In Greece, there is no shortage of fish taverns to choose from. Some special occasions call for an exceptional eatery . . . like the Kanaria fish tavern in the southern Athens suburb of Moschato, that doesn’t open unless its owners have top notch quality fish or shellfish to cook and serve!
Located in a single-family house with a small pleasant front yard, this tavern has been owned and operated by the same family from the day it opened in 1950 . . . which already tells us quite a bit about the place!
The tavern reminds one of a cozy Greek home of the 60´s with its whitewashed walls and inviting simple décor.
The menu is unassuming and focuses on mouthwatering classic seafood options and one or two basic salads made with seasonal produce coming from Greek family farms.
It goes without saying that the fish is truly great but the stunningly fresh and perfectly cooked giant shrimp are even better . . . and among the best I’ve ever eaten here in Greece!
On our last visit, in beautiful weather, we enjoyed our lunch in the front yard which was lovely. We were attended by the owner’s friendly son who explained the day’s menu and suggested we start with a mezé of superb tasting giant olives and feta cheese, sprinkled with oregano and drizzled with fragrant extra virgin olive oil (coming from the Arcadia region of the Peloponnese), delicious home-baked crusty bread and a jug of crisp, cool white wine.
For our main course we opted for a simple shredded cabbage salad, a plate full of gorgeous fried shrimp followed by perfectly grilled fish served Greek style with olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Simply heavenly . . . and just as it should be!
Dessert, on the house, consisted of scrumptious tasting home-made citrus spoon sweets, and halva (semolina pudding). . . . and some raki (alcoholic drink from Crete) for the digestion.
Certainly, a sweet end to an outstanding meal . . . which, together with a sip of raki, helped us digest the bill . . . which is always on the high side. . . especially if you order a lot of fish!
However, as I mentioned at the beginning of this blog post, some occasions call for a special eatery and if you love seafood and want to taste a bit of real Greece on your plate . . . this tavern is well worth a visit!
119 Kanari Konstadinou
Moschato
Athens 183 44, Greece
Tel: +30 21 0942 2119
Opening hours:
Evenings from 19.00 – midnight
Sundays:
Lunch from 13.00 – 17.00
Closed in summer from July 1st – September 16th