Travel guide Greece
Where We Ate Best in Greece: The Meals Worth Travelling For
Lunch in Kalami, gyros in Gouvia, saganaki on Zakynthos, sardines in Kalamata and the best Greek salad on Crete.
Best gyros
The Best, Gouvia
Best lunch spot
Kalami, Corfu
Best saganaki
Zakynthos
Best salad
Crete
On this page: The meals · Restaurants · Taverna tips · Cook it at home · FAQ
The best food in Greece, for us: lunch at The White House in Kalami on Corfu, gyros in Gouvia, saganaki on Zakynthos, grilled sardines in Kalamata and, on Crete, the best Greek salad we have ever had.
None of these were fancy. Greek food is at its best when it is simple: good tomatoes, proper olive oil, something straight off the grill and a table by the water. At Tone & Taste we turn the meals we remember into recipes, so every dish below links to a version you can cook at home.
We enjoyed the Greek salads most of all: sweet-as-sugar tomatoes, a fresh slab of feta, and crunchy dakos crumbled over the top. They found their way onto our table every time we ate out.
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The Five Meals We Still Talk About
Lunch at The White House, Kalami
Set in the house where Lawrence Durrell once lived, The White House is a waterfront taverna tucked into a small bay on Corfu’s north-east coast. Lunch is as much about the setting as the food: a table on the terrace, with the water just below.
If you’re staying in Kalami a little longer, make time for the spaghetti bolognese at the beachfront restaurant. The sauce has a subtle note of local berries, giving this comforting classic a wonderfully distinctive flavour.
Gyros at The Best, Gouvia
“THE BEST” gyros of the whole trip, wrapped in pita with tomato, onion, tzatziki and chips. It was also the cheapest meal we had. Our homemade gyros recipe gets you close at home.
Saganaki on Zakynthos
Pan-fried cheese that arrives still sizzling with a wedge of lemon. Simple, salty and gone in minutes. Make it with our saganaki recipe.
Grilled sardines in Kalamata
Some of the best grilled sardines we have had anywhere in Greece: charred, salty and eaten with bread, lemon and olive oil from the olive country around town.
Greek salad on Crete
The best Greek salad we have ever eaten, with tomatoes as sweet as sugar. That is the whole secret of a horiatiki: ripe tomatoes, a slab of feta and good oil. Here is our Greek salad recipe.
Popular Restaurants on Tripadvisor
We did not eat out that much on our trips, and we cooked a lot ourselves. So for each place we stayed, here are the most popular, best-reviewed restaurants on Tripadvisor, with a focus on Greek food. We have not eaten at most of them, ratings were checked in November 2026, and it is always worth reading recent reviews first.
Corfu Town
Ampakas Mezedopoleio (meze and seafood, mid-range; 4.7/5 from 1,537 reviews)
Lampadina Traditional Cuisine (traditional Greek, mid-range; 4.8/5 from 588 reviews)
Porta Otturata (Greek and Mediterranean, mid-range; 5.0/5 from 189 reviews)
Paxos (Gaios)
Genesis Restaurant (seafood, mid-range; 4.3/5 from 1,002 reviews)
Fanalino Restaurant Bar (Mediterranean, mid-range; 4.7/5 from 338 reviews)
Thalassa (seafood, mid-range; 4.5/5 from 354 reviews)
Parga
Simple Grill House (grill and souvlaki, cheap eats; 4.7/5 from 379 reviews)
The Yard (Mediterranean, mid-range; 4.7/5 from 485 reviews)
The Friends (Greek, mid-range; 4.7/5 from 54 reviews)
Lefkada Town
Antivaro (grill, mid-range; 4.8/5 from 194 reviews)
La Vinaria Taverna (seafood taverna, mid-range; 4.4/5 from 591 reviews)
To Loukoumadaki (loukoumades and sweets, cheap eats; 4.8/5 from 266 reviews)
Kefalonia (Argostoli)
Tzogia’s Taverna (Greek taverna, mid-range; 4.4/5 from 1,343 reviews)
Tzivras Restaurant 1933 (traditional Greek, cheap eats; 4.6/5 from 347 reviews)
Nia Garden Restaurant (Greek, mid-range; 4.8/5 from 90 reviews)
Zakynthos Town
Kantouni Estiatorio (Greek, mid-range; 4.8/5 from 331 reviews)
Nostimon Imar (seafood, mid-range; 4.6/5 from 1,083 reviews)
Yard of Taste (seafood and Mediterranean, mid-range; 4.6/5 from 1,286 reviews)
Crete: Heraklion
Merastri (Cretan and Greek, mid-range; 4.9/5 from 1,338 reviews)
Petousis Restaurant (grill, mid-range; 4.8/5 from 3,013 reviews)
Anchorage Traditional Mezedopolio (meze, cheap eats; 4.9/5 from 311 reviews)
Crete: Agios Nikolaos
MamaLukia & Lotzeta (Greek, mid-range; 4.9/5 from 1,319 reviews)
Portes (Greek, mid-range; 4.8/5 from 823 reviews)
Gipas Kafenio (grill, cheap eats; 4.9/5 from 298 reviews)
Kalamata
Ta Rolla (Greek, cheap eats; 4.6/5 from 604 reviews)
Tsipouradiko Therapeftirion (tsipouro and meze, mid-range; 4.7/5 from 191 reviews)
Notias (seafood, mid-range; 4.6/5 from 335 reviews)
How to Eat Like a Local at a Greek Taverna
Order to share
Greeks order several plates for the middle of the table: a salad, a dip like tzatziki, something fried, something from the grill. Order a few, then order more.
Eat late
Lunch often runs from about 14:00 into the afternoon, and tavernas fill up for dinner from around 21:00. Arrive at 19:00 and you will have the place to yourself.
Ask what is fresh
Fish is usually sold by weight, and many tavernas cook only a few dishes each day. Asking what is good today gets you the best plate on the menu.
House wine and the bill
House wine is normally served by the carafe and is often very good value. Tipping is not obligatory; rounding up or leaving 5 to 10% for good service is common.
Cook it at home
Cook Our Greek Favourites at Home
The dishes from this list, written as recipes that work in a home kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best food in Greece?
For us: a proper Greek salad with ripe tomatoes, saganaki, gyros, grilled fish and anything cooked in good olive oil. The best meals were rarely the fanciest ones.
Where can you eat the best gyros in Greece?
Every region has its favourite spot. Ours was at The Best in Gouvia, north of Corfu Town, and it was also the cheapest meal of our trip. Look for places that are busy with locals and carve the meat to order.
What time do Greeks eat dinner?
Late, usually from around 21:00. Lunch is often the bigger meal and can start around 14:00.
Do you tip in Greek restaurants?
It is not obligatory. Rounding up or leaving 5 to 10% for good service is common.
Hungry for more? Our Greek Food Guide covers what to order across Greece, and the Greece Travel & Food Guide has everything else.
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