Message posted by Adam London on 05 September 2008 at 10:31pm - IP Logged
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Adam London
Ok will be my first my first my trip to Greece next week, and after looking through guidebooks regarding eating out I have a couple of queries:
Do most restaurants invite you into the kitchen to see how the food is cooked?
Is fish always sold per kg, so you are not sure how much you will pay until you receive the bill?
Do most restaurants not do deserts, and simply offer fruit or yoghurt?
Is coffee to normally had at the end of the meal?
Do menus by law have to be in English and Greek? Even in out of the way places where tourists never travel?
Sorry about all the question!
Message posted by danzante on 05 September 2008 at 11:18pm - IP Logged
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danzante
I've never been invited into a kitchen in Greece or anywhere else, do they do that in London?
Message posted by Welshgirl on 05 September 2008 at 11:59pm - IP Logged
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Welshgirl
Hi Adam,
In my experience of eating out in Aghios Gordios, Corfu:
Haven't been invited to see how food is cooked, but have noticed other forum users have been. It is a nice touch though if the restaurant isn't too busy.
The price for fish on the menu, is per fish not weight. Had some fabulous bream in the Mermaid restaurant recently.
Restaurants do a range of desserts not just fruit or yoghurt. However, the fresh figs are delicious and I don't normally have room for a sweet dessert. A friend recently sampled home made ice cream which was delicious.
Hope that helps for now. I'm sure others will be able to give you the benefit of their experience too.
Relax and enjoy the Greek hospitality - there's nothing quite like it.
Message posted by nikita on 06 September 2008 at 1:55am - IP Logged
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Hi
it depends on where you are going!
I lived in Greece for many years and there were many times the owner would take us for a tour of the kitchen to see what pots were bubbling away on top of the stove!
The more touristic the area the less likely this is to happen.
Usually the menu is in both english and greek (look out for lamp chobs and other delicacies!)
most owners are very accomodating, if you are in a way remote area less engligh might be spoken but food, like love in an international language!
Can't remember if Greeks drink coffee at the end of a meal but am sure there are capuccinos and lattes now whereas in my day..... there was only greek coffee and luke warm nescafe!!
where are you going to be staying?? you can probably get good recommendations from this site for places to eat!
have fun!
Niki
Message posted by Guest on 06 September 2008 at 2:04am - IP Logged
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Guest
Hi , yes i have been invited into a few greek kitchens over the years , some i wish i hadnt been in at all lol . fish not sure as i dont eat it , erm coffee well its a matter of taste i always have ouzo and i have noticed depending where you are they dont always have dessert . if they do you must have baklava its really good . look have what you like there are no dos and donts now a days , enjoy your holidays , only tip i have is to have some kourtaki retsina to wash down the meal .... well they say its good for the digestion .. i mean who am i to argue
Message posted by nikita on 06 September 2008 at 2:11am - IP Logged
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exactly Mitera!
if you just want a greek salad for dinner that is all you need to have!
I lived in Italy for 2 yrs and they are much more obsessed with food and how you eat it there!
noone would be seen drinking capucinos except for at breakfast time and then the meals are in like 4 or 5 courses, leave the table stuffed as a parrot, or is that sick as a parrot....!!??
Message posted by tackou on 06 September 2008 at 7:04am - IP Logged
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Little local places will invite you in to see what is cooking but not in the tourist places, most menus are in English, german and greek depending on where you are staying as for coffee it is unusual for greeks to have coffee after a meal but a lot of restaurants will serve it most of the restaurants in the tourist places will do desserts but if you eat in a small local taverna then you may not get one happy holidays
Message posted by Adam London on 06 September 2008 at 8:15pm - IP Logged
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Adam London
thanks for the responses so far. I quite fancy a trip to the Agni Taverna, is it wise to book to go here?
Also another question, are the restaurants that generally cater to locals, generally a better quality than the one's aimed at tourists in the resorts? Will be spending most my trip in Paleo and would imagine nearly all the tavernas there are aimed directly at tourists.
Message posted by Adam London on 06 September 2008 at 8:23pm - IP Logged
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Adam London
Sorry one more question! Is the house wine drinkable in most Greek tavernas, and is retsina worth having with a meal? (have never tried it).
Message posted by Welshgirl on 06 September 2008 at 9:14pm - IP Logged
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Welshgirl
Quote: Originally posted by Adam London on 06 September 2008
Sorry one more question! Is the house wine drinkable in most Greek tavernas, and is retsina worth having with a meal? (have never tried it).
Mal and Jane drank house wine in AG and found it very good. Give it a go - what have you got to loose? In my experience retsina was very STRONG! You must give it a go too.
Message posted by tackou on 06 September 2008 at 10:02pm - IP Logged
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Quote: Originally posted by Adam London on 06 September 2008
thanks for the responses so far. I quite fancy a trip to the Agni Taverna, is it wise to book to go here?
Hi Adam.
Although I've not been yet, I think booking is somewhere between "recommended" and "essential".
Message posted by Bob and Wendy (Uncle Bob) on 07 September 2008 at 1:01am - IP Logged
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Bob and Wendy
I would reccomend that you book for Agni Taverna, just to be on the safe side. Telephone bookings only, not e-mail.
I would sudgest that you try retsina in the heat of the day, you might like to try smoothing it out with a little soda water or sprite. It makes a refreshing long drink that way.
House wine depends entirely on where it comes from. In the little tavernas and bars located up in the hills, or catering largly to the local clientel, it will be truly (Local), ask to try a glass first before ordering a carafe. In the tourist areas, the word (Local)used in the description of the house wine would possibly fail the trades description act, depends what they concider local to mean.
Sweets and coffees are readily available in most tourist tavernas, Galactoboureko being my absolute favourite sweet accompanied with a Metaxa 5 star. Fruit and icecreams are popular choices along with baklava and kataifi. Coffee, Ena Ness is Nescafe, Greek coffee comes in 3 varieties, unsweetened, medium and very sweet, in espresso type cups. Capuchino may come with a few suprises, but worth a try if only for the entertainment value.
Sorted.
Bob.
Message posted by rocdoc on 07 September 2008 at 3:28am - IP Logged
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we always go for the house white , rarely go wrong with it did drink retsina.... once, not for me but have met loads who love it.
usually find that fish like bream and grey snapper are not weighed and will be on the board at a set price posibly as they are farmed so there is a consistant weight other fish may be though and this will be indicated on the menu dont be put of by high prices 45-60e remember it is per kilo and dont be embarassed to ask the price. where fish is weighed you should be invited to look at the fish first. we came badly unstuck in sicily this year when i for got to ask the price . we finished up with a fish that would have fed the 5000 and paid 80euros for it . more fool me!!
Message posted by nikita on 07 September 2008 at 7:42am - IP Logged
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Adam
I think if you go to the Paleo forum there is a posting about favourite places to eat in Paleo recently posted, so you should be able to find it easily!
Niki
ps you have to post on your return and let us know how you fared with the eating!!
Message posted by Landys ghost on 07 September 2008 at 11:19am - IP Logged
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Landys ghost
Quote: Originally posted by Adam London on 05 September 2008
Ok will be my first my first my trip to Greece next week, and after looking through guidebooks regarding eating out I have a couple of queries:
Do most restaurants invite you into the kitchen to see how the food is cooked?
Is fish always sold per kg, so you are not sure how much you will pay until you receive the bill?
Do most restaurants not do deserts, and simply offer fruit or yoghurt?
Is coffee to normally had at the end of the meal?
Do menus by law have to be in English and Greek? Even in out of the way places where tourists never travel?
Sorry about all the question!
1 - Years ago, not now, especially not on a commercialised island like Corfu
2 - Yes, nearly always,when choosing from the chill cabinet, but not from a menu
3 - No, but dont expect pudding type deserts
4 - If you want it of course, they might ask if you want Greek coffee [ i love it but it's very very strong ]
5- there will be english translations,but the translation may be dependent on the degree of english spoken
Message posted by Landys ghost on 07 September 2008 at 11:24am - IP Logged
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Landys ghost
Quote: Originally posted by Adam London on 06 September 2008
Sorry one more question! Is the house wine drinkable in most Greek tavernas, and is retsina worth having with a meal? (have never tried it).
Retsina is fabulous ! but is an aquired taste ..and it has pleasant side affects ha ha [ greek viagra ]
Most greek wines are these days very palatable
Message posted by Guest on 07 September 2008 at 7:11pm - IP Logged
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Guest
I love retsina i like Kourtaki best although i did this year get told to try in a taverna a more up market retsina lol not that im aware there is an upmarket retsina but hey i tried it at about 12 euros a bottle (just as well i was siting down at the time ) and it was bloomin horrible strangely enough i saw it in the local supermarket for 1 eruo 50 ,lol oh well serves me right . but i only drink it with food ,its not really a wine to be drunk while sitting watching telly unless youre eating . side affects well never had any yet lol
Message posted by baywatcher on 07 September 2008 at 8:47pm - IP Logged
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baywatcher
In tourist resorts you don't get invited to the kitchens because they have menus. In the village taverna's you do because they don't have menus and you have to go in the kitchen to see what is on offer that night. The choice of coffee in these places is Greek coffee or a Nescafe no Lattes or Cappuchino's as they only have a kettle for the nescafe and a stove for the Greek coffee.
Regards Denise
Message posted by orchard on 08 September 2008 at 2:21pm - IP Logged
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We've had some really weird requests for types of coffee the last couple of years....never heard of them!! Sounds like people may think they are in Italy??!!
Generally you will have a choice of Nescafe, Greek coffee, Frappe & possibly capuccino...... unless of course you choose a specialist (modern) coffee bar.... where they have lists to chose from!!
Message posted by paulvilla on 08 September 2008 at 3:58pm - IP Logged
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paulvilla
Retsina is really great. In fact, for cleaning paint brushes, I find it better than Polyclens.
Paul
PS my wife loves the stuff. I just swear by it
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