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Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 05 Mar 2008, 23:09
by Teddy
I am looking for a list of recommended tavernas/bars typically Symian Greek cuisine, no fast food! Nice bars to soak up the ambience. This would be very useful to help me with my romantic getaway in August this year! I am happy to take a taxi to any of your recommendations.


Teddy

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 05 Mar 2008, 23:30
by Richard
You should get many replies to this one as we each have our own favourites. My first two choices will both be in Yialos and are:
1. The Trata (Trawler) at the bottom of the KaliStrata. We always go there on the first night (and several other nights).
2. The Mythos, either the Roof Restaurant or the smaller Fish Taverna on the Harbourside (and sit outside). Book first, especially at weekends. Both Waitrose Food Magazine and the Daily Wail say it is the best cooking in Greece.
3. In Chorio, I would go to Syllogos in the Square. Sit outside on the roof terrace at the back.

The others will now shout at me and disagree. You have time to try some of theirs as well. Don't forget to have a pre- and post- dinner drink in the excellent bars. We'll come to those later.

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 06 Mar 2008, 15:11
by Allan
Teddy

You're likely to get as many different answers to this question as there are people posting here but rest assured that you'd be very unlucky to get a bad meal on Symi.

Since you're specifically looking for tradition Greek cuisine have a look at Meraklis Taverna in Yialos for good home cooking and entertaining frenetic service!

Up in Chorio, in addition to Richard's recommendation, it's almost mandatory that you visit the famous Georgio and Maria's Taverna for the traditional Greek "experience" (no menus, tour of the kitchen, excellent if tepid food....! ) You'll love it.

Higher up in Chorio, Zoe's Taverna has a good selection of home cooked Symiot food. Try the Symi lamb from their own farm if it's available - yummy!



Enjoy your romantic getaway!

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 06 Mar 2008, 22:07
by Dave
Teddy, unless it's a gyros, you don't get fast food ..... you get GOOD food all over the place - done as quickly as they can ..... but time is relative. There's no point in rushing on Symi - the ferry's gone, the ambience is great and the food is, well it is good, fresh ingredients cooked well and in the main, simply. And none the worse for it.

We all have our favourites - just try the different ones as your mood dictates and you will decide for yourself. But you won't get a poor meal !

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 06 Mar 2008, 23:36
by Teddy
Thank you so much everyone for all your recommendations. Mmmmm, I am very hungry and looking forward to sampling the Symian restaurants and cuisine.

TDi

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 07 Mar 2008, 10:42
by Jan
A couple more suggestions. Haritomeni, two thirds up the hillside with the most spectacular view over the harbour (and super food as well). You might want a taxi up - it depends on where you're staying, how fit you are and how good your sense of direction (mine is usually fine but we did spend some time one year slithering around the hillside having taken a so-called short cut).

Second, Tholos, right out on the point towards Nos beach. Pick a calm evening, if you want to be really romantic call in during the day to reserve a waterside table, then look back into the harbour with glass in hand.

Only another six months...

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 07 Mar 2008, 12:04
by Allan
I forgot those Jan.

Two excellent suggestions, good Greek food and romantic! Just what Teddy was looking for. :)

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 07 Mar 2008, 12:24
by Mille
In Chorio I prefer Zoi's.

Nice atmosphere, good food and Zoi herself is such a nice Lady!

Down in the harbour I always (well, almost) eat at Aris.
Excellent food with stunning views of the harbour.

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 07 Mar 2008, 13:06
by The Deedle
You could also try Muses, which is in Yialos and just behind the bridge. It's part of the Mythos growing empire and is sensational. But for really romantic venues, Haritomeni and Thollos are your best bet.

Have fun and remember to book wherever you can, it'll be heaving in August. You can find a list of telephone numbers for most things on the SV site.

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 08 Mar 2008, 16:09
by Dave
Teddy - Gail and I would always recommend Haritomeni (I have not a criticism of anywhere at all) - it was recommended to us by Ola and I concur with the previous message. On the roof terrace, after dark, looking down on to the harbour has a magic of its own. The food was very good.

The view of the harbour would have ensured that you would not have noticed the difference between beans on toast and a Michelin meal. It was a pleasure just to look at my wife with that amazing view as a backdrop !

I owe Ola a large drink for that recommendation !

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 12 Mar 2008, 11:54
by Kon
Yes i love the food topics ,just out of curiosity what would be the the main food most people on Symi would eat,ie ,Sea food,meat(Beef,Chicken,Pork),vegetables or other.

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 12 Mar 2008, 12:00
by Adriana
If the contents of the shops are anything to go by, pasta, pulses, vegetables, dairy products and small amounts of meat and fish/seafood. Pork is the most popular being the most affordable, along with chicken. Beef is definitely a treat and steak in any shape or form is incredibly expensive. :evil:

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 12 Mar 2008, 22:26
by AMPY
Great food at the Windmill - everything in meze portions so you can try loads of scummy dishes (don't miss the lemon potatoes)

Haritomeni for good home cooking and spectacular views

Any one of Stavros' restaurants for great cuisine

And of course Georges for traditional Symi atmosphere

Have fun on Symi - It's a little bit special

Alan

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 12 Mar 2008, 23:23
by Dave
The trouble with people's advice on places to eat on Symi is that it is subjective to people's tastes and moods and the time of day. All you end up with is a list of tavernas/estiatorios/ouzeris and snack bars with the occasional zaharoplastio thrown in - that list is here, elsewhere or published in the Visitor or other publications.

We had one of our best lunches in les Catherinettes-everything was right. No-one else mentions it. Likewise with others.We don't like ( or dislike) Giorgio's in Chorio - food is great, not the right ambience for us yet, quite rightly, it is very popular ( see what I mean? ) The fact is, there are no poor meals on Symi .... just different, for different reasons.

Ask six people - six different answers. See, decide, eat. What's to disappoint ?
Go - do - enjoy ........ go on, I bet you do !

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 13 Mar 2008, 08:07
by maziemoo
I've done les Catherinettes too and it was very nice. Never eaten at the Windmill but I understand the food is really good.

I agree with Dave though, lots of nice places to eat and depends on what kind of mood you're in, in terms of the ambience you want....it's a bit like going to the beach,you have to choose the right spot for you.

But Symi is one of those very rare places where you can pretty much guarantee a decent meal wherever you choose to eat and part of the fun is the voyage of discovery.

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 13 Mar 2008, 11:35
by Jan
We eat at the Kat regularly since for us it's home - we 'live' upstairs. Julie and Marina do excellent food, for us best if we just let them bring us what's fresh in the kitchen that day. I'd never call the taverna setting romantic, which is what I think - scrolling back 3 pages - is what was implied in the original message. But they say that love is blind anyway...

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 13 Mar 2008, 16:27
by Teddy
Thanks fellow Symians for all your replies. Where is the Windmill?

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 13 Mar 2008, 16:34
by Allan
It's in Chorio, Teddy. Opposite the Village Hotel.

If you're getting a taxi up from Yialos it will drop you right outside the gate.

Recommended Symian Restaurants

PostPosted: 13 Mar 2008, 22:01
by Dave
Jan wrote:
We eat at the Kat regularly since for us it's home - we 'live' upstairs. Julie and Marina do excellent food, for us best if we just let them bring us what's fresh in the kitchen that day. I'd never call the taverna setting romantic, which is what I think - scrolling back 3 pages - is what was implied in the original message. But they say that love is blind anyway...
se - Haritomeni with "that" view at sunset plus the good food. AND the sight of your loved one framed with .... "that" view at sunset ! The meal - some euros, the moment ........ priceless!