la Griglia da Routsis — Restaurant in Drama Municipality

There are restaurants that scream for your attention, and then there are those rare, quietly confident places that let the food do all the talking. Tucked away in the unassuming town of Drama, Greece, I found one such gem — a steakhouse so accomplished, so precise in its offering, it deserves to be on the itinerary of every serious carnivore in Europe.

There’s no theatre here — Just knowledge, fire, salt, and a reverence for good beef.

This is steak for the committed. Not for those who point to a ribeye on a menu and think they’ve reached the summit of bovine excellence. No, here the menu isn’t your guide — the people are. You tell them how you like your steak — rare, medium rare, or somewhere in between — and they will tell you what to eat. And you’d be wise to listen.

I had the spider steak — a cut so rarely seen on menus that most wouldn’t know it exists. It sits nestled within the inner thigh, with a marbling and texture that, when cooked properly, delivers a flavour bomb of deep, savoury umami and a tenderness that borders on the indecent. Here, it is cooked simply — salt, pepper, blistering heat, and absolute confidence.

My husband had the onglet — hanger steak to the Anglophone world. It came carved into thick slices, still blushing within, with all the iron-rich intensity that makes this a butcher’s favourite. Again, no sauce. None needed. When beef is this good, dressing it up is like putting lipstick on a Rembrandt.

This restaurant is a masterclass in meat. Not just in the sourcing — which is clearly meticulous — but in the understanding of each cut’s potential. The service is warm, personal, and steeped in knowledge. They’re not here to flatter your choices. They’re here to feed you the best steak of your life — if you’ll trust them.

There’s something almost thrilling in that — in being steered not by a menu, but by expertise. And when the results are this extraordinary, you don’t question it. You simply chew, close your eyes, and wonder how this place isn’t world-famous.

If you’re a true food lover — not a trend-chaser, not a sauce-drenched steak chain apologist, but a proper, salt-and-smoke disciple of flavour — then this restaurant in Drama is your new pilgrimage site.

Seek it out. Go hungry. And prepare to have everything you thought you knew about steak quietly,...

Wow! The best steak I’ve ever had in Greece, cannot believe I didn’t know about this place when I lived in Drama for two years!

A very warm welcome when we entered and were seated immediately in its very nice interior with modern decor. We were trying to decide what cut of steak to get when the waiter came over to assist. He asked us how we liked our steaks cooked and then recommended the cuts for our preferences. We were happy to be guided by the experts, rather than forcing them to cook a cut of steak in a way that wouldn’t allow it to live up to its potential. My wife had the spider steak as she expressed a preference for medium. It was very tasty but unfortunately it was overshadowed when my recommended cut, the medium rare onglet came to the table shortly after, and wow, just wow. Not only was it the best steak I’ve ever had in Greece, it’s probably cracked my top 5 steaks of all time. Cooked perfectly, seasoned to perfection and tender. Not only that but a very large piece of meat. Perfect!

The sides were also great, we had the Eleni salad, a delicious leafy salad with halloumi, and the warm potato salad.

The service was amazing, very friendly and very knowledgeable, can’t really ask for me. My only regret is that I only had a pocketful of change to tip as only had cards on me. Will rectify that on the next visit, especially as the steaks are such good value, honestly shocked how cheap our bill was for the quality of food we had.

The owner is also very lovely, friendly, helpful and informative.

As for the low to middling reviews this place has received, I can only assume it’s from some very entitled customers.

In short, a must visit if in northern Greece,...

Absolutely fantastic experience. We went on a suggestion from our guide at Pavlidis and we were not disappointed. The staff is welcoming, friendly and professional. The wine service was like nothing else with a wine list that was outstanding featuring a huge selection from the area. But, in reality, you are here for the meat and it does not disappoint. Flavorful, tender and locally sourced, this is some of the best meat you will find in Greece. Try any of the side sauces to really have a special meal. Be sure to top it off with a fantastic dessert. Also, very reasonably priced for...