Balos Estiatorio
Restaurant · Dupont Circle
1940 N St NW, Washington, DC 20036
Highlights
Mediterranean dining with grilled octopus, lobster, and lamb chops
Mediterranean dining with grilled octopus, lobster, and lamb chops
"Friends and industry vets Stefanos Vouvoudakis, Tom Tsiplakos, and Joe Ragonese — all grandchildren of Greek immigrants — brought their idyllic country’s vacay and party-starting vibes to a once-sleepy Dupont corner in late 2023. It’s the place to be at midnight, when a lively napkin toss gets the whole restaurant involved alongside a DJ. The local celebrity magnet was the celebratory venue of choice for NHL star Alex Ovechkin after his record-breaking goal. Named after the gorgeous Greek lagoon, Balos honors its watery muse with a plentiful seafood selection, raw bar, and whole fish flown in daily. Weekend brunch is also a fun affair." - Claudia Rosenbaum
"Balos has become a go-to for brunch in Dupont Circle, where the upbeat ambiance feeds off bottomless brunch cocktails ($45 per person) that include tableside espresso martinis (made with strong For Five espresso). But don’t sleep on the actual food menu while deciding between a matcha, fig, or salted caramel version of the popular coffee cocktail. Appetizers include the spinach and leek-stuffed spanakopita, comforting avgolemono soup, and a light grilled octopus dish with a crispy exterior and caper sauce topping filled with acidity. Entrees cover every decadent brunch dish imaginable, from lobster in eggs Benedict and between buttered rolls to baklava French toast or steak and eggs. The three-course brunch option ($45) can be paired with bottomless drinks for a lavish and memorable weekend meal. --Emily Venezky" - Tierney Plumb
"A napkin-throwing Greek hot spot in Dupont known for its celebratory atmosphere; it gained broad attention as the site where Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin’s record-breaking goal was celebrated." - Tierney Plumb
"A year-old Dupont Greek restaurant has solidified itself as the city's Greek hot spot and a perennially packed, see-and-be-seen destination. The group’s flagship energy was on full display when it was chosen as the late-night venue to honor record-breaking NHL player Alexander Ovechkin: his wife called during the third period to buy out the space, the team scrambled to produce an "895" cake and a special five-course menu, and pre-existing Sunday reservations were canceled (Ragonese says, "We gave them [future] gift cards and told them not to come, but not why," to keep details from the press). The man of honor was joined by about 100 friends, current and former teammates, wives, and coaches; T.J. Oshie jumped on the bar to give a congratulatory speech, Ovechkin briefly moonlighted as a DJ, a rowdy napkin toss was part of the festivities, and the party rolled well past 3 a.m. "We were glad to be a little part of history," says Ragonese." - Tierney Plumb
"Named after the seaside destination, Balos serves up plenty of traditional and new-age Greek plates. Classic dishes include cucumber and tomato-filled Greek salad, grilled halloumi, spanakopita, and spreads like hummus, taziki, and taramasalata. There are plenty of seafood options, with an extensive raw bar, sea bass “plaki” in a tomato fish broth, plenty of butterflied whole fish, and even crudos with accents of honey and lemon. The Mediterranean hot spot also serves up a luxurious brunch, with espresso martinis made tableside in flavors like salted caramel and orange cinnamon." - Tierney Plumb
