Eating

Holidays by Destination Europe Greece General Eating 

Though eating out is relatively cheap, in the smaller centres the choice can be sometimes tediously limited. Greek salad, moussaka and squid all turn up with monotonous regularity, alongside perhaps souvlaki (grilled meat in pitta bread), and octopus in lemon juice. More adventurous establishments may also offer deep fried cheese and seafood (the law states that if this is frozen, as it often is, the menu should indicate this). Fresh fish should be OK in fishing centres, but take care with shellfish, particularly mussels.

Tavernas or city centre restaurants may offer slow stewed meat dishes such as lamb or suckling pig (sometimes also available spit roast), and sometimes vegetable dishes. Look out also for mezedhes or orekitika which as well as hummous and tzatziki may include some more interesting options. Oven-baked dishes are traditionally cooked in the morning and eaten lukewarm. You will have to judge if this looks safe for children. They may in any case prefer the fairly ubiquitous pizza or pasta alternatives and smaller places especially should be happy to produce food for toddlers and babies on request.

Snacks to look out for at the bakers include tiropites and spanokopita (cheese and spinach pies). You may also see pretzel rings, plus the usual international toasted sandwiches and sometimes burgers. Ice cream from gelaterie is a relatively recent introduction and may be good.

In some areas you may eat better self-catering, buying items like Greek yoghurt (sheep's milk is generally sweeter) - good for upset stomachs - olives (kalamata are considered the best), honey, local cheese (there are very different standards of feta so they are worth discriminating between) and fresh vegetables. The same places selling yoghurt will generally also sell custards and rice puddings. Note that on small islands with just one or two general grocery stores, if you see something you will definitely need of which stocks look low - say rice or pasta - it is worth buying as deliveries are unlikely to be daily.

Breakfast is generally very light and lunch is generally large and late - at 2-3pm.