Greek food spreads its culinary influence throughout Europe and beyond. It is known as some of the best food in the world! With an age old tradition, Greek cuisine has been greatly influenced by both Eastern and Western cultures. Fresh vegetables, fishes & seafoods play a significant role in the dishes mostly because of its long coastline while meat is treated as less popular, with the exception of lamb.

During my short stay in Athens, I was unable to try all kinds of Greek food, but I am glad to have tasted some traditional ones with no regrets.

I passed by a bakery while walking around the city centre and they served some delicious pastries. From the chocolate eclairs to fruit tarts and cookies. It looked so tantalising in the shop window. Do try Amygdalota, which is a gluten-free almond cookie that is wildly popular in Greece and are the perfect match to a warm cup of Greek coffee.

After coming from Iran, I was supposed to see pomegranates here. Of course the pomegranates in Greece are slightly more expensive but they are a chockfull of vitamins. The best way to take them is through freshly squeezed pomegranate juice sold by roadside stalls. 

Tzitzikas kai Mermigas is one of the recommended restaurants to try in Athens.

Address: Mitropoleos 12, Athina 105 63

It is an unpretentious, all-day neighborhood eatery serving classic mezze & hot Mediterranean cuisine. I enjoyed my veal meat served with pumpkin puree and dates which added a sweet tinge to the dish. It feels like the tagine meat that I had eaten in Morocco. This restaurant also serves a complimentary shot of homemade liquor which tastes like raki. I ordered a glass of white wine to go with the food. At 2-4 euros for a glass of wine, it is definitely more affordable than in Singapore. Plus it was my second time tasting Greek wine after the first one on board the flight coming in to Athens. I was scrambling to find the utensils when the food arrived, until the waiter pointed out to me that they were located in a drawer under the table. What an ingenious idea, and for a moment I felt kinda embarrassed for not knowing about it because I did not see other diners pull out any drawer. 

Relaxed and casual atmosphere, inventive cuisine and interesting selections from all over Greece are the main features. Some of the favorite starters are Tzitzikas salad with ten different vegetables, homemade Mermigas smalls pies with cheese and aromatic herbs, traditional meatballs with mint and fries, and the vegetable millefeuille with grilled cheese and basil sauce. The main course includes meat dishes with a twist, like the chicken with masticha, and depending on the season also fresh fish. The free wifi, the lively atmosphere and the creative tastes make this place a favorite with the young crowd.

After lunch, I took the time to explore the city centre and went to the post office to send out my postcards. For dinner, I decided to meet this couchsurfer from Hangouts. He had just arrived in the city a few hours ago and we decided to have dinner together. He is not from Greece but has been studying on the Greek island of Crete for a few months. 

Souvlaki is a take on the Greek word souvla (which means spit), and the origins of souvlaki date back to ancient Greece when people used to eat meat and bread the way pita souvlaki is served today. We decided to have this famous Greek street food dish for dinner.

Neoklassico 

Address: Karagiorgi Servias 20, Athina 105 63

This is a casual dining place and the food prices were affordable. I also like the idea of having portable chargers at each desk so that I can charge my phone instead of having to put it with the counter staff. The staff here spoke good English and were quick to take our orders. 

The souvlaki pita, therefore, is made with souvlaki meat, which is then dressed with tzatziki, garnished with tomatoes and onion, and served on grilled pita. Of course, other garnishes and sauces are available but are considered quite unusual. Surprisingly the big pepper is not spicy. It was fresh and juicy, same for the tomato which was soft on the inside and oozing with goodness. I don’t enjoy the tomatoes in Singapore because they taste quite watery.

So these are the food that I had tried in Athens. The list is non-exhaustive and I hope to be back again to try more of their other mouth-watering food.