Cretan food & drink

The Cretan food is a solid, basic and healthy cuisine, reports from the world health organization shows that Cretan diet is one of the healthiest in the world. Cretan’s love to eat out, so rule of thumb is if you see the locals dining at a restaurant, you can be sure that the food is good. By law all eating place have to display the menu and prices.

Where to eat?

Tavernas
Traditionally a taverna is a basic eating place, though some are of a better standard in the tourist areas. Don’t be surprised if you are shown into the kitchen, to see the food being prepared, this is quite normal.

Kafenia
Mainly used by the local men of the town or village, here they sit and discuss politics and the state of the world, or play tavli (backgammon) and cards. The kafeneia is usually a very basic places, old tables, chairs and thick with cigarette smoke. Women in the rural ares never go into these places.

Psitarias
Specialise in grilled food, lamb, pork and chicken.

Restaurants
Vary in quality, but normally quite good, smartly dressed waiters serve you and menus have English translations.

Zaharoplasteia
Is a Cake shop selling local and European cakes, the also sell coffee and soft drinks, some have a small seating area.

Galaktopoleia
This is a shop that sells dairy produce; it may also sell bread and home made ice cream. Usually they also have a small seating area.

Ouzeri
An ouzeri serves ouzo (The Greek national drink) or Rakì (Cretan moonshine) together with small snacks, such as feta cheese, olives and pickled octopus.

Fast food
The usual fast food stores have found their way to Crete, nothing worth writing about those. Try the local fast food such as: Gyros, grilled meat served with salad and dressing packed in pita bread. Souvlaki , small meat on a stick served in the same way as gyros.

Foreign cusine
Cater mainly for the tourist and for the younger generation, Chinese, Mexican, Italian and Indian restaurants can be found in the towns.

Breakfast
The Cretan usually start the day with a coffee and a cake for breakfast, sometimes eaten at home or at one of the many cafes that open early. Many of the hotels serve a continental breakfast; some also serve English breakfast (bacon and eggs)

Lunch
Eaten between 1pm and 3pm usually a snack though sometimes a full meal.

Dinner
This meal can be served as late as 9 pm and usually comprise of two coursers. Meals taken in tourist hotels are often served earlier.

Snacks
Pretzel rings, nut and dried seeda are favourite snack for the Cretans, and are sold by street vendors. Other favourite snack include, cheese pie (tyropitta) and (bougatsa) a cheese filled
Pastry, (spankopitta) spinach pie.

Se also what to eat in drink in Crete>>