Cheap Seafood In Front of The Sea @ Piraeus

Over the Christmas and the New Year Day, the weather was not particularly good and above all unstable, but there were a few splendid days. It was one of these says that we went down to Peiraiki for a lunch in front of the sea.

We entered Vrahia tis Peiraikis where we had visited a couple of times. We live less than 5 min walk from our apartment. The thing is that when so close is a restaurant, we tend not go so often. For me, going to a restaurant is like taking a trip, it is not only about the food, but also about changing the place. When it is just 5 min walk from home, the destination loses this trip-effect.

Anyway, I wrote about it some time ago. Things have have not changed at all, except that the waiter/owner now has beard.

We started with beer, as it was so warm.

The bread came grilled. I have an impression that tzatziki an accompaniment more for meat, but GH often wants it at fish taverna.

And cucumber & tomato salad for me who do not eat much feta.

Fried potatoes came a bit burnt. Otherwise, hand-cut & freshly fried, nice potatoes.

We meant to order fried squids, but at the last moment we changed our mind and ordered fried cod with garlic sauce.

It was nice, but disappointingly small for 7 Euro price tag. Skordalia was quite good with bits of walnuts.

What is attractive about this fish taverna is the cost-effectiveness; we get enough & decent - if not special - food for 10 Euro per a head. Of course, if you order expensive large fish, you pay more, but if you order modest dishes like fried calamari, small fish like smelt or anchovies, the cost should be 10-15 Euro p.p. And it is situated in front of the Peiraiki coastline.

If you coming here on peak days, it is better to book a table. It is often full, for example, Sunday lunch time.

TA VRAHIA TIS PIRAIKIS (Τα Βράχια της Πειραϊκής)

Akti Themistokleous 300, Piraeus
Ακτή Θεμιστοκλέους 300
Tel. 210-45.38.461

Mouzilo & Mezes @ Piraeus

Happy New Year, everyone! The year 2012 was pretty bad for Greece. Although nothing particularly bad happened to me or my family, the air was dark and depressing. I really wish 2013 is for the better, although so many difficulties are in front of us.

Husband and I had a pretty long vacation during this period, so we went to various places to eat, but not to anywhere noteworthy. In many cases it was snacking during the shopping trip. Nevertheless I will keep on taking note.

The below is one of these stoppings-by we made.

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In Piraeus, new small mezedopoleia and tsipradika are springing up as mushrooms after the rain (does this expression makes sense in Greece?) Evidently many of them are cheap and good, so it is a welcome development.

Recently we tried one of them called Mouzilo kai Mezes which opened about a month ago (so I was told).

The shop is very small, but there is a larger space in the promenade in front. It was where we were seated. Waiter asked us if we wanted the stove turned on, but it was warm enough, so we declined. It was a nice gesture, when many restaurants and cafeterias keep the heater at the minimum to save money.

The menu is very short and prices are low. Most of the dishes are betweel 2.50 and 4.50 Euro.

We were surprised to find these small knife and folk. As if we were about to eat dessert or fruits.

The food were all meze size. Here are Dakos with Mitzithra (3.50 Euro) and Peppers Stuffed with Minced Meat (3.50 Euro). Both good.

The fried potatoes (2.50 Euro) and Pan-fried Chicken Gyros served with pita (4.50 Euro).

Again, both nicely cooked.

With half a litter of red wine, the total bill came to 17 Euro. The fiscal receipt was provided without being asked.

Because of the size of the dishes, if you want to feast on mountain of food, this is not an adequate place. On the other hand, if you are after a place to snack during the shopping in Piraeus centre, or to have a drink with some mezedes before going home, this tsipradiko seems to be a perfect choice.

Mouzilo & Mezes (Μουζίλο & Μεζές)
Kolokotroni 69
Piraeus
ΚΟΛΟΚΟΤΡΩΝΗ 69
ΠΕΙΡΑΙΑΣ
Tel. 210 4100040

I read the name "Μουζίλο & Μεζές", but it can actually be "Μουζήλο & Μεζές".


And come and see the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, fully renovated after I don't remember how many years!

GouGou Meze @ Panepisthimio

A week before the Christmas, we found ourselves near Syntagma at around 9 o'clock.

Not wanting to cook at home, we decided to try out a new mezedopoleio near Panepisthimio. I think it was there since this summer.

It is called GouGou Meze. Glass-walled shop with colourful interior looks quite attractive.

Even it was a Wednesday, the place was almost full. We thought it was because of the time of the year (people getting together for Christmas and the End of the year), but a waiter said it was always busy. I do not know if I am to believe it.

The menu is pretty long. There are many mezedes and also about a dozen of main dishes.

As the main dish we wanted was exhausted, we ordered some mezedes only.

Instead of bread, we were given warm (probably freshly-baked) pita, together with many green olives. The pita was very good being partly soft and partly crispy.

The place was rather cold because of the glass walls. Not wanting cold salad, we had a serving of horta. Good.

Lemony Pork Tigania was not a good choice. It had a nice flavour, but the portion was small and the quality of meat wasn't satisfying containing some sinew. I suspect the meat was cut so small as to hide the poor quality.

Fried potatoes were fine. Tasted freshly cooked and not from freezer.

Bougiourdi turned up when we were about to finish the other dishes. It came in a big portion.

At the end of the meal we were offered these cakes and ypovryhio (Greek sugary paste-like sweet).

With a big jug of beer and all the above cost us about 26 Euro. But, as we were not given the receipt, it would be unfair to say it was cheap.


Gougou Meze
Sina 6, Kolonaki
Tel. 210 3645575
http://gougoumeze.com.gr/

ΓκουΓκού Μεζέ
Σίνα 6, Κολωνάκι
(The nearest Metro station is Panepisthimio)

Tree decoration near Hilton Hotel was merry and cheerful without being ostentatious. I liked it.

Biftekopoleio @ Kallithea

Happy Christmas to you all! I guess you are eating all sorts of nice things and in big quantity. I am suffering from sugar-overload and, regrettably, the gym is closed until Thursday. Ooups

While on Christmas shopping expedition, we ended up in Kallithea and looked for somewhere to eat. I wanted to go to a politiko grill called Tamam, but on arrival I found that the owner had changed and it was now a normal grill.

In itself it might not be a bad thing, but seeing that it did not look fully open or closed (it was around 5 in the afternoon), we walked toward Davaki Square in search of something else.

Then we arrived here: Biftekopoleio, since 1960.

It is not a restaurant, but a grill with counter. They do delivery as well. And it is open only 10:00 to 17:00.

We decided to give it a go, as it looked quite busy and lively. The girls serving at the counter were very friendly.

As it is called Biftekishop, we ordered biftekia in pita (2 Euro a piece).

In the pita, there are only biftekia (beef/veal burgers), tomato and onion. Things were kept very simple like at Thanasis in Monastiraki, save that Thanasis does kebab.

The combination of fluffy pita and juicy biftekia was really good. Because the ingredients are minimum (no tzatziki, no potatoes), I felt like eating a biftekia sandwich. The quality of the meat might not be great seeing that I found a small piece of bone in the bifteki, but still the biftekia were great.

It is quite small and you shall have to eat at least two to get satisfied, but it is a sort of thing you shall crave for from time to time.

We ordered also one pork skewer in pita for 2 Euro.

To our disappointment, it was pretty mediocre. The meat did not say much.

If you order a portion (merida), instead of pita wrap, 4 biftekia, 2 pitas, grilled tomato and onion cost you 7.50 Euro. Tzatziki is 2.50 Euro and they do not seem to have fried potato at all (at least it is not on the menu).

Not a great meal place, but it is a perfect snacking spot.

Biftekopoleio
Davaki 59, Kallithea
176 72, Athens
Tel. 210 9512929

Μπιφτεκοπωλείο
Δαβάκη 59, Καλλιθέα

From 10:00 to 17:00

Lolita's Mezedes @ Petralona

Petralona is becoming a new Gazi of Athens. Taking advantage of relatively low rent of the area, many entrepreneur-restaurateurs have opened/ are opening small tavernes and mezedopoleia targeting at younger generations.

One Sunday evening, we visited one of such meze restaraunts there: Lolita's Mezze Bar. "Mezze Bar", because it wants to be a tapas bar offering Greek small dishes.

THE strong point of the place is surely its cheeful decoration. Either you might like it or not, you cannot deny that it is quite original. Lots of colour and bald paintings. Don't forget to go to the toilets and admire the painted door of Gentlemen's room.

The menu is not very long, but there are also several dishes-of-the-day (there is a sample menu on their website, but the prices are not up-to-date as I see it now). You should be able to find something you would like to try. The food are Greek, but often with twist.

Bread - mixed basket of black and white - accompanied with cheesy spread was fine, but too little for 3 persons (0.80 Euro p.p.)

Pantzarosalata was beetroot salad with walnuts and pickled cabbage. There were also beet leaves at the bottom. Fine. 4.80 Euro.

Baby potatoes with rosemary were quite salty, but also tasty. It costs 2.80 Euro and comes in a very small tapas dish.

Squash-pies was one of the dishes of the day. Squash was mixed with white cheese and mint (this is common combination in Greece). Home-cooking taste. Surely over-priced for 6. Euro, as they are small (6-7 cm long each).

Biftekia yaourtlou were not much yoghurty. The biftekia (burgers) were fine except that they were a bit too charred making them too bitter. 8.50 Euro.

Chicken morsels with hot sauce served with cracked wheat. Marinated chicken was nicely sweet, but not hot. Cracked wheat was also well-seasoned and wasn't bland. 8.50 Euro.

At the end they offered us a round of shots of limoncello.

The service was quick and unobtrusive. Our waitress was sweet and pleasant-mannered.

The total bill with a bottle of coke came to 35 Euro.

Taste-wise, it was satisfying, but the price was not particularly cheap considering that we did not eat much and portion size is relatively small. For example, if you order biftekia at casual tavernes, you often get a plate almost of full meal for 8.50 Euro, while here it is just a big meze.

This is a right place to drink wine picking some dishes, but for full meal, I would prefer to go elsewhere.

Lolitas Mezze Bar
Δωριέων 26 Αθήνα 118 52, Ελλάδα
Tel. 211 4013574
http://lolitasmezze.gr/