Food & Dining

Food & Dining in Greece

Greek cuisine is one of the Mediterranean diet's finest expressions - fresh ingredients, olive oil, vegetables, seafood, and meat prepared simply but deliciously.

Eating Out

Types of establishments:

Tipping:

• Not obligatory but appreciated
• 5-10% is generous
• Rounding up is common
• Cash tips preferred

Greek Food Essentials

Classics you'll encounter:

• Moussaka: Layered eggplant, meat, bechamel
• Souvlaki: Grilled meat skewers
• Gyros: Meat (usually pork) carved from vertical rotisserie
• Horiatiki: Greek salad (tomato, cucumber, olives, feta)
• Spanakopita: Spinach and feta in filo
• Tzatziki: Yogurt, cucumber, garlic dip
• Dolmades: Stuffed vine leaves
• Grilled fish: Fresh, usually priced by kilo
• Pastitsio: Greek lasagna

Breakfast:

Greeks traditionally eat light - coffee and koulouri (sesame bread ring) or toast. Full breakfast is a newer urban trend.

Coffee Culture

Coffee is serious business:

• Greek coffee (ellinikos): Strong, unfiltered, various sweetness levels
• Freddo espresso: Cold espresso - the summer staple
• Freddo cappuccino: Cold cappuccino, equally popular
• Frappe: Instant coffee shaken with ice (dying out, considered old-fashioned)

Coffee is never rushed. A single freddo can last an hour.

Grocery Shopping

Options:

• Supermarkets: Sklavenitis, AB Vassilopoulos, Lidl
• Mini-markets (periptero): Convenience stores
• Laiki agora: Weekly farmers markets (best produce, cheapest prices)
• Bakeries (fournos): Fresh bread and pastries
• Butchers/fishmongers: For quality meat/fish

Average monthly grocery cost: €200-350 for singles

Dietary Considerations

Vegetarian:

• Many traditional dishes are vegetarian (Orthodox fasting tradition)
• Legume dishes, vegetables in oil, salads
• Cheese features heavily
• "Nistisimo" (fasting food) is vegan

Vegan:

• Harder but doable
• Ladera (vegetables in oil) dishes
• Many mezze are vegan
• Athens has dedicated vegan restaurants

Gluten-free:

• Limited awareness
• Traditional dishes often naturally GF
• Dedicated products in larger supermarkets

Halal/Kosher:

• Athens has halal butchers
• Limited outside major cities
• Kosher available in Athens

Dining Etiquette

• Meals are shared - order multiple dishes for the table
• Don't rush - meals are social events
• Bread is served automatically (small charge added)
• Water usually charged
• Check if fish is priced by kilo before ordering
• Dinner reservations rarely needed except at trendy spots

Regional Specialties

Crete: Dakos, snails, graviera cheese, raki

Thessaloniki: Bougatsa, koulouri, mussels

Islands: Fresh seafood, local cheeses

Peloponnese: Olives, oil, wines

Food Festivals

• Wine festivals: Summer/autumn
• Olive harvests: November
• Tsipouro festivals: Autumn
• Local food festivals throughout the year