Delta – Athens ()

I was on the fence given mixed reviews here but so glad I went. I can see how folks think the ambience is sterile and the service is unfriendly. But I just found the space to be more eccentric, and the staff was all helpful but gave us space. Not every restaurant needs to be like stepping into someone’s living room.

The food: it was such a journey and exploration, as many dishes are not what they appear to be. Thoughtful and creative especially on presentation.

👌Cracker that looks like a clam with fermented tomato water and seafood emulsion (taste 🤷‍♀️ but visually strong start 💪)
❤️ Calla flower with red shrimp, chamomile oil and bergamot sauce
❤️ Steamed squid with fermented white asparagus and caramelized butter cream
👌 Green leaf with grilled oyster scallops and herbs
👌 Grilled ark clams with kohlrabi spaghetti, seafood sauce and ramson emulsion
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❤️ Sourdough ‘mushroom’ with vegetable paste and bone marrow
❤️ Fish of the day with pickled plums and seafood sauce
🤷‍♀️ Strawberries with grilled lobster, sea buckthorn, greens and rhubarb wine sauce
❤️ Pluma Iberico with lacto-fermented koji and eucalyptus [missed pic]
👌 Picanha with pickled leeks, Swiss chard, courgette purée and beef bone sauce
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Preface: I’m not a dessert person
👌 Chervil with pickled nobilis cookie dough
👌 Crispy sunflower of crystallized water with puff pastry, pistachio miso and fermented sunflower seeds

They have 4 wine pairings to choose from: Greek only wines and three additional tiers (roughly mostly new world, mostly old world, and a reserve-esque). I did the Greek and the mid-tier old world. There were some nice standouts in each, but the mid tier was much better – I might just not like Greek wines as much.

Hope this helps anyone considering Delta!