Fira Town, Santorini Island

While in Santorini, you must eat, and when you do, pick a Taverna that is on the edge of the cliffs of the caldera. Remember that the view is of a volcano's violent eruption. Not only is the food going to taste better, but the view is worth the price of the dessert. Many tourists gather in the restaurants that are near the cliffs. A great way to meet others that are like minded.

Favorite Dish: A shot of ouzo, a block of Feta cheese smothered in olive oil and rained on with black pepper. Followed by a cold beer chaser. Well, a cold beer goes good anytime. OPA!

Selene's is an amazing restaurant at the souther edge of Fira overlooking the calders. The menu is very unique.I had rabbit pate, cold white eggplant salad, santorini salad (tomatos, cucumbers and goat cheese), seafood pasta, rabbit casseroll, yogurt ice cream with honey, and eggplant confit. Strange combinations very delicious.

My friends and I had one lovely day on Santorini.. the other three, we were all sick from Food Poisoning at Senor Zorbas. I only wish I could turn back the clock and avoid this cliff side mistake not just because the mexican fast food made us sick, but because of the sharp hostility and verbal abuse we got from the thugs that run this place. I wanted to send the food back but my two friends were enjoying the view so much (taking pictures) that they munched a bit - paid and left. I have never been so ill in my life.

DO NOT GO TO STAMNA GARDEN TAVERN

This is Miss Zhang writing from Shanghai China. Literally this is regarding a controversial payment I have been made on 5th August 2011 at the restaurant gSTAMNA GARDEN TAVERNh located in Thira, Santorini, Greece. I did have a great dinner over there but the enjoyment of it was spoiled by receiving my credit card statement. Let me explain.

The bill was totally 110 in Euro. I was told by the staff that they accepted credit card payment method but without a POS machine. And what they could do was to manually print and record my card and credit my card later from the bank. The staff also mentioned that there was a minimum amount limit on each transaction, so my card had to be charged by four times to finish the full amount. They asked me to sign on four of the sheets they provided for me. It was 25 Euro each and made it 100 euro all together. I had to remind them that the bill was 110 in total, so it was short of 10 Euro. So I signed an extra fifth sheet and they thanked me. Before I made my way, I even left a tip.

After my vacation in Greece, I received my credit card bill statement in China. It shows that the five transactions are separately 24 Euro, 47 Euro, 47 Euro, 47.5 Euro and 48 Euro. This is absolutely wrong and unacceptable. I am very unhappy and angry with the behavior that gSTAMNA GARDEN TAVERNh made on me. It was an obvious cheat and fraud. I am writing to ask my bank to look into the matter as soon as they can- not only on my behalf but also on behalf of other victims as far as I know. I am asking a REFUND, a reasonable EXPLANATION and a sincere APOLOGY. And I will tell everyoneCDO NOT GO TO STAMNA GARDEN TAVERN!!!

Favorite Dish: obvious cheat and fraud

BEWARE OF THIS SIDE STREET RESTAURANT IN CENTRAL THIRA. THEY OVERCHARGE SUBSTANTIALLY FOR BELOW AVERAGE FOOD AND THEY ARE HOSTILE AND RUDE. THERE ARE MANY NICE PLACES TO EAT OR TAKE OUT IN SANTORINI, YOU DO NOT NEED TO GO TO THIS ONE.

Be prepared to pay $$$ if you choose to eat at this takeaway/eat in fast food shop!

On our first day in santorini, the owner pulled us into his shop and asked us where we were from. He then quickly grabbed one of his staff who was so from Australia to snap up a coversation with us. At the end of the conversation, they asked us to go back to the Tarven and they will "look after" us as they were the best place to eat in Fira Town.

The following day, we decided to grab takeaway for dinner from Stamna Garden Tavern as we thought that they were quite warm and friendly. When we ordered, we did not ask for the price and neither were there prices on the walls. We ordered 6 souvlaki sticks and 4 grilled prawns which came with chips and tomatoes. We had eaten at other places in santorini and the souvlaki sticks were around €1.50-2.50 per stick.

To out horror, the bill came to €45 which is around €60!! that's the sort of price you'll pay in santorini to dine in at a resturaunt with an ocean view!! We asked how the bill totaled to €45 and he said €30 for 6 souvlaki sticks and €15 for the 4 grilled prawns. I've gotta say that it was ridiculous but we couldn't argue about it as there were no prices listed. If they had to fish the prawns and slay the cattles then fair enough!

To top things off, the souvlaki was raw. We told the owner and he brushed us off saying that that was how they serve it in Greece. I'm not sure about you, but raw chicken and pork is definitely not on my menu!

The Aussie bloke who worked there and chatted to us on the first day saw what was happening but didn't say anything at all. My advice is to not eat there unless your willing to throw your money away. They're only nice to you until you order with them.

This resto belongs to a greek couple very friends of mine, Bibi and Mihalis. They both works a lot every summer season in this place located at the main pedestrian street of Fira with a great view to the Caldera. Typical greek foods with a home made touch given by the expertise hands of Mihalis, the cooker.
As you can see the price is qualified as "About Average", but it doesn't means "cheap". It's expensive as every things in this island, so, "Average" for the Santorini standards.

Favorite Dish: Moussaka, garides (shrimps) kai melanouria (a fish almost black skin color), supported neccessarily with a cold bottle of Rose Boutari wine... parakalo!

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When I came across Kipos in 2007 I was really impressed. They actually roast their meat in the front window. I ordered a Gyros and the barbeque man cut off some tender Souvlaki and made me a super fantastic Gyros. And it was well priced! In fact I went there several times in the space of a few days. It’s no wonder they have a sign up inside the Taverna with their award as the best Garden Tavern in 2006.

Fast forward to the year 2010. Should 2 Gyros really cost me 16 Euros to takeaway!? NO!!!! OK, one was supposed to be ‘Large’. The ‘Large’ look exactly the same as the small except they threw in about 10 french fries. Tasted OK, not great like it was. The weird thing? Nothing has changed. Still grilled in the window by the exact same guy. Cashier? Same woman. Décor inside and out? Look at the pictures for yourself. The only things that have change are:

• Price up
• Quality down

Unfortunately it’s actually easier to get a better quality Gyros CHEAPER in Athens!

To many ‘Boutique’ Restaurants being dinned in by people like you are killing off traditional Tavernas and Taverna food here in Santorini. Please patronise local Tavernas or one day you will not be able to even get Greek food on this island.

Favorite Dish:

GYROS. Well, it used to be.

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This place is great for either the quick lunch takeaway or a romantic dinner. Great food, huge and varied menu, friendly and quick staff and a great setting. This restaurant does not have Caldera views to drive up the prices. It is just slightly down the hill from the main square in Fira. For lunch they do a full range of Gyros: pork, lamb and chicken! For dinner they will grill any seafood or meat you want. They also make a good Stamna and Mousaka. Just go to the large glass case and pick your choice. You can then watch the fantastic chefs cook your dinner to perfection right in front of you.

They also do traditional Greek dishes like Mousaka and have vegetarian options as well.

Favorite Dish:
I had the mixed grill (pictured) with house wine. Fantastic for meat lovers! They also do some fantastic seafood (also pictured). Enjoy!

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This new restaurant loves to tell you in their menu that they have a 400 year old cave 9 meters (30 feet) serving as a wine cellar housing 200 labels. I only wanted the 1 waiter to actually appear when I requested him about a dozen times. From about 10 bored staff walking around doing absolutely nothing.

This restaurant is really pretty. I wanted it to be more than it was, but it wasn’t. It’s actually a hotel restaurant for the nearby Costa Marina Villas and Pelican Hotel. The surroundings are lovely. Actual grape vines form part of the canopy and the garden is an oasis of peace right in the heart of Fira Town. The food was very good. Not great. Prices were appropriate for what you get.

The problem is the service. 1 waiter on a busy night? What were all the other staff for? When I finally wanted to order a bottle of wine – the waiter arrived 20 minutes later to talk me out of it! The bottle I got was severely below average.

As for the salads, they seemed to be thrown together. The Greek Salad had Feta cheeses with no taste. It had not been marinated or even had oil put on it until I rectified that. It only took about an extra 10 minutes to get the oil and vinegar. What were the other staff for again? I kept asking for things and they kept telling me they would ask the waiter to come. Then the waiter would finally show up and ask what I wanted. He even tried to talk me out of using the toilet I was walking towards to use another farther away. What was he for?

If you want to be ignored by at least 5 staff – this is the place to eat. Food OK. Nothing better, service stupid.

Favorite Dish:

I had the almost tasteless Greek salad and the actually delicious stuffed squid. And a rubbish bottle of red wine.