Belle Amie and Gazi College @ Piraeus

Having read in Athenorama that a new cafe-restaurant has recently opened in Piraeus, we paid a visit to see.

It is on Angelou Metaxa Street, but in reality it is on the Piazza Kanari, because Metaxa street is closed to cars.

The new place is called Belle Amie and it now occupies a large Neo Classic building. I hever realized there was a Neo Classic here and I do not remember what there was. There was a series of cafeterias on this street, but they were old and somehow degraded.

We were seated outside, as it was a warm day and GH always prefers al fresco, but also the indoor space is beautiful.

It took a while to come to take our order and we had to call one waitress at a certain point, although there were many serving staff.

And the waitress took our ordered made a mistake and brought a freddo "metrio" (average amount of sugar), instead of freddo with little sugar that I ordered. It was, however, promptly corrected and my coffee was replaced.

Our coffees were accompanied by 3 cookies. It is a nice gesture, but I think it is not thoughtful to serve 3 cookies to 2 persons. If they don't want to serve 4, they should serve only 2.

They did not give us a full menu, but there was this sheet on every table indicating "dishes of the day". It looked interesting, but it was too early for lunch and neither us nor other patrons were not eating anything. We will stop by one day to try something out.

A freddo cappuccino cost 3.80 Euro, which is toward the expensive end of price range in the area. It was justified because of the location.

Belle Amie
Aggelou Metaxa 11, Piraeus, Greece
Αγγ. Μεταξά 11, Πειραιάς


In the same street, also Gazi College opened. There was much bigger buzz here than at Belle Amie.

We were pleased to see that the area was invigorated.

Adonis @ Nea Smyrni

In a weekday afternoon, GH and I met up in Nea Smyrne for a coffee to kill time until start of the movie that we were planning to see with a couple of friends.

Plateia Neas Smyrnis is one of the most convenient places for coffee. The huge piazza/park is surrounded by a couple of dozens of cafeterias and ice cream shops. There is a plenty of choices.

On that day, we stopped at Adonis which I believe is one of the institutions of Nea Smyrni. There is another outlet just above Mikrolimano of Piraeus.

It is situated at the 1st floor of the building of which the ground floor is occupied by Flocafe. If you are not careful, you won't find it.

We were seated at one of the tables in the piazza, but also the indoor tables are quite nice having a view to the piazza.

In the menu, a coffee was priced around 4 Euro, but there was this offer when we visited and we paid only 3.50 Euro p.p.

Not quite clear when this offer is valid as it is not written, but I suppose it is a permanent thing, as this sheet was filed in the menu folder as well as shown in plastic stands on each table.

There was also an offer for beers.

When we ordered coffee, the waiter asked us if we wanted sweet or savoury. We did not quite get him (when we placed the order, we were not aware of the offer) and he explained that we could choose between cake and sandwich as a complement.

The cake turned out to be a very small piece of sponge which is laughable because many cafeterias offer better cakes without pretending anything.

As this place is also a restaurant, we might go there again, when we want to order sandwich, because restaurant-cafeterias offer better sandwich than pure cafeterias.

Adonis-Άδωνις
25ης Μαρτίου 11, Νέα Σμύρνη
http://adonisrestaurantcafe.com/

And afterwards, we went to see the movie Pacific Rim.

If I say that it is about a series of combats between Transformers and Aliens, I think I give you a pretty good idea. If it is what you want (and anything else), you will enjoy it as we did.

Club Sandwich @ Salty-NAS, Mikrolimano

After several months since the last time, we went to Mikrolimano. As you can imagine, some of the restaurants had been closed down.



I wrote this post as an update as well as a reminder for myself.

Walking one of the back streets, we stumbled on a Mikrolimano branch of Tirbouson [sic] called Tirbouson Mini. Evidently it is open only Friday and Saturday evenings.



And I found Papaioannou in the usual location. I heard some time ago that it was about to move to the premises on Akti Koumondourou (i.e. along the seaside walk) used to be occupied by Plous Podilatou. In fact, Plous Podilatou was completely gone (not even its sign board), but it was still empty. Anyway, Papaioannou was the only fish restaurant in Mikrolimano which looked full on the day in Mirolimano; all the others were half empty, even though the meat restaurants were doing pretty well.

Haagen Dazs had been gone for a while and not the premises are occupied by a cafeteria/bar, whose name I did not bother to remember.

Also Lalloudes restaurant was gone. Cocoon was closed (I am not totally sure if it was gone or open only in the evening). And another new restaurant was closed (I think it was a successor of Il Mercatino or something). Artisti Macaroni premises are still empty.

We then stopped at N.A.S. for a sandwich and coffees. Now the N.A.S. restaurant has another name "Salty". I do not know if there was any substantial change that came with the new name, as I have never been to the old N.A.S.

The best thing about this place is the view. If you get a good table, you can see all the coastline of Mikrolimano.

From the other side, you get the view of Apollo Coast which is equally nice.



So, if you reserve a table here for food, you should request to keep one near the window.

This place operates as restaurant-bar-cafeteria. You can order fish, meat, pasta, coffee, cocktails, anything.

We were there for a snack and ordered a club sandwich and coffees.

Club sandwich (7 Euro) was of pretty average cafeteria-quality.



I think one of the preserved meat (ham, bacon, I don't know) they used was stale and had unpleasant sour smell and the oil used to fry the potatoes was stale.

That would have been OK if it was eaten at a cafeteria, but from kitchen of a restaurant, it should be better.

Coffees were not expensive. Freddo cappuccino for 4 and Frappe for 3.50. However, 4 Euro for a coca cola is not easy to forgive.

Our waitress was very polite and smiley. She got 2 Euro for that.

Before leaving, I took a look at the restaurant menu. Everything looked quite expensive. I do not remember any main dish under 10 Euro. I would expect to pay at least 20-25 Euro p.p. for a starter and a main with cover charge.

N.A.S. - Salty
Akti Koumoundourou 1,
Piraeus 185 33, Greece

Apple Pie @ Marquise, Glyfada

Yesterday, after late lunch, we went for a late coffee in Glyfada. It was almost 8 o'clock in the evening.

After a walk we ended up again in Zisimopoulou Street, but this time we avoided Haagen Dazs and found a table in a cafeteria/restaurant called Marquise.

There was a quite lot of people in Zisimopoulou, but when we arrived, we could still find a table easily, but those who arrived later had some difficulty. It was good to see people still go out in Saturday evening.

We were looking for something sweet, so we had a apple pie served with ice cream and caramel sauce (6.20 Euro).

It was a decent sized cut of apple pie. I prefer the apple to be cut smaller, but I appreciated it because it did not look like mass-production. Vanilla ice cream also was pretty good and di not have unpleasant after-taste of low quality cream. I found the price tug of 6.20 Euro well reasonable.

We had also one large cappuccino (5 Euro; if I remember well, a normal cappuccino was 4). I do not have nothing particular to write about the cappuccino, but should mention that it was served with two slices of chocolate cake. Again, I found it good-value-of-money in this high-street of Glyfada.

We might come back for club sandwich or something next time.

MARQUISE
Zisimopoulou & Lazaraki 45
Glyfada
http://www.marquise.gr/

On leaving Zisimopoulou, I noticed Kayak has opened a huge shop at the corner. I think I overheard that it opened 3 months or so ago.

Apart from their well-known ice cream, they were selling also frozen yoghurt. There was a quite lot of people buying goodies.

Speaking about frozen yoghurt, I also have to mention that an impressive number of frozen yoghurt shops have opened in Glyfada. Probably we walked in front of 6 or 7 of these this time. How many of these survive the winter, I wondered.

Crepe @ Noca, Piraeus

Crepe with chocolate, biscuit and vanilla ice cream at a cafeteria/ bar near our flat. 6 euro.

I think that the crepe itself is a bit tougher than it should be, but above average.

In Greece it is prohibited to smoke in a closed public space by law. When it was decided a few years ago, some were making comments how the law was ignored.

Now no one pays any attention. It has returned to the food old days, anyone smokes wherever they like.

Also in this cafeteria the ground floor is supposed to be non-smoking area, but on the tables, next to a plate saying "non-smoking" there is also an ash tray.

Sugar Free Cold Chocolate

I am still not totally fine due to the high temperature. However it is sad not to go out at all on Sunday, so we went for a coffee at Plateia Alexandras in Piraeus.

Plateia Alexandras (Alexandra Square) is on Zeas Marina. It has a very nice view of the Marina, but it is relatively quiet and peaceful.

We entered Stretto, one of the three cafeteria of the piazza.

There I found sugar free chocolate drinks, which can come cold or hot, black or white.

I tried cold dark chocolate.

Although it was sugar free, it was sweet due to low calorie sugar substitute. I would not have minded even it had not been sweet at all, because I do not like sweet drinks in general.

Anyway it was very cold and refreshing. If you like chocolate and want to cut sugar intake, it is an excellent choice.

3.90 Euro.

Frappe @ NAI, Neo Faliro

I am at cafeteria NAI in Neo Faliro.

The country might go bankrupt next week, but things look pretty usual here. Frappe costs 4 euro, cappuccino 4.30 euro.

Yesterday morning it look probable that a new government is being formed, but the hope quickly disappeared and now e everyone is speaking about the new election with the prediction that Syriza takes the 1st place.

I do not sympathize with communists (not that I do not sympathize with the communism which was a great ideal which tuned out to be contrary to the human nature, IMO) and I don't want them to take the lead, but, if the people wants, what can I do?

The last hope is now the presidential brokerage. Hope for the best, but they say the hope is faint.

D

Pasta Viva @ Glyfada

One very fine Sunday, we went for a walk in Glyfada & decided to have a lunch.

Greek Husband wanted Italian, so I choose Pasta Viva about which I had read positive reviews on the web.

From the outlook, I was not inspired, but the price being pretty affordable, I thought we could give it a try anyway. GH is not as fussy as I am, so as far as he can get spaghetti, he is all right.

There wasn't many people when we arrived, but later it started to fill up. The décor is like that of fast food restaurants; nothing noteworthy.

This is a pasta place and, if you want anything else, there is very little choice. You should be reminded that this is a pasta place, and NOT an Italian restaurant.

When I asked water, the waiter asked me if I wanted tap or bottled. I think it is a good service.

The bread was nice country type bread (0.60 Euro x 2 pax). I am not sure if it was an obligatory order or not. Portion was very small, but as we were to eat a big portion of carbohydrate anyway, I don't think anyone wanted lots of bread.

We got a insalata alla caprese as starter (6.40 Euro). The green thing on the slices of mozzarella is pesto alla genovese.

Again, nothing noteworthy. Just passable (which is all right for this sort of place).

My pasta was Verdura ai ferri, which is tagliatelle mixed is grilled vegetables and some creamy sauce, with slices of parmiggiano reggiano cheese on top. This is one of the most expensive pastas on the menu costing 8.60 Euro.

I did not think that there was a harmony among the ingredients. In my opinion, it was like a dish prepared by a home cook, not a professional outcome. But I ate it all, as it was all right.

GH ordered Quattro Formaggi with Spaghetti. I did not mention that for most of the pasta dishes, you can select the type of pasta you prefer from Spaghetti, tagliatelle, farfalle, fusilli, rigatoni, penne and tortellini (brand is Barilla) and, if you like, you may ask to put it in the oven. It is a good idea.

There are some extra optional ingredients and GH wanted chicken with it.

I did not like the taste of cream used in the sauce, but GH was happy (I have to stress he is NOT FUSSY).

The portion is large and we got full at the end.

There was no room for dessert, but the small glass of strawberry sorbet on the house was a nice palate cleanser.

With a 0.5 l beer (3.90 Euro) the total bill came to 28.70 Euro, which is reasonable. I have to mention also that most of the pasta dishes are between 6 and 8 Euro, so you can spend even less money for a lunch for 2.

Considering that the quality of the food do not surpass what I can prepare at home, I do not think of coming back again on my own. But, this is not the point. If I have to choose a restaurant for a meal with friends who I don't know how much money they want to spend, I would pick up this restaurant easily. Or, if I were a young person who earns the new Greek minimum wage or something like that and wanted to have a lunch/dinner date, again this place looks ideal.

Pasta Viva
Maragkou 7
Plateia Glyfadas
Glyfada
Tel. 210 8945050

And another one in Daphni

L. Papanastasiou 2
Metro Daphnis
Tel. 210 9758533

http://www.pastaviva.gr/

Afterwards, we went to Haagen Dasz for a coffee.

In Zisimopoulou street, there are some cafeterias ABSOLUTELY packed and people are making a queue to get a table. I have no idea why.

Haagen Dasz is usually not one of them and we can get a good table easily.

And we get a complementary pieces of cake.

Haagen Dazs @ Glyfada

Coffee at Haagen Dazs in Glyfada.

It is a fine day and many people are out to absorb the sunshine.

The cafe bar called Living in front of us is attracting lots of young people. Why there are more people at certain cafeterias and not at similar other places is a big mystery to me.

Haagen Dazs is not attracting much. It is offering 30% discount from a daily selection of dessert which today is apple pie. Though tempted, we are too full to eat dessert after lunch. Anyway, considering Flocafe offers free coffee for a dessert, it is still expensive.

Estate in Kallithea

I am at Estate cafeteria in Kallithea. Very warm day if it isn't really "estate" (summer in Italian).

Public Cafe, Piraeus

Visited the cafeteria of Public (if you do not live in Athens or else, Public is a chain of shops that sells computers, mobiles, CDs, books etc) in Piraeus. It has a view toward Passalimani, especially from the tables on the terrace, but it was too chilly for that on the day.

The shop & cafeteria were very busy due to the Christmas shoppers. In this current economic climet, you feel releaved to see people still do some shopping.



Two of us ordered a plate of club sandwich to share and a couple of drinks.



Neither in Japan or in UK (let alone Italy), I do not remember to see club sandwich on the menu so often as in Greece. I would call it one of the Greek national dishes, as well as curry or spaghetti to Japanese (this phrase makes sense only to those who knows the eating custom in Japan, I know...).

The toasted sandwich smelled of butter and the fillings were also flavourful. It wasn't like bad example of club sandwich over-filled with mayonnaise, snewey ham and plastic like chicken breast.

6.90 was reasonably price. Good fastfood while you are on shopping.

This is a slice of apple pie at Public cafe I ate on another day.



It was just OK. "I would order something else next time" OK.

********

Grigoris lowered the prices of coffee.



When the VAT on cooked food went up 13 to 23%, Grigoris immediately adjusted the price (justifiably, as the money goes to the state cofer, not to their profit) and probably they regretted it, sadly (but realistically, come on, who can accept that the sandwich that cost 3 Euro becomes 3.30 Euro overnigh?)

********

And something a bit Christmasy. We bought kourabiedes from a zaharoplasteio (patisserie) called Passarella on lower Piraeus street (if you know the area, it is next to Skravenitis supermarket).



They were less than 10 Euro / kg (maybe 7 maybe 9, don't remember exactly), while many bakeries charge 13-14 Euro per kg. And they tasted fine. For half kilo, we got 12 pieces.

Resto-Cafeteria Zeus @ Olympia

The Day 2 of our Olympia trip.

We visited the museum & archaeological site of Olympia and then the museum of the history of ancient Olympic Games. This last is little known and only few tourists visit it, but I strongly recommend it to anyone who has a bit of extra time in Olympia. It explains very well (with exhibits and with explanations in four languages) the ancient Olympic games and the ancient culture of the games in general.

We finished the sightseeing at 1:30 and needed to sit down and drink/eat something. So we returned to the cafeteria/restaurant Zeus where we had drink the evening before.



I woke up a cat sleeping on one of the chairs. Sorry.



We ordered Hubby's favourite snack: Club Sandwich. For some reason, Club Sandwich is a very popular item at cafeterias and you can find it almost anywhere.

There was a rather long wait until the item arrived and we understood why. Evidently they freshly fried the chips.



It was quite edible as club sandwich of cafeterias. For just 6.50 Euro, I won't complain at all.



She also joined in our lunch time snacking.



ΚΑΦΕΤΕΡΙΑ ΕΣΤΙΑΤΟΡΙΟ Zeus
ΑΡΧ. ΠΛΥΜΠΙΑ
ΤΗΛ. 26240-23913

After the rest, we left for Chelmoutsi.

Scoop @ Metro Mall, Agios Dimitrios

Last Saturday, we went to Metro Mall in Agios Dimitrios.

It is a big shopping center opened this year by the Agios Dimitrios Metro Station. It includes many shops, cinema, food court, restaurants and cafeterias. We went for a coffee.

The best thing about this mall is the view.



At La Pasteria, Flocafe, and Scoop there are tables with view. There are also tables outside, but when we went it was too hot to seat outdoor.



I like Flocafe, but to try something new, we entered the cafeteria called Scoop. The name I think come from the "scoop of ice cream", as the menu features ice cream.

Interestingly there was a mascot girl as if it is a club.



She was trying to entice any passers-by to her cafeteria. It was entertaining for me to watch her efforts.

I ordered a waffle with vanilla ice cream and milk chocolate. Except for the ice cream I liked, it was very average.



Coffee was served with a morcel of brownie.



The price is as high as in cafeterias of central Athens.

If I had lived close, I would have gone there from time to time. The parking is available for 1 Euro per hour, which is acceptable.



But I don't live nearby and don't see the revisit in near future.

W Cataralla View @ Glyfada

From the coast of Glyfada I used to see this big W and had been curious what it was about. So, one day we decided to go to see.

Getting closer, we leant it was actually called W Cataralla View Sea Side Cafe. Long name without making much sense except for "Sea Side Cafe".

Carps! The Japanese people love carps and my grand father used to kept some in his pond, but in Greece I don't seen them often. They made me feel nostalgic.

This is how it is in the inside. Most of the seats are outdoor. I wondered how this place would be in winter. Anyway, it is very spacious.

We had a frappe.



And a waffle. Waffle itself was light and nice but it was overloaded with chocolate and oversweet. I guess it is for the Greeks who loves chocolate and supersweet stuff. So it is OK.



View from the cafeteria.



It is a nice cafeteria with nice view. Plenty of seats and plenty of space to park. We would go back from time to time.

*************

Nice looking plant we saw at the cafeteria.




Beautiful.