Lotto Restaurant - Naxos Chora

On my previous visits to Naxos I never tested and rated restaurants, so we only started doing this during our visit in 2015. On arriving by ferry in Naxos Chora we started with some breakfast. In Lotto Restaurant in the harbour, we ordered an English breakfast (5.50 euro per person in 2015). It was actually quite good, because for such a price you cannot expect much. There was fresh orange juice and filter coffee (no instant coffee). The service was extremely fast and friendly even though it was quite busy. Someone came to ask if we wanted an extra cup of coffee (included). In short, good and cheap. Our verdict: an 8,5 out of 10

Gorgona Tavern - Agia Anna, Naxos

Gorgona Tavern is a large and popular restaurant on the beach of Agia Anna. If it is very quiet or empty in the other tavernas in the village, it is always busy in Gorgona. The restaurant specializes in fresh fish dishes, but there is also plenty of choice of meat and vegetarian dishes. The restaurant is run by "manager" Toula, a super friendly woman. We thought it was better than a visit to a theatre play to see her, her husband and her son busy in the restaurant, very entertaining. Upon entering the Gorgona Tavern her husband immediately puts a glass of white wine in your hands, and than it is best to have a look at the large displays to see what is on the menu that day. We have eaten here a few times during our visit to Naxos. The first time we ordered swordfish and dorado (also a fish) and a crab salad. We received a complimentary cheese salad with the delicious fresh bread that was put down on the table. The fish was very good and the fries were crispy. The second visit was also no disappointment. I tried the half a roast chicken with lemon potatoes. The chicken was really delicious: I had not had such wonderful chicken in a long time. Our verdict: a 9,5 out of 10

Restaurant Apollon - Apollonas, Naxos

There is not much choice in restaurants in the village of Apollonas and the Apollon restaurant takes up just about half the quay space. Next to it is a kind of snack bar. Most people who visit the village are day-trippers who visit the nearby kouros and then go home. They eat here only one time and do not come back. There is virtually no competition. That's why you do not have to make a big impression with your food, or at least this is the impression I got here in the Apollon restaurant, where we had lunch twice. The fries were not crispy and the lamb chops were greasy. I ordered a mousaka myself which was sort of okay. At the second visit the food was extremely bad. I had a pizza which really was awful, with very greasy and unattractive slices of bacon on it, that I've taken off. Our verdict: a 6 out of 10

Restaurant Delfinaki - Lionas, Naxos

Nicely situated restaurant with friendly service. The bread that was served with the meal was not fresh, but Lionas is small and there is no bakery in the village. I was not crazy about the home made rosé, but my companion liked it and thought it was okay. The dishes in the restaurant are traditional Greek and simple. The zucchini balls were fine, with cheese sprinkled on top of it and with a sauce. The meatballs were good, but not special. We got free soft cheese and raki with our lunch. The atmosphere is good, the people are very kind. The self made raki was very nice and you can also buy a bottle here to take home. Our verdict - a 7,5 out of 10

Manolis Taverna - Maragas, Naxos

Maragas beach is a beach between Agia Anna beach and Plaka beach. Here you can find Manolis taverna. It is located on the beach. The tavern has an extensive menu. I order something I've never eaten before. It's called kalogeres, and it's a eggplant filled with a stew, tomatoes and cheese. This tastes delicious. My companion ordered the lamb chops, which are also good. Beforehand we have a dish with different types of cheese. Friendly service and good food. Our verdict - an 8,5 out of 10

Taverna Kontos - Mikri Vigla, Naxos

Restaurant located above the beach of Mikri Vigla, with a nice view of the bay. We order there zucchini balls, the tzatziki and a "salad Rokka". The bread is delicious and crunchy and the tzatziki tastes very good, as does the house wine. Our verdict: an 8 out of 10

Dichty Taverna - Moutsana, Naxos

Moutsana is a small village in the east of the island, with a village beach and a few beaches in the area. Most people who visit are day-trippers who come to see the village and the coast south of the village. Dichty Taverna is situated on the beach and proves that you can serve tasty dished to people that are probably only going to visit you 1 time. We ordered a salad with fish balls here, healthy and very tasty. Then we got two different puddings and two different glasses of fruit-raki for free. Friendly waiters and very cheap, highly recommended. Our verdict: a 9 out of 10

Restaurant Finikas - Pirgaki, Naxos

This restaurant is located in the southwest of Naxos, on the beach of Pirgaki. It is part of a luxury hotel complex and it is also slightly more expensive than you would normally expect. We ordered two cappuccinos. It's a nice Nespresso coffee and is served with homemade cookies, but no glass of water. The service is friendly. Our verdict - a 7,5 out of 10

Petrino - Plaka, Naxos

Petrino is one of the restaurants on the road that runs along the beach of Plaka. The service is friendly and there are original dishes on the menu. We ordered a vegetable tart with cabbage and walnuts, lamb and pasta with fish and seaweed. The waiter asked if I might prefer a ravioli (pasta with filling) and I agreed with that. The vegetable tart is fun. We have never seen this on a menu before. The execution of my pasta was less successful, with a ravioli that tastes like beets and a small and not very tasty whole fish fillet on top, instead of several small pieces of different fish I had expected. There is no seaweed to be found in my pasta. Half of the time we are there, there is a very irritating child continuously walking up and down again and again past our table, followed by it's mother. It's far from a quiet dinner. Our verdict: a 6,5 out of 10

Nikos & Maria Taverna - Plaka, Naxos

Taverna Nikos & Mary is also situated on the road that runs along the beach of Plaka. It serves traditional Greek food. We ordered the cheese croquettes, zucchini balls, lamb chops and chicken. The house wine does not have much taste, but otherwise there is not much to complain about. There's a lot of meat on the lamb chops, the chicken tastes good and the fries are crispy. Nice and handsome waiters, shame the TV was turned on because there was some football match on. We would have preferred the waves of the sea and some Greek music. Our verdict: an 8 out of 10

Picasso Mexican restaurant - Plaka, Naxos

Very nice to find a restaurant that serves something else than Greek food. Just for a change. Picasso Mexican restaurant can also be found on the beach road along Plaka beach. The service and the style has a bit more class than most other restaurants. We order the enchilada's, a mixed dish and some wine. The service is very friendly, the wine is poured into the glasses. The taste is good and the portions are large. Our verdict: an 8,5 out of 10

Vlassis Family Restaurant - Plaka, Naxos

Vlassis Family Restaurant is also one of the tavernas on the route along the beach of Plaka. It is a disappointment. It starts with dry old bread, tzatziki without any taste and a Greek salad that has been sitting in the cooling too long and is too cold. It would have been better freshly made. The fries and the lamb chops are okay, but the pastitio is tasteless, with lots of pasta, little meat and a hard crust on the bottom. It feels restless because of the small children of the owners and the family is yelling at each other. Some people have to wait half an hour before they get a starter. The lady who serves the tables disappears from view and we have to wait half an hour before we can get the bill. In the meantime children of 8 or 9 years old set the tables and bring around drinks. Our verdict: a 5 out of 10

© Hans Huisman, https://www.angelfire.com/super2/greece/ 2018