Taverna facts for kids
A taverna (in Greek: ταβέρνα) is a type of small Greek restaurant. It serves delicious Greek food. Tavernas are a big part of Greek culture. People from other countries who visit Greece often enjoy them. You can also find tavernas in places like the United States and Australia. Greeks who live outside of Greece have opened them there.
Contents
What is a Taverna?
Where the Name Comes From
The word taverna comes from the Latin word taberna. This word meant "shop." The Latin word taberna came from tabula, which means "table." So, a taverna is like a shop with tables!
Tavernas in Ancient Greece
Scientists found the oldest proof of a Greek restaurant in Ancient Athens. This was during digs in the 1970s. They found many cooking tools there. These included plates, mixing bowls, and pots. They also found tools for grilling meat.
A lot of fish bones and shells were found too. This shows the restaurant served oysters, mussels, and large fish. A wine shop was nearby. It might have worked with the restaurant. This shop sold local wine from Attica. It also sold wines from other places like Chios and Corinth. Places that served wine were also common in the Byzantine Empire.
Delicious Greek Food
A modern taverna usually has many tasty dishes. Here are some common ones:
- Bread: Often loaf bread, sometimes flat bread.
- Meat: Like lamb, pork, and beef.
- Salads: Such as Greek salad.
- Appetizers: These are small dishes to start your meal.
- Tzatziki: A dip made with yogurt, garlic, and cucumber.
- Melitzanosalata: A dip made from eggplant.
- Tirokafteri: A spicy dip made with feta cheese.
- Spanakopita: A savory pastry with spinach and cheese.
- Dolmades: Rice and herbs wrapped in grape leaves. Sometimes they have minced meat too. They are served with a creamy lemon sauce.
- Soups:
- Avgolemono: A soup made with egg and lemon.
- Fasolada: A hearty bean soup.
- Pasta:
- Spaghetti napolitano.
- Pastitsio: Layers of thick pasta, minced meat, and a creamy sauce.
- Fish and Seafood:
- Baked fresh fish.
- Fried salt cod with skordalia (garlic sauce).
- Fried squid.
- Baby octopus.
- Baked Dishes (Magirefta): These are often seasonal vegetable dishes.
- Moussaka: Layers of eggplant or zucchini, minced meat, and a creamy sauce.
- Grilled Dishes:
- Souvlaki: Small pieces of meat grilled on a skewer.
- Drinks:
- Desserts:
- Fruit.
- Sweets like baklava and galaktoboureko.
Visiting a Taverna
Tavernas usually open around noon. Dinner time starts around 8:00 PM and gets very busy around 10:00 PM. As more tourists visit Greece, many tavernas try to help them. They might have menus in English. Some even have people outside to invite tourists in.
Images for kids
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A taverna in the Anemomilos district of Corfu town.
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Choriatiki, a Greek salad often served at a taverna.
See also
In Spanish: Taverna para niños
