A Quintessential Greek Dinner at Kyma's new Ouzo Dining Room

Let me tell you about my first experience in fine Greek dining. As you may or may not know, I love to network with people and through that, I made a connection with a woman who represents a variety of restaurants in the Atlanta area. She mentioned this restaurant that her client who served Greek cuisine. As she explained more to me, Ouza Restaurant Dining Room, located in Kyma Restaurant, was a must-try. The newly remodeled space replaces the former Octopus Lounge on the right-hand side of Buckhead’s upscale Kyma restaurant. Over the course of the evening, we got the opportunity to sample grape leaves stuffed with bulgur, tomato and mint, cumin yogurt followed by the Greek salad with tomato, cucumber, holland pepper, red onion, feta cheese and chef pano’s extra virgin olive oil.

I will admit I was nervous to try the Grilled Octopus but when I tell you, it was the best thing I tried all evening. The signature grilled octopus was oak wood grilled with marinated red onions, Greek olives and capers. Next, was the Chef Pano’s Famous Lamb Pie that I heard so much about. It is a 12 hour braised leg of lamb, kefalotiri cheese, baked in country filo, arugula olive salad and yogurt. It was such a flavorful and filling dish. The next best thing of my evening was the Whole fish, prepared in a salt wrap. Once the chef broke it out of the casing, it was the most succulent fish I had tried all year. It was served with potatoes and eggplant. Some of the desserts included Loukoumades which are large fried doughnuts with forest honey, crushed walnuts, cinnamon.

If you don't believe us, go visit for yourself. The new dining room plays off the traditional “Ouzerie” of Greece with a focus on small plates, great wine and cocktails. The redesigned space takes you to the white sand beaches of Santorini with pickled white hardwood floors, long white drapes, newly fitted white cushioned chairs and three flat-screen televisions looping video scenes of the Aegean Sea. In addition to Kyma’s all-weather, year-round, covered outdoor patio, Chef Pano also redesigned the outdoor garden to seat up to 20 guests, making it the perfect carefree space for a birthday celebration or a summer party with friends and family. “If you can’t visit the Greek Isles in person, let us transport you to the Mediterranean just for the evening with a sensory experience of fresh seafood and the authentic flavors of Greek mezze delicately paired with ouzo."

The Ouzo Bar & Dining Room is located at 3085 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305.

Reservations are available for the dining lounge and outdoor patio, Tuesday through Sunday

For more information, visit Kyma's website.