We discovered Bilbao almost by chance, and as soon as we walked through its streets we knew we had to stop here. We are Antonio and Tino, responsible for bringing a little piece of Greece to Bilbao.
Our families in one way or another have always been related to gastronomy and catering, and seeing that there was no place in Bilbao where you could taste authentic Greek food, we decided to move to this cosmopolitan and welcoming city.
The essence of Greek cuisine in Grecocina
From the first moment we wanted to bring the essence of Greek cuisine to Bilbao, but in a modern and comfortable space, breaking with the stereotypes of Greek taverns. Our philosophy is to bring the smell, taste and sight of those recipes of our childhood. Each dish has a story that relates it to the warm sunshine of our fields, the taste of the Mediterranean or the freshness of the vegetable garden. Our chef David Matcharshvili (specialist in Greek vegetarian food) and sous-chef Kostas Lykogiannis, make each recipe breathes a taste of Greece. That is what makes Grecocina different, the value of authenticity.
Greek virgin olive oil in our dishes
As in the whole Mediterranean, Greek oils are spectacular, the base of the most traditional Greek salads. In Grecocina, we did not want to forget this fundamental ingredient and it is always present in our kitchen. The Mediterranean sun makes the olive trees produce olives worthy of the best liquid gold on the market. Olive trees have been cultivated in Greece since time immemorial. For the ancient Greeks, the olive tree represented, among other things, peace, due to the tranquility it emanated. It was so prized that the winners of the ancient Olympic games won a crown made from a wild olive branch. The olive tree, its fruits and olive oil are closely linked to Greek culture, since, as we can see in Greek mythology, the foundation of Athens is attributed to Cecrope, around the 16th century BC, and to its promoter and protector, the goddess Athena, who, according to legend, made an olive tree sprout in the city with the tip of her spear.
Traditional Greek recipes in Bilbao
The modernity of our restaurant should not deceive us, we cook based on the most ancestral recipes of our country of origin. Some products we bring directly from Greece, others, of course, we buy from local producers, especially meat and vegetables, which are excellent in the Basque Country.
In our menu you will find vegetarian dishes with eggplant, tomato, mushrooms or zucchini as main ingredient. But also, great meats, cooked in the purest Greek style: kléftiko (boneless baked lamb), suvláki (pork brochette) or mprizóla (veal cutlet).
Of course, the most typical dishes of traditional Greek cuisine such as moussaka, tzatziki, Greek salad or Greek yogurt are not to be missed.
The best Greek wines in Grecocina
Serving a Greek meal without offering a Greek wine, for us, was a crime. Although Greek wines are not well known outside the country, we must bear in mind that wine has been linked to the country’s culture since time immemorial. Greece has about 300 indigenous grape varieties, most of which are highly localized and endowed with their own character. Half of the vineyards are destined for wine production and the rest for table grapes and raisins. The range of Greek wines is wide, dry whites, reds, sweet muscatels, fortified reds and even sparkling wines. Annual production reaches 600 million bottles, of which 65-70% is white wine, including the famous retsina. Most Greek wines, and the whites in particular, are best enjoyed when consumed young, with the exception of a few such as Naoussa and Nemea which should rather age, some even for a long time. If you check our wine list, you will see that we offer several quality Greek wines to accompany our dishes. If you don’t know how to pair, we can advise you on how to make your meal a wonderful experience.