Introduction

Gone are the days when the hubby and I could book a last minute package to our beloved Greece, throw a few clothes in a rucksack and stuff a few Euro's in our pocket's for quite a few beers and a meal a day!. Since becoming a mother i've transformed myself into a planner, a fanatical ironer and seeker of quality food to bestow on my daughter in the hope she will have a more varied palate than her father - who unfortunately remains a meat and two veg man despite my protests. So just 2 weeks after giving birth to my daughter last May we decided to return to Elounda in June this year, where we have spent many a happy holiday and 'eventually' married there back in 2004. I had great plans on the Taverna's we would return to... that is until we discovered the Ergospasio on one of our many early morning walks with the little one.

Getting up at 7am we had plenty of time to have a wander and explore the menu's of the many taverna's based around Elounda's beautiful harbour and causeway, I could ummm and ahhh at the dishes on offer without the owner leaping on me and offering me a table.

So the Ergospasio caught my attention firstly because it is positioned next to a 'delightful' establishment complete with magical light shows, water fountains dancing in the sea and mannequins wearing - well let's just say rather dodgy outfits, how on earth could Ergospasio compare!?... easy, it had a set of six simple tables positioned outside, an octopus drying in the sun and a menu I could relate to, bulging with Mezedes... no * (*which indicates which dishes are frozen on a Greek menu - (god help all my local establishments if this is introduced in the UK)). So it is decided... we will return tonight to sample the delights of Ergospasio.

Location

The Ergospasio can be reached via either the main road into Elounda, if travelling by Taxi ask the driver to stop at the top of the bend as you reach the village.. a shout of Mam's (a rival restaurant established for year's) should do the trick... the Ergospasio is situated directly opposite.. If on foot follow the Taverna's along the harbour front until you hit the start of the 'Causeway' an unmade track... Ergospasio is the first Taverna you will meet on the further strip of 'organised' track you meet.

Our Experience of Ergospasio

The hubby and I enjoy chaotic showers whilst trying to keep Madam amused and get her dressed, pack her bag and sort her milk for later in the evening... etc, etc., I emerge from the apartment relishing my evening ahead. We take a short walk before arriving at said Taverna, with a few simple tables and chairs assembled on the quay side and after a few minutes browsing the menu (no... i'm not pounced upon) Costas the owner greets us with a Yassas .... a delightful sound after trying out our Greek on unknowing Eastern Europeans on previous evening's. Costas promptly recommends a table on the gallery upstairs... we as new parents have other ideas but he promptly hoists Madam complete with pushchair up two flights of stairs to said Gallery. We are not disappointed. The views are simply breathtaking... stretching out across the Bay of Mirabello...

A further surprise is the totally stunning interior of the building - the traditional stone walls and archways leading to secluded tables are enhanced buy subtle lighting and fantastic attention to detail... perfectly laid tables and artifacts dotted around. The Ergospasio clearly has a tale or two to tell and we learn from Costa's that the site of the restaurant was once the first state of the art carob processing plant in Crete.

The 'Haroupoergospasio' first opened in Elounda way back in 1938 and continued to operate for twenty years. The carob processing plant operated between August and March and processed 8-9 tonnes of carob per working day. The site manufactured three by-products, most of which were exported across across Europe but some were retained for local consumption. The 'Haroupoergospasio' became a trademark industry in Elounda and in the following years the plant was used to store salt from the saltmarshes surrounding Elounda. To my amazement the carob breaker is still intact enjoying pride of place within the taverna.

So to the Menu....

I mentioned earlier that the menu is buldging with Mezedes... or 'little dishes' designed to tempt the tastebuds and hence leave the diner lingering over the table enjoying good conversation and delicious food .... oh and how I love to pick! so this is heaven for me!. I am not disappointed. So the feast begins and the hubby selects a few meat mezedes 'small meat balls of Grandma Polysenki (her recipe)'.... too die for, minced veal and pork served in a spearmint, basil, oregano, ouzo AND tomato sauce and ample dish which is wiped clean with the selection of local breads and 'Mandi from Epirus' a truely delightful plateful of small filo pies stuffed to bursting with a tasting filling of minced pork and secret spices, this is served with a yogurt side dish.

I add to the mix with a dish of 'Fresh local Beetroot served with Lemon' - I can't resist, as I child I ate my dad's homegrown pickled version by the jarful until my wee turned pink.. but that's another story!. Mounds of grilled Mushrooms... I can never cook them correctly at home, Cretan Sausage.. rough and rustic sausages traditionally smoked and sourced locally and a huge Greek Salad with tomato, cucumber, onion, feta and an ample seasoning of oregano and extra virgin olive oil.

I could of debated over the menu for hours, the meze menu offered 27 dishes!! and that's before I started to browse the salad, pasta, chef's specialities, traditional recipes, plate of the day, meats, seafood and fish menu's.... And a selection of over fifty wines... but we opted for a trusty litre carafe of local white.

Service

Soon after ordering Costa's arrives at out table with a large basketful of locally baked rustic breads at which little madam chuckles with delight.. she is, afterall bread mad so after allowing her to make her own selection we cover said basket with one of the large linen napkins provided. Nice touch, but i'm even more delighted when he arrived with a tiny and elegant cup of 'soup' compliments of the chef. This was a beautiful clear consumme and a delicious start to our perfectly prepared meal.

Our choices fill the table to brimming and are served at a perfect temperature and we spend a good hour or so sharing our Mezedes whilst listening to a local bazouki player and enjoying the fantastic view.

Our table is cleared and Costa's declares we have yet to enjoy the true delights of the Ergospasio ... a few minutes later we are served 'compliments of the house' with small cups of strong Greek coffee and small squares of a dish resembling creme caramel with a bitter sweet carob topping. Nothing it seems has been left uncovered, the owner pays respect to the building that was once a carob processing plant and now houses his restaurant with a delicious dessert.. on the house.

We ask for the bill and it arrives with a bottle of 'nero' (water) and 2 raki glasses... 'to refresh us before our walk back along the causeway. We chuckle with delight when we find it is not 'nero' but locally produced raki and Costa's gives us a knowing nod and a wink.

Verdict....

I'm hard to please, but needless to say we returned here several times during our time in Elounda, i'm usually uneasy about recommending restaurants as one person's idea of good food is another's hell, but the menu is so perfectly designed it suited the ever picky hubby and an even more picky me! and the bonus being that the majority of dishes are prepared from scratch... no*!. We returned a few evenings later with an ever finickerty grandmother and she still raves about the seafood saganaki.... grandad was happy with the simple cooked greens and mashed lentils, and of course the serving of 'nero' as our meal drew to a close. The menu has enough to cover even the most varied of tastes and Costa's holds a true pride in the service and dishes he offers, it's nice to see someone putting their heart and soul into a business and succeeding.

On another note the toilets are also spotless... the light switches itself on as you enter and off as you leave, and the tap works automatically via a sensor as you place your hands underneath... quirky but nice! it seems Costa's is keen to save the planet too!

Costs?

The Mezedes range between three and eight Euro's per dish... an excellent table full for your money!. Our bill averaged at around 35 euro's all in.... even with grandma and grandad in tow it only averaged around 50 Euro's... pure class.

Contact Details

E-mail...... ergospasio@gmail.com
Tel........... +30 28410 42082
5 Akti Oloundos street
(on juction to the canal)