CHARLIE D. BRASSERIE: GIVING OFF FRENCH VIBES IN THESSALONIKI
The Cost -$35 per person
The Atmosphere – The interior definitely reminds you of a French Brasserie but with a large amount of pink. There is indoor and outdoor seating and the restaurant is centrally located in the main commercial and walking area of Thessaloniki.
Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest city and like the rest of Greece, it is rich with culture, history and good food options . For dinner, I decided to go to Charlie D. Brasserie to get a mix of French and Greek cuisine. Located in the Excelsior hotel, the restaurant features a really well done French style interior and a cute outdoor seating area.
The Order - Greek Salad, Falafel, Spaghetti Carbonara and the Beef Tagliata with a glass of wine.
The Great - The Beef Tagliata was my favorite dish of the evening. The beef was cooked exactly to my specifications (rare) and was tender and flavorful. The steak came with grilled mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini and peppers and also came with an absolutely wonderful peppercorn sauce. The Greek Salad was also a great choice. With tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, feta, olives, capers and crunchy homemade croutons that soaked up the dressing and juices of the vegetables, this was one of the best Greek salads I’ve had in my life and I could talk about those croutons for hours. I also thought the Falafel appetizer was done incredibly well. Essentially a deconstructed falafel sandwich, the dish featured fried chickpea balls over a Greek yogurt sauce with hummus and pita bread and was presented beautifully.
The Good - The Spaghetti Carbonara, a classic, was solid. The spaghetti, bacon, egg and parmesan combined nicely and the dish was enjoyable, not spectacular.
The Verdict - Overall, this charming restaurant isn’t just a pretty interior. The food here is great though I was surprised to see that the menu was more international than Greek or French. Despite that, Charlie D.’s is a wonderful spot for a nice, high quality meal and is a great value for the price. A place I’d definitely return to.