Traveling by myself to Greece had one major disadvantage. There was no one to share the food of Naxos with me. So during my stay on Naxos as well as Koufonisia I had to think really hard about what to order in order to make the most of each meal. Sometimes I got lucky and had a genuinely tasty experience. Other times I left restaurants disappointed. Either way, you will get here, as always, my blunt opinion. Yours, Pollybert
Meze Meze in Naxos town: I stopped here for lunch on my first day. I was still a bit weighed down by my cold, but hunger was not the issue. I ordered eggplant in a clay pot and fava beans. Unfortunately, neither dish was exciting and together with the extra bread it was far too much food. At least I had a glass of wine to wash it all down.
eggplant in claypot and fava beans @Meze Meze
Most mornings I had breakfast at a local bakery. It was fine, but nothing special. What I disliked immensely was that everything was served as takeaway, even if you ate outside on their terrace. I love freshly squeezed orange juice, but only if it comes in a glass and not a plastic cup. The one below was from my lunch at Meze Meze.
freshly squeezed orange juice @Meze Meze
Metaxi Mas in Naxos town: a cute little restaurant tucked into the chora (the old town) of Naxos town.
how the restaurant looks in the morning @Metaxi Mas
Most tables are outside along the houses and in the evening there was always a long line. I managed to snag a table on my first night out.
the line up is starting @Metaxi Mas
As usual when traveling alone, I ordered too much. With a quarter liter of white wine I also needed a large bottle of water. Tzatziki, bread, a potato salad, and goat in tomato sauce with rice made up the meal. The tzatziki was lovely, but the bread was very bland. That is often the case in Greece, but this one was remarkably boring. The salad was good, especially the potatoes, but it missed a bit of acidity.
potato salad and tzatziki @Metaxi Mas
The goat, however, was very tasty. Not too goaty, juicy and tender, with a hint of cinnamon in the tomato sauce. Great meal overal at Metxi Mas.
goat in tomato sauce with rice @Metaxi Mas
Taverna Naxos works together with farmers from the island. There are tables in front of the restaurant with a view of the port and a very cute courtyard in the back, where I got a table.
courtyard @Taverna Naxos
For dinner I had Dolmathaka, stuffed vine leaves with rice and herbs, as well as a Naxian salad with local cheese and hard bread. I had to ask for extra vinegar and salt to get more flavor. It is really a shame that vinegar and oil are no longer provided on the table. The food was okay, but it did not convince me to return to Taverna Naxos.
Naxian salad with cheese from Naxos and hard bread
The Naxos Apothecary: For my last dinner in Naxos town I went to The Naxos Apothecary, close to the Portara and right by the sea. I got a table in front with a spectacular view. In case you are wondering, there is also a store inside selling perfumes, candles, and other cosmetic products. Luckily, they also cook very good food.
view on the sea @The Naxos Apothecary
I started with a salad of zucchini, cherry tomatoes, grilled corn, and pine nuts. It not only looked spectacular, it also tasted great. The zucchini were fresh, though maybe a bit tricky to eat. The dressing was pesto like and full of fresh herbs. The presentation was lovely, but it was the flavor that really convinced me.
zucchini salad with grilled corn @The Naxos Apothecary
As main course I ordered rabbit mandi in Stifado broth with pickled onions, raisins, and Arseniko cream. The rabbit was amazing and broth intensly flavored. The pickled onions added acidity, the raisins a touch of sweetness, and together they elevated the dish completely. Unfortunately the pasta was a bit too al dente for me and for a main dish it was an extremely small portion.
rabbit mandi @The Naxos Apothecary
As much as I love classic Greek food, it was wonderful to see what can be done with a bit of fusion. It was fabulous evening at The Naxos Apothecary.
