AGreek restaurant is a restaurant that specializes inGreek cuisine.[1] In the United States they tend to be a different affair, varying in types of service, cuisine, menu offerings, table settings, and seating arrangements.[1] Their menu may also feature dishes from other cuisines.
Theestiatório (pluralestiatória) is a type of modest restaurant in Greece.[2] It has been described as "something of a vanishing breed."[3] This form of eatery was more active during the early 1900s. Anestiatório serves dishes such as casseroles, meat and game stews, baked meat and fish, macaroni pie, andmayirefta in the form ofmoussaka.[3]Estiatória serve dishes cooked in the oven calledmagerefta. In addition, they can have grilled-to-order foods calledtis oras, fish, appetizers (mezedes), and salads.
Apsitopolío (pluralpsitopolía) is a grill house, usually serving, next to grilled meat dishes, a variety of appetizers and salads. The menu may contain gyros and souvlaki, while many psitopolía also offer steak and chicken.
Gyrádiko (pluralgirádika) restaurants serve the popular Greek dishgyros. In Greece, gyros are typically prepared using spiced ground pork shoulder meat on apita withtzatziki sauce, while in the United States, they are commonly prepared with ground lamb sliced from a verticalrotisserie spit.[citation needed]
Souvlatzidiko restaurants servesouvlaki.[4] Souvlaki is prepared using cubed pork or chicken meat that is cooked like akebab.[4]
Akoutouki (plural:koutoukia) is a small, traditional taverna, usually underground.[5][6][7][8][9][10]
Meze restaurants are known asmezedopoleío (singular)[4] ormezedopoleía (plural) and serveappetizers known asmeze ororektiko (pluralmezedes/orektika) to complementbeverages. Somemeze restaurants do not offer a menu and serve whatever has been prepared that day. Meze restaurants are common in Greece, especiallyPsiri, Athens, and are regarded[by whom?] as the most expensive Greek Restaurant.
Establishments known asouzerí are a type ofcafé that serve drinks such asouzo ortsipouro. They are similar tomezedopoleio restaurants and also provide similar food and service. Atsipourádiko is a "local variant of anouzerí."[11]
Tavernas, originating in Greece, are typically medium-sized restaurants with affordable pricing[4] that serve a variety of Greek dishes, foods, and beverages. Locations with outdoor seating are popular during the summer season.
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In many Greek restaurants, it is not considered impolite for guests to enter the kitchen to see what is cooked before ordering; however, this is not typical in fine dining and hotel restaurants.[2] After visiting the kitchen, a waiter will be notified of guests' choices.[2] Table service is usually relaxed and laid-back and patrons may need to flag down or wait for staff to order and request items.[2] Wine is commonly consumed during lunch and dinner.[2]
In the U.S., Greek restaurants provide authentic Greek cuisine and dining customs.[12] They may also offer dishes from other cuisines.Immigrants from Greece have opened many Greek restaurants in the U.S., some of which began due to new health codes during the early 20th century that limited or restrictedfood carts.[12] Per the restrictions during this time, people opened Greek restaurants instead of operating food carts.[12] Additionally, many Greek confectioneries and sweet shop businesses declined during this period due to an increase in manufactured candies and sweets.[12] Many of these companies transformed their businesses into lunchrooms, and later, restaurants.[12]
During the early 1900s, some Greek immigrant restaurants expanded their operations intochain restaurants.[12] At the time, Greek restaurant chains included (by location):[12]
In 1913, there were "several hundred Greek-owned lunchrooms and restaurants in Chicago."[13]
It is estimated that approximately 7,000 Greek restaurants existed in the U.S. by the beginning of theGreat Depression in 1929.[12] However, many U.S. Greek restaurants went out of business due to the Great Depression.[12] As a result, more patrons could not afford to eat out in restaurants during this time.[12] In addition, competition rose due to an increase in affordably-priced lunch counters opening in various types of stores, such as drug stores and department stores.[12]
During the 1950s and 1960s, the number of Greek restaurants increased, and by the 1970s, they were considered a significant pillar in the U.S. restaurant landscape.[12]
Atavérna orestiatório may offer ameze as anorektikó. Many restaurants offer their housepikilía, a platter with a variety of variousmezedes that can be served immediately to customers looking for a quick or light meal.Krasomezédhes (literally "wine-meze") are mezedes that go well with wine;ouzomezédhes are mezedes that go with ouzo, a Greek beverage.Psomi oretiko is a bread appetizer that is common in Greek restaurants.[14]
In Greece, the main courses may be ordered directly from the kitchen, amenu board[2] or physical menus. In coastal Greek restaurants, fish dishes may be weighed and sold by the kilogram, which occurs before cooking.[2] Frozen fish is sometimes used, which may be described on menus askatepsigmenos.[2] Seafood dishes that arestaples include swordfish, octopus, squid, sardines, and prawns.[2]
Most Greek restaurants will have traditional water, sparkling water, soda, wine and beer. Some restaurants will also have specialty cocktails and wine. "Greece is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world and among the first wine-producing territories in Europe."[citation needed] Some restaurants may also serveOuzo, a dryanise-flavoredaperitif that is widely consumed in Greece and Cyprus. It is made fromrectified spirits that have undergone a process ofdistillation and flavoring.[citation needed] It is a tradition to have Ouzo in authentic Greek restaurants as an aperitif, served in a shot glass, and deeply chilled before the meal is started.[citation needed]
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![Salted cod with garlic sauce, a traditional Greek dish for the day of the Annunciation,[15] served at a Greek restaurant](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3a%25CE%259C%25CF%2580%25CE%25B1%25CE%25BA%25CE%25B1%25CE%25BB%25CE%25B9%25CE%25AC%25CF%2581%25CE%25BF%25CF%2582_-_%25CE%25A3%25CE%25BA%25CE%25BF%25CF%2581%25CE%25B4%25CE%25B1%25CE%25BB%25CE%25B9%25CE%25AC_(4463505646).jpg)
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