For a successful recipe, not necessarily many, but certainly quality ingredients are required. In the case of the modern tavern “Sourtouko”, the success story required a duo with a strong temperament, a space with personality and food with imagination.

Behind this successful culinary venture are two people with experience in the field of catering and entertainment, Ifigenia Koumoula and Nikos Karanidis.

You will find “Sourtouko” in a beautiful cobbled street in Ladadika. A modern tavern for those who love interesting and quality food, right where the heart of Thessaloniki beats.

Far from the crowds, in a space with industrial elements, “Sourtouko” has been serving since April 2019 “experienced” tasting proposals inspired by Greek and Mediterranean cuisine.

How “Sourtouko” was born

But how did the idea for “Sourtouko” in Ladadika come about? Nikos and Ifigenia loved human contact. And what better than a place to eat, that would satisfy their desires? Through many ideas, this beautiful tavern was born that was to become a favorite habit of the people of Thessaloniki and beyond.

But why “Sourtouko”? The ideas for the name that fell on the table were many and one evening, in the company of friends, the poll was held. And so the name was voted through completely democratic procedures and Ifigenia, who had suggested “Sourtouko”, was anointed godmother of the tavern.

Then the place had to be found and that’s when they found in Ladadika, in one of their most beautiful and quiet narrow streets, two buildings, old warehouses, which were joined and transformed into today’s colorful “Sourtouko”.

The space kept the industrial aesthetic that the original buildings exuded and was “dressed up” with colors, beautiful murals and plants, while the musical background of the space gives “Sourtouko” a different air. Special sounds, with jazz melodies, orchestral sounds and swing vibes alternate and create a unique atmosphere. When the fun reaches the heights we will also hear rebetika.

Greek inspired cuisine

But now let’s get to the food. The people at “Sourtouko” love to create beautiful dishes, Greek and Mediterranean inspired. The primary role in all of this is played by the excellent raw materials that are the basis for the very tasty culinary proposals that you will find in this welcoming place.

The products are bought from branded, small and chosen producers, without any discount on quality and cleanliness. These two traits are obsessively maintained and are the most non-negotiable element of the tavern’s identity.

The seasonality of the dishes plays a big role, as the menu changes according to the delicacies that are produced each season.

You will find many interesting options for meat, seafood or fish. All of them with variations so that they are reintroduced to the public of Thessaloniki through the eyes of the tavern team.

Cheese mille feuille is a trademark of “Sourtouko”. Excellent choices for starters are the smoked fava beans with mandarin oranges, as well as the breaded shrimps with sugar syrup and sweet chili. Grilled mushrooms with celeriac cream are also amazing.

Among the musts at “Sourtouko” are the handmade pork gyros of marinated neck chops, the beef liver with onion bulbs, and the Black Angus ground beef burgers.

If you love seafood, don’t miss out on trying the stuffed European flying squid with goat’s feta cheese, olives, capers, cherry tomatoes and Florinis pepper or the grilled octopus with tabbouleh.

The shrimp barley with chorizo and the shrimp pasta are magical, while we also highlighted some very tasty risottos, such as the mushroom with truffle oil and the spinach risotto.

In “Sourtouko” you will find many vegan dishes, so delicious that even the loyal meat eaters in the group will want to try them.

The cellar, updated exclusively with selected Greek wines, will provide nice wine pairings with the dishes you choose, while you can also enjoy excellent bulk tsipouro, if your mood is higher in alcoholic degrees.

In the end, dessert is a treat. We loved the lime ice cream with crispy cookies.

A hangout for foodies

In addition to its very tasty and special menu, “Sourtouko” also offers its customers a unique environment.

The excellent service from the friendly and willing staff is another strong card of the tavern.

So if you’re in the mood for tsipouro, wine or beer with your company, visit “Sourtouko”, choose your dishes and you won’t miss out!

After all, as Ifigenia and Nikos state, they are foodies themselves, so they couldn’t offer anything less than really good food to their customers.

For those of you who want to enjoy the creative flavors of “Sourtouko” at home, there is also the option of picking it up at the store.

Where will you enjoy your meal today?

Tip: It is advisable to make a reservation before your visit to “Sourtouko”, as it is a very popular hangout.