Greeks take food seriously. I mean seriously seriously. Eating isn’t just a meal — it’s a full-contact sport, a social experiment, and sometimes, a minor Olympic event. Foreigners beware: you’re about to enter a world where portions are gigantic, arguments over feta are fierce, and nothing is ever “just a snack.”
🥗 Meze: The Appetizer That Never Ends
Ordering “a few starters” is Greek for: “We’re going to feed a small army while you practice your fork skills.”
Example: You ask for tzatziki and olives. Five plates arrive. You eat some. Then five more magically appear.
Moral: Bring your appetite. Or surrender to the feta.
🥙 Souvlaki = Life
A small skewer of meat? Not in Greece. It comes with pita, tomatoes, onions, extra tzatziki sauce, and a side of philosophical debate about which restaurant serves the best souvlaki in town.
Pro tip: Never correct a Greek about their preferred souvlaki spot. You will lose.
🍷 Wine & Conversation: Fuel for Everything
Greeks never just sip wine. They discuss the universe while drinking it.
“Kali orexi!” becomes a 20-minute lecture on last night’s soccer game.
The dessert menu? Another 30 minutes of passionate debate about the latest government announcement.By the time the meal ends, your small coffee has turned into a full afternoon of philosophy.
🍰 Dessert: Sticky, Sweet, and Slightly Aggressive
Baklava, kataifi, galaktoboureko… all delicious.
Warning: Greeks will judge your dessert choices.
Worse: They will ask if you want more. And then more. And then more.
Accept it. Smile. Eat it all. There’s no escape.
🥄 A True Story
Once we decided to take a walk to the Plateia in Kalamata to have a “light lunch”. We left it to the restaurant owner to choose for us. Three plates of meze arrived, followed by grilled fish, vlita (greens), bread, olives, and a small mountain of feta. Thirty minutes later, our waiter asked, “Would you like dessert?”I stared. My wife stared. The waiter smiled. I surrendered. By the end, we were all rolling back to our apartment, debating whether Socrates would have approved of our food choices.
✅ Survival Tips for Foreigners
Never say “just a little.” It will be ignored.
Bring stretchy pants. Or prepare for public humiliation.
Accept coffee/dessert invitations. Resistance is futile.
Smile, nod, and repeat “Kali orexi!” It’s the secret key to Greek hearts.
In Greece, food isn’t just fuel. It’s a reason to gather, argue, laugh, and sometimes roll home. So come hungry, stay patient, and enjoy the madness — because in Greece, every meal is an adventure.
