"Athens may be a college town, but the food here is first-class, so The National didn't get to be one of The Classic City's most revered spots by slacking. Inside you'll feel you've stumbled into a European café. The menu draws heavy inspiration from the continent, but dishes are executed using as many hyper-local ingredients as possible. Plan to meander through the menu: share some Manchego-stuffed Medjool dates, then move on to a hearty entree of your own like scallops with saffron calasparra rice and orange-brown butter vinaigrette, and finish with Basque cake and local peaches." - Jennifer Bradley Franklin