Top 10 Fun Restaurants in Greece

Description:

This large restaurant with a pleasant outside veranda continues to attract locals, although it does a brisk business with tour groups as well. You'll find the usual grilled chops and souvlaki, stuffed tomatoes and dolmades, but the vegetable dishes are unusually good, as is the lamb stew with lots of garlic and oregano.

Description:

If you don't go there for the olive oil that's green as a freshly cut lawn, or the eggplant salad (melitzanosalata) that will make you stand up, pat your head and rub your tummy, the grilled calimari, plates of fresh red mullet or, most lethal, Bakaliaro" served with a vampire-destroyingly delicious sidekick called "Skodia." (garlic) ...if none of these things get you to go to Paradosiako tucked in the "foyer" of Plaka on Voulis street, just go to watch the owners fight. It is run by a husband and wife team in such a tight operation you wonder if there's enough oxygen on the sidewalk for everyone, and yet nowhere will you get a truer appreciation of Greek matrimony. Entertainment and fantastic food rarely come together at such a bargain.

Average meal: 10-15 euros a person. Excellent beer and ouzo selection.

Description:

The ancient Greeks were not just good at science, philosophy and the arts. They also had a reputation for more mundane pleasures, such as good food and wine. Some 2,300 year old uncovered recipes are proof of their skills in preparing very sophisticated dishes which are not just tasty but also very healthy. These recipes (which were found in ancient books) can be savoured at the beautifully decorated Archaion Gefsis near Omonia Square (a short walk from the Metaxourgio metro stop). Enjoy a unique dining experience with a spoon and knife only! The restaurant does not serve potatoes, tomatoes, lemon, rice or sugar as they did not exist in Ancient Greece.

Our Local Expert Says:

A good "light" version of the original dirty sandwich.

Description:

In the late night dining tradition of the "Vromiko" or "dirty" there are varying measures of messiness. To clarify, calling the spillover hot dog/sandwiches- famous for remedying the hunger caused by a long night of drinking- kind of dirty has more to do with its effect on one's mouth and shirt than the sandwich-building process. The meaning of this food chain is "The Cleanest Vromiko of the City," given due to its slightly smaller stature and offering the customer the ability to build it according to personal preference, half or whole.

A delicious creation of all things fun and therefore probably not very good for you: hamburger, sausage, ham, french fries, pickled carrots, peppers, onions, mayonnaise, tzatziki, or a sort of pinkish mystery sauce...but they put a little leaf of lettuce on top to make you feel better about yourself.

There are two other chains: one in Haidari in the north and another in Votanikos, not far from the nightlife area of Gazi.

Description:

Thanasis serves terrific souvlaki and pita -- and exceptionally good french fries -- both to go and at its outdoor and indoor tables. As always, prices are higher if you sit down to eat. On weekends, it often takes the strength and determination of an Olympic athlete to get through the door and place an order here. It's worth the effort: This is both a great budget choice and a great place to take in the local scene, which often includes a fair sprinkling of Gypsies.

Description:

Tavern Erato serves delicious Greek specialties a garden surrounded with plane-trees, flowers and arbors. If you don't like outdoor dining, you could sit dine in the comfortable and pleasant indoor set up. The food served is delicious accompanied by some great regional wines. The air-conditioned room inside is available on rent for marriage parties, christenings, receptions and dances and can accommodate 200 persons. You could also have a dance floor with live music at your disposal!

Description:

This neoclassical style bar/restaurant is housed with a stately mansion behind the American Embassy. It has an impressive interior and an even more attractive courtyard. The menu includes items such as double-cooked lamb, grouper with risotto, and octopus flavored with truffle oil, amongst other delicacies. During the summer months, Balthazar operates its low-lit courtyard where guests can mingle at one of the 2 bars or enjoy alfresco dining. In the winter months, guests enjoy dining within this stately mansion.

Description:

This simple, year-round restaurant attracts locals in the summer and skiers in the winter. The menu is typical Greek taverna fare (grills and stews), but there's usually a wide variety of mezedes, and wood paneling (just about everything in Delphi that can be wood-paneled is!) makes the room cozy.

Description:

Easily the best restaurant with a view in Delphi, with an astonishingly extensive and varied menu (including tasty veggie fritters, delicious local olives and formaella cheese, lamb with fresh tomato sauce, keftedes (grilled round meatballs) and sousoutakia (oval rice-and-meat-balls, stewed in tomato sauce) and, in season, wild boar, casseroled with tomatoes, onions, and herbs). If you come early, you may be one of few diners not with a tour group; come after 9pm and you may dine with Greek visitors and locals.

Description:

This small taverna gets many of its customers from the youth hostel. This means that the prices are very reasonable, the clientele casual, and the food basic (although they sometimes serve game in winter). The back room with its veranda has good views over Delphi, across the plain of olives, and to the Corinthian Gulf. The neighboring Taverna Lekaria, at 33 Apollonos, is a bit more ambitious and a bit more expensive and has a nice courtyard with flowering plants. The Lekaria usually has excellent local loukanika (sausages) and briam (a veggie stew steeped in olive oil) and sliced apple rounds sprinkled with cinnamon for a healthy dessert.