Mediterranean restaurants in Crete
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Megaro
This recently refurbished place on the corner of the square is popular with locals around the district. The owner fishes from his own boat and the menu also includes Cretan specialities.
reviewed
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Iliomanolis
It's worth the drive through the spectacular Kotsifou Gorge to eat hearty home-style Cretan food in the village of Kanevos, in a lovely setting with the gorge on one side and a forest on the other. This place is renowned for its excellent food, and Maria is happy to show you the tempting array of pots in the kitchen (between 20 and 25 dishes each day). The meat is mostly their own produce and they sell their own wine, olive oil and raki.
reviewed
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Kourites
Some of the best Cretan cuisine around is served at Kourites, including vegetarian delights such as artichokes. Try some of the dishes cooked in the wood oven - the suckling pig with baked potatoes is delicious. There are simple rooms above the taverna with small balconies (single/double including breakfast around €25/around €35) and you can have free use of the bicycles.
reviewed
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Ferryman
With a lovely setting on the waterfront, the Ferryman claims its moment of fame from being featured in the TV series Who Pays the Ferryman. The food and service is excellent (they even clean the fish for you), though it is on the pricey side. Its speciality is fish and lobster, but there's a broader menu of Cretan specialties
reviewed
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A
Barko
This place has gone upmarket since moving to flashier premises opposite the beach. There are still excellent Cretan-style dishes but the menu includes more creative Mediterranean-style cuisine such as a light risotto with pumpkin and anthotyro (a soft whey cheese). There's a decent wine list, too.
reviewed
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Nikos
While it lacks the ambience of the seafront eateries, no-frills Nikos on the main street is a good choice for fish and lobster because it generally catches its own. There are outdoor tables under a canopy across in the square. Service can be erratic but the food is very reasonably priced.
reviewed
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Kostas
Right on the beach at the eastern end, this established fish taverna decked out in classic blue and white is known for its excellent fresh fish and seafood and is always packed with locals. There's a big range of mezedes and pricey but excellent seafood.
reviewed
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B
To Kafeneio
Ierapetra has an excellent tradition of rakadika, relaxed evening hang-outs where a carafe of raki or wine comes with half a dozen or more tasty tid-bits, making it a good value slow dining experience. Try To Kafeneio opposite the town hall.
reviewed
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Taverna Rea
Maria does the cooking at Taverna Rea on the main street of Agios Georgios, which rustles up excellent grilled local meats (her husband is the butcher) and good-value Cretan staples. They also rent out studios above the taverna (around €30).
reviewed
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Houlis Rakadiko
For a classic local experience try this old place, which has a wide range of fine mezedes accompanied by good raki. It has no signage, but it's the second place from the corner; by day it's packed with men playing backgammon.
reviewed
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Petros Taverna
Former cave guardian Petros Zarvakis has opened Petros Taverna opposite the entrance to Dikteon Cave, serving Cretan food and grills. He also organises regular hikes up to Mt Dikti, camping out under the stars.
reviewed
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C
Napoleon
This is one of the oldest and most respected establishments. It's on the waterfront on the south side of town. There is fresh fish and Greek and Cretan specialties, but whatever you order is of a high quality.
reviewed
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Faros
Inland from the harbour, this no-frills place is one of the oldest fish tavernas in town, dishing up reasonably priced fresh fish (around €45 per kg) as well as a range of grills and mayirefta.
reviewed
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D
O Mihos
This psistaria in a traditional stone house one block back from the waterfront has excellent charcoal-grilled meats as well as Cretan cooking. There are also tables on a terrace nearby on the beach.
reviewed
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Tasomanolis
This traditional fish taverna on the W end of the beach is run by a keen fisherman. You can sample his catch on a pleasant terrace overlooking the beach, grilled and accompanied with wild greens and wine.
reviewed
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Stavros
With its neat folksy interior and street-side tables, Stavros serves a good range of traditional home-style Cretan dishes. Most of the meat and produce is from the family farm.
reviewed
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Lisseos
The location below the road near the bridge is uninspiring, but this place is well-known for specialising in mayirefta - the best home-style cooking in town.
reviewed
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Gianni's
Towards the end of the main street, this no-frills place has good-value grills, including a mixed grill with salad and potatoes (around €7).
reviewed
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Nikos Souvlaki
A popular and cheap souvlaki place frequented by the hostel crowd is Nikos Souvlaki.
reviewed
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E
Taverna Babis
Recommended, and on the waterfront is Taverna Babis, with an enormous range of mezedes.
reviewed
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Paradosiako
Recommended for grilled and oven-baked meat dishes. It's opposite the playground.
reviewed
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To Xehoristo
Locals reliably swear by the souvlaki and grills at To Xehoristo.
reviewed
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