Syrataki Taverna, Thassos

We have just returned from two very hot weeks in Thassos, we decided to go in June rather than May as Thassos is the most northernly of the Greek islands.

When we are away we usually try and go to a different Taverna for about the first 8 nights and then revisit our favourites for the remaining nights.
The first night we went to TWINS taverna in the town, which I will review later. Most of our following nights were spent at ...
...At the East end of Thassos Town is the Old Port area, we feel this is the the better area to go in the evenings and in fact during the day.

Our first visit to Syrtaki was on our 2nd day, we had decided to go down and see what the Town Beach was like.
After passing around the Old Port you turn the corner to the Beach. Here you will find a run of about 8 Tavernas and a couple of Beach Snack/Bars.
To be fair the menu Prices ... more

We have just returned from two very hot weeks in Thassos, we decided to go in June rather than May as Thassos is the most northernly of the Greek islands.

When we are away we usually try and go to a different Taverna for about the first 8 nights and then revisit our favourites for the remaining nights.
The first night we went to TWINS taverna in the town, which I will review later. Most of our following nights were spent at the SYRTAKI which alone speaks for itself.

At the East end of Thassos Town is the Old Port area, we feel this is the the better area to go in the evenings and in fact during the day.

Our first visit to Syrtaki was on our 2nd day, we had decided to go down and see what the Town Beach was like.
After passing around the Old Port you turn the corner to the Beach. Here you will find a run of about 8 Tavernas and a couple of Beach Snack/Bars.
To be fair the menu Prices are much the same and speaking to other Visitors not a bad word was said about any of them.

They all seem to offer FREE SUNBEDS if you use their facilities during the day, this seems to be just buying a drink from the Bar, early season so they did not seem too strict on this.

I had seen good reviews about SYRTAKI, before I went so after checking the FREE SUNBEDS applied ,as they did not have a notice, we entrenched ourselves on two sunbeds with umbrella.
The beach is only about 25 yards from Front of Taverna to sea. so not far to struggle down for a swim or up to the Taverna for lunch.

They do service to the Sun Beds so you can just call (politely) for a drink, also they will serve a range of dishes to the sunbeds.

But its nice to retreat from the sun, so off we went the 10 yards to a shady table set up on the sand (Very Shirley Valentine)

We were attended by the Lovely Akiss (spelt as i pronounced it) very friendly and helpful if you are trying out your Greek.
Menus brought and Drink order taken.

At this point I would like to say that the Table Wine (From the Barral) of Thassos is the best we have had anywhere in Greece. It was treasured across the Roman Empire.

Lunch times we had Half Litre of White (very refreshing) nights was a Litre of the Red, glourious drinking.
A large Bottle of Water.
Bread was brought with olives and Taziki, and butter. Sometimes the bread would be lightly toasted.
Better half ordered the MOUSAKA, Jane says you can tell a lot about the place from this dish. And the rest was history as this became our eating place.
The Mousaka came with red cabbage and salad.
I had Spag carabanara, I do like Greek Portions, plenty to eat.
At the end of the meal we were given a dish of Fresh Red Cherries on the House also another helping of Wine on the house.

Bill therefore for Lunch, & Sun Beds 14 Euros. not bad when someplaces can charge up to 10 Euros for Beds alone.

Anyway the SYRTAKI has its Kitchen and inside dining on the other side of the Road.
On the Beach side it has a covered Decking area with about 20 tables, they also have about 6 tables set up on the sand.
Some of the inside tables are glass topped, under this they have shell and sand decoration. the kids are fasinated with these.
In the centre of the decking area is a replica of a Syrtaki (A type of Boat) which swings over a Fish Pond with fish swiming.
This is covered with netting so your little ones will not fall in, also its good fun watching "Sandy" the resident Cat standing on his hind legs watching the fish.
While on the subject of cats, unlike some Greek Tavernas we have visitied the Cats seemed very well looked after all wearing collors.

Any way the evenings just melted all into one as night after night we returned.
Dishes were all good.
Swordfish Steaks excellent in size and texture.
Mousaka as already said one of the best we have had in Greece.
Stamnata a dish served in a clay pot, Pork and Vegtables. Very Tender very filling.
The Stafardo either Veal or Lamb, tried both, both excellent. Last year I wrote after Lithos in Corfu that theirs was the Best Stafardo in Greece, well Syrtaki is just as good.
Chiefs Lamb was also the best (Kleftiko).
Starters were everthing I like, Red Peppers stuffed with cheese. fried Corgettes in light batter also aubergine the same way.
To sum up if you know greek food your favourite dish will be here, served, and eaten with no disapointment.

We never got to order Desert as something was always brought ON THE HOUSE. Cherries, Melon, Yogurt and lovely light cakes soaked in honey.
Drinks on the House MATAXA, OUZO, Wine whatever you preferred.

The Staff.

Akiss the Head waiter, a lovely man from Thassos, always interested in what you have been up to if he had not seen you that day, helful advice if you wrere planning a trip the next day.

Dragamere from Bulgaria, he seemed to do the Bread, bring the Drinks serve and clear away. A very nice young man working while do History at university.

Romana the waitress from Hungary, working her summers, very surprised to find she works a sushi Bar in Nottingham (Our Home Town) in the winters.

All very hard working but time to be friendly and peasant as well, something staff in this country could learn about.

So on our last night Tears were sheared on leaving . But lots of hugs.

We try to go somewhere different each year but Thassos and Syrtaki may well get another visit or two , three ????

Each day when we arrived on the Beach we soon would find a plate of Water melon, Cherrries ets placed by our sun beds.

Cost wise our Evening Meal, Starters, Mains, Liter of red, Large water. about 27 Euros on average and then came the complimentaries.

 

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