered any questions about the menu and even helped me decide between the sea bass and the salmon. I ordered the salmon and it was delicious and juicy. There was napkin party towards the end of the night--that was pretty eventful! read more
6 months ago
Delicious appetizers, shrimp cocktail, grilled octopus and spanakopita. The sidewalk seating was perfect on a beautiful day for lunch. read more
The vibe is what you make it, so be sure to go with the right crowd to enhance your experience. The energy is upbeat with a mid-level buzz, keeping the atmosphere lively and engaging. It's a great spot for a date night or an intimate gathering with friends. The food is delicious--flavorful, tender, and packed with taste.For the best experience, I highly recommend the coursed menu, which lets you enjoy an appetizer, entrée, and dessert--perfect for sampling a variety of dishes. Balo Osteria is definitely worth a visit! Have you been? Let me know what you think! read more
2 years ago
This place deserved every . The service was impeccable! We were greeted, complimented, and seated ahead of our reservation. Our waiter was prompt and courteous. The staff made sure our table stayed neat, glasses were full, and food was boxed. The atmosphere is semi noisy but not so loud that I couldn't hear my conversation. The decor was beautiful and very welcoming. The food was hands down some of the best I've had this year. Everything was delicious and so fresh. The portions were huge and enough to take home. The lamb chops were great! Their spin on Brussels sprouts were different for me but I really enjoyed. The steak was perfect and they even cut the steak prior to bringing to the table. The crab cakes were very light but filling. Perfection. The calamari was delicious as well. I can't wait to return. read more
Overall, this place is for sure a fun time! The ambiance at night is so lively from the moment you walk in. We made reservations for 10:30 but weren't seated until 11 and when we walked in there was so much going on. From the loud music to people standing everywhere it was a bit overstimulating. They did help the wait by giving us complimentary champagne which was nice. When we finally got seated, we ordered and waited for the 11:30 napkin throwing. Super fun having the whole restaurant involved! Food wise: I ordered the lamb kleftiko and brussel sprouts which was so filling I didn't even get to finish. Not a huge fan of the kleftiko but the sauce they put on top tastes really good with the brussel sprouts! The portion sizes were definitely representative of the price which makes it better. They also give free pita bread (keep in mind if you get more they charge you for it). My friends ordered the sea bass skewers (pretty small in portion sizes) and the lamb chops which they enjoyed. For dessert, we crushed a crème brûlée for my friend's birthday (which they gave us complimentary champagne again). They are truly top tier with the customer service! read more
1 year ago
I really enjoyed Balos for dinner and went again for brunch and they did not disappoint. They have a brunch special for $45 with three courses and you can add the bottomless drink option (Mimosa, Bellini, Bloody Mary, Champagne and 5 espresso martini options) for $45. The service was phenomenal and everything came out quickly. I had the octopus and steak and eggs and would highly recommend both. The servings are filling and definitely worth the $45 for the three courses. Your first round of espresso martinis is served table side. It was a little noisy but overall is a very nice restaurant and great for any occasion. read more
Got there before reservation time by like 5 mins had waited 10 mins for table not bad. But music so loud my party and I couldn't hear eachother talk. Tables were on top of eachother. No walking room and just too close in general. Line for bathroom ridiculous should not only be 4 stalls for such a busy place. Waiter in 40 mins came to us twice that's it. Got our drink orders mixed up. Food was trash we all sent it back. Ruined my birthday. The lamb shank was so fatty. The fries with lamb chops were cooked too long. The lobster pasta was 5/10 pasta tasted ok but lobster was tough couldn't cut it. The only good thing was the pita bread and hummus. Mediterranean food is usually seasoned flavorful this stuff was bland. Back to bathroom line the line was so long we thought they were waiting for something else ppl standing with drinks in their hands because by the time you get back to your table it would be watered down. Manager handled everything quickly. But our waiter was just non existent . I truly would never return read more
4 months ago
The food was very good however towards the end of our meal, we didn't see our waitress much and she had an attitude when we asked her for more mimosas after paying for bottomless. My glass was completely empty, which was surprising because in the beginning of the meal, they did a good job with refills read more
7 months ago
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
1 year ago
Had brunch at Balos on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. We made the reservation here specifically because they bottomless brunch cocktails! I had a classic one while my sister got a chocolate espresso martini. My sister and I additionally split the baklava French toast. It is a fun Mediterranean version of a classic! read more
2 years ago
Had dinner celebrating a friends birthday! For drinks I started with the midnight mojito which was delicious, I loved the added blueberry. We were a group of 4 and shared everything we ordered. They also provided complimentary pita and hummus. For apps we shared the grilled halloumi, Greek onion soup, and sea bass skewers. Out of all three the sea bass skewers were my favorite. Next for entrees we shared the lobster pasta and Greek roasted chicken. The bucatini pasta itself was good and had a nice sauce, but we felt the lobster pieces were a little tough. The chicken was really good and the potatoes it came with were great too. Finally for dessert we ordered the cheesecake which was delicious. It was a large slice too. Overall it was a good dinner, and the ambiance and decor inside is also really nice. read more
We did not book late enough to take part in the napkin festivities and partying (book no earlier than 10:30). Service was amazing. Very helpful and did a good job of answering our many questions as it was our first time here. The decor is nice, but the bathroom line can be a beast! All of our food was tasty, fresh and well prepared. The pita and hummus is yummy. The only dish that was blah was the salmon. It needed more of the cauliflower sauce which was actually tasty. I would return and try the lamb chops. Try it and tell us what you think!! read more
1 year ago
Short story: This place is a must-avoid. The staff is either incompetent, malicious, or racist--I'm not sure which, but you can decide for yourself after reading my experience. Long story: I went there to meet some friends around 11 p.m. and went directly to the bar where they were. After finishing one drink and ordering a second, a bouncer came up behind me. He was speaking in a menacing and defensive tone and told me I needed to go outside with him and leave the place. Confused, I asked why, and he said, "You know why, and I don't want to embarrass you in front of everyone." I had no idea what he was talking about but went outside with him to find out. He then told me, "Someone saw you doing some drugs." This was completely false. I had been at the bar with three friends the entire time, just talking and drinking wine and cocktails. I hadn't even moved from my spot. My friends, who were also confused, went to talk to the bartenders and the manager. The staff's only explanation was that "someone saw a guy in a blue shirt doing drugs," and they targeted me because I was wearing one. There were other guys in blue shirts, some of them acting kind of agitated. Talk about poor investigation and policies. The bouncer kept telling me he didn't want to get the police involved and that I should just leave. I told him to call the police and check the cameras--I had nothing to hide and had only been there for less than an hour. They also charged us for the drink I couldn't finish. While I was waiting outside, I overheard a group of women (some African-American) arguing with the police. They had also been mistreated inside and weren't allowed to speak with a manager. The police, unfortunately, couldn't do anything. So why would you go to a place that could wrongly accuse you of being a drug user and not care at all? I'm never going back, and I'll make sure everyone I know hears this story. read more
8 months ago
This is an amazing restaurant with great food and fun along with the napkin tossing. The service was awesome. They allowed my best friend to even hold/wave the flag for her birthday. She truly had a great time. The biggest NEGATIVE for this place is the bathroom.. They have four single stalls bathrooms and depending on the crowd there's always VERYYYYY LONG LINE and WAIT to use the bathroom. It took me over 20 mins to finally get to a stall.. Yes they do have wait staff knocking on the doors for customers to hurry up but again very crowded place and hundreds of people are in the building. Also there are a lot of people standing at the bar so you will have to maneuver a lot to get to that side of the room. I'm not saying to not try the restaurant out, but if you do make sure you use the bathroom before you arrive. You'll be truly disappointed if you don't. read more
Do you want to eat the best lamb chops of your life? Yeah, then visit Balos. Came here for my graduation dinner with the fam (6 people) - every single item was a 10000/10. The restaurant itself is so beautiful. and service is incredible. Apparently, they have a DJ set up starting at 8PM until close onThursday - Saturday. I haven't experienced it but am planning on going back for it!!! Such a great experience. read more
2 years ago
Oh my gosh! What a fun eating experience! This place was awesome! Part club (!?) Part restaurant, we came in and hung at the bar a little and it was packed in there, omg packed in there like sardines! A bouncer at the door, bouncer at the bathrooms, what!? Lol Once we got to our table, we ordered a bunch! When I say all the apps were delicious! Loved every one! I would have been happy with just that, but we got entrees that were also great, but my favorite was trying all the apps! Then the fun starts, maybe at midnight!? Music starts turning up, employees went up on tables, swinging napkins around, they pass around stacks of black napkins, then bam!! Everyone throws the up in the air, laughing, cutting up! So fun! Dinner and a show! :) read more
9 months ago
Went to Balos during Restaurant Week. Overall, it was fine, but not really worth the hype for me. It also felt a bit overpriced for what you get. Even with a reservation, the wait time was frustrating. Once seated, though, the service was quick and our waiter was genuinely nice and attentive, especially considering how insanely busy it was. The food was just okay. Nothing bad, but nothing memorable either. Since it was Restaurant Week, it felt even less worth it when they ran out of dessert, which was disappointing. On the plus side, the drinks were very strong and the DJ was good. The bathroom situation is honestly wild. They only have four bathrooms, and the line takes forever. To make it worse, they allow regulars to cut the line, which was pretty annoying. It was fun for a bit when they started throwing napkins. I experienced it once and that part was entertaining, but overall I probably wouldn't come back. read more
2 years ago
Beautiful restaurant! From the outside as well as the inside of the restaurant, this place is gorgeous. The decor gives Mediterranean beach vibes and is lovely for a great date night or intimate birthday occasion. Service was great and we were seated promptly. Our server was very kind and answered all questions we had. Our appetizers and food came out quickly. For food, we ordered the bread basket as an appetizer, the Greek salad as a side and the fish, which we shared equally. We also had drinks which were fantastic. This restaurant is pretty pricey so this is definitely a place I would visit for a good occasion. read more
2 years ago
My friends and I visited on a Saturday night during restaurant week. We made a reservation and were seated immediately. It was so nicely decorated and the people were dressed so nice. For drinks, I ordered the salted caramel martini. It was not good so I sent it back. They took it back with no problems. I ended up getting a pineapple martini, it was ok. Not worth the $21. For restaurant week, they offered the 3 course meal. I ordered the spanakopita as an appetizer. It was delicious. My second course was the salmon. That was the star of the show. The caviar really made it pop. Then ended the meal with the baklava. I was stuffed but managed to eat a few bites, Also delicious. I took off a star because of the restroom situation. That place is huge and only has 2 restrooms. That line was roped off like we were waiting in line at a club. It took me 20 minutes to get to the bathroom. Also if you have a large group they only split your check 3-4 ways. We didn't experience the napkin throwing because we were there early but it did get packed towards the end of our meal. I will definitely be returning! read more
1 year ago
I had a lovely girls night out here. The ambiance is stellar. It is a trendy spot that clearly has an IG worthy vibe while also feeling very adult and aesthetically intentional. The food was great. My friend and I ordered a few appetizers to share. We got the Greek salad, spanakopita, lemon potatoes, and seabass skewers. The portions were all generous except for the skewers, which were pretty small. The cocktail was great and the green mocktail was excellent. Our servers were attentive and all of the staff were very gracious. We had a super cute table too, so that made it a lot of fun. The restaurant is very pricey - more than you think would be reasonable for appetizers, but they were superb, so I'm not mad about it. Enjoy! read more
8 months ago
Great service and ambiance. These were the best lamb chops I've ever had. Strong drinks (this is my first time drinking in a while). Was a little loud, but we loved the live music. Get here on time, it gets packed! read more
2 years ago
I came here for a birthday dinner. I liked the cocktail that I had. The lavraki bronzino dish was great. The Greek fries were also tasty and I liked the seasoning on it. The ambiance of the restaurant was vibrant and lively. Overall I had a good experience here. read more
I treated my cousin to dinner for her 22nd birthday on an extremely busy Thursday night. The noise level was loud, but I didn't mind because I previously read that in several reviews. The restaurant is bright and inviting. The bar area in the front is rather large and was equally busy as well. I had to wait a while for my table, but once we were seated the service was great. The food was delicious, served hot, and our server made a few great recommendations. They serve a dessert of your choice with a candle for your birthday, which was a nice touch. The restrooms are unisex, so there's always a line, however, they have someone directing traffic. If you're looking for a low-key experience, this is not it. If you would like to have an exciting night with friends, this is the perfect spot! We enjoyed it although we did not stay for the 11 PM napkin toss. read more
I have been to Balos twice, once for a brunch and another time to celebrate my birthday. The ambience is clean and welcoming and the staff and food are so flavorful. I highly recommend the pre-fixe brunch. For value and variety. You have an opportunity to try a number of things off the menu. read more
Completely disappointed. Food was very one dimensional and flat. We ordered tuna tartare (didn't come with bread or cracker) grilled octopus, lobster pasta, and pork chops. The pork chops were dry and completely missed the mark, unflavorful. Not to mention the plating was very unappetizing and sloppy. My lobster pasta was creamy but very bland, and didn't have a lot of taste to it . Cheesecake was about the only thing we ordered that was good. Service was good, but food? Eh. Probably will not return. Our dinner was over by 8ish and by then, it almost seemed like it was turning into a night club. Nice ambiance (for younger, going out crowd). read more
2 months ago
We went here for the prefix lunch and I honestly think you get a really good amount of food for the price! It's $45 for an appetizer, entree, and dessert. We also ordered the balos chips extra because they looked too good to pass up on! The cheese accompaniment with the chips was probably the star! And the Greek salad was also really good. To be honest, all the apps were stellar. The lamb chops were cooked great and it was so tender and tasty. The fries were kind of dry and lacked seasoning/flavor--they looked better than how they tasted to be honest. I don't know if dessert was good... We had asked for the check early, before our dessert came out. Service wasn't necessarily slow, we were super talkative so it was kind of nice to have time to chat, but towards the end things got rocky. One of the staff came up and took away the desserts immediately after the check was put down. We wanted to take a box to take them home, but wanted a bite of each dessert first (especially considering one had ice cream). It was a bit frustrating because the staff took our dishes before we could taste them and even though I said, "can you give us a box so we can eat it first?" But she took it away. So that was kinda frustrating. But, it's okay because the food was really good and it was nice company! Overall a good lunch. read more
9 months ago
Went for their brunch and it was fantastic!! Below is the tuna tartare, lamb gyro, and baklava. 10/10! They had live music for brunch and our waiter was very kind. read more
2 years ago
Had dinner here with some friends for restaurant week on a weekday. The ambience is very cute in this establishment. We ordered off the RW menu and I got the spanakopta, lavraki filet and baklava for dessert. One of my friends ordered the watermelon and feta salad (not pictured) and we shared our starters. The spanakopita and watermelon and feta salad were amazing. I enjoyed the lavraki filet which is bronzino but the sautéed spinach that came with it wasn't well seasoned and I was underwhelmed. The baklava was a hit as our entire party each ordered one and raved about it. Our sever Urgio (not sure the spelling) was very helpful and friendly. I would recommend this place and come back. We had a pleasant experience. read more
5 months ago
8 months ago
The restaurant is clean, very nicely decorated and the staff is friendly. That being said, everything from the cocktails to the appetizers are expensive. My friend ordered an old fashioned and it was $28. Side of saffron rice. 6/10. It was a little too hard and needed to be cooked longer. $15 Side of brussel sprouts. 8/10. Nice char and Smokey taste. Good size portion to share. $16 Sea bass skewers. 10/10. These were amazing and not overcooked. $32 Strawberry punch cocktail. 10/10. I enjoyed it and it wasn't too sweet. $18 read more
More info about Balos Estiatorio
1940 N St NW
Washington, DC 20036
Dupont Circle, Downtown
Directions
(202) 952-1174
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http://balosrestaurants.com
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