Mezen Salonica

Mezen Salonica is an ouzeri at Rogoti 3 in Ladadika, Thessaloniki, in Central Macedonia, Greece, built around the northern Greek custom of tsipouro with meze. In this tradition a small carafe of tsipouro, a grape spirit, arrives with a plate of food, and further rounds bring further plates, so a meal develops as a continuous run of small dishes rather than as courses. The venue is listed as open daily from 12PM to midnight, which allows a long afternoon session as well as a late evening.

The dishes most associated with the kitchen are fried red mullet, a calamari dish styled as a carbonara, and a kokoretsi made from snapper. Kokoretsi is traditionally a spit-roasted offal dish, so the fish version is a playful variation on a classic. The mix of familiar fried seafood with inventive twists is typical of the modern ouzeri style found in the district. Prices sit in the mid-range, and the cost depends on how many rounds of tsipouro and plates a table orders.

The dining room is casual and sociable, with a noisy, convivial feel at busy times. There is no dress code. Ladadika is a pedestrian area of restored port warehouses, and the street setting adds to the lively atmosphere on weekend nights.

Tsipouro is the central beverage, usually served with or without anise, and ouzo and Greek wines are also available. The practice of ordering a new carafe and receiving a new set of plates is the heart of the experience.

The restaurant does not take reservations, and it fills quickly at weekends. Visitors arriving in a group are best advised to come early, either in the afternoon or soon after opening for dinner, to secure a table. The telephone number is +30 2310 232749.