Dining Discovery in Athens Dishes Up a Positive Vibe

Stepping out of my hotel during my first hour in Athens, I stumbled onto a great restaurant. This video clip illustrates perfectly how Athens is regaining some positive energy. Here's my guidebook write-up:

Karamanlidika by Fanis, close to the Psyrri neighborhood and near the Central Market, is my favorite in the area. It's a quality meat and cheese shop that doubles as a restaurant. Delivering authentic Byzantine and Cappadocian tastes, aged cheese, and cured meats, it's a tasty testament to the many Greek Turks expelled from Turkey in the 1920s who settled in Athens -- bringing their Anatolian cuisine with them. With friendly service by Maria and her gang, you'll enjoy delicious plates for €5-7 (Mon-Sat 12:00-23:00, closed Sun, a block off Athinas at Evripidou 52, tel. 210-325-4184).

Stay tuned for a new and much-improved edition of my Rick Steves Greece guidebook. (Every year we invest literally hundreds of days lovingly researching our guidebooks to ensure that they are the most accurate and up-to-date guides available.)