During a year that had many restrictions to our outings due to the pandemic, many changes have occurred in the restaurant scene. Many new names and interesting concepts have appeared in Athens, while the restaurants that already were successful had a chance to renew their menu and their approach.
A shared priority of both the new and the older restaurants is the greater care they put in their ingredients, their service and the authenticity of the experience they offer. Today, there are still many people who have opted to abstain from going out for safety reasons. With this in mind, we’ve selected five special and affordable options, very different from one another, both within and outside the city, that cater to the needs of those who seek a grand comeback, so they can remember what a lovely and complex experience it is to have a meal away from home.
Napul’e Italian Comfort Food and Wine
Where it’s located: Napul’e is on an off-Broadway street of Vari and is the ideal destination for authentic Italian food.
The atmosphere: Napul’e stands out due to its bright white colour. The outdoor space is simple and elegant with large wooden barrels and white umbrellas. Inside, the display with charcuterie and the cheeses, as well as the open kitchen releasing smells of fresh ingredients are very impressive.
What makes it special: Partners in life and at work, Maggie Tampakaki, who we met through the Greek Master Chef, and Francesco Ciccio, a Neapolitan, are the brains behind Napul’e. They aspire to give prominence to quality ingredients and create deeply tasty dishes at affordable prices. The ingredients come directly from Italy (even the wood-burning stove came from there), while the recipes are authentic Neapolitan, the dishes are balanced, and have been cooked well and the portions are filling. The wine lovers should also note that they have an impressive wine list with labels exclusively from the Italian vineyard.
What you must try:
• Golden arrancino, perfectly fried, with a full-bodied flavour that is stuffed with braised beef cheeks on parmesan fondu.
• Bufallina pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella di buffalo and fresh basil. Once more the simple, basic, flavours of Italian cuisine win on all counts!
• Classic and totally authentic carbonara with delicious egg cream, crunchy guanciale and parmesan.
• Tiramisu to close off the night, with fluffy ladyfingers, airy cream and the flavour of coffee completing the flavour.
Conclusion: Napul’e is an authentic Neapolitan experience and it’s worth visiting the southern suburbs for it. Dinner costs around €35-45 per person (appetizer, main, dessert and a glass of wine).
43 Vasileos Konstantinou str, Vari, tel. 0030 210 9655 815
Loco
Where it’s located: You’ll find Loco in the centre of Athens, among the fabric shops of Kalamiotou street. It’s a place that quickly became a hangout and that is a great suggestion for everyone who loves vibrant Mexican cooking.
The atmosphere: Loco resembles a pop Mexican hacienda. On the outside, the required cacti and unique tables with the green tiles. Inside, the large bar dominates the space that is a combination of an open plan kitchen and a bar. It’s worth sitting at the bar since a real show is performed while you’re served both by the cooks and the bartenders, something that creates a festive mood.
What makes it special: Three sector professionals (Athinagoras Kostakos, Lefteris Georgopoulos, Giorgos Fitagoridis) have come together to create a restaurant that respects and showcases Mexican flavours with a Greek twist. It’s a taqueria-tequilaria that offers classic Mexican cuisine, as well as dishes with a twist, with the main focus being high quality ingredients and taste. For those of you looking to have a drink or two, the menu includes interesting cocktails with tequila and mezcal, created by Nikos Sourbatis.
What you must try:
• Refreshing seabream ceviche with sugar beet and lime
• Crunchy empanadas stuffed with minced meat served with pico de gallo
• Juicy quesadillas with caramelised pancetta wrapped with melted cheese with a hint of truffle
• Delicious tacos El Pastor with Iberico pork gyros, salsa verde and padron peppers
Conclusion: Loco offers a generous serving of Mexico and provides an exotic experience in the centre of Athens. For those who’ve grown bored of tex mex and want a taste of authentic Mexican philosophy, this is the answer. A meal here is around €30 per person (appetizer, main, dessert and a drink).
15 Kalamiotou str, tel. 0030 210 3318 778
Ta Kanaria
Where it’s located: Ta Kanaria has been around in urban Moschato, on Kanari street, since 1950, and is a restaurant that guarantees quality and freshness to seafood aficionados.
The atmosphere: Ta Kanaria take you on a trip to Athens of a past era. The lovely garden outside, covered by a grapevine transfers you mentally to the calm and peace of a village. In the interior, the old terrazzo floor and the oil paint on the wall fill the heart with the warmth of a past decade.
What makes it special: The Argyropoulos family have been running this restaurant for three generations and they offer a true experience in terms of traditional seafood cuisine. The simplicity and tastiness of the food embody the essence of authentic Greek cuisine. The dishes are few and all cooked to perfection. Ta Kanaria is a tavern that knows how to expertly use both the pan and the grill and to draw the attention to the true protagonists: the fish!
What you must try:
• The salad with the juicy tomato and chopped onion, as well as with black olives and feta that are served on a different, smaller plate.
• Fried Amvracian prawns, perfectly fried and just as moist as they should be
• Crispy and incredibly delicious fried red mullet!
Conclusion: Ta Kanaria have been offering delicious food and homemade hospitality for over 72 years. The cost is around €35-50 per person (appetizer, main, dessert and half a litre of wine)
**Note: the fish is fresh and depending on the day, availability may vary
119 Kanari, Moschato, tel. 0030 210 9422 119
Agroktima Regoukou
Where it’s located: Agroktima Regoukou is lost within the greenery and the trees of Stamata and is a marvellous choice for traditional meat dishes.
The atmosphere: The moment you arrive at the tavern’s gate, two things will happen, you’ll be enchanted by the verdant garden and you’ll get hungry from all the smells of the grilled meats and the other delicacies being cooked. The hall is roomy and well-kept, with a lovely fireplace that makes the space warmer.
What makes it special: There may be many taverns of the kind, but here the emphasis is on quality ingredients and that can be seen throughout the menu that offers choices to cater to every preference. The restaurant has its own vegetable garden and thus serves fresh, homegrown ingredients. The cook makes her own filo dough for the pies that are truly something, and the grill cooks are masters!
What you must try:
• Baked cheese pie with incredibly crunchy filo
• Juicy peasant sausage for those who know how to eat
• Rich rabbit stew
• Delectable lamb chops
Conclusion: At Agroktima Regoukou they serve traditional Greek cuisine, pure and well-prepared. They bring out the flavours of the meat that is all grilled over fire, highlighting its quality. The price per person ranges between €25-35 (salad, appetizer, main and half a litre of wine or a beer).
Amigdaleza, Stamata, tel. 0030 210 6217 898
Cerdo Negro 1985
Where it’s located: Cerdo Negro 1985, offering fusion Spanish, Latin and Greek cuisine, opened in a quiet street in the vibrant Gazi area.
The atmosphere: a homey warm feeling dominates the space. Your eyes first fall on the large wooden bar and the many family heirlooms, like the lovely dining room suite, the sewing machine, the record player and the kitchen cabinet. In the background, you can see the fridge with the charcuterie and next to it an old scales. The tables are few, most are in the atrium that is covered in climbing plants, and that in the winter is covered and becomes the main dining area. Over the kitchen door you’ll see the restaurant’s trademark, two black pigs’ heads.
What makes it special: the brothers Konstantinos and Giorgos Alexopoulos make for a different and “rock” recommendation in the gastrotavern category. The restaurant has recently been awarded by the Michelin guide with a Bib Gourmand distinction for great value for money. The grill that goes up and down over the open fire adds a special smoked flavour. The restaurant is ideal for groups, as all dishes are for sharing and could be described as comfort food.
What you must try:
• Aged lamb prosciutto – simply amazing!
• Refreshing seabass ceviche with pickled onion and passion fruit and citrus juice
• Delicious beef tartare with egg and jalapenos peppers served on a giant bone marrow
• Delectable chuleton rib from Spain that comes grilled to a T
• Fine Basque cheesecake
Conclusion: Cerdo Negro is an extremely interesting suggestion for fusion kitchen. The price per person ranges around €50-70 (appetizer, main course, dessert and a glass of wine)
5 Vitonos str, Gazi, tel. 0030 210 3470 628
