Souvlaki… This is a serious word to the Greeks and to me as well, everybody adores one. And here is my start into sampling the best that Athens has to offer. Let me be your Greek guide. It was a toss up between two places (I went to check out the menu and the outside of each before deciding) My nose and my instinct drew me closer to Kapsa, overall, it just looked miles better. Initially, I was trying to find a high-end souvlaki in a nice environment, inside with décor to match, imagining it cooked on an open fire in front of your very eyes, but then realised it probably wasn’t going to happen. This is street food, and I am going to have to experience the food outside, on your average wooden table and chairs. Not a problem- If what I am eating is ‘knock your socks’ off delicious.
I can come across as ‘posh’ to the outside world, but often, what this is mistaken for is seeking perfection/the best in what I am eating- It Is always about the food first. I had no problem ordering at the window and waiting with my buzzer, to let us know when the souvlaki was ready. Yes, it is not my usual order of things, I felt a little out of my comfort zone, not knowing at all what it was going to taste like quality wise, but I stuck it out. I was here, wasn’t I? I managed to grab one of the tables that was free, to sit here and eat, so we waited…
The buzzer went off (Didn’t have to wait too long) and we got up to collect the food, then sat back down again, and the smell that was coming off our tray made me pull a face of “Oh my god that smells good.” I took the homemade pork gyro signature, which had tomato, avocado sauce, and yogurt all in encased in a thick pitta bread. Meltingly tender and juicy slithers of pork, kissed with smokiness, were perfectly placed inside, they were cut at the right size, which is especially important. The cook didn’t just try to fill this pitta bread with as much as they could, they balanced all the ingredients whereby you didn’t end up with a soggy bottom mess. It was bloody good; I didn’t want it to end, as I savoured every mouthful.
Yes, you guessed it, we didn’t just order this, we took a skewer of pork which came with french fries, tomato, and onion. You could have pitta bread with this, but my guest is gluten free, so it was omitted- At least people with an intolerance can eat here too. The chips in particular were crisp and addictive, with lots of those crunchy ends that you can’t stop picking at. To dip, we indulged in the feta cream, and the tzatziki. The cream was KO; I could eat it everyday of the week.
This is Greece’s ‘fast food’ don’t cave in and go to Macdonalds, (You should be ashamed) Get yourself here instead. I just wanted to eat it all over again; it was so tasty but also delivering quality. I watched a young woman at the front of the operation, and she was making sure everything was running like clockwork, I admired her drive. “Great food” we said, “Will be sure to come back!” In a nutshell- This is a fine place for Souvlaki.
