Rakor @ Keramikos

First I saw this small mezedopoleio when we visited Athiri (when it was offering 10 Euro Menu of Tuesdays) and then I read good reviews of it. So let's try it.

It is very unpretentious from outlook. It looks like a hangout spot for students.

The same tune also inside. And indeed most of the people are around 30 or under, except for a group of middle-aged couples who probably had come here after having read restaurant review websites... like us.

The menu is short but, there are 6 or 7 dishes of the day in addition, so you can find something you fancy, if you are not too fussy.

Lettuce salad with graviera and petimezi (which is sweet grape extract and works somehow like balsamic vinegar) came in a good portion. As it consisted in a so few ingredients, I got bored after a while.

Fava with caper and sundried tomatoes. Texture of fava was good. Problem was the topping which was far too salty.

Pork belly strips with "Arabic" pita. This was the best dish that I ate that night. The meat was very well seasoned with spices, although a bit burnt. The mayonnaise like sauce had coriander (spice, not herb).

Potato with apaki came a bit late. This dish was far too oily and we managed to eat only half.

GH had a bottle of Septem beer (if you have not tried beers from this brewery in Evvia, I would recommend you do soon) and the bill came to 24 Euro. The beer having cost 4.50 Euro, the food was under 20!

Cheap.

And the dishes are creative and rich in portion, even though not perfectly executed.

What I am thinking, however, is that, if you are over a certain age and has some money to spend on eating-outs, maybe you don't appreciate so much cheap but not-that-impressive food.

If I were 25 years younger, probably I could have appreciated Rakor more.

Rakor
Plataion 10 and Granikou, Kerameikos, Athens
Πλαταιών 10 & Γρανικού, Κεραμεικός

Tel. (+30) 211 710 8877

Eating for 10 Euro @ Polly Maggoo

On 20th November (Tue.), GH and I went to try 10 Euro menu of Vgainoume Athina (Βγαίνουμε Αθήνα, rough translation should be "We go out to Athens") project this time at Polly Maggoo, near Athiri where we had gone last week. It is one of the few French(-oriented) restaurants in Athens.

It was rainy day. There was generally little people on the street and likewise there were few at the restaurant; less than a half of the tables were occupied at the point we left at 9:30.

The menu on offer on the day was:

Bread and humous (obligatory 1 Euro charge for 2)
1st course - Potato and leek potage
2nd course - A slip of braised pork belly on creamed potato
               (alternatively, vegetable risotto)
3rd course - Chocolate mousse

We were asked if we wanted to add salad  (7 Euro) from their a la carte menu. Of course, I said no, because my purpose was to see what a restaurant can offer for 10 Euro p.p.. If I added something else, it surely should have influenced my opinion. So, no.

We were asked if we wanted bottled water or tap water, but without listening to our answer, the waiter (who should be the owner or manager) opened a cap of bottled water. Again, I refused it (because I was intending to order wine, so did not want to pay also for water which I did not know if I was to drink it or not). I managed to refuse the water, but to the other tables he just brought bottled water without asking if they wanted or not. Maybe because he learned from the mistake.

We ordered 2 glasses of red wine. There was only one variety and a glass cost 5 Euro. 1 Euro more than at Athiri. However, abiding by Vgainoume Athina project, there was also a bottled wine for 12 Euro.

The food was tasty (except for the dessert, but don't trust me, for I do not like chocolate mousse in general), but the portion was small. If you are a normal eater by Greek standard, you would need another dish (possibly to share between 2) to eat enough, or to drink a lot of wine.

And you cannot help but notice the repetition of potato in the first and the second dish. Not well thought out, or were they just thinking about using cheap ingredients?

The final bill was 31 Euro. It was interesting, but not impressive.

There is a big difference of philosophy between Polly Maggoo and Athiri. Athiri was trying to organize a hearty menu without making the guests spend more than 10 Euro in food, while Polly Maggoo was looking to a menu which is minimum if tasty AND can make some extra cash if possible. I liked the foord at Polly Maggoo, but did not feel sympathy that I felt for Athiri.

I checked also their a la carte menu. Starters are mostly 9 Euro, salads for 7 and the main dishes either 12 or 14 Euro, even though there was not particularly expensive material. You are paying 12 Euro for pasta and risotto, 14 Euro for veal liver or for salmon. Desserts were not on the menu, so I did not learn how much they cost. So one should spend 23 Euro for 2 course and 28 Euro adding a glass of wine. Paying also for bread, bottled water that they bring it to your table and a few Euro of tip, it is difficult to get away without spending 30 Euro per person, if you eat normally.

Rather expensive, especially when you consider it is situated in Metaxiourgio and it does not have beautiful space like Athiri does. The décor reminded me of Hell's Kitchen which used to be near Omonia, if anyone remembers it.

To be able to enjoy food at Polly Maggoo, I think I need to have some extra money that I would like to spend away.

Polly Maggoo
Leonidou 80 and Salaminos, Metaxiourgio, Athens
Λεωνίδου 80 και Σαλαμίνος, Μεταξουργείο, Αθήνα
Tel. 210 5241120

Eating for 10 Euro @ Athiri

This Tuesday, GH and I went to Athiri in Keramikos-Gazi to try their 10 Euro menu for the project "Βγενουμε Αθηνα" by the City of Athens.

We arrived at 8 o'clock in the evening at the totally empty restaurant. For first 30 minutes it remained almost empty, but at around 9 o'clock, it was almost full. Evidently many people came with reservation; and most of the guests were ordering 10 Euro menu, but there were some tables ordering a la carte.

I knew that 10 Euro menu consisted in 3 courses, but Athiri offers generous 4 course menu, i.e., soup, salad, main, and dessert. Considering one a-la-carte main dish at Athiri costs around 15 Euro, this is a bargain and is a good opportunity to try the restaurant for those who has never been there.

The menu was more or less like as follows:
1st: Carrot and Orange Soup
2nd: Green Salad with Sunflower Seeds
3rd: Pork and Cabbage in Lemon Sauce, mixed with Rice
4th: Creme Brulee

Ah, and very lovely pieces of bread were also included. They even gave us a choice between tap water (free) and bottled water (2 Euro).

A glass of red wine starts from 4 Euro (and white was cheaper, but don't remember exactly how much) and a bottle starts from 13 Euro (white) or 15 Euro (red).

I took photographs, but decided not to publish them here, because it might not be fair to show only the special-offer dishes of the restaurant.

The food wasn't super-impressive, but I can assure you that it is pleasant enough (and plenty) for 10 Euro. Taking 23% VAT in consideration, it should be almost cost-price.

Just two caveats.

1) Book a table beforehand.
2) If you are not a flexible eater, ask the menu before you decide to book.The menu is fixed and there is no choice but to eat what they offer.


Athiri
Plateon 15, Keramikos
104 35 Athens
Tel. 210 3462983 / 210 4940672

Αθήρι
Πλαταιών 15, Κεραμεικός
Τηλ: 210 3462983 / 210 4940672
Email: athirirestaurant@gmail.com
http://www.athirirestaurant.gr/

And recently, I read on Lifo that Athiri is offering a menu of 15 Euro everyday except Saturday and Monday until 23 December 2012. The menu looks vegetarian at this moment (the menu changes every week), but if do not mind...
More details here.