If you’re in the mood for a delicious Mediterranean meal, Vienna’s Nostos Restaurant is one of Virginia’s hidden gems. The restaurant’s extensive menu offers a wide variety of authentic Greek delicacies that will leave you wanting more.

I immediately enjoyed the sparkly lights, traditional Greek music, and beautiful paintings that created an authentic Mediterranean feel to the place. Located at 8100 Boone Blvd in Vienna, VA, the restaurant has successfully brought a piece of Greece to northern Virginia.

From the decor, to the music, to the food and the overall atmosphere, Nostos Restaurant puts you in Greece. Instead of American bread, the meal started off with seasoned warm pita bread served with the Fava Santorinis dip, made of fava beans pureed with onions and olive oil. It was absolutely delicious and I had to stop myself from eating the whole thing to leave room for the rest of the meal.

Then I ordered a mouthwatering Horiatiki salad, an authentic greek dish made with fresh olives, tomatoes, capers and more. The salad was the perfect proportion to split with a person and made eating healthy extremely enjoyable.

I was feeling a little adventurous so I ordered the Paidakia (lamb chops) , the Htapodi (grilled octopus), and Melitzana Fournou (baked layered eggplant with tomatoes and feta). Every single dish I ordered was delicious. I highly recommend the octopus for the more adventurous eaters. I wa hesitant to order it but the taste was worth it in the end.

Even though my godmother and I wiped every dish clean, I still was not completely full, which was a refreshing feeling. Since Mediterranean food is usually healthy and light, it made the dining experience much more enjoyable. I did not have to calorie count since the ingredients in the food were so healthy.

Lastly, I finished the meal with an authentic greek dessert called Galaktoboureko, a light custard that had a sweet honey taste.

Out of all of the places that I have eaten at in the area over the years, I can honestly say this was my most enjoyable dining experience ever. The food was decadent in taste and presentation and I did not feel twenty pounds heavier when I left, which was extremely refreshing. The calories and price were both reasonable which is an added bonus.

If you are interested in visiting, make sure to call ahead for reservations, because I’m not the only one who loves Nostos!

Grade: A+