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Taverne To Kokkino Chorio - Kokkino Chorio

This tavern is situated on a square next to the church of the village of Kokkino Chorio. They serve simple traditional Greek dishes. The menu is small but varied. We order a boureki (potatoes, eggplant and goat cheese), taztziki, soutzoukakie (meatballs in tomato sauce with fresh herbs) and zucchini balls. The white wine could have been slightly colder and for the tzatziki we had hoped on a bit more garlic. The zucchini balls with cheese taste very delicious.
Our verdict: an 8 out of 10

Snack Milos - Kolimbari

Snack Milos is located at the corner of the boulevard along the sea. Fast service. Immediately a glass of water with ice is brought. The cappuccino is strong and tastes good, but it could have been slightly warmer.
Our verdict: an 8 out of 10

Taverna Akrogiali in Kokkinos Pirgos

This cozy tavern is located on the beach of Kokkinos Pirgos. There are nice dishes on the menu and the waiter of the tavern is very friendly. We order the tzatziki, the soutzoukakia (meatballs in tomato sauce), the Greek salad, half a liter of white wine and (never seen on a menu) vegetarian mousaka. The vegetarian mousaka was a bit of a gamble but is very tasty. No piece of lukewarm mousaka that has been standing in the display for half a day, but fresh and hot from the oven. The rest of the food is also very tasty.
Our verdict: very good, a 9 out of 10.

Palio Archontiko - Kolimbari

Tipped by our friend Arianne from Kissamos as one of the best restaurants in Kolimbari. Archontiko Palio is located on the sea in the center of the village and it radiates just a bit more class than the restaurants next to it. The menu is varied and there are many fish dishes on it. We ordered the sea bass and salmon fillet. The dishes look great and the food tastes fantastic, highly recommended.
Our verdict: a 9 out of 10

Taverne Komitades - Komitades

This rather large taverna is situated at the end of the Imbros gorge. In the village the people picked up by buses after they made an excursion through the gorge. It can get really busy. The taverna is set to tourism and the food is as well. The food is not bad, but it also does not make a big impression.
Our verdict: a 7 out of 10

Akrogialos Fish Taverna in Korfalonas Beach, Kissamos

This tavern on the beach Korfalonas is specialized in seafood, but the menu also includes other things such as grilled meats and chicken souvlaki or pork. They serve a good white house wine and they bake the bread themselves. All the dishes taste good. We get to free raki, cakes and grapes. Friendly service and a great location for both daytime (relax on the beach) or evening (beautiful sunset that disappears behind the mountains).
Our verdict: an 8,5 out of 10

Taverna Eilikrineia in Kotsiana

Here we have had a delicious (and cheap) lunch. We ordered the fried zucchini balls, the spicy cheese, the green salad, the boureki (an oven platter of vegetables and potatoes) and the white wine. It is all very tasty and the portions are huge. We also get delicious toasted bread on the table with olive oil and garlic. The service is very friendly. Top restaurant.
Our verdict: a 9+ out of 10

Sto Koufo im Porta Taverna in Koufos

Here in Koufos in the local tavern we wanted just to eat a light snack. Breakfast or lunch, it was a little in between. When we asked if they were serving breakfast, the answer was "yes" but when we asked if they could make something with eggs, they first checked if there were any eggs and the answer was "no". They proposed the home made crepes with chicken of which we ordered two servings. They tasted well, and we also got a free plate of local cheese, which was also pretty good. The downside was the bread, because it was no bread, but those hard lumps (kind of big) of croutons that you normally put in dakos (another Greek dish) so they soften up. Shame about the bread, but no complaints about the rest of the food.
Our verdict: a 7 out of 10

Taverna Korissia in Lake Kournas - Crete

I can describe this taverna in Kournas in two words: the worst. Both the service and the food leaves everything to be desired. But yes, many people come to Lake Kournas for a day trip and then the restaurants will probably never see them any more, so who cares. This is probably how they think in Taverna Korissia. You serve food like they do when you know that your customers will never return. The waiter had likely never heard of the invention of deodorant because he stank terribly sweaty under his armpits. The menu at Korissia offers various breakfast, omelettes, starters and main courses. We ordered a cheese Saganaki (fried cheese), tzatziki (yoghurt, garlic, cucumber) and a Chef Salad. First we begin with a wonderful cappuccino. Unfortunately it is sort of hot water with a bit of nescafe and a fat and nasty pile of whipped cream. I do not even drink it, it tastes that nasty. The bread you get in every Greek restaurant consists of different pieces and sizes (and therefore already used for other customers who may have had it in their hands as well) and it's so stale and dried out that it seems almost toast. The chef salad is very uninspiring with ham, cheese, leeks, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives and a fat smash of whiskey sauce on top and an egg. The tzatziki is drenched with garlic and we have to search for the cucumber that ought to be in it. The cheese saganaki was conveniently forgotten by the waiter, so I had to ask for it again. I had better not done this because it was tasteless, limp and dripping with grease. Then after that I had to ask for the bill several times and it finally came fifteen minutes later.
Our verdict: you will be better off bringing your own sandwiches, in our opinion Taverna Korissia is in the running for the title of "Worst restaurant in Greece"

Agadiko Taverna - Kritsa

The Agadiko Taverna is situated a bit on the end of the main shopping Kritsa on the right hand side. It is a family restaurant that is run by the friendly Marina. Her sister has a shop opposite the taverna where beautiful art is sold (mainly glass and ceramics). The food is great and a little more attention has been paid to it than the average taverna. My moussaka is sprinkled with cheese and it it is very tasty. There are also delicious crispy fries to go with it. Also the fish we ordered is fantastic. The house wine is very good as well. Moreover the taverna is also very cheap, highly recommended.
Our verdict: fantastic, a 9 out of 10

Platanos Restaurant Cafe - Kritsa

This taverna is located on a small square you pass if you follow the route of the shopping streets in Kritsa. It is situated next to at a big plane tree, and you can not miss it. We ordered the stuffed tomatoes, the saganaki (fried cheese), courgette balls, tuna salad and tzatziki. The tzatziki has plenty of the garlic the saganaki and the zucchini balls taste good. The wine too. There is a friendly woman at work.
Our verdict: an 8 out of 10

Taverna Zahos in Lendas

Zahos tavern is situated on the western side of Lendos village on your right hand side as you take the stairs down to the beach. It looks cozy and the service is very nice. We order the sea bass, the swordfish fillet, the Greek salad and half a liter of wine. Although it is not busy (there are two other guests), we have to endlessly wait for our food (45 minutes to an hour) and when it is finally served it is completely burned and some pieces of fish you cannot not even cut an more, because the crusts are that hard.
Our verdict: simply bad: a 4 out of 10

En Plo Café Bar - Lygaria Beach

En Plo is the cocktail bar / coffee shop in the village Lygaria and is located on the sea. The coffee is good: Lavazza. The cappuccino comes with a glass of water. Disadvantages: sometimes you have to wait very long before someone comes to take the order and then brings a cappuccino with cold whipped milk on it. The prices are on the spicy side.
Our verdict: a 7 out of 10

Limani Restaurant - Makrigialos

A taverna with a very extensive menu illustrated with pictures. You will be handed one when you sit down at one of the tables. This seemed to be the busiest taverna in the row of taverns in the harbour, so we thought we would give it a try. They have a lot of fish dishes on the menu. We tried the tuna salad, the garlic bread (which was good), beetroot salad, spagetthi bolognese, sole fish (no bones but tasteless and we think - or are sure - it was deep frozen and not fresh), French fries (soft, not crispy)... to be short, it was sort of a disappointment. Besides that there was football on the television (this might explain why it was so busy, it couldn't have been because of the food), and we seemed to be "invisible"- meaning: nobody was paying any attention to us, bad service.
Our verdict: a 6,5 out of 10 (restaurant no longer there)

Semeli Restaurant - Makrigialos

The neighbour of the Limani Restaurant above. This one was quiet and for us this was a mystery, because it was much better and cheaper too. We tried the same fish, sole fish (good, crispy and tasty), salad Semeli with spinach, rucola, cheese and turkey (good!), lamb chops (also good), French fries (like they should be - crispy) and courgette balls (also good but a bit on the salty side). The bread came in one piece and it was fresh. The only downside was the rosé, which was a bit tasteless...at least we thought so. Conclusion: cheaper and much better than the next door neighbour, and we wonder what everybody was doing there. The service was friendly and also much better.
Our verdict: an 8,5 out of 10 (restaurant no longer there)

Ilios Cafe - Makrigialos

The Ilios Café is located at the village beach in Makrigialos. It's not a place to have lunch or dinner but a good place for a cup of coffee, a soda, a cocktail or some ice cream. Friendly service and a good cappuccino with a glass of cold water. Breakfast is reasonable but if you want an Illy coffee you pay extra. You can chose from nescafé or filter coffee. The filter coffee looks and tastes like water though and so we took one sip and left the rest.
Our verdict: a 7 out of 10

George's Taverna - Makrigialos

George's Taverna is located on Kalamokanias beach, the beautiful sandy beach on the western side of Makrigialos town center, at the point where the exit to Makrigialos Minoan Villa is. We order the lamb from the oven, the chicken from the oven and the Greek salad. The food is really very good, and I have not eaten such a nice chicken for a long time. The lamb from the oven also tastes excellent. The service is friendly.

In the meantime we have gone back to George's Taverna several times and have tried various other dishes, such as the dolmadakia (stuffed wine leaves), the mousaka, the stifado (soft beef with onions) and the beans. Actually everything was always in order and the service is equally friendly every time.
Our verdict: a 9 out of 10

Stratos Restaurant - Makrigialos

The Stratos Restaurant is also located on Kalamokanias beach, which in my opinion places the two best restaurants in the village not in the port of Makrigialos, but just over the hill on this beautiful sandy beach. They are also the only two tavernas on this beach. We first ate here in May 2019, while we have been to Makrigialos so many times (the entire restaurant was reserved on a previous visit). Stratis Restaurant is run by Dolores and Dolores loves to cook. This woman originally came from Ireland, then lived in Canada for a long time and now spends the days on Crete. The Stratos Restaurant is also number 1 on Tripadvisor and I think not without reason. Dolores is very friendly, the place is fun and cared for and popular with everyone. We ordered the chicken curry and it was really delicious. Some cooked vegetables were served, the fries were okay but not very special. We also got a delicious dessert of strawberries with a kind of cake and whipped cream and a glass of strawberry-raki.
Our verdict: a 9,5 out of 10

Cave of the Dragon - Makrigialos, Lagada

This restaurant, the Cave of the Dragon, has several billboards placed in Makrigialos and just outside. It lies just outside Lagada en route to Kalo Nero. We decided to go there and give it a test. It employs three people that serve the food in the restaurant, but when we sit down we are totally ignored, although it is at that time still very quiet. One of the waiters is talking to a few Greek guests and the rest of the waiters don't show their face. If after five minutes we think that we are invisible we go for a look in the kitchen to see if there is anyone who can bring us a menu.
You can choose from a variety of appetizers, salads, grilled meats and fish. An unfriendly and humourless lady takes our order. The bread that is brought to the table is not fresh, but roasted and there's nothing done with it in the form of a little garlic and olive oil on it. The house wine is simple. The Dragon Cave salad includes red cabbage, white cabbage, apple, tomato and bacon. The saganaki (fried cheese) is dry, the tomatoes balls are good and so is the fish (dorado) which is served with a small salad and a butter sauce. Afterwards no raki, no grapes or something sweet, like you will normally get in all Greek restaurants if you ask for the bill. When we go away there's a crowded bus coming in with football fans on it. Not really a place for a cosy or romantic evening.
Our verdict: commercial, all about the money and unfriendly service, a 5 out of 10

Fish Taverna Argyrovoli - Makrigialos

This taverna is situated on the boulevard, a bit on the end of it when you have your nose pointed towards the sea. They serve among other things, salads, fish dishes, grilled dishes, pizzas and omelettes. It is cheap and the portions are very large, but they could have been a bit more seasoned. Unfortunately no crispy fries, but the fish is good. Friendly service.
Our verdict: a 7,5 out of 10

Taverna Exipiretisis - Makrigialos

This taverna is situated right next to the large parking lot in the village of Makrigialos, on the left hand side as you look towards the sea. There is no extensive menu but it is really cheap and delicious. We ordered the fried zucchini, tzatziki, twice the sole fish, a mix fish, chicken fillet and green beans. All this of course accompanied by a carafe of white wine.

Everything we have ordered tastes good, especially the fried zucchini and cheese saganaki are excellent. The next day we are back. We get a nice desert and a free can of white wine. Highly recommended, good food for little money.
Our verdict: an 8 out of 10

Café Olympio Bar - Makrigialos

A small snack bar on the promenade of Makrigialos. There are sandwiches, pizzas, omelettes, ice, breakfasts, cocktails and coffee on the menu. The cappuccino is good but could be served slightly stronger. A long wait for the sandwiches arrive to our table.
Our verdict: a 7 out of 10

Obelix Pizzeria - Fast food delivery - Makrigialos

This pizzeria / fast food service delivers at your home. They also have a restaurant on the right hand side of the main road of Makrigialos as you drive through Makrigialos towards Ierapetra. The have pittas, sandwiches, pizzas, salads and several other snacks. Cheap, fast delivery and not bad at all. Especially the pittas are delicious.
Our verdict: an 8,5 out of 10

Grillhouse Makis - Makrigialos

Makis Grill House is located on the boulevard that runs along the beach of Makrigialos. They sell mainly meat dishes, such as gyros, souvlaki and pita and there are also various salads. The chicken salad we ordered was fine. The wine too. My pita bread with chicken is also very nice. The fries are crispy. Cheap prices.
Our verdict: an 8 out of 10

Faros Taverna - Makrigialos

Taverna Faros is located on the boulevard that runs along the beach of Makrigialos. They sell mostly seafood and there is a friendly man working here. We ordered the "sole fish", the shrimp and fava. The fava was really delicious and the fish and shrimp are OK. There is fresh bread with butter served. The wine is good. The fries are okay but they are not crisp.
Our verdict: an 8 out of 10

The Olive Tree or Elia Taverna - Makrigialos

The Elia Taverna is located in the port of the village of Makrigialos. Here we ate a few times and always ordered fish (dorade, sea bass and sardines) and the Elia salad, which is very tasty. The house wine tastes fine too. The service is extremely friendly. Strange that in September the sardines were served without French fries and in October with fries.
Our verdict: an 8 out of 10

Patrelantonis Fish Taverna, Marathi Beach

This is a large and busy tavernas (especially if just a one or two excursion boats from Chania sailed in) which is perhaps a little understaffed for the moments of peak periods. Patience can be a good thing. There is no cappuccino on the menu, but only nescafe ... Many starters, not only fish, but also meatballs, chicken, spaghetti and more. We both ordered penne with salmon. The pasta was al dente and there was lots of salmon and some fresh dill in it: very good.
Our verdict: it could have been a 9, but because of the long waiting time and the fact that there was no cappuccino, we give it 8,5 out of 10

Maridatis Taverna - Maridatis beach

At 150 meters from the beach of Maridatis is this good fish tavern, where a cheerful gentleman (Manoli) is waiting for you with a big smile. There's nice Greek music and it is atmospheric, with beautiful views of the sea. The house wine is very tasty. We ordered the tzatziki, Greek salad and a fish dish that was on offer. Everything tastes fine, both the Greek salad and tzatziki which the well seasoned with garlic. The fish dish (9 euro in 2015, very cheap!) is deliciously seasoned. After lunch we get a bottle of delicious home made raki, and a dish with watermelon and Greek bananas. Top, delicious dinner and enjoyed the place.
Our verdict: a 9 out of 10

Cretan Corner Taverna in Megala Chorafia

The Cretan Corner Taverna sits at the fork in Megala Chorafia (where you can also take a turn to the the ruins of Aptera). Here in this part of the village you find all the taverns. The Cretan Corner is the largest of the three taverns in Megala Chorafia and it also has the best view. They sell various types of breakfast, vegetarian dishes, appetizers with meat or fish, salads, grilled meat and chicken, omelettes and more. We tried the spinach pies, the cheese saganaki, the fries, the tuna salad and tzatziki. The bread was in one piece and was fresh. The tzatziki could have used some more cucumber and garlic. It was a bit watery. The spinach pies were nice but we thought probably from a a package in the freezer. The tuna salad was with endive, tomatoes, onion, olives and tuna. The fries were pretty crisp but the cheese saganaki was dry and tasted more like a piece of rubber: really dirty. Cretan Corner is a cheap tavern.
Our verdict: reasonable, some dishes were okay, others were really bad, a 7 out of 10.

Ta Aptera Taverna in Megala Chorafia

Actually we have only had a soda here but the people that work here were so overwhelmingly friendly that they deserve a place in the spotlights. We asked for the directions to our next accommodation and before we new it they took out their own telephone to contact the owners of our destination and ask them what road we should take and how to get there. It was also quite cosy. The taverna is situated at the crossroads in Megala Chorafia (it says Aptera as you drive into the village but actually you drive into Megala Chorafia - this is where our confusion started because were already where we wanted to go to). Anyways, no verdict about the food but if that is just as good as the kindness of these people than it is a big fat ten.
Okay, so in 2010 we tested this tavern. They serve a variety of different breakfasts, appetizers (vegetarian and non-vegetarian), various salads, grilled meat and chicken, various cheeses, ice cream and sweets. We tried the stuffed zucchini flowers with fêta, the cheese saganaki, briam (different vegetables and feta from the oven) and the tuna salad. The food came pretty quickly and the service was friendly. The bread came in one piece and was fresh. The dishes looked a bit messy, as if not much care was put into them. The tuna salad had large pieces of vegetables and initially you could not see the tuna and the eggs that were supposed to be in the salad. They were all at the bottom. The presentation could be better here. There was spring-onion, tomato, peppers, lettuce, olives, tuna and egg in the salad. The cheese saganaki was 10 times better here than across the street at the Cretan Corner. The Briam tasted good. Paying the bill took a while because the owner was heavily in conversation with a friend and never looked around any more. We felt invisible.
Our verdict: slightly better than the Cretan Corner, a 7.5 out of 10

Moments Cafe Bar - Mirtos

Moments Cafe Bar is situated at the beach of Mirtos. Here we just had some wine. It was hospitable that they put some plates with nuts and with peach on the table. The service was friendly.
Our verdict: an 8 out of 10

© Hans Huisman, https://www.angelfire.com/super2/greece/ 2019