Taverna Plaka the Best of the Greek Buckhead Restaurants

There are oh so many buckhead restaurants and most of them are fantastic.  If you want something different, one that transports you halfway around the world to the quaint Greek islands with olive trees, vineyards and whitewashed houses, then you must try Taverna Plaka.  From the minute you walk in the front door, you know you are in an authentic
Greek taverna.  The smiling face of Stelios Kyriacou the owner, and the friendly smiles of the wait staff will tell you immediately that you are a guest, not just a customer in this taverna.  I have never visited a restaurant that is so friendly.  In addition to that, the food is really delicious and perfectly seasoned to taste like you are dining in Athens or Mykonos or Santorini.

People ask what is a taverna.  A taverna is a combination of a restaurant and a local bar.  They are in every large and small village and hamlet throughout Greece.  The taverna is usually the social center of every village.  People congregate to talk to friends, enjoy the food and sometimes, if lucky, watch the smooth sleek movements of a bellydancer.  The food is real and the portions are healthy.  Most Buckhead Restaurants give small portions, not Taverna Plaka.  You feel like you got your money’s worth here. 

Many of the items that Stelios makes is traditional.  His recipes go back hundreds of years and have been passed down to him by his beloved family.  Taverna Plaka has the traditional Spreads, such as hummus, Tatziki, Melitzanoslata (roasted eggplant spread), and hitpiti (feta and roasted red pepper spread).  Other starters such at Spanakopitas (spinach in filo triangles), calamari, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and Souvlakis (mini kabobs of your choice of beef, lamb, chicken or pork)  Don’t forget the Saganaki.  Saganaki is  the traditional flamed cheeses.  They could be made of Halloumi or Kefalograviera chees and flamed at your table with ouzo and served with pita bread.  It is so delisious that I recommend everyone to try it.  Their salads are traditional too.  The Horiatiki salad which is the lettuce less  salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and feta with an oregano balsamic vinaigrette dressing and the famous Marouli salad which is eaten in most of the peasant villages.  If you are in the mood for soup, don’t miss the Avgolemeno soup.  It is the traditional soup served in every village in Greece and made with chicken and lemon juice.  Light and delicious.

The entrees are traditional too.  The range from Kabobs which have been cooked over a hot charcoal grill.  The choices on the kabobs are Chicken, beef, lamb and pork and served with salad and rice.  They also have the best Moussaka in town; the famous eggplant and meat casserole topped with béchamel sauce. Other entrees are Pastichio ( the hollow noodle and meat casserole, gyro plate, vegetable stuffed chicken, the lamb gouvetsi and the char broiled marinated lamb chops. Everything is delicious.

In addition to the food you will see the best wait staff dancing on the east coast.  Nothing beats Buckhead restaurants for entertainment.  Enjoy watching the waiters dance the Zorba or if you feel like it, join them.  You will have the time of your life.   What a great addition to the Buckhead restaurant scene, Taverna Plaka on Cheshire Bridge Road.