Local Food Athens Gods’ Restaurant

Gods’ Restaurant, Athens
I haven’t deciphered the meaning of the name, in relation to the owners. But be advised this is not a fancy restaurant, it is a typical taverna and besides serving fresh, authentic Greek cuisine, it is right across the street from the amazing Acropolis Museum…two perfect reasons to visit. What better for a late lunch to sit beneath an unfurled canvas awning, on a tree lined sun dappled neighborhood street in the heart of Athens?

Gods’ Restaurant Athens

The sidewalk waiters will attempt to lure you in, do resist as it is part of their calculated game of  persuasion – it’s utterly a contest by the two bulky gentlemen who recite the menu, compliment your  attire; they are friendly enthusiastic barkers and a giggle to watch! I recommend the front row seat on the sidewalk, order your libation and saunter inside to look at the glass cabinets of delectable offerings. You may prefer to order from the menu, but why not practice the traditional Greek custom and peruse the cases of fresh delights. This is authentic fare, the Dolmades were some of the best I tasted in Greece, try the tender chicken skewers with yogurt sauce, oh and always order handmade pie of the day..its not a sweet, it’s a traditional flaky phyllo dough pie with cheese and spinach..gooey delightful! Or if you simply can’t decide what to order, try the Plateau of traditional Greek food. Have everything delivered together and nosh on a bite here a bite there.

From the restaurant site: they explain it better than I: Greeks tend to associate pleasure with homemade food, quality wine and good company. Heirs of the richest gastronomy in the world, richest in materials, in way of cooking, culture and wisdom, they always search for a special hangout that combines the intimate atmosphere of home with their mama’s kitchen aromas. At the traditional, family-owned Gods’ Restaurant, you will feel right at home with the rustic and hospitable atmosphere, but it is the father who heads the kitchen here. With 50 years of cooking experience, he works alongside the executive chef to create authentic Greek recipes, like the traditional finger-licking dolmades (meat and rice wrapped in grapevine leaves with egg and lemon sauce), the famous Lamb “kleftiko” in the pot or the ancient Greek recipe, fried feta cheese wrapped in phyllo pastry with honey and black sesame.

handmade pie of the day Gods Restaurant Athens

tender chicken skewers with yogurt sauce, Gods’ Restaurant Athens

It has Greek traditional cuisine with tastes and cooking that will satisfy even the most demanding. The Family with more than 50 years of experience in cooking and restaurant business and total respect to the tradition of Greek gastronomy, our father, Mr. George, is offering daily (since 2000 here, in this area) authentic recipes of our country and hugs with smile and love all our customers. Behind every successful man there is a woman, so it couldn’t be different here, our mother, Mrs. Maria, is always close to us, taking care of “Gods'” tastes… Vaggelis and Nikos, the two sons, responsible for the service and the public relations. Along with us, our executive Chef, Elias, with his own recipes, a more creative and modern reach to the Greek cuisine, to satisfy the most demanding palate.

Gods’ Restaurant 27 Makrygianni Str., Acropolis, Athens, Greece.

Οινομαγειρείο των Θεών, Εστιατόριο Hours 9 am till 1 am.  https://www.gods-restaurant.com/

Truly a gift from the Gods.

Varvakeios, Athens Central Market

Open markets are often the greatest place to experience the very essence of a city’s culinary culture. I enthusiastically say yes to a Central Market whenever I travel.

On busy Athinas street, the Central Market, also known as Varvakeios, is a lively city market place, opened in 1886 to the food trade. Evripidou Street is synonymous with the scents of the shops selling food from the colonies. The iron-and-glass 19th Century market has massive stalls divided between seafood and fish products and all types of meat on one side of the street, and vegetables and fresh fruits on the other side. The Varvakeios can be sensory overload, do wear close toe shoes, as you may wade through a bit of water in the fish area. I’ll never forget looking down at my tennis shoes in the fish market in Catania, Sicily, fish bits clinging to the tops of my canvas shoes! Nothing worse than fish guts stuck to your shoes!

Varvakeios Market Athens

Shop for the tastiest feta cheese and delicious renowned olives, sun ripened fruits and vegetables and don’t miss my favorites, the spice shops. The meat area may not appeal to everyone, as it is not at all surprising to see hanging meat carcasses, large glass cases of tongue and innards.

From the core of the Mediterranean, Greek cuisine is comprised of an extensive variety of dishes reflecting its diverse backdrop, extensive history and crossroads to other nations.

Varvakeios Market Athens

Wandering around downtown Athens, you will discover a plethora of restaurants, taverns, and cafés, but perhaps the most intriguing and interesting place to discover local Greek food is within Athens’ food markets. This is a superb location to purchase palatable gifts to bring home, especially authentic spices and herbs. The food is pungently fresh, and you’ll mingle with locals buying their daily provisions. This is where you see the little old ladies selecting their evening meals from the fishermen with the daily catch.

Varvakeios Market Athens

Varvakeios Market Athens What might those be?

And it’s an incredible introduction to Balkan market culture: merchants screaming prices, luring you to taste a special apricot, elderly ladies analyzing the perfect tomato with a well-practiced squeeze, and aging gentlemen drinking coffee at the market cafes while observing the scene, whiling away the day.  Within the cavernous halls there are small cafes and tavernas serving traditional Greek dishes, keep your eye open for the underground restaurant near the vegetable market.

Olives – Preserving and seasoning olives is an ancient tradition, dating back to the early Greeks. Each region of Greece has a distinctive method of flavoring and pickling olives. The vendors are very generous with their products, encouraging tasting!

Varvakeios Market Athens Elixir Spice market

Varvakeios Market Athens Elixir Spice market

Greek Spices –  Greek cooking doesn’t rely on many specific herbs, but a few essential spices include oregano and sea salts, many flavored with orange or lemon peel. One of the most colorful and ancient looking spice shops ‘Elixir’, located on one of the streets bordering the Central Market; here, you can also find spatholatho, an ointment originally from Kea Island that ancient Greek soldiers used to heal their wounds. Elixir is a family business operating since the 1950s, they also sell enormous bars of natural Olive Oil  soap. The wooden display boxes also contain many varieties of tea. The young Greek man behind the wood counter will cellophane bag your selection and label all your purchases. Don’t miss the large branches of bay leaves. Spices are easy to pack and bring home. Burning bush, oregano, chamomile and other common Greek herbs, some grown on the slopes of Mt. Olympus and Tayretus. Consultations are offered on the healing properties of various spices; sage is good for memory, cloves help digestion, ask for specific needs.https://www.elixir.com.gr/

Varvakeios Market Athens Elixir Spice market

Cheese  – There are shops in the market who offer traditional Greek feta cheese, made from sheep, goat, or cow. Besides the yummy feta, another popular Greek cheese to look for is kefalotyri, a hard, salty sheep’s-milk cheese.

Varvakeios Market Athens – Meat markets with small dining rooms in the back

Varvakeios Market Athens Grape Leaves

Varvakeios Market Athens Lady Shoppers