KALI OREXI!  (Bon Appetit)

There are many tavernas and restaurants within Ermioni, as well as the surrounding areas, all of which serve really good food.  Greek cuisine itself has a large variety of wonderful foods, as some people still think that it is only souvlaki, moussaka and Greek salads, and nothing else.  If you are vegetarian, there are so many items to choose from the range of Greek cuisine.  The problem might be that as a visitor, you usually read the menu and don't recognise or know what is on offer.  The good news is that most menus in Ermioni are written in Greek and English, as well as other popular European languages in some of the tavernas.  There are many starters that are delicious and can easily make up your whole meal, without having to order a main-course dish. Enjoy all the fresh vegetables, especially seasonal ones, the taste of fresh tomatoes and onions are incredible.  The local wines go well with all the food, and the olive oil produced around Ermioni is amongst the best in Greece. 

Greece was voted the 'World's Best Cuisine' for 2024-2025, out of 100 countries by TasteAtlas, beating Italy, Mexico and Spain.  The Peloponnese Region of Greece was also voted second to Italy's Campania region, from '100 Best Food Regions' in the world.  For 2025-2026, Italy regained top position in the '100 World's Best Cuisine' category, with Greece gaining 2nd place as runner-up. 

What to eat:  Greek Mediterranean food is one of the healthiest diets in the world, the food is generaly served simply, without rich sauces, where the taste of the food itself is most appreciated.  Most foods will be prepared with extra virgin olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon as an addition.  Although meat and fish are readily available with accompanying salads, vegetarians will have a wonderful and wide choice of various fresh vegetables, pulses, salads, dips and cheese dishes to choose from.   

Tips:  Don't just stick to the main menu if you are in a taverna.  As a rule the Greeks themselves don't generally read menus, they usually ask what is available that given day or in some cases go directly into the kitchen to choose.  Sometimes certain foods or meals are not even written on the main menu, therefore, ask the owner or waiter for recommendations of their 'specials' of the day. 

Fish and meat are usually ordered and charged by the kilo, but this does not mean you have to take a full kilo.  Fresh fish is usually more expensive than the meat dishes, but check the various grades of fish before you order, some can be surprisingly inexpensive.

Greek habits:  The Greeks don't usually order individual dishes for themselves, as they order numerous starters (mezes or mezedes) and drinks and share them amongst family and friends. This usually leads to over-eating, as the starters are so delicious and tasty, that one is more or less full by the time any main meal arrives.  It used to be the Greek habit to serve food lukewarm, as Greek people believe that hot food is bad for the stomach, but most restaurants and tavernas have adapted to international visitors requirements and (apart from salads/dips) serve their food hot.

Fresh bread is automatically brought to your table, as it is considered part of the cover charge, whether you eat the bread or not.  Listed below are some delicious suggestions of popular starters, main dishes and desserts that you may want to try.

STARTERS

• Horiatiki salata - Greek salad, slice of feta cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, peppers, oregano, olives and olive oil
• Dakos salata - Cretan salad, crumbled mizithra cheese and chopped tomatoes served on an olive oil soaked barley crust
• Lahano salata - Cabbage salad, fresh grated cabbage, grated carrots, olive oil, lemon   
• Horta - Boiled natural wild leafy greens (wild spinach-nettles-dandelion-beetroot leaves) olive oil, lemon
• Kolokithakia tiganita - Crispy fried slices of zucchini/courgette/baby marrow  
• Melidsanes tiganites - Crispy fried slices of eggplant/aubergine
• Feta cheese - Goats milk cheese, used extensively in Greek cuisine, drizzled with olive oil
• Saganaki - Pan-seared cheese served with lemon wedges - golden crispy exterior with melted cheese interior
• Tzatziki - Greek yogurt, cucumber and garlic - extras can be dill, mint or olives
• Taramasalata -  Fish roe, olive oil, lemon juice, grated onions and bread
• Melitzanosalata - Mashed eggplant dip made with roasted aubergenes - ideal with pitta bread
• Hummus -  Mashed chickpeas dip - ideal with pitta bread and carrots 
• Fava - Yellow split peas puree dip served with chopped onions                                                                                      
• Keftedakia - Meatballs made with ground pork and beef, eggs, breadcrumbs and seasoning, fried in olive oil
• Keftedes - Plant-based zoucchini fritters, also with mixed pork/beef with onions, eggs and parsley 
• Kolokithokeftedes - Deep fried zucchini balls, mashed zucchini/courgette and feta cheese fritters 
• Tirokeftedes - Fried cheese-ball croquettes, usually from feta or grated gouda cheese
• Dolmades - Stuffed vine leaves with rice and herbs, meat optional, served with a rich lemon sauce or olive oil
• Lahanodolmades - Stuffed cabbage leaves with pork minced meat and rice, served with egg-lemon sauce
• Skordalia - Mashed boiled potato and garlic puree, or can include bread
• Bakaliaros - Battered-fried salted cod bites, ideal with Skordalia
• Saganaki garides - Shrimps cooked in pan with tomatoes and feta cheese         
• Gavros tiganitos - Pan-fried small fish - Greek anchovies/whitebait 
• Spanakopita - Spinach pie, mixed with leeks and herbs, also available with feta cheese
• Tiropita - Classic feta cheese pie in a light flaky phyllo pastry
• Gigantes Plaki - Large white beans, cooked then baked in tomato sauce, seasoned with various herbs
• Fasolakia - Green beans simmered in olive oil alongside fresh ripe tomatoes seasoned with fresh herbs 
• Briám - Mixed roasted vegetables and sliced potatoes, baked together in olive oil and various spices 
• Omeleta - Greek style omelette made with Mediterranian ingredients, enjoyed as a breakfast or light lunch  

MAIN DISHES

• Fresh fish - Grilled or baked - There are many varieties and grades of fresh fish, ask to see the selection available
• Barbounia (red-mullet) Sargos (sea-bream) Fagri (red porgy) Lavraki (sea bass) Sardeles (sardines) sold by the kilo/half kilo
• Astakos - Fresh Lobster - Expensive option, as most Mediterranean lobsters do not have any 'meaty' claws
  
• Octapodi  - Grilled or boiled octopus, marinated in olive oil or vinegar, with a sprinkle of oregano
• Kalamari - Grilled or deep batter fried squid dressed with lemon-olive oil and oregano
• Kleftiko - Slow-cooked lamb with potatoes wrapped in parchment paper, in a wine sauce with tomatoes and onions
• Stifado - Traditional beef or rabbit stew cooked with tomatoes, onions, cinnamon, red wine and variety of spices and herbs
• Païdakia - Grilled lamb rib-chops, fresh herbs, served with a light olive oil and lemon sauce, ordered by the kilo/half kilo
• Kontosouvli - Large pieces of pork marinated in hebs and spices, then skewered and slowly cooked on a rotisserie
• Pantsetes - Grilled pork belly, like Italian Pancetta, finished off with lemon juice, seasoned with sea-salt and oregano 
• Kotopoulo me patates sto fourni - Roasted chicken and oven-baked potato wedges, with lemon, oregano and paprika
• Païdakia kotopoulo - Grilled chicken chops, usually served in a mustard sauce, ordered by the kilo/half kilo
• Youvetsi - Tender beef and orzo pasta, slow oven-cooked stew, can also be made with veal or lamb
• Kotopoulo fileto - Lean chicken breast fillet with lemon and olive oil, served with pasta, rice or chips
• Brizola - Classic Greek-style pork chop, usually served with lemon potatoes, chips or rice and a salad garnish
• Hirino Apaki - Cured pork loin slices, smoked with herbs like oregano and marjoram, paired with pasta, rice or chips
• Biftekia - A large 'beefburger' using real meat, served plain or stuffed with a choice of melted cheese and vegetables
• Souvlaki - Cubed grilled meat, pork or chicken, on a metal/wood skewer with peppers, tomatoes and onions
• Kalamaki - As Souvlaki, but plain pork or chicken cubes on a wood skewer, and smaller in size
• Pitta gyros - Spit-grilled pork or chicken wrapped in pitta bread with onions, tomatoes, tzatziki and chips 
• Gyros merida - Same as a pitta gyros wrap, but larger portion of meat, usually without chips, and served on a plate
• Moussaka - Eggplant/aubergine, minced meat, béchamel sauce in layers, slowly baked in the oven
• Pastitsio - Ground minced meat, thick pasta noodles, béchamel sauce, cheese, slowly baked in the oven 
• Makaronia me kima - Minced meat on spaghetti with cinnamon and bay leaves, optional grated parmesan cheese
• Soutzoukakia - Baked ground beef or veal sausage meatballs in rich tomato sauce served with pasta, rice or chips
• Gemista - Stuffed tomatoes and peppers, with aromatic rice, onions, herbs and usually ground meat baked in the oven
• Pizza - Various selections on offer.  Try the 'Greek' pizza - with feta cheese, tomatoes, onions, peppers and olives
• Loukaniko - Greek sausage, which the Hellenes believe are better than any of the German or Italian sausages
• Giouvarlakia - Famous meatball 'soup' with juicy meatballs made with ground meat and rice, in a rich egg-lemon sauce
• Fasolada - Traditional soup with white beans, various vegetables and herbs, carrots, onions, celery and tomatoes 
• Avgolemono - Chicken soup made with chicken broth, egg yolks and lemon, also served with rice and shredded chicken 
• Psarosoupa - Fish soup, simple dish of boiled vegetables, potatoes and fish, usually grey/red mullet, sea-bass or fresh cod   

SWEETS & DESSERTS

• Yiaourti me meli - Natural 100% Greek yoghurt with honey, served with walnuts or optional fresh seasonal fruits
• Galaktoboureko - Classic light semolina custard/milk pie, wrapped in thin kroustas phyllo sheets generously buttered
• Bougatsa - Creamy vanilla custard, wrapped in golden brown crispy phyllo, sprinkled with icing-sugar and cinnamon 
• Loukoumia - Also known as 'Turkish delight' is a traditional soft sweet usually offered with Greek coffee
• Kataifi - Traditional sweet shredded dough pastry with chopped almonds or walnuts and honey
• Kourabiedes - Crispy buttery shortbread cookies with almonds, coated with powdered sugar, popular at Christmas
• Melomakarona - Traditional Christmas semolina cookies with honey, cinnamon, spices and ground walnuts
• Amygdalota - Chewy almond cookies, often enjoyed during festive occasions
• Mandolato - A soft Greek nougat slice, enriched with chopped almonds, honey and sugar 
• Baklavas - Traditional layered phyllo pastry with chopped almonds or walnuts, sweetened with syrup or honey  
• Rizogalo - Rice and milk pudding, served with a sprinkle of cinnamon
• Tsoureki - Traditional sweet Easter buns, like a brioche sweetbread
• Loukoumades - Similiar to doughnuts, deep-fried & served with honey and cinnamon
• Revani - Classic sweet semolina cake soaked in sugar syrup, with vanilla and lemon zest flavouring 
• Glyko tou koutaliou - Spoon sweets - fruits and nuts placed in sugar syrup, also used with ice-cream or yoghurt
• Pagoto - Assorted selection of ice-creams, sorbets, sundaes, milk-shakes and smoothies

GREEK DRINKS

• Frappe - Popular iced coffee drink made with instant coffee, order with or without milk
• Freddo Cappuccino & Espresso Freddo for higher quality of the original chilled frappe
• Cafe Ellenikon - Greek coffee - order sketo (without sugar) metrio (medium sweet) glyko (very sweet)
• Ouzo - One of Greece's best known drinks, distilled from neutral alcochol and aniseed, mixed with water or ice
• Tsipouro - Strong Greek spirit distilled from pomace, drunk well-chilled and neat, served in shot glasses 
• Metaxa - Popular Greek spirit that is made with brandy, most commonly served neat or with added ice 
• Retsina - An ancient Greek wine that is flavoured with resin, a sticky sap that is secreted from pine trees
• Wines - Variety of wines available - Agiorgitiko, Nemea, Moschofilero and Mantinia are from the Peloponnese      

WINES  There are many delicious Greek wines, but sometimes it is not easy to choose the right one.  Not all the tavernas in Ermioni have a large selection of wines to choose from, usually it is their own home-made house wines, which are either lefko (white), rose (pink), or kokino (red).  These local or home-made house wines usually compliment the local cuisine.  Bottled red wines from Nemea and Macedonia are popular with locals and visitors, but the traditional Retsina is mainly found in the supermarkets.

BEERS  There are a number of Greek beers available in Ermioni.  Fix, Mythos and Mamos are the most popular Greek beers found in the restaurants and tavernas, as well as some popular European beers like Amstel, Heineken and Kaiser.  Alpha and Vergina can be found in a few tavernas and cafes, but mostly in the supermarkets. Some tavernas also offer draught beer.  A few Greek speciality beers can be discovered in selected restaurants and some surrounding villages of Ermioni, which include Zeos, Neda and Bios5.

FRUIT and VEGETABLES  Buy local fresh fruit and vegetables, as they are extremely tasty.  Especially delicious are: pomegranates, watermelons, honey-melons, grapes, peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions.  The small grocery stores in Ermioni usualy offer freshly picked local produce, which can also be found in greater quantities and varieties in the larger Greek-owned supermarkets.  Most visitors and local residents in Ermioni buy all their fresh fruits and vegetables at the weekly Thursday morning farmers market.

POMEGRANATE FESTIVAL  There is an annual pomegranate festival held in Ermioni, last weekend in October. It celebrates this 'ancient fruit of the gods' as it has been grown in the Ermioni area for thousands of years.  Local tavernas and bakeries produce an amazing number of fresh recepies for visitors to sample, all beautifully displayed at the Limani harbour waterfront, accompanied by folk dancing and live music.  Fresh pomegranate juice has become big business in Ermioni recently, with a healthy developing export market.

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