Eating out in Greece
Eating out is often described as the national pastime in Greece. We enjoy eating out and it's a family occasion - you'll see large families including grandparents and small children all out together. Restaurants are informal - it doesn't matter what you're wearing.
When to eat
The Greeks like to eat late - we'll have lunch around 2pm and dinner very late at night - very often not until 9 or 9.30pm, so don't be surprised if you see some of the locals arriving for a meal when you're thinking about leaving! As we understand not everyone is Mediterranean, most restaurants and tavernas will open earlier, generally around 6.30pm. Whatever time you start eating, when you get a table in a Greek restaurant, you have the table for the night. You will not be put under any pressure to leave to make space for others.
Placing your order
Greek menus are always laid out in both Greek and English, so you shouldn't have too many problems reading the menu - take a look at some of the dishes you can find on ours. If you're not sure, you can always ask to see the kitchens and see the food but this is becoming less common now. Back in the 1970s it was normal for all tourists to troop into the kitchen and point to what they wanted.
You will always be brought a basket of bread with your meal. This is part of the cover charge for the meal. You'll also get cutlery and oil and vinegar (for dressing your salad) at the same time.
Eating Greek style
A meal out in Greece generally starts with mezedes (equivalent to the Spanish meze) - small appetisers - which are shared amongst all of those at the table. Some of the most popular mezedes include tzatziki, garlic sauce, taramasalata, varieties of keftedes (fritters), saganaki (fried cheese) and homous. A salad is usually ordered with the meal and this will arrive with the mezedes so it can be shared throughout the whole meal. It's usual for the mezedes to stay on the table after the main course arrives so they can carry on being enjoyed! In keeping with most Mediterranean countries, the majority of food is served warm rather than piping hot - although freshly grilled food tends to be hotter than the usual Greek meal.
Desserts aren't that popular in Greece although we do have a sweet tooth that we satisfy with visits to the bakery and zaharoplastio (literally, sugar shop) for pastries and sweet delicacies. After the main course is finished, we'll sit around continuing to talk and perhaps enjoying a Greek coffee or an ouzo with water as a digestif. Greek coffee is very strong and served in a small cup in three different ways- sketo (no sugar), metrio (medium sweet) or gliko (very sweet). Most restaurants and tavernas now also serve standard coffee (generally referred to as Nes after the most popular brand).
Paying the bill
We don't like to rush you out of the restaurant - it's just not the Greek way! When you want to leave, you'll need catch the eye of one of the staff and make the international gesture for "the bill, please" (or in Greek "logoriasmo, parakalo") or just wander into the serving area and ask for the bill. Don't feel you have to leave because you've finished your meal - the table is yours for the night!
Prices don't normally include a service charge, so if you are happy with the service you received, you can include a tip. About 10% of the total bill will be perfectly acceptable.