The Great Greek Lunch That Was Supposed to Take an Hour

Recently, after feeling completely satisfied with a hairdresser comparable to the legends in Australia, Stavros asked, “So, travel guide, where are we going for lunch?” This is his usual semi-serious line, summoning the hours of research I have done on the place we live in.

After a two-hour consultation and another 30 minutes spent finding parking in the centre of Thessaloniki, I really wanted to get away. Not necessarily back to paradise, but definitely somewhere with more air and less chaos.

The hillsides above the city

I had heard that Thessaloniki is actually surrounded by some lovely hillsides, many of which we had driven through but rarely stopped to explore. So, as I did a quick Google Maps search, I discovered so many restaurants just a short drive away, with excellent reviews and photos that made me wonder if I was now seriously underdressed!

We travelled to one that actually took my breath away. On the way, we had to stop to let a goat herder through with his flock, followed by the most gorgeous farm dogs. Was I on a Greek island? I felt like I had been teleported back to a beautiful trip we had taken to Crete. This place always amazes me.

Mediterranean and ancient Pontian flavours

The menu had a mix of Mediterranean and ancient Pontian flavours, and at this point we had to order half of it. It is rare in Greece to find menus that feel so new and interesting to us, especially when they have such strong roots in the region. The north of Greece has such an amazing mix of history and influences, and you can really taste it if you venture outside your regular places.

The food started coming so promptly. It was a quiet Monday afternoon, with a perfect view and a cool breeze, and every plate was better than the previous one. No intention of drinking today. Obviously, a glass of wine was the perfect next addition. Our intention to head home and run some errands was now officially on hold. I love when some places do that to you.

We were then distracted by a beautiful stray cat who found a spot nearby to lie in the sun, and a gorgeous water feature that made the place feel more like a wedding venue than a restaurant. Of course, it was time to take a photo. And then photos of the food.

We don’t really do that these days. When you are surrounded by amazing places, people and food, you can get a little numb to it. You stop noticing just how special your everyday surroundings actually are. But I didn’t want to forget this day. I didn’t want to forget this feeling. It was very close to perfection — and completely unplanned. (If we forget about the hours of research I do purely because I’m interested in familiarising myself with the local area!)

The first time we ever said no to dessert

In Greece, restaurants will almost definitely offer you dessert when you ask for the bill. This was the first time we said no. Absolutely no way could we finish anything else. I even took a container home with the plates we couldn’t finish. We knew we had found a new favourite.

“I don’t think we’ll stop at that place down the hill for coffee, Stavros. It looked cute, but there is absolutely no way I could fit anything more in.”

And that was it. The errands could wait. The coffee could wait. The rest of the afternoon could wait. What was supposed to be a quick lunch had somehow turned into several hours of eating, talking, drinking wine, taking in the view and doing absolutely none of the things we had planned to do that day. And honestly? I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

These are the moments I love most about Greece. The ones you don’t plan. The places you find almost by accident. The lunches that turn into afternoons, and afternoons that you wish could last just a little longer. Maybe that’s part of what makes a place feel like paradise. Not that everything is perfect, but that every now and then, you forget what you were supposed to be doing and simply enjoy where you are.

And that was another little piece of our paradise.

Until the next time… Anastasia xxx