Jasmina Shreck enjoys a traditional Greek meal in a family restaurant.

Ravintola Crecian

Ravintola Crecian – Greek Tavern Kirkkokatu 55.

Centrally located on Kirkkokatu, Crecian is one of two Greek restaurants in Oulu. The tavern keeper is from Cyprus and the “traditional recipes” originate from his father’s tavern.

Entering Crecian on an early Friday evening, we wouldn’t have had any trouble finding a free table. There are people eating out at 6 pm but the place is not crowded. The room is crammed full of all kinds of little details, which gives it an authentic atmosphere. Greek figures, paintings of white houses and boats in wonderful weather, maps of Greek islands made of cloth, and, most strikingly, everything in this restaurant is white or blue (the colours of the Greek flag). The chairs have a blue wooden frame, the napkins are blue, the table cloth and walls are white and blue, even the toilet is blue. As over the top as this sounds, it blends in well with the rest of the interior and adds to the feeling of sitting in a real tavern somewhere in Greece, besides the snow heaps outside somewhat disturbing the picture.

The waitress appears a bit taciturn but not unfriendly, and the menu offers a decent choice of salads, fish and meat dishes, as well as two vegetarian dishes. After first considering the souvlaki I decide for the Greek salad with chicken fillet and pita bread after all (17 euros). It’s possible to get some tzatziki with it at a premium, but knowing myself, it will be enough also without the tzatziki, and it is. The salad consisting of onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers and a light dressing, with a number of tender chicken pieces and four pieces of warm pita bread with olive oil doesn’t leave you hungry when getting out of the restaurant, neither seem the dishes (souvlaki, vegetarian food) other people at my table have ordered. The price range for a main course is mainly between 17 and 23 euro, but the portions are generous and at least considering those three dishes well worth the money.

Besides a selection of Greek wines and Greek and Cyprian beer the list of beverages includes a few rather fancy mixtures involving Ouzo, like Ouzo with salmiakki koskenkorva. Even though Crecian can be described as a very authentic ethnic restaurant, cultures seem to meet on the drink menu at least.

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