O Vatrahos @ Keramikos-Gkazi

Last Tuesday, we visited a taverna-mezedopoleio "O Vatrahos (Flog)" in Gazi-Keramikos area.

It is somehow distant from the other restaurants/bars of the area and I wondered who would come all the way to here (actually it is not so far from the Keramikos Metro station, but being on the other side of Iera Odos, it is a bit daunting).

It is surprisingly large space and when we entered at 20:30 there was absolutely no customer inside. While we were there, another couple and one man joined, but for such a large space, it was rather depressing.

The menu does not look much different from usual ones of classic tavernas and mezedopoleia, although the dishes were with twist, as we were going to experience.

The first is grilled bread with oil, salt and oregano. We ordered also a half-kilo of wine (I don't know why the Greeks use 'kilo' instead of 'litre' when they order wine.

We ordered red wine, but it was like dark rose imigryko (half-sweet), which was all right.

Greek salad came in a pita bowl and dressed with mustard dressing, with some strips of fungus. Except that the amount of dressing was too generous, it was nice and different.

Fava came with caramelized onion and rocket sauce. It would have looked beautiful, but it was SOOOO dark, it was difficult to see what I was eating.

I hate dark restaurants, but Fava was very good and pleasantly sweet.

Dolmadakia were totally indifferent, re-heated with microwave.

Don't take me wrong. I am not particularly against the use of microwave, but still the execution was mediocre.

Grilled pork fillet (psaronefri) was much better.

I usually do not like grilled pork fillets, as they turn too dry, but this one was well grilled and saved from being too dry.

No freebees at the end and the final bill came to 36.50 Euro, which was just OK.

We might return it we happened to be in the area, but I would not say it is a destination restaurant.

AND IT IS TOO DARK to go in the evening.

Taverna-Bar O Vatrahos
Eurymedontos 3
Kerameikos, Athens
210-3411 662

Ταβέρνα-Μπαρ Ο Βάτραχος
Ευρυμέδοντος 3
Κεραμεικός, Αθήνα

Athens Imperial Hotel to Stop Exercise

TV news of Skai said that Athens Imperial Hotel in Karaiskakis (Metaxiourgiou) Square is to close, although it does not say exactly when it is going to close.

News on Skai.gr

I used to work in tourism. I don't remember how many times I went there to meet tourists and how many times I tried to sell it to the foreign tour operators. I even went there for an inspection once.

The hotel itself was all right and very good value for money, although it was clearly not up to the 5 star standard (officially it was a five-star).

But the area was/is getting problematic, full of illegal immigrant, drag addicts, and thieves. There always were/are many policemen, but they were just chatting among them as if they had nothing to do with the situation.

Depressing.

Savory Waffle @ Public, Piraeus

The menu has slightly changed at Public cafe in Passalimani.

This is a new item called savory waffle. There are cheese, bits of bacon, mushrooms, parsley in waffle dough. A good idea. 4.90 euro only.

Mono @ Plaka

Yesterday evening Greek Husband and I visited Mono in Plaka - at the edge of Plaka being close to the Cathedral - without reservation, around 8 o'clock.

(This photo was shot when we were leaving; when we arrived, there still was some sun light).

In the main area, only about one third of the tables were occupied, but the serving staff told us that the empty tables were all reserved and sent us upstairs where was cold (it was an unusually cold day for mid May). A man who looked like the chef came and turned on a heater and we felt all right (I have a suspect that they sent us there because we had a discount card and wanted to reserve the better tables for the fully paying customers, but, if it were so, I don't complain as in the matter of fact I was not paying as much as those who in the better area - justice was made!).

We were asked if wanted tap water or bottled water. A nice gesture, although we got a bottled water.

I knew that Mono had became a tapas bar and I expected tapas on the menu, but there wasn't any. A waitress told us that they have switched to summer menu and I wondered that they changed also the chefs. The menu is divided into starters, salads, pasta & risotto, main dishes (meat and fish), and dessert. The description sounded like Greek with Italian touch. They gave us also a wine list where there are many choices and all of them could be served in glasses. The cheap(est, I think) bottle was priced 12 Euro, so it is very good as restaurant-wine-price. A glass was from 3 Euro, I think.

Bread basket. The slices of bread were toasted and drizzled with olive oil, sea salt, and thyme (I think it was thyme, not oregano, but I might be wrong). The sticks are grissini. We ordered also two different glasses of red wine (4 and 5 Euro each).

There was a rather long wait until the starters arrived and we finished the bread till then.

This is a starter called The Cheese. The white balls are a mixture of anthotyro, mint and either cream or yogurt, drizzled with balsamic vinegar. The cheese was nice, but the salad was even better; red lettuce (trevisano), mint leaves, sliced pear, caramelized onion etc.

This is another starter called The Veggie. A sliced grilled aubergine, various grilled tomatoes, zucchini, and red/yellow peppers, flavoured with generous amount of fresh thyme. White paste is citrus-flavoured yogurt, I think. Essentially an interpretation of grilled vegetables (verdure ai ferri). Nice, although I thought it should be less salty.

Main dish. Shell pasta with seafood came unfortunately lukewarm. This was an interpretation of Greek octopus pasta. It came in a generous portion. If you were a big eater, you might be happy, but otherwise you get a bit board keeping on eating the same thing. I would rather give it a pass.

Another main dish, slow cooked pork belly, served with roasted peach and sauteed French beans. This again came in a generous portion. The pork was soft and there was a smoky flavour. We liked it very much, although we did not managed to finish all the fat (it was pork belly; what can we do?). The French beans were sauteed with butter. But, the meat being so fatty and sticky, I think it is better to be served with French beans with vinaigrette.

We did not manage to arrive at the dessert and concluded two espresso.

Now, the bill. Without discount, it came to 54 Euro (we actually paid 38 Euro + 5 Euro tip). We both thought it was quite fair value for money, even without discount. GH, who paid 25 Euro at a grill (psistaria) the day before, was very impressed. And it is in Plaka!

Mono has changed over the years. I know at least 4 phases without actually eating there, so how many more. At this moment, I think it is in a positive phase. Try to visit while they go through yet another metamorphosis.

Mono
Benizelou Palaiologou 4C Plaka, Athens,
+30 210 3226711
http://www.monorestaurant.gr/

Schinias beach

I am on Schinias Beach near Marathon. Before the weekend , the weather forecast was saying that it would rain and be cloudy during the weekend, but it turned out to be false and it is quite fine ands shiny till now.

Greek Husband insisted that we had to go to beach and here we are. However I am suffering from hey fever for these 4 days and hardly feel fit enough for the sea. Besides the temperature is not high enough and I am feeling cold drinking cold Chocolate at a cafeteria (Playa del Sol it is called).

Today President Papoulias started the talk with the principal party leaders to form a new government, but Mr Tsipras is unlikely to give in, they say.

If Greece goes to next election, at least there will be one positive thing which is that Golden Dawn is likely to take less vote. All the else is uncertain. Depending on how the Allies (Troika) react, the people will swing their vote until the last moment.

Some Greeks did not vote for the major two parties just because they signed the Memorandum 2, but some didn't because these parties did not commit to the reforms that are part of the Memorandum.

The result of the election is open to many interpretations. I just hope that the Greeks get what they want.