To Steki tou Alekos

To Steki tou Alekos on Filellinon Street in Volos, Thessaly, operates as an unreconstructed old-school tsipouradiko of the type that Volos has been known for since the early twentieth century. The premise is simple: tsipouro is ordered by the round, each round arriving with a meze plate at no additional charge, with the kitchen deciding what appears based on the day's fresh ingredients. There is no printed menu. The price per person rarely exceeds €15–20, making it one of the most affordable authentic dining experiences the city offers. The kitchen's preparations are rooted in honest Greek taverna cooking: fried squid cut into rings and served hot with lemon; taramosalata made with salted fish roe, bread crumbs, and lemon — noticeably less commercial than the pink supermarket version; grilled bread rubbed with tomato and olive oil; and pickled vegetables that provide sharpness against the richness of the spirit. The interior is decidedly without pretension — formica tables, mismatched chairs, walls that have not been renovated in decades. The clientele is almost entirely local: dock workers, shopkeepers, and pensioners who have been drinking at the same table for years. The absence of tourist-oriented features — no English menus, no Instagram-friendly lighting — is precisely what makes To Steki tou Alekos worth seeking out. No reservations are taken; the practice is to arrive when the doors open and accept whatever table is available. The restaurant closes on Sundays.