Like an old school music track that makes you feel familiar, warm and fuzzy, the newly launched Taverna ton Filon in Kolonos captivated our heart from the moment we first walked in. And going back yet once more, only confirms this is the best taverna in Athens right now!
On a busy late December night, we visit this lovely outpost away from the busy streets of the city center in this mostly residential part of Athens. A dimly-lit, no frills taverna, buzzing with smiling patrons around is the first thing I remember. A big white-clothed table set for 8, neatly prepared and placed opposite the semi-open kitchen front makes the perfect setting for a night of making new friends and enjoying some delicately-prepared, delicious food!
Yiannis Mousios, known from the success of Seychelles, and Giorgos Kontorizos, a long-time expert on wine with stints at Spondi and VeriTable, joined forces in late 2023 for taking over a rundown taverna in Kolonos that was neglected for about a decade. Retaining its beautiful glass facade underneath years-old jasmine trees and restoring only specific pieces in the interior, the dynamic duo managed to upgrade a classic taverna joint and offer a robust dining experience many high-end restaurant would be jealous of.
Sourcing their raw produce from farms in Kimolos, Evia and Crete, as well as daily vegetables found at the local streetside markets, they serve an amazing menu with an impeccable service nowhere else to be found. Attentive, yet subtle, respectful but also quirky, the staff goes a long way to make you feel like home.
On the second time we visited and late in the night after the end of a fine bottle of wine, Giannis visits our table again and unexpectedly so fills up my glass from a new bottle. Nothing I asked for and nothing we got charged for. All in the spur of a witty moment that you can only but appreciate.
The menu changes (sometimes) daily based on the ingredients and the inspiration in the kitchen. That’s not to say there are no classics on the menu… I can still recollect the raw taste of their handmade sausage served with red pickled cabbage and must. Other dishes are even more so delicious, but I’d rather keep it low-key. As I’m sure one can only appreciate so much more the essence of under-promise, over-deliver when it comes to food.
Enjoy! And well done guys, an amazing addition to our Athenian map.
