What’s better than delicious food? Delicious food that’s also cheap. Somehow, a meal just tastes better when it’s a great deal.
That is absolutely, positively the case at Edessaïkó, a really delightful restaurant that sells a variety of Greek dishes for an almost improbably low price.
How low? I got a heaping slice of moussaka, a side of potatoes, and a couple of very hearty slices of bread, all for three Euros. They’re practically giving it away.
Of course, mediocre (or worse) cheap food doesn’t mean a whole lot, so the question is, how does it taste?
Pretty damn good, surprisingly enough. I’ve had quite a few slices of moussaka in my life, and this might have been the best one I’ve ever had. The main components here are sliced potatoes, ground lamb, eggplant, and a bechemel sauce.
Everything was great. The potatoes were absolutely perfect, with an amazingly creamy consistency. They also do a really great job of soaking up the juices from the meat. The meat is very well spiced with a great texture, and the eggplant is super tender and tasty.
Then there’s the bechemel, which is much more sparingly applied than you’d expect. This actually works surprisingly well, making the dish feel much lighter than usual (though in reality, it’s extremely heavy — but it tastes lighter).
It’s a bit crispy on top, which contrasts nicely with the soft interior. It’s so good.
There’s also the side of potatoes, which seems like potato overkill at first — but they’re so good that it never feels like an issue. They’re exceptionally tender, with a mild lemony brightness that’s fairly irresistible.
The whole meal would have been great at any price, but for three Euros? It’s pretty much the best thing ever.
Location: Agiou Dimitriou 140, Thessaloniki 546 35