Every year, millions of tourists arrive in Greece and choose, almost instinctively, the dishes they see most often on the menus of seaside taverns. But not everything that is promoted as “traditional Greek” is also what the locals order when they go out to eat.
The best example is gyros, one of the most famous street foods in Greece. Although it has Greek origins, the version served in many restaurants in tourist areas is often adapted to the tastes of visitors and differs from the authentic recipe.
According to the Greek publication Gastronomos, the problem is not the dish itself, but the way it is prepared in many restaurants frequented by tourists.
Traditional Gyros is made from pieces of meat placed by hand on a vertical rod and slowly cooked so that the outside is brown and the inside remains tender and juicy. Instead, many restaurants use frozen and industrially processed meat cylinders, which are easier to store and serve in large quantities.
Experts say that an authentic gyros does not need large amounts of sauces or a very thick paste to mask the taste of the meat. The ingredients should complement the dish, not hide a dry or reheated meat.
How do you recognize an authentic tavern?
One of the most important clues is the menu.
Places frequented by Greeks usually have a short menu and prepare only a few dishes, depending on what ingredients are available that day.
Instead, restaurants that simultaneously offer gyros, pizzas, burgers, pastas, steaks and dozens of desserts are mainly aimed at tourists.
Also, the dishes differ according to the region. Fava and tomato meatballs are typical in Santorini, snails, apaki and cheese pies are found in Crete, and dried fish and local cheeses are appreciated in Paros.
Another clue is the presence of locals. Greeks tend to have dinner later, so a tavern may seem almost empty at 6:00 PM but be full after 8:00 PM.
What do Greeks order when they go out to a restaurant
Unlike many tourists, Greeks do not usually order a main course for each person.
The meal often begins with several mezes, appetizers placed in the middle of the table and shared among all present. Among the most popular are tzatziki, fava, dolmadakia, saganaki, taramasalata, keftedakia or baked eggplant.
Depending on the specifics of the restaurant, fresh fish, seafood, grilled meat or slow-cooked dishes follow, and the Greek salad (horiatiki) is almost indispensable.
Five traditional dishes worth trying
If you want to discover the real Greek gastronomy, specialists recommend choosing dishes such as:
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Moussaka – baked in the oven with eggplant, meat and bechamel sauce;
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Pastitsio – a kind of pasta au gratin with meat and bechamel sauce;
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Gemista – tomatoes and peppers stuffed with rice, greens and sometimes meat;
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Kleftiko – slow cooked lamb or goat meat with garlic, lemon and aromatic herbs;
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Dolmadakia – vine leaves stuffed with rice and greens, usually served as an appetizer.
Gastronomists say that real Greek cuisine is much more diverse than the dishes made famous among tourists, and that the authentic experience begins when you choose the restaurants frequented by the locals and the dishes specific to each region.
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