Sokratous and Theatrou corner, in the heart of Athens, in the basement of an abandoned 150 year old neoclassical building, you will find “Diporto”.
Actually, you will look for Diporto, because there is no sign.
Once down the stairs, you’re back in the past. The 1950s. Because the place hasn’t changed one iota since then. Everything’s the same. Only the people are different. Because apart from the workers at the Agora, the politicians and intellectuals who have made it their hangout, now trendy tourists who have learned about the Diporto from the two-part tributes made by famous youtubers who are involved in the cuisine are also frequent visitors.
The menu today had giant bean soup, chickpeas, fava beans, greens, sardines, and pasta with cuttlefish.
At the 9 tables that the restaurant has, all of them covered with oilcloth, under barrels of good retsina, one can meet – and eat together at the same table if there are a lot of people – from fishermen and grocers who pop in from Varvakeio to have a bite, to well-known Athenians and young people who have been enchanted by Mr. Mitsos, the always tireless cook and waiter…