2021 started the mark of a new year, and many are eager to jump into the summer when eventually the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, and people are allowed to travel again. Being the food capital of Greece, Thessaloniki has some wonderful restaurants to try out during your visit to Greece. Enjoy a variety of options ranging from asian fusion, traditional Greek courses, Italian, and even Indian food when searching for restaurants to eat at this upcoming summer. Although not every high quality restaurant is mentioned, this list is to give the most universally appreciated restaurants a look for you tourists. Lets dive right into these choices that you must try for your visit to Thessaloniki this summer.
Grada Nuevo has a lively atmosphere at perhaps one of the best locations for a restaurant in the city of Thessaloniki. A fish oriented restaurant draws some of the most fresh and delicious menu items of fish from all throughout Greece. A clean presentation and excellent set up, as well as polite staff round out the other positive qualities of the restaurant. The portion sizes are on the smaller side, as this is more of a savory place to eat at. For those looking to budget their meals, Grada Neuvo is pricey, yet worth the money given the positives mentioned. This is a popular place to go if you are looking to be in the “scene”, or if you are looking to be noticed eating at an upscale restaurant.
Molyvos offers a more traditional Greek menu with a bit of flavor to it. Rather than plain pita and grilled meat, Molyvos tunes their craft using sauces and combining unusual ingredients with their meals. Located near the port, and in a hip area of town, Molyvos offers both indoor and outdoor seating, perfect for the summer time. A more traditional interior is a plus for me as it gives authenticity to the restaurant, and of course, more of a focus on the food. The portion sizes are generally large, and the chef does an excellent job on the presentation of each dish. Many times restaurants catch your attention by their elegant looks or fancy presentations, here at Molyvos, the food does the talking, and they deliver well. Fresh, locally grown ingredients are used in every dish to compliment the deliciousness of your meal.
Serving anything from burritos to dessert, Clochard’s menu has it all. Their meats are amazing, fresh and high quality. Their menu is very entree heavy, centered around meat dishes such as steak burrito, lemon chicken, T-bone steak to name a few choices. Located a block from the water, and towards the center of the city, one can enjoy a meal here after shopping on Tsimiski Street, or while walking on the boardwalk. I like Clochard due to their modern interior and exterior, and of course, delicious food. My favorite dish to have here is the Rooster Fillet. They do an excellent job balancing portion size and quality, not too much but not too little on your plate, and still tastes amazing.
Last on the list comes a restaurant with a heavy seafood and meat oriented menu, Loupino. Located by the port on Katouni Street, Loupino separates itself from its competitors due to its affordability, and being a more family oriented atmosphere. Not terribly upscale, one can enjoy a high quality meal with reasonable pricing, and have lots of table room. Many Greek tavernas and high end restaurants do not do a very good job on spacing, at Loupino they understand your family needs and have large tables, chairs, and adequate spacing. Of course, the presentation may not be as precise and perfected as the restaurants above, but the quality and portion sizes are almost identical. One does not need to be dressed up to have a meal here, as they do in the other restaurants. But of course in Greece, wear respectful attire wherever you go. Do not miss out on Loupino this summer.
Leaving out the Indian Restaurants, Sushi Bars, and other great Greek food choices was difficult, but one may do research on their own if they are looking to try a Greek’s spin on sushi or Indian food. With hundreds of places to eat at, narrowing this list down was indeed, quite the task. I wrote this list to gives options that would appeal to the largest crowd, not just one specific genre of taste. If you are in the mood, try them all while in Thessaloniki, if not more. After all, Thessaloniki is the food capital of Greece, and when you come eat here and see all the restaurants, you will see why. Τα λεμε αγοτερα, or in English, see you later.
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