Athens
Well Athens came out firing! The first meal I had was at Dopios, and oh my did that sky rocket up the ranks. Number two overall and entering a tier that was only reserved for Texas BBQ until this. If I had more time in the city I can all but guarantee this would be the best food city of all time for me thus far. Everything in this city is freaking incredible, but DEFINITELY eat at Dopios. The rest you should get to, but Dopios Faux Gyro is a MUST.
Greek/Faux Gyros
Rank: 2
Well, here we are. It is the number two spot on my list overall. Everything at Dopios is damn good, and a lot of them are noteworthy. From the tzatziki avocado to the sea bass to the holy grail that is Faux Gyros, Dopios has everything you’d need, but the Faux Gyros is a MUST when you are in Athens.
The Faux Gyros at Dopios are so delicious it might be criminal. It ranks number two on the anything I have eaten list for a reason. This gyro has outstanding pita bread, amazing yogurt, onions, and tomatoes. But the lamb here is what is the show-stopper, this lamb is juicy, melt in your mouth, perfectly seasoned, and it is crunchy. This is my best gyro, and it is by a significant margin. Dopios shines through Texas BBQ with how good these gyros are.
Modern Michelin Star/Taksidi
Rank: 7
The only Michelin-star restaurant I have been to, also unsurprisingly ranks incredibly high. While I pride myself on finding hole-in-the-wall joints, I could not pass it up when I had the opportunity to dine at Botrini’s. Botrini’s is expensive and extremely fancy, but if you have the cash to spend, you will not be disappointed in any way with the service, atmosphere, and, most importantly, the food. I had the tasting menu from the Taksidi, and it was damn amazing. Of course, everything on the tasting menu was delicious, but my favorites were the eel, lamb, and milk pie. Everything on the menu was fantastic, and I am confident you will find just as delicious tastings on the Peripatos route. I recommend trying the wine pairings; it was my first time trying that, and it amplified the experience.
Greek
Rank: 56
Clearly, we have a massive drop-off from the top two in Athens to Mavro Provato. But that does not mean you should overlook this amazing Greek restaurant. Mavro Provato has an array of meat that should leave everyone stunned. Everything here is fantastic and noteworthy. I had nothing on the menu that did not cease to satisfy me. However, I will make specific notes of the items I think you should try, but this menu was so good it deserves love all over. The Lamb marinated in thyme was a little better than the spicy cheese spread, which was incredible. But the Lamb in the thyme was so damn good, it was definitely some of the best lamb I have devoured in my life, and you will definitely have the same experience whenever you get around to trying the astounding meat here.
Greek/Saganaki (Pan Fried Cheese)
Rank: 61
Here I recommend going out of your way to order the Saganaki. Saganki is an iconic Greek dish, and Mani Mani has perfected it. It is just pan-fried cheese, but saying that gives no credit to how fantastic it is. The cheese is delicious and cooked to perfection with a tomato topping it with some amazing oil to boot. Mani Mani may have other noteworthy items, but the Saganaki is a must as you explore the rest of the menu.
For more Greek food on Lefkada, check here