Ouzeri

Mezedopolio in Gythio (with cuttlefish, hung up to dry)

Ouzeri ( Greek ουζερί ( n. Sg. )) Is in Greece a small restaurant where spirits (especially ouzo ) are offered, accompanied by a variety of hot or cold meze .

You can find ouzeries in almost all towns and villages. In contrast to traditional kafenio , the dishes are prepared or prepared in the shop. This also includes meat and fish dishes that are not offered in the kafenio . Synonymous names are tsipouradiko , mezedopolio or ouzopolio .

The dishes include:

Cold plates like

• Different types of cheese such as feta , kefalotyri , graviera
• Vegetables and salads like olives , tzatziki , taramosalata , Greek salad , as well
• prepared dishes such as dolmades or broad beans from the oven
• Marinated , fried and boiled meat and fish dishes such as souvlaki , squid , mussels , sardines , anchovies , pastirma .

A platter with a selection of such small dishes can be ordered as pikilia ( Greek ποικιλία ). Ouzo is traditionally sipped slowly (usually with water or ice), together with mezedes over a period of several hours at lunchtime.

Outside of Greece one can recently find the term “ouzeria” for a Greek restaurant, based on terms such as cafeteria, sandwicheria, etc.