A traditional building with metropolitan characteristics houses a high-class urban restaurant with an interesting aesthetic and cuisine that maintains serious elements of tradition, while also serving modern taste with an emphasis on meat.
As artificial intelligence states – and now teaches – the expression Grande Dame suggests a «great» (in the sense of magnificence) lady, with key characteristics of elegance, aristocratic, urban style, and deep knowledge in her field. We don't know if Yiannis Solakis had something like this in mind when he designed the restaurant and named it Grande Dame. Probably not. However, as we will see, the choice proved to be particularly apt.
The neoclassical building at 46 Nike Street, which currently houses the restaurant, has a history spanning over 100 years. Considering its architecture and overall appearance, it's certain that when it was built, the description «aristocratic» suited it perfectly. After all, with the aesthetic restraint that characterizes Athens – then and even today – this particular building could hardly be described otherwise.
Upon crossing the threshold of the restaurant, the visitor enters a space dominated by black and white tiles. They may seem outdated for today's era, yet they exude a sense of urbanity that is being lost—if it hasn't already been lost. The image is enhanced by the mix-and-match of individual decorative and functional elements. Their combination is characterized by elegance and creates an overall interesting aesthetic, allowing you to feel comfortable and at home in the space.
Regarding the last element that characterizes a Grande Dame – deep knowledge in her field – the mere presence of Giannis Solakis is enough to confirm it. A similar mix and match philosophy can be found on the menu. Classic Greek cuisine is very present, especially in the appetizers and the Athenian salad, which is truly remarkable. Especially for the foreign visitor, a potpourri of small dishes with corresponding content offers an excellent glimpse into what Greek meze and dips cuisine means. Of course, this option does not go unnoticed by the Greek customer either – quite the opposite.
Regarding modern trends and the cult of meat, the restaurant features a handcrafted setup that allows for slow charcoal grilling, utilizing both flame and smoke. The variety of meats is more than sufficient, their quality is very good, and the grilling is done properly, or, for the unrepentant, as requested.
Until a few years ago, when someone suggested spots on the outskirts of Plaka as evening destinations, the response was usually lukewarmly negative. Today, things have changed. There are places that are more than worth it as evening destinations. Grande Dame is undoubtedly one of them.
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