Strofi

Strofi Restaurant has been recently refurbished and is hosted in a mid-war house with seating on three different levels and has a wonderful location that overlooks the sacred rock of the Acropolis. Famous for serving Greek celebrities, politicians, and renown artists, Strofi is a fine dining restaurant with a high-class atmosphere. For our last night in Athens, Greece we decided to walk over towards this other area of the city to check out this highly rated restaurant Keith had found.  We did not have reservations (which were apparently needed), but since we arrived early enough for European standards and were just a party of two, we were seated at a lovely table on the third floor in the open air seating with a prime view of the Acropolis. This was the perfect way to end our amazing honeymoon in Greece.

Total Rating: 4.75
Food: 5, Price: 4, Service: 5, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 4 

What I ate:

Smoked Eggplant Salad

eggplant spread with onions and garlic

Spinach Pie

spinach and feta cheese baked in phyllo dough

Rooster

in a wine sauce served with pasta

Ekmek with Ice cream

a Greek pastry stuffed with custard cheese

Plus Keith ate:

Pork Filet

served with tomatoes, cheese and peppers

Loukoulos

Last date I was here: 05/24/2011

Restaurant: Loukoulos (http://loukoulos-restaurant.gr/)

Location: Heraklion - Crete, Greece

Total Rating: 3.95
Food: 4, Price: 3, Service: 5, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: Located in the heart of Heraklion, Loukoulos is one of the most romantic restaurants we dined at. Serving contemporary Greek cuisine with French influences as well as traditional meals from their wood oven, Loukoulos balances formal and warm family dining with its open courtyard dining experience. This was our last meal in Crete and so we wanted to enjoy ourselves. Loukoulos was the most formal place we dined at, with nice linens on the table, comfortable chairs, and candlesticks. We were offered an amuse bouche of fresh vegetable soup that was both rustic in flavor yet refined in texture and taste. When my entree arrived, I was a little taken aback because I was not used to seeing scallops still in the shells, like mussels. With only a little bit of meat inside, I was a little disappointed with my choice, but it was a very fresh seafood experience. After our meal, we were again offered a complimentary shot of Raki.

What I ate:

Baked eggplant with feta cheese

Zucchini Balls

served with tzatziki sauce

Grilled Scallops

bay scallops in the shell served with lemon

Plus Keith ate:

Dorado

fresh whole fish grilled, served with vegetables

Ippokampus

Last date I was here: 05/23/2011

Restaurant: Ippokampus

Location: Heraklion - Crete, Greece

Total Rating: 4.15
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 5

Summary: This charming restaurant is just a short walk from the port and Venetian Fort area. With seating outside, patrons have a great view of the seaside and sunset over the mountains. We were very anxious to try some fresh seafood and Ippokampus did not disappoint. The service was very friendly and prompt. The food was very fresh and flavorful - one of my favorite meals while in Greece. We even considered coming back the next evening, but of course decided we should go somewhere new. As is customary at most Greek restaurants, we concluded our meal with a complimentary dessert and shots of Raki, aka "fire water" - a strong Greek liquor made of fermented white grape skins.

What I ate:

Eggplant Salad

smashed smoked eggplant spread with onions and garlic

Mussels

steamed with tomatoes and onions

Seafood Pasta

spaghetti in tomato sauce with mussels, cuttlefish, and shrimp

Plus Keith ate:

Red Mullet

four lovely pieces of fish lightly breaded and grilled, served whole

Giakomis

Last date I was here: 05/23/2011

Restaurant: Giakomis

Location: Heraklion - Crete, Greece

Total Rating: 3.95
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 3, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: This family tavern is hidden on one of the busy side streets within the central market area of Heraklion, Crete. Keith researched and read that this restaurant was one of the best among locals and served both Greek and Cretan cuisines. So we gave it a shot and it was pretty decent. With a mix of indoor and outdoor seating, we sat outside along the main sidewalk drag. After taking our order, we saw the chef pick the fresh lamb meat from his meat counter and immediately pound away and add lemon juice before placing on the grill. Keith immediately exclaimed, "Do you see how fresh that is? This is going to be good!" The dish I wanted to try (chick peas) was not available, but the server was quick to recommend an alternative (butter beans) and so I agreed. I had never had them before and with the tomato stew preparation, they were pretty hearty and filling. I was very satisfied for lunch and this was a perfect stop before continuing with our exploration of the day.

What I ate:

Greek Salad

tomato, cucumber, onion, olives, in olive oil and vinegar dressing topped with Feta cheese

Butter Beans

stewed with tomatoes and onions

Plus Keith ate:

Lambchops

Herb's Garden

Last date I was here: 05/22/2011

Restaurant: Herb's Garden (http://www.lato.gr/amenities/roof-garden.html)

Location: Heraklion - Crete, Greece

Total Rating: 4.35
Food: 5, Price: 3, Service: 3, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 4

Summary: Located on the roof top of the Lato Boutique Hotel, the Herb's Garden was our choice for dinner our first night in Crete since we arrived so late. With a small seating area, we were asked to wait for almost 40 minutes until a table opened up. But we ordered drinks while we waited and were seated with the a view overlooking the Venetian Fort and harbor. Offering contemporary Greek cuisine, the food was some of the best we ate and well worth the long wait. Typical, classy hotel restaurant service and quality with reasonable prices - Herb's Garden seemed to be a destination spot for locals looking for a romantic evening out as well. Although limited seating, the food and view rank Herb's Garden among the top restaurants in Greece.

What I ate:

Baked Bread Rolls

filled with smoked eggplant, tyrozouli (semi-hard goat local cheese) & aged balsamic dressing

Grape Leaves

wraps filled with shrimps finished with wine, lemon grass and white tarama (fish roe spread)

Local Orzo

with morilles, porcini & pleyrotous with grated ladotyri (hard table cheese aged in olive oil)

Plus Keith ate:

White Grouper

fillet on the grill with ginger sauce & Greek-casserole vlita (summer greens)

Skala

Last date I was here: 05/21/2011

Restaurant: Skala

Location: Oia - Santorini, Greece

Total Rating: 4.7
Food: 5, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 5

Summary: Rated one of the best restaurants in Oia, Skala Restaurant is a secret gem with an amazing view that is overlooked by most tourists. Serving fresh seafood and Greek specialties, Skala has great food and even better prices. We went to Oia side of Santorini to catch the famous sunset, but headed out early to beat the crowd. We ate dinner here overlooking the beautiful caldera. The house white wine was fantastic and at only 8 Euros a bottle, the best I had while in Greece. Since we didn't eat a decent lunch, we splurged on appetizers as well as ate the free desert that came at the end. Overall, Skala was one of the best places we ate at in Greece and I highly highly recommend this restaurant to other travelers. Do not overlook this gem!

What I ate:

Baked Feta

served with tomatoes

Eggplant Salad

smoked eggplant spread with garlic and onions

Baked Cod

served with boiled potatoes and tomatoes

Plus Keith ate:

Fresh Sea Bream

grilled, served whole with potatoes and vegetables

The Dolphin

Last date I was here: 05/20/2011

Restaurant: The Dolphin

Location: Akrotiri - Santorini, Greece

Total Rating: 4.15
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 5

Summary: After taking the bus down to the Southwestern part of Santorini to explore Akrotiri and the Red Beach, we stumbled upon this charming seaside tavern. Nothing fancy, but the Dolphin had table seating out on the dock and we were sure they would have fresh seafood, so we gave them a try for lunch and boy were we glad. The Dolphin is sort of in a remote location - you have to walk past a few other taverns and along the beach to get to it. Service was friendly and prompt and sitting out on the pier we had a great view of the bus stop, just in case. The seafood was very fresh and plentiful and the ice tea I ordered was so refreshing after the day in the sun.

What I ate:

Calamari

Greek Salad

tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, with Feta cheese

Plus Keith ate:

Cuttlefish

Meteora

Last date I was here: 05/20/2011

Restaurant: Meteora (http://www.santorini-meteora.com)

Location: Perivolos - Santorini, Greece

Total Rating: 3.6
Food: 3, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 5

Summary: Along the black sand beaches of Perissa and Perivolos are several beach cafes and restaurants. One - the Meteora - was crowded every night and so we thought it must be a good place. The owner, Irene, who speaks many languages, takes orders and has charted out an extensive and varied menu. Full of energy and enthusiasm, she will have her guests up and dancing in no time at all. The feta in the oven or pastitsio (Greek chicken) and "Chicken Santorini", prepared from tender chicken are some of the treats at Meteora, and particularly divine is Irene's "Fire, Fire, Fire", a sinfully rich sweet that rounds off the evening meal. The restaurant organizes theme nights, which are a hit with both locals and tourists. There is lots of singing and dancing. Meteora is open for breakfast through dinner and prices are quite reasonable.

Keith deemed this restaurant the "TGI Friday's of Greece" as some of the entrees had flashy names and we expected the dancing and singing servers to yell "Happy Birthday!" at any moment. Overall, the service was very warm and welcoming. The food was not the best though.

What I ate:

Hummus

chick pea spread

Tomato Balls

fried fritters of tomato

Edam Baldi

stuffed eggplant

Plus Keith ate:

Meatballs

ground veal meat fried into a ball

Santorini Pork

breaded filet in a spicy tomato sauce served with rice and vegetables

Vitro

Last date I was here: 05/18/2011

Restaurant: Vitro (http://www.greektaverna.gr/)

Location: Athens, Greece

Total Rating: 3.4
Food: 3, Price: 4, Service: 3, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: As you are wondering in the heart of the historical location of Acropolis, 20 meters from the metro and across the new museum of Acropolis, you will find the famous restaurant "VITRO". The polite and skilled personnel of this delicatessen restaurant serve traditional Greek cuisine, as well as the imaginative recipes and the high quality ingredients compose a menu that appeals to tourist crowd. You can choose from a variety of spaghetti, fresh fish and Greek specialties, such as "exohiko" lamb, mix souvlaki, stuffed eggplant and spaghetti Vitro.

Keith had looked up "romantic" places for dinner and found Vitro, however when we arrived it was more casual with outdoor seating under umbrellas and littered with tourists. Most likely for its close location to the museum and main Acropolis site, nevertheless we gave it a shot. Although not our favorite meal during our travels throughout Greece, the service was decent and the portions were generous.

What I ate:

Saganaki

fried Greek cheese

Grilled Eggplant

Spaghetti with Vegetables

Plus Keith ate:

Mixed Souvlaki Platter

chicken and lamb

Psaras

Last date I was here: 05/17/2011

Restaurant: Psaras (http://www.psaras-taverna.gr/en/)

Location: Plaka - Athens, Greece

Total Rating: 4.15
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 5

Summary: One of the oldest restaurants in the Plaka district of Athens, Psaras is a lovely fish tavern that is housed in two old mansions, one across from the other. The sidewalk in between serves as our outdoor dining area in the summer with tables cascading the hill steps. Away from the tourist trap, Psaras is popular among locals and business travelers.

What I ate:

Fried Zucchini

Taramasalata

fish roe dip

Shrimp Salanakis

head-on shrimp boiled in a tomato stew with Feta cheese

Plus Keith ate:

Grilled Octopus

Scholarhio Ouzeri Kouklis

Last date I was here: 05/16/2011

Restaurant: Scholarhio Ouzeri Kouklis (http://www.scholarhio.gr/english/index.php)

Location: Plaka - Athens, Greece

Total Rating: 3.95
Food: 4, Price: 3, Service: 4, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 5

Summary: Welcome to Greece! After traveling over 13 hours, this was our first authentic meal in Athens. We ventured from our hotel to the nearby Plaka District. Littered with cute restaurants, Keith picked this charming place for lunch and we were greeted by the most friendly and eager server. This traditional family restaurant offers a platter with 18 different specialties for you to pick and choose, for the price of 14 Euros per person. A little pricey for lunch, but since this was our first meal here we decided to go ahead and splurge. Drinks and dessert is included.

What I ate:

Tzatziki

Stuffed Grape Leaves

Spicy Pork

Cheese Puffs

Fried Eggplant

Ioannis

Last date I was here: 05/16/2011

Restaurant: Ioannis

Location: Royal Olympic Hotel - Athens, Greece

Total Rating: 4.6
Food: 5, Price: 3, Service: 5, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 5

Summary: This is the new gourmet restaurant at the roof garden of the Royal Olympic Hotel in Athens. We had the privilege of staying here and chose to eat dinner in the hotel for our first evening in Athens. Our jaws dropped when the elevator doors opened on the seventh floor and we were greeted with the amazing views of the Temple of Zeus, the Acropolis, and the Hadrian’s Arch. The restaurant decor itself was very classy and the creative cuisine is a unique combination of forgotten traditional Greek recipes and modern conception in an impressive presentation.

To quote, "the famous Chef, Mr. Kostas Tsigas, will reveal to you some of the best kept secrets of traditional Greek gastronomy, always using the most selected, fresh raw materials of the season." We were greeted with an amuse buche of contemporary eggplant salad that was both beautiful to the eye and bursting with flavors. We enjoyed watching the sun set over the Acropolis as we drank our wine and waited for our food. Although quite pricey, the food was very good and the views are incredible. Afterwards, we walked over to the bar area to sit and enjoy the view some more. I highly recommend Ioannis for their one of a kind views and dining experience.

What I ate:

Baked Mussels

stuffed with cheese and breadcrumbs

Roasted Hen

served in a tomato stew with swiss chard

Plus Keith ate:

Kid Goat

served with risotto