Crete Restaurants

Crete is a haven for those who like to spend a good portion of their holiday tucking into the local food. Restaurants can be found across the island, with everything from traditional Greek/Cretan eateries to themed European venues such as Irish and German cafés and restaurants. Prices are varied and you can eat at roadside takeaways if you are on a budget or at A-class establishments if money is of no object.

Local cuisine

Greece is a nation of food-lovers and eating is one of the most significant aspects of their culture. This can be seen quite clearly in the country’s cuisine, which locals are especially proud of and they go to great lengths to preserve its intricacies.

Cretan cuisine is equally cherished and while predominantly Greek in influence, some dishes may vary according to the prevalence of locally available ingredients. Food is, on the whole, traditionally Mediterranean and relies heavily on ingredients such as tomatoes, cucumber, olive oil, feta cheese and pitta bread. Seafood is also a major part of Cretan cuisine.

If you’re feeling adventurous then you should certainly consider trying the octopus dishes.  This will come grilled or deep fried and is known as kalamari. Bakaliaro, meanwhile, is another popular seafood dish featuring fried cod in a rich garlic sauce. Meat dishes are also highly popular, with beef and lamb featuring heavily. For the latter, the fricassee featuring fresh lamb, spinach, lemon, eggs and olive oil is definitely worth checking out. Kebabs are, of course, a popular dish anywhere in Greece and Crete is no exception, with takeaways across the island offering this staple culinary creation in beef, lamb or chicken varieties.

Make sure to check out the desserts too if you have a sweet tooth; mouth-watering pastries with honey, almonds and sesame are popular, as are a variety of creations employing similar ingredients. Check out favourites such as kataifi, baklava and amygdalopita.

Where to eat

You’ll find no shortage of eateries on the Greek island of Crete, with restaurants in all of the popular resorts vying for the business of tourists. At lunch time you might want to just grab a salad or a kebab from one of the places near the beachfront or at a Greek taverna/café in any of the town centres.

For an evening meal, you’ll probably get hawkers outside the restaurants trying to pull you in and it’s entirely up to you whether or not you choose to believe that they make ‘the best moussaka in town’ or not. For a meal that’s guaranteed to be good, visit the restaurant at your hotel or consider wandering into one of the many other hotels around. Prices may not be cheap at these places, but quality is generally high at the more reputable establishments.