Why by the kilo?
Wild fish do not come in portions. A dentex can weigh 800 grams or three kilos, and two fish of the same kind are never the same size. So Greek fish tavernas, like fishmongers, price whole fish per kilo of raw weight, and the fish you eat is the fish you chose and saw weighed. Farmed fish and small fry are sometimes sold by the portion; the large wild fish almost never are.
How it works at O Thalassinos
- You see the fish. The fish of the day is on ice. Ask to see it; we will tell you what came in and what suits your table.
- You choose. Pick the fish and the size you want. For a table of two a smaller fish, for four or six a bigger one, or several small ones.
- It is weighed and priced before cooking. We weigh the fish in front of you and tell you the price (weight × price per kilo) before it goes to the kitchen. No surprises on the bill.
- It is grilled over charcoal. Whole fish is grilled over charcoal and served with olive oil and lemon (λαδολέμονο).
Our prices per kilo
- Dentex (synagrida) (Συναγρίδα): €85 per kilo
- Red porgy (fagri) (Φαγκρί): €85 per kilo
- White grouper (sfyrida) (Σφυρίδα): €85 per kilo
- Dusky grouper (rofos) (Ροφός): €85 per kilo
- Red scorpionfish (skorpina) (Σκορπίνα): €75 per kilo
- Red mullet (barbounia) (Μπαρμπούνια): €75 per kilo
- Small red mullet (koutsomoures) (Κουτσομούρες): €65 per kilo
- Sole (glossa) (Γλώσσα): €85 per kilo
- Fresh cuttlefish grilled over charcoal with black mayonnaise (Σουπιά φρέσκια στα κάρβουνα με σάλτσα μαύρης μαγιονέζας): €40 per kilo
Prices as printed on our menu, VAT included. Fish prices may change with the market.
How the bill is worked out
Weight times price per kilo, nothing else. A red porgy of 1.2 kg at €85 per kilo comes to €102; a 600 g sole at €85 per kilo comes to €51. The weight is the raw weight, before cooking, as weighed in front of you.
How much to order
A whole fish includes the head and the bones, so the weight on the scale is more than the fish on the fork. A common rule of thumb in Greek tavernas is 400 to 500 grams of whole fish per person when the fish is the main course; less if the table is already full of mezedes, which at ours it usually is. Tell us how many you are and how hungry, and we will suggest a size.
Small fish are sold by the kilo too. Red mullet (μπαρμπούνια) and the smaller κουτσομούρες come several to a plate; the kilo price covers however many make up the weight you ordered.
Which fish?
Our by-the-kilo list has dentex, red porgy, white grouper, dusky grouper, red scorpionfish, red mullet, small red mullet and sole; all wild, from Greek waters. What each one is, and what it is called in Greek, is in our Greek fish glossary. Cuttlefish grilled over charcoal is priced by the kilo as well.
If you would rather not choose
Most of our menu is priced by the portion: cured fish, cold starters, salads, shellfish, hot dishes and pasta. The full menu with prices is online, and the fish of the day is on ice whenever you want a look.
