Alegro - Ag. Fanouriou 6 at Imittou, Pagrati
One might wonder how come all the restaurants we write about are great. The reason is that we go to many places that we spend alot of time eating at places that we don’t write about …
Our quest usually takes us to side streets and places that are not usually written about or visited and most certainly won’t appear in any guidebook. This time we were walking on a side street in Pagrati, the neighborhood we call home, and we stopped by the window of a newly opened restaurant. Hara, the waitress, came out and greeted us, so we followed her back inside.
Alegro is a deceiving name. It’s Italian in orgin, but the food at Alegro has nothing to do with Italian food.
It is simply terrific Greek food at very, very reasonable prices. To quote Jimmy, the owner, he has “the lowest prices in the whole of
However, the prices are not the best thing about this gem of a restaurant. Last year, the owner transformed the space, which had, for 40 years, been a neighborhood kafenieo, into a modern restaurant with a clean look awash in bright vibrant colors, while borrowing from some traditional elements of the past and pushing them into the present.
You might have read something about “taverna” chairs in our past posts. Jimmy has used the modern version of the “taverna” chair. They are comfortable, with rusk seats, but most important, they have the rungs in the right place to rest your foot as you enjoy a long leisurely meal. Eating Greek food should be a comfortable experience and being able to linger and enjoy the surroundings, the conversation and the food while slowly sipping wine or ouzo, is a must, thus rungs on the chairs can be as important as the food and service in the restaurant.
The second traditional element of a Greek restaurant is the presentation of the food in a steam table, so you may see what you can order and choose what you like.
Anyway, back to the review. Most neighborhood places in Greece, meaning those that cater to locals, serve two menus, one for lunch and one for dinner.
The lunch menu includes many prepared items, also known as “magerefta”, such as moussaka, pastistio, kokkinisto or lemonato.
Today’s fare also included the double boneless chicken breast (skin on) (€5.90) stuffed with feta and tomatoes served with roasted potatoes or rice. The chicken was moist and very fresh, the feta and tomato filling has a hint of mustard, an interesting surprise. This is not a traditional dish and usually attempts in varying Greek recipes do not work well. In this case, the flavors blend well and the result is succulent. The double chicken breast is rather large and is enough to for two to share.
We also had the gigantes, giant butter beans, baked in a fresh tomato sauce with onions, celery and herbs. The beans themselves were very tender, a trick that I have yet to master in my own cooking (at €2.90 certainly a bargain).
A mixed winter salad of two kinds of cabbage, carrots and romaine accompanied our meal.
Dinner consists of freshly prepared items such as bakaliaro skordalia (€5.50), broiled fresh sea bass (€8.90, an unheard of price for fresh fish), and broiled items such as lamb chops, pork chops and pork tenderloin.
While we were there, one of the tables ordered two steaks. The chef came out of the kitchen to let Jimmy know they only had one. Jimmy called the butcher and quickly slipped out of the restaurant. A few minutes later he returned, white paper wrapped packed under his arm, and headed to the kitchen. You cannot get any fresher than that!
The wine selection includes the house white, rose and red for €3.20 per liter!! They also carry a Nemea Agiorgitiko (a full body red) for €14.50 for the 750 ml bottle.
This was indeed a good find and is worth venturing to Pagrati for a truly local experience. From Syntagma Square you can take the 2, 4 or 11 trolley to Imittou and Eftichidou (you’ll see the fountain at Imittou street). Look for the Starbucks, the side street to the right of Starbucks is Ag. Fanouriou, and the restaurant is 1/4 block down from Starbucks.
Alegro also offers their items for home delivery, 210/75.18.608. They are open daily from 12:00 to midnight. But remember, for the best of the steam table, aim for lunch around 1:00 PM.
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