Cookoovaya

Athens: The Best Seafood Restaurants for Feasting on Fish

"Not far from the National Gallery, this contemporary haven run by Corfu-born chef Periklís Koskinas pairs white-tablecloth polish and a shaded lunchtime terrace with an open kitchen devoted to seafood. Fish is handled head to tail with nothing wasted, sourced in season from top fishermen working across the Hellenic seas to ensure exceptional quality and variety. Alongside seabass, sea bream, langoustines and octopus, the catch of the day can shine—like a magnificent grouper served three ways: in soup, stewed and grilled—and guests can choose how their fish is prepared, whether raw, in broth, fried, seared or roasted. Exceptional produce features too, from Trikalinos mullet roe bottarga to delicious homemade tarama, while signatures include refreshing raw ‘gamberi’ with tomatoes, oil and capers, and bianco, a Corfu seafood stew of onions, potatoes, garlic, parsley and lemon juice. Drawing on olive oil, lemon, oregano and sea fennel from his island, the cooking stays straightforward to express the essence of the fish—and with a glass of Santorini assyrtiko, it’s hard not to be won over." - The MICHELIN Guide

Cookoovaya

"They say that chef Periklis Koskinas finds the inspiration for his cooking in Greece’s abundant culinary resources, in its classical harmony and symmetry, and the sunlight that bathes the entire country. In this contemporary-style restaurant with a  completely open-view kitchen, choose between an à la carte option and three set menus (one of which is vegetarian), although it is also the type of place where it’s almost best to go along with the daily suggestions (the fish here is particularly delicious). The logo on the plates here features the number 270, the total number of degrees that an owl (the symbol of the city of Athens and the sacred bird of the goddess Athena) is able to rotate its head." - Michelin Inspector

"Cookoovaya’s five chefs (Periklis Koskinas, Manos Zournatzis, Vaggelis Liakos, Spyros Liakos, Nikos Karathanos; all individual Athenian stars) have gotten together to celebrate “wise cuisine”—which is how they see Greek eating in general. This is Greek fare modernized but not unduly messed with; dishes are kept simple but are sublimely chosen and made with the freshest seasonal and local ingredients. Meals here are still designed to be eaten communally, as is usual in Greece, but it’s all done with an elegant twist. Fare from the wooden oven is especially amazing, like spinach pie, or, ah, moussaka (taken to a special level in the latter case). Be warned: the pretty, airy, Michelin-recommended restaurant can fill up fast. Fun fact: Cookoovaya means “owl” in Greek—the symbol of Athens and of wisdom."

The 34 Best Athens Restaurants | Eater

"Spyros Liakos, Vangelis Liakos, Pericles Koskinas, and Manos Zournatzis are some of the country’s top cooking talents. At Cookoovaya, they create free-flowing, family-style meals under the mantra “remember how you felt, not just what you ate.” Though the seasonal menu changes often, some of their most-beloved dishes are slow-braised beef cheek with smoked eggplant puree, and grilled fish of the day with amaranth, olive oil, and lemon. It’s a good idea to start your meal with one of their pies; the open-topped version with truffle-creamed mushrooms, grilled beef off-cuts, and crispy onion is the most interesting. [$$$]" - Demetrios Ioannou