A Greek Taverna Menu

Margaret Williamson
March 2016

The following menu was translated by Margaret for a taverna in the small town of Vartholomio in the northwest of the Greek Peloponnese.

Here are the dishes that you will find in many a Greek tavern, supplemented by specialities that have been developed by the owner/manager Michalis. Typical of tavernas, there are only a limited number of deserts (many have none), few non-alcoholic drinks (wine and ouzo are always available) and, unusually, there is coffee.

Margaret became involved in helping Michalis, an old friend, when he wanted to produce a separate menu in English to add to the existing Greek and German versions. Having catered for only two nationalities, he can now serve the world!

BREAD

Fresh Bread

Garlic Bread  with olive oil and grated cheese

Riganada  with fresh tomato, olive oil and oregano

Pita Bread  (two) 

Garlic, pita and riganada bread are served warm.

HOT and COLD STARTERS

Fried Potatoes  cut by hand

Tzatziki  cooling yoghurt and cucumber with garlic

Spicy Cheese  creamy dip of feta cheese, fresh tomato, pepper and onion

Taramasalata  delicious creamy dip of fish roe, onions, olive oil and lemon juice

Melitzanosalata 'Aivaliotiki'  baked aubergine with homemade tomato sauce, parsley and grated cheese

Fava Beans  with onion, parsley and fresh oil

Feta Cheese  with olive oil and fresh oregano

Feta Cheese  spicy, grilled in foil

Grilled Halloumi (Cheese from Cyprus  with balsamic vinegar

Saganaki  fried cheese

Small Cheese Pies

Cheese Platter  with four kinds of cheese - try them all!!!

Florina Red Peppers  stuffed with cheese (feta-edam)

Green Peppers  fried with vinegar and garlic

Onion Balls  with dill

Tomato Balls  with fresh herbs

Courgette Balls  with fresh mint, served with tzatziki

Fried Courgettes  served with grated cheese

Aubergine Patties  fried aubergine slices stuffed with cream feta

Fried Aubergines  served with cheese

Mushrooms 'Plevrotous'  grilled

Mushrooms  with feta cheese and garlic in white wine sauce

Meatballs  fried 

Sausage on the Grill  served with mustard

Calamari (Squid)  fried

Octopus Vinaigrette  tender octopus marinated in vinegar, olive oil and oregano

Prawn Saganaki  baked with homemade tomato sauce and feta cheese

Anchovies  marinated

Mussels Saganaki  baked with homemade tomato sauce and feta cheese

MEZEDES

Bekri Meze  a meat stew with neck of pork, garlic, mushrooms, peppers, fresh herbs, chili and spices

Sausages 'Alati & Piperi'  pieces of sausage,, mushrooms, garlic, peppers, homemade tomato sauce

Pork Chop  pan-fried in wine sauce

Strapatsada  eggs, peppers, onions and homemade tomato sauce

Meatballs 'Daut Passa'  with spicy homemade tomato sauce

Baked Aubergine  with feta cheese, onion, garlic, parsley and mint

Pieces of Chicken  with homemade tomato sauce and prawns

Octopus  baked in red wine sauce

SALADS

Dakos  tomato, feta, capers, olives and fresh oil, served on crusty Dakos bread

Traditional Greek  tomato, cucumber, feta cheese, peppers, onion and olives

Alati & Piperi  lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pepper, fresh onion, celery, dill, parsley, walnuts, almonds, mushrooms, feta cheese

Green  mixed leaves with a dressing of balsamic vinegar, honey and parmesan

Caesar  chicken, lettuce, garlic croutons and classic sauce

Chef's  lettuce, cabbage, tomato, cucumber, cheese, ham and red mayonnaise

Esme  chopped tomato, lettuce, peppers, parsley, chili, onion and red mayonnaise

Haintari  grated carrot, pepper, dill, hot peppers and yogurt

Ala Polita  cabbage, lettuce, carrot, celery

Tuna  with mayonnaise

Greek Potato  with potato, capers, anchovy fillet, boiled egg

Tomato and Cucumber  with fresh oil

Lettuce  with onion, olive oil and vinegar

Fresh Greens  boiled with olive oil and lemon

Beetroot  with garlic, olive oil and vinegar

Boiled Vegetables  with olive oil and lemon

We use only our own (Olya) virgin olive oil in all our salads!

PASTA

Spaghetti  Marinara with prawns and mussels

Spaghetti Greek  with tomato, feta cheese, olives

Spaghetti Napolitana  with homemade tomato sauce and basil

Spaghetti Bolognese  with minced meat

Spaghetti Carbonara  with bacon, mushrooms and cream

Penne  with chicken and white sauce

Kritharoto  Greek pasta with vegetables

GREEK VEGETARIAN SPECIALITIES   (cooked in olive oil)

Okra (Ladies' Fingers)  with homemade tomato sauce

Green Beans  with homemade tomato sauce

Gemista  tomatoes and peppers stuffed with a mix of rice, garlic, onion and fresh herbs, oven-baked

Imam  aubergine with onion, homemade tomato sauce and herbs, oven-baked

Gigantes  Giant white beans oven-baked with onion, tomato, olive oil and herbs

Cuttlefish  with fresh spinach

Briam  sliced courgettes oven-baked with onion, garlic, tomato, olive oil & parsley

Bean Soup

GREEK OVEN SPECIALITIES 

Moussaka  sliced potato, aubergine and courgette, minced meat, béchamel sauce

Papoutsakia  aubergine stuffed with minced meat and béchamel sauce

Pastitsio  macaroni and minced meat covered in béchamel sauce

Soutzoukakia  meatballs baked in spicy tomato sauce

Kokinisto  pieces of prime beef braised in a sauce of fresh tomatoes and red wine

Beef Stifado  a rich beef stew with pearl onions, vinegar, tomato and bay leaves

Beef Giouvetsi  baked in a tomato sauce with Greek pasta

Rabbit Stifado  a rabbit stew with olive oil, tomato, vinegar and pearl onions

Lamb Kleftiko  in wine sauce with olive oil, garlic, onion, mustard and fresh herbs baked in parchment paper

Lamb Giouvetsi  baked in a tomato sauce with Greek pasta

Pork Kleftiko  in wine sauce with olive oil, garlic, onion, mustard, fresh herbs, baked in parchment paper

Pork  with celery in egg and lemon sauce

Chicken Ladorigani  cooked in a casserole with lemon sauce

Chicken Giouvetsi  baked in a tomato sauce with Greek pasta

Chicken  juicy chicken, oven-baked with oregano and lemon

Fish Soup  with redfish, potatoes, carrots, onions and celery

All dishes are served with fresh hand-cut  fried potatoes, or rice, or pasta, or with mashed potato !!!!!

GRILLED OVER CHARCOAL – Juicy, mouth-watering and grilled to your liking!  

Gyros  per portion

Souvlaki Pork 'Oriental'

Souvlaki Chicken 'Oriental'

Burger  classic

Burger  stuffed with feta cheese and edam

Pork Chop

Streaky Pork

Beef Steak

Chicken Fillet

Chicken Cutlets  per kilo

Chicken Cutlets  per portion

Lamb Cutlets  per kilo

Lamb Cutlets  per portion

All meats are served with fresh hand-cut  fried potatoes, or with rice.

FROM THE SPIT

Kontosouvli Pork  Spit-roast pork souvlaki

Kontosouvli Lamb  Spit-roast lamb souvlaki

Kokoretsi  spit-roasted lamb offal (liver, kidney, heart, lungs)

Lamb on the Spit  leg and shoulder of lamb

Chicken on the Spit  per kilo

Chicken on the Spit  per portion

Hog Roast  Whole spit-roast pig, per kilo

All served with fresh hand-cut  fried potatoes, or with rice

FISH AND SEAFOOD

 Fried Salted Cod Fish  with homemade garlic sauce

Fried Anchovies

Sardines 'Married'  on the grill with onion, garlic, parsley and olive oil

Fresh Sea Fish  per kilo

Swordfish Souvlaki

Grilled Prawns

Fried Prawns

Prawns  with Greek pasta (kritharoto) and fresh tomato sauce

Prawns  with spaghetti

Grilled Squid  with lemon and oil

Fried Squid

Grilled Octopus

Steamed Mussels

Grilled Mussels

Fish Soup  made with fresh fish  (Order one day in advance!)

Grilled Lobster  fresh lobster  (Order one day in advance!)  per kilo

Lobster Spaghetti  fresh lobster cooked in homemade tomato and  onion sauce  (Order one day in advance!)  per kilo

The seafood is served with fresh hand-cut  fried potatoes, or with rice, or boiled vegetables.

DESSERTS

Walnut Cake

Walnut Cake with Ice Cream

Sweet of the Day

Yogurt with Honey and Walnuts

Ice Cream (Vanilla, Chocolate)

COFFEES

Greek Coffee

Frappé (cold)

FRESHLY SQUEEZED JUICE

Orange

BRANDIES

Brandy Kastro