Διαγώνιος 1977 

Diagonal 1977 in Thessaloniki is a historic urban restaurant, not a simple grill house, famous for its soutzoukakia, gyros, and liver, and it's a timeless culinary landmark of the city.

Sometimes we come across references to Diagonal and what's outrageous is that some refer to this specific place with the explanatory term «grill house.» It's possible they don't know Thessaloniki, its history, or its culinary tradition. Despite the fact that the toponym «Diagonal» refers to the intersection of Tsimiski and Pavlou Mela streets with the contribution of Byronos Street as well, it seems that «Diagonal 1977,» although located a few dozen meters towards the sea, draws its name from this specific road intersection.

The Diagonal is a restaurant, because it's a restaurant and not a grill house, which alludes to the trajectory of Laiko (Greek folk) song. Laiko song, as is known, which had tavernas and inns as its venues, began to conquer the urban spaces of food and entertainment when Manos Hadjidakis dared (initially with the carnation behind his ear) to open the door to it in the salons. With the exact same logic, these elongated cylindrical meatballs (pure minced meat without spices that hide the taste of good meat), from street food and the monopoly of tavernas, entered the salons of taste with The Diagonal as the protagonist.

The Diagonios is known, first and foremost, for its soutzoukakia, which (for those in the know) should be accompanied by a political salad or, in extremis, a baba ghanoush. But it's also known for its excellent pork gyros that arrives at your table thinly sliced and delicious, accompanied by homemade, sliced fried potatoes. And if you don't like gyros, the third must-try fire specialty is the liver, perfectly cooked and tender. You should try it. 

For the unrepentant meat-eaters, we recommend a selection that allows you to choose what interests you. This whole parade of flavors certainly evokes a tavern atmosphere. Wrong. Diagonios is an urban space from the interwar period, or possibly a bit later, which appeals to all lovers of good meat, including the genuine urban class of the city. If you are visitors, it would be an oversight not to visit it. Ultimately, Diagonios is a landmark. Something like the White Tower of taste.