FOOD AND DRINK
Paxos now has a rich diversity of eateries. Here is a selection of traditional dishes that you can expect to find at some of the tavernas:
Taramosalata: A fish roe dip made with garlic, onion, bread crumbs, olive oil and lemon juice.
Tzatziki: A yoghurt and cucumber dip.
Melitzanosalata: An aubergine dip made with garlic, onion, lemon juice and herbs.
Dolmades: Vine leaves stuffed with rice, egg and lemon sauce.
Zuccini Balls: Fried pates of courgette, dill, feta and lemon juice.
Horta: Traditional local wild greens, boiled. Add plenty of oil, lemon juice and black pepper!
Tiropitta: Cheese pie made with filo pastry
Spanakopitta: Spinach and feta cheese pie made with filo pastry.
Saganaki: Deep fried cheese served with a wedge of lemon
Yigantes: Butter beans cooked in seasoned tomato, garlic and onion sauce.
Scorthalia: A garlic dip made with mashed potato and served cold as an accompaniment to fish or on its own.
Horiatiki: Greek Salad of course!
Moussaka: Layers of aubergine, mincemeat and topped with bechamel sauce.
Papoutsakia: Baked aubergines filled with mince meat, topped with cheese.
Keftedes: Deep fried meatballs flavoured with garlic and herbs.
Stifado: A meat stew with red wine, garlic, bay leaves, sometimes nutmeg, baby onions and tomato.
Kleftiko: A slow cooked lamb stew with onion, herbs, lemon, white wine.
Loukanika: Spicy sausages.
Yemista: Stuffed tomatoes or peppers. Sometimes the filling includes mince so if you are vegetarian, check before you order.
Fasoulakia: Green beans in a tomato and herb sauce.
Local Wines
In nearly all tavernas and restaurants you can buy a half or whole litre of “house” wine – there is a wide variation in taste! It is available in white, red and rose. This wine tends to come from the mainland. A rich, ruby-red wine is produced from the AntiPaxos vineyards but not much so it's not easy to find.
There are now many Greek wineries producing some excellent wines but in small quantities so many are not exported and we might therefore be ignorant of the present standards. Even in Greece bottled wine can be expensive when compared to the UK marketplace where prices are more competitive. As a suggestion, try a few bottles from a minimarket, remember the names of ones you like and then see if the taverna stocks one of them.
The supermarkets also sell boxed wine – OINOI Cabernet Sauvignon is very palatable.
Andreas has a wine shop in Lakka called Cava Wines. He has visited all the wineries producing the wines in his shop. Many are excellent and very reasonably priced. Pop in and ask him for advice!
Tavernas
Each village is comparatively small so wander around and choose the taverna which appeals to you. Don’t stand on ceremony – ask to look at what’s cooking in the kitchen – a confident owner or chef will welcome this! Please note that in Greece sometimes the best food can be found in places that look very basic.
Gaios
There is one pizzeria, a few Italian influenced restaurants and then a good selection of traditional tavernas on the waterfront and in or around the square (and one just outside Gaios on the left road leading out). Gaios square has a mix of café bars and tavernas.
At Mongonisi there is Theo's Taverna above the beach and beside the beach, Carnayo Gold: a bar and taverna. Both have boat moorings.
1 kilometre outside Gaios, in Makratika, is Vontza Taverna.
Thimari Taverna is in Bogdanatika, beside the football pitch. Averto, To Steki tou Pappou, Lilias and Ilias' tavernas are in Magazia.
There are 5 tavernas and 5 café bars in Loggos.
There are 10 tavernas and 6 café bars in Lakka.
On the west coast there is the Erimitis Sunset Bar and yes, good for sunsets!
At Monodendri beach there is Ben & Eftihia’s taverna & bar, Bastas taverna & bar and Glyfada Beach taverna.
