Lemonia

Lemonia – Primrose Hill's Favourite Neighbourhood Restaurant

We are a family run Greek restaurant situated in Primrose Hill.

For over 35 years we have been serving exquisite Greek dishes to customers from near and far.

http://www.lemonia.co.uk

Lemonia - London Restaurant Reviews | Hardens

This “vast Greek taverna” has become a landmark after 40 years on Primrose Hill, and is “extraordinarily busy” due to the “unique experience and family atmosphere” it offers.

But the cooking “is average at best, and less-than-average of late”; “I’ve been coming here for 25 years and the food is nothing like it used to be, which is very sad because it’s a fun place”.

Lemonia, restaurant review: Does the famous Greek restaurant in ...

If you've seen a paparazzi shot of Kate Moss, Jude Law, Harry Styles or Rita Ora, in a newspaper, strolling down the street after a meal with friends, the chances are they've been to Lemonia, a restaurant in London's Primrose Hill.

Lemonia doesn't need the likes of me picking over its menu – but even if it has passed into legend as a place where the food is famously bad, and the famous love it (pace Davé in Paris), it's still a shocker if one actually assumes crowds mean credibility.

Well, we are, but four thin slices of burnt halloumi, four spears of asparagus, a modest plate of garlic- and mint-spiked yoghurt and similar splodge of mealy hummus barely touch the sides (starters are all £5 and up).

The prawns are fridge-y but fresh-tasting; the stuffed vine leaves a little less perky but the kids are carb-loading on pitta and mopping up dips (note to self: order half as many dishes, but twice as much of them).

The teens have a chicken and a lamb shashlik and a "meat combination", but it's hard to get a lucid response as one's chewing in time to Candy Crush and the other two are working out how to fork food into their mouths while texting with both thumbs (skillz!)

Lemonia Greek Restaurant, Regents Park Rd, Primrose Hill, London

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Lemonia, Regent's Park Road, London | Restaurants/Greek ...

Jay Rayner reviews Lemonia | Life and style | The Guardian

By day five I am repeating the famous dictum by the American food writer Jeffrey Steingarten: never take advice on matters culinary from a people who 'pickle their cheese and put tree sap in their wine'.

Of course there are cheaper Greek restaurants in London, more intimate Greek restaurants in London, perhaps even better Greek restaurants.

There are slightly woody little olives and crisp radishes and a plate of hummus.

To these we added fresh crisp spinach and cheese pies, and a rustling plate of deep-fried anchovies.

Alongside these are two side dishes: a strange, butter pasta thing mined with chicken shrapnel, and a Greek salad with feta, which is where milk goes to die.

Lemonia | Restaurants in Primrose Hill, London

The menu is lengthy, spanning charcoal grills, seafood, oven-cooked taverna classics, vast mezédes selections and great-value weekday lunch specials.

Just the job for an afternoon (or evening) pretending you’re back at that holiday island taverna.