Mavros Gatos: A Genuine Neighborhood Taverna Operating in Pangrati Since 1963

Some days, you simply need to be in a spot that feels acquainted, the place you realize the dishes will likely be correctly cooked and served by individuals who welcome you as in the event that they’ve recognized you for years. Mavros Gatos in Pangrati is precisely that type of place. Since 1963, it has been a part of this neighborhood. Again then, the world was stuffed with easy eating spots serving wine and no matter meals the cook dinner had ready. As we speak, this nook of town has turn into a hub for gastrobistros and fashionable eating places. Nonetheless, Mavros Gatos has remained true to its character, resisting passing traits.

In 1991, Giorgos Kolezois, who had labored as a waiter in different tavernas within the space earlier than deciding to open his personal, took possession of the taverna. Since 2011, the enterprise has been run by his daughter, Vasiliki Kolezoi, and her husband, Giannis Manthos. All through these modifications, nonetheless, Mavros Gatos has retained its identification: an genuine Greek taverna recognized for its high quality meats and home-style cooking.

Mama Panagiota, Vasiliki’s mom, prepares the stove-top and oven-baked dishes, together with lahanodolmades (stuffed cabbage rolls), the home specialty, and the delectable savory pies, showcasing her Epirus heritage. Giannis and his kitchen colleague Nikos handle the steaks, chops and different cuts, guaranteeing prospects take pleasure in conventional charcoal-grilled delights free from pointless frills – simply pure, flavorful carnivorous fare.

The meats come from Greek farmers throughout the nation: lamb from Vonitsa, Paramythia and Mytilene, and beef from Serres and Mount Olympus. Their paidakia (lamb chops) are among the many best you’ll discover in any Athenian taverna, thinly lower and cooked to perfection. Additionally they supply a wide range of different meat picks, together with liver wrapped in caul fats, sliced like tagliata, and served merely with salt, pepper, and garlic oil – a real delight! The whole lot is expertly grilled, an indicator of the institution.

The menu is complemented by distinctive Greek cheeses, together with galomizithra from Crete and galotyri from Zagorochoria. The playful décor, that includes murals by Michail Papageorgiou, a.ok.a. the artist Doris, depicting whimsical cabaret scenes with a suave black cat (“Mavros Gatos” means “Black Cat”) because the protagonist, provides character and heat to the house. The wine choice is spectacular for a taverna, with 60 labels from Greek and worldwide vineyards that pair completely with the dishes.

Mavros Gatos is the type of place you’ll need to return to many times. There’s nothing fashionable or flashy right here, simply pure authenticity, with dishes stuffed with taste and coronary heart.

This text was beforehand printed in Greek at gastronomos.gr.