Tag: Greek food

Greek · Restaurants

Calypso’s Greek Taverna Calgary Review: A Go-To Greek Spot

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On Sunday, Chew Steel and I met up with Captain M and Dr. V to their favourite Greek spot, Calypso’s Greek Taverna, just north of downtown Calgary. When we arrived, we noticed the restaurant’s sign now reads: Brunch Glory & Calypso’s Greek Taverna. It’s the same room, split across two services: brunch from 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., dinner from 4:00. p.m. –9:00 p.m. It’s a model I’m seeing more often in Calgary. Let’s listen to Opalite for this post. 

Captain M booked us a booth near the back, facing the blue and white room. Jennifer, our server, set the tone early and set it high. She’d pause at our table with dishes on the way out, showcasing the bounty before it landed elsewhere. At one point, she floated by with a cinnamon dessert, letting the warm scent drift toward us.

We started with a bottle of Greek red wine ($44) and an order of dolmades ($16.95). For mains, Chew Steel chose the Surf and Turf Beef Tenderloin ($30.95), while Dr. V and I opted for the Lamb Souvlaki ($29.95). Captain M originally ordered the Chicken Souvlaki ($23.95), but at the last minute, he changed his mind and wanted the surf and turf. 

Jennifer informed us the dolmades are house made, simmered in beef stock, and finished with a creamy sauce. The still steaming grape leaves gave easily under a knife, revealing plump, cigar-like parcels of ground beef and rice. The lemony sauce stayed light, while the garlic was extra pungent. This is a version worth ordering.

Our entrees came with a salad, and we all went with the Caesar. The dressing was cool and thick, smooth like whipped cream. The salad was built from the best parts of the romaine head: baby leaves with pale green ribs rather than the watery white cores. The ridged edges held onto the dressing, while the mini croutons delivered a dry crunch before dissolving on the tongue. This salad leans hard on garlic, so much that it lingered the next day. 

The souvlaki arrived next, four white plates, each with a mound of rice, potatoes, and glistening vegetables, all built around a skewer. There was a small hiccup. When Captain M switched from chicken to surf and turf, Dr. V’s lamb came out as chicken instead. Chew Steel offered to take it, Captain M said he’d share, and Dr. V stated she was fine keeping it. I was the only one who didn’t offer a solution that involved giving up my lamb. Jennifer stepped in with a fix: Dr. V would eat the chicken, and a lamb skewer would follow shortly after. 

The lamb kebabs slid easily off the skewer. The exterior had a light, slightly grassy edge while the center was cooked to medium rare. I liked how the silky centre was still pink and buttery smooth. I tried a piece of Chew Steel’s shrimp and sirloin. Compared to the lamb, the beef was tighter with a leaner chew. I prefer the tenderness and juiciness of lamb over beef. I would order the lamb again.

At the end of the meal, Jennifer sent over a large dessert to make up for the mix-up. It wasn’t necessary as Dr. V ended up with both lamb and chicken, plus lunch for the next day. But once the warm fragrance hit us, we weren’t about to refuse. The galaktoboureko, a phyllo-encased custard, finished our meal with restrained sweetness. 

The food is worth returning, but it’s the way you’re looked after that stays with you days later. Our server, Jennifer, runs the room with a level of generosity and hospitality that changes the entire experience. If you’re thinking about what to do for Mother’s Day, Calpyso is hosting belly dancing and live music on May 15. Check it out. You won’t regret it.

For more date night options in Calgary, check out my list of where to book.

Greece

Where to eat seafood in Athens (Psiri): Atlantikos review

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L and I departed Naxos to Athens for our last day before heading back to Calgary. I love Naxos, but I also enjoyed my time in Athens. The mix of different architectural styles amongst ancient ruins creates an incredible backdrop to explore. For this post, let’s listen to Billy Joel’s “Longest Time.”

We checked into our hotel and then walked around the neighbourhood. I noticed several permanently closed stores with Asian names. The buildings themselves looked old and historic, reminding me a little of Hastings Street in the downtown eastside of Vancouver. We grabbed a gyro and cold glass of beer for lunch, then ducked back into our hotel to cool off. It felt like such a shame to stay in our hotel room due to the overbearing heat.

I looked up restaurants in Athens, and one in particular stood out – Atlantikos. I almost exploded with unbridled delight when I found out we were within walking distance of this seafood restaurant. I told L I had to eat here.

Psiri is an offbeat, bohemian neighbourhood. We enjoyed walking around, admiring the quaint-looking streets. L picked a place for a pint of beer and a glass of wine for me. Then, after the evening cooled down, we made our way over to Atlantikos. Located in an alley, customers lined up to the busy restaurant all night. Oh my Cod, the food here is my idea of perfection. The seafood is fresh, simple and inexpensive.

We shared a Greek Salad (€6.50), Fried Calamari (€7.50), Mussels Saganaki (€6), and Grilled Shrimp (€11). The salad was huge. The feta was creamy and smooth. I noticed the tomatoes were bright red and juicy.

I just learned that calamari is a type of squid, and the “calamari” I’ve always eaten before is squid. The difference in texture is calamari is thinner, and there’s a delightful bulb-like air bubble that makes for satisfying munching.

The mussels were tasty morsels – fat and fresh. Perfectly cooked – each mussel was soft and hot. I would use the crusty pieces of bread to mop up the rich, tomatoey sauce.

The meat in the shrimp was delicately crunchy, sweet and juicy. The shrimp shells were so blisteringly hot that I burnt the tips of my impatient fingers.


I told L that one day, we have to return to Greece. I would go back to Naxos and Athens in a heartbeat as they are both on the top of my list of favourite places to visit.

Planning a trip? See more in Where to Eat While Travelling: Restaurants Worth the Detour, including Santorini, Naxos and Athens picks.

Restaurants

Where to eat in Naxos (Chora): To Elliniko review

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For our last day in Naxos, we left it a do as we please day. The only problem was there wasn’t anything we wanted to do. None of the excursions interested us. We don’t like lying around a beach, and I strongly dislike submerging myself in public bodies of water. For this post, let’s listen to “Summer in the City” by The Luvin Spoonful.

We ate breakfast at our favourite spot, then walked along the beach to the port. We shopped, purchased a few items, and then went for one last gyro. By the late afternoon, it was so stinking hot that we called it quits and drank ice-cold cans of Mythos beer on our balcony.


For our last supper in Naxos, I booked To Ellinkkiko. I ordered a glass of red wine (€7) that was so lovely, I let out a pent-up sigh of relief. The temperature was cool on such a hot night, smooth and dry, with a raspberry-like aftertaste. Most of the places we’ve been eating at are the cheap and cheerful type, so the only wine offered is a house wine. For the price, I have no complaints about the wine I tried in Greece. I just know I was missing out on sampling spectacular wines.

We shared oven-baked stuffed peppers (€6), tzatziki (€6) and fresh, homemade bread. The peppers were sweet, soft and wet with the warm juices of tomatoes. There was so much flavour from the feta and dill that I used the bread to mop up the juices.

The whole fish (€15) L ordered was the best I ever had. The white flesh was soft and hot. The fish had a delicate, buttery flavour. I told L that had I known the food at this restaurant would be this good, we would have eaten here every night. L agreed, and I could tell he wasn’t humouring me. When he means it, he elaborates and shows enthusiasm. When he’s pacifying me, he is polite and quiet.

I wasn’t starving, so I ordered the vegetarian moussaka (€8). My pot of deliciousness contained layers of creamy stewed vegetables. The top layer was baked in a thick layer of cheese, but I could still taste the individual ingredients, like the corn, peas, carrots, peppers, and eggplant. I liked how the moussaka wasn’t too salty so that I could enjoy the light lemony, infused vegetables.


For dessert, we were given a plateful of watermelon. However, we were too stuffed even to have a slice. My gosh – it’s incredible food like this that makes travelling worth it. This meal was the highlight of our trip. If you are ever in Naxos, I highly recommend To Ellinkkiko. Hitting the Sauce gives this restaurant two phat thumbs up.

Planning a trip? See more in Where to Eat While Travelling: Restaurants Worth the Detour, including Santorini, Naxos and Athens picks.

Greece · Restaurants

Where to Eat in Naxos (Chora & Beaches): Lagoyiannis Bakery, Maro’s Taverna and more

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L informed me that he didn’t enjoy where we ate the previous morning. I wanted to say that’s what you get when you want to be spontaneous. However, I held back and suggested Λαγογιάννης Bakery. Since the weather has been extra hot, particularly in Greece, let’s listen to Mungo Jerry’s “In The Summertime.”

We ordered lattes (€3), a spinach pie (€3) and a sweet vanilla pastry (€3). The espresso was rich and robust, and the foam so dreamy that I would close my eyes with each sip.

The spinach filling was thick, infused with dill and lemon. L’s cake was light, flaky and sweet from the vanilla custard. When L told me how much he enjoyed his breakfast, I said he could thank Google reviews for finding this gem.

We spent the morning sightseeing. I was intrigued with the Melanes Kouros Statue because I was surprised that such a large marble project was abandoned all these years. Who pulled the plug? Why didn’t anyone else want to resurrect the statue? One would think if the City of Calgary could manage to fix the Wishing Well, Naxos benefactor would try to salvage the statute.

For lunch, L picked another beach destination. Most restaurants were hustling for customers. We picked the busiest restaurant along the beach. Our shaded patio table was inches from the water, and occasionally, the breeze would come and cool us off.

We ordered calamari (€14), saganaki (€6) and fresh fish (€15). Typically when we order fried calamari, we get the rings (mantle) or rings and tentacles. This was the first time we got baby squid. The texture of the squid was thinner than the rings, with a bouncier, lighter mouthfeel.

Our server recommended fried barbounia (striped red mullet). The flesh is rich and firm, and the fishy flavour reminded me of mackerel.

While we ate, several cats surrounded us. I noticed one cat was injured, as parts of its skull were either missing or burned off. I fed the cats bits and pieces of my fish, and once my plate was empty, they vamoosed.

On the way home, we stopped by the Olive Museum. I was expecting an experience like a tasting at a winery, but for olives. Instead, we saw a few pieces of equipment and a gift room with overpriced olives and lotions. However, the olives were so good that I bought home two packs.

For dinner, I wanted to check out a restaurant near our hotel, Maros. I read the online reviews, and it appeared to be a legit restaurant for simple Greek food. We sat outside next to two young women from Montreal. I know this information because all the male servers kept coming to their table to make small talk. They wore halter tops so I could see their washboard stomachs. I watched with awe and jealousy as they easily polished off two entrees and three large appetizers.

L and I shared zucchini balls (€5), lamb (€10), a Greek Salad (€6), chicken souvlaki (€10), and yogurt (€4). L ordered a beer (€3) while I stuck with a copper pint of house white wine (€5).

When I first saw the zucchini fritters, I wasn’t impressed. In this case, looks are deceiving. The interior was soft and fluffy, creamy with feta, dill and mint. The outside was crispy, and the filling just melted in your mouth. Each bite was bursting full of flavour. I would get this again.

The lamb was tasty. The texture of the meat wasn’t fatty or gamey. However, I didn’t like the copious amount of bones and the fact it was served at room temperature. I was tempted to ask our server to pop my dish back in the microwave. The lemon potatoes were also underdone.

I was too full to try L’s chicken souvlaki, which he enjoyed. Other people who looked like locals ordered generously stacked plates of creamy pasta and fries. I wondered if we ordered the wrong dishes, but L said we didn’t come to Greece to eat carbonara.

For dessert, L and I shared yogurt with honey. Yogurt in Greece is unreal – the texture is like a cross between custard and whipping cream, but with a zip to it.

After dinner, we wandered around the castle to work off our heavy dinner. The restaurants at the castle looked so enchanting, with the sparkling lights set against the white walls and music twinkling out onto the corridor. But I had already booked our last supper in Naxos, and I knew the next restaurant was a real winner. To be continued.

Planning a trip? See more in Where to Eat While Travelling: Restaurants Worth the Detour, including Santorini, Naxos and Athens picks.

Restaurants

Where to eat in Santorini (Fira & local stops): Svoronos Bakery, Yogi’s Gyros and Meraki

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I suggested to L that we check out Svoronos Bakery for breakfast. I read Google reviews about the poor service, so I was interested to experience the outcome. I’m always curious about rudeness. Let’s listen to “Full Catastrophe” by Mikis Theodorakis for this post. 

When we entered the bakery, an employee instantly greeted us in English. She was friendly enough and offered to explain any items to us. However, I saw another older employee give us a dirty look. I heard about the evil eye, but this was the first time I experienced it in Greece. I felt like telling her don’t hate the player, hate the game, but I figured the meaning would be lost in translation.

We asked for two iced lattes (€2), spanakopita (€2) and a random pastry for L (€2). The iced latte was so good. The espresso was rich and thick that no sugar or additional flavouring was needed. L told me that he was informed places like Starbucks and McDonald’s aren’t popular in Greece. I can taste why this is true.

The spanakopita was crunchy on the outside and loaded with warm, creamy spinach filling. I could taste a little dill and feta. Our breakfast was only €8, so I figured it was worth the stink-eye from the matron of the bakery.

 For lunch, we checked out Yogi’s. The pork gyro (€3.60) overflowed with fries, tzatziki, tomatoes and onions. Compared to Nick’s, Yogi’s was more filling and cheaper. However, the flavour of the meat at Nick’s was superior, while Yogi’s had the fluffier, fresher pita. 

I wanted to give L a break from all the organizing and planning, so I booked a Santorini Highlights Tour. Usually, these excursions aren’t his style, but I knew he would enjoy turning his mind off and enjoying the ride. 

Our tour guide Will was spectacular. He livened up our experience by making us comfortable and entertained. He even took cheesy photos of each of us at all the landmarks. I felt like a happy teenager. It always impresses me when I meet someone who excels at their profession. I noticed that everyone left him a well-deserved tip.

Will mentioned to us that one restaurant he recommends is Meraki. So I told him we went there the previous night. He asked how I discovered it, as it is a hidden gem. I didn’t want to bother explaining how I live to eat and hate overpaying, so I changed the subject.

After our excursion, L wanted to go back to Meraki. We ordered a Greek salad (€7), calamari (€10.50), fava (€7), eggplant saganaki (€8.00), Alfa beer (€4.00) and white wine (€4.00, half a litre).

The vegetables in the Greek salad were crunchy and fresh. The feta arrived in a thick slab. The cheese was soft enough to break apart with a gentle poke of my fork and generous enough to be eaten with every ripe piece of tomato. 

The calamari arrived hot and crispy. We both thought the squid was over-salted, but we enjoyed it almost as much as the previous night. 

The eggplant was unique because I wasn’t expecting the overpowering flavour of nutmeg. The eggplant was soft and blended with feta cheese and tomato sauce. I think this dish was overcooked in the oven. The sauce was far too dry.

Our tour guide recommended the fava, which is a famous local product. The texture was soft and wet. I can’t describe what I tasted, as the flavour profile was so unique. 

We were stuffed, and I barely even touched my wine. Still, we left giddy and exhausted from the festivities of the day. If you go to Santorini, I highly recommend booking with Will.

Planning a trip? See more in Where to Eat While Travelling: Restaurants Worth the Detour, including Santorini, Naxos and Athens picks.