YOU ARE READING
Athens: old school koutouki tavern at Palia Istoria
SAVE
MENU
Restaurant Reviews

Dimitris Kossyfas | 9 December 2017
Palia Istoria
4.3
Food:
Service:
Ambience:
Value:
Specialises in:
Cuisine:
Price:
$
Best time to visit:

There are not too many restaurants, or better yet taverns, hidden in the lower ground floor of some homey neighbourhood like Holargos. Palia Istoria started in 1973 in a more central location before the three Tsourounakis brothers inherited the business from their uncle and moved the joint to number 58 of 17th November street making it an instant hit.

IMG_1543.jpg
IMG_1553.jpg
IMG_1555.jpg
IMG_1559.jpg

Invited by another 3 chaps last week, I visited Palia Istoria in an urge to try something different and get away from all the glam other restaurants offer. Getting to the address was very easy but spotting the lower ground floor entrance was a bit harder. As we descended the few steps to the tavern we were immediately welcomed by various decorations and artefacts on the walls, the wine barrels at the very back and even a dwell in the middle of the room! Music was playing low with some traditional old Greek rebetika songs and the three Tsourounakis brothers were tending to patrons and the grill in a religious manner. The menu, which was more than reasonably priced, had every meze you’d wish for in such a place. Top of the list: gardoumpa!

PaliaIstoria2CAthens.jpg
PaliaIstoria2CAthens-1.jpg

Rooster on red wine sauce with hylopites (Greek noodles) The appetizers started coming plenty with patatou, a medley of grilled cheese over potatoes, being the most delicious one. Salads were ok, nothing spectacular, but the free flow wine and raki were making up for it. As for the main courses: divine. The waiter recommended the dish of the day: Yioulbasi, tender pork meat with peppers and just a tad of cheese cooked in the oven inside wafer thin paper. The rooster on red wine sauce was also nicely made and something on the lighter end of the scale! And finally, the pork chop cooked with sun-dried tomato and honey was also exquisite. Oh, and yes, the place does offer other stuff from the grill like beef patties, chicken skewers and tenderloin but we didn’t bother. We were happy with all the cooked dishes and ready to dig in to the handmade cheesecake, with yoghurt instead of cream cheese, and topped with sour cherries! On Thursdays they also feature some live music if you’re really into it. But make sure you get a reservation!

PaliaIstoria2CAthens-2.jpg

Traditional dish of Gardoumpa

PaliaIstoria2CAthens-3.jpg

Traditional dish of Youlbasi

PaliaIstoria2CAthens-4.jpg
BACK TO TOP
Related Articles for Athens
Athens: cult vibes and tasty crabs at Zarkadoulas
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: cult vibes and tasty crabs at Zarkadoulas
Athens
4.4
Athens: serious ramen dishes at Tanpopo
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: serious ramen dishes at Tanpopo
Athens
4.4
Athens: hip interiors and gourmet bites at The Architects of Time
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: hip interiors and gourmet bites at The Architects of Time
Athens
4.0
Athens: a seaman's seafood meze joint at E/G Taxidevontas
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: a seaman's seafood meze joint at E/G Taxidevontas
Athens
4.1
Athens: funky vibes, wood fire cooking and a hip crowd at Pharaoh
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: funky vibes, wood fire cooking and a hip crowd at Pharaoh
Athens
4.0
Athens: most loved dishes in Athens for 2022
Food
Athens: most loved dishes in Athens for 2022
Athens
Athens: sunny spells and specialty coffee at The Roosters
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: sunny spells and specialty coffee at The Roosters
Athens
4.1
Athens: hip vibes, tasty rolls and damn good coffee at The Blind Spot
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: hip vibes, tasty rolls and damn good coffee at The Blind Spot
Athens
4.3
Athens: dimly-lit encounters and a kick-ass burger at Brasserie Lorraine
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: dimly-lit encounters and a kick-ass burger at Brasserie Lorraine
Athens
4.4
Athens: Pan-Asian small eats, great service and funky music at Kitschen
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: Pan-Asian small eats, great service and funky music at Kitschen
Athens
4.1
Athens: small bites to share at the lively Tsiftis
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: small bites to share at the lively Tsiftis
Athens
4.0
Athens: exquisite bites at Materia Prima wine bar
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: exquisite bites at Materia Prima wine bar
Athens
4.4
Athens: refined dining at the quiet and lush setting of Jerar
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: refined dining at the quiet and lush setting of Jerar
Athens
4.3
Athens: curated coffee and brunch options at Anana
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: curated coffee and brunch options at Anana
Athens
4.0
Athens: Asian vibes and street food treats at Tailandi
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: Asian vibes and street food treats at Tailandi
Athens
4.3
Athens: artisan retail shop cum breakfast room at The Makers
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: artisan retail shop cum breakfast room at The Makers
Athens
4.1
Athens: new age taverna and hip vibes at Linou Soumpasis k sia
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: new age taverna and hip vibes at Linou Soumpasis k sia
Athens
4.1
Athens: cosy meze bites and tsipouro at Doukissa
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: cosy meze bites and tsipouro at Doukissa
Athens
4.1
Athens: casual, gourmet and finger-licking sandwiches at Guarantee
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: casual, gourmet and finger-licking sandwiches at Guarantee
Athens
4.4
Athens: delicious meze at the lively and cosy Foititis
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: delicious meze at the lively and cosy Foititis
Athens
4.5
Athens: divine classic and funky Italian flavours at ALIO Pizzeria
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: divine classic and funky Italian flavours at ALIO Pizzeria
Athens
4.3
Athens: the legendary taverna of Margaro in a quiet corner of Piraeus
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: the legendary taverna of Margaro in a quiet corner of Piraeus
Athens
4.3
Athens: chilled brunch vibes at Wesud
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: chilled brunch vibes at Wesud
Athens
4.0
Athens: delicious seaside bites at the revamped Akti
Restaurant Reviews
Athens: delicious seaside bites at the revamped Akti
Athens
4.1
Athens: old school koutouki tavern at Palia Istoria
1 of 10
2 of 10
3 of 10
4 of 10
5 of 10
6 of 10
7 of 10
8 of 10
9 of 10
10 of 10
PREVIOUS
NEXT
CLOSE