(Visited in May 2009)
I found by chance a Cretan rakadiko (tavern serving Cretan spirit 'raki') with live music in Drapetsona, Piraeus, and Hubby and I had a go. We tried to group some other people, but it was the Eurovision Night, and no one else was available.
We phoned beforehand to make sure when and what time the music starts. They said that the live music is on Fridays and Saturdays and it starts at 22:30 or 22:45 and advised us to book a table if we wanted to visit. So we booked at 22:00 Saturday.
We arrived sometime after 10 o'clock and the place was still half empty. We were immadiately served a small bottle of raki (also called tsikoudia or tsipouro and different from Turkish raki of which Greek equivalent is ouzo) and two small dakos.
These were free and not part of the cover charge (there is bread charge for bread, but no cover charge here).
These are mitzithropitakia and pomegranate and pine nuts salad.
We had also a pork dish called foukaki and fried potato. All very tasty. I have no doubt they use high quality ingredients.
Foukaki was especially remarkable. It was pieces of pork meat on bone braised in lemoney sauce. I have not eaten such a flavourful pork for a long time.
The music started at around 23:15 and by this time of hour the ground floor of the restaurant was almost full (there is also the upper floor which was not used when we were there).
There were three musicians and the one standing to the left is also a singer. Very enjoyable, even though Hubby complained that there should also be possibility to dance (there is no space for that purpose).
We were offered rakomelo (raki with honey and hot water) with the bill, which was mere 28 euros. Well, we did not really order food for two (because I didn't want to eat much so late), but still we thought it was a very good value for what we got. When we left at 2 o'clock in the night, there were still people coming in.
(Revisit in October 2010)
Revisit for Sunday lunch in a group of 4. We ordered a tzatziki, a cabbage and carrot salad, eggs in staka butter, 2 meat main dishes, gamopilafo, spaghetti, a Coca Cola, a beer and a water - there was a sufficient amount of food for 4 - to pay 52 Euros (before adding tip). There was live music and the place was almost full (ground floor was completely full and half of the tables on the first floor were occupied). There was no free rakomelo this time, but it is still a noteworthy place of good value.
REVAIZI
Thermopylon 28 (just behind Agios Dionysios Church)
Piraeus
Tel. 210-4080017
http://www.diaskedasi.gr/revaizi/revaizi.asp
Go to Piraeus Restaurant Index
