THE BEST RESTAURANTS AND TAVERNAS WHERE TO EAT IN KEFALONIA

Where to eat in Kefalonia? Let’s start by saying that wherever you eat in Kefalonia you will find tasty food, fresh ingredients and generous portions for low prices. Local people are very warm and welcoming. Like in other parts of Greece, it’s tradition to offer you something at the end of the meal. From a local spirit to a dessert to share. Eating out in Kefalonia is very cheap, especially if you choose tavernas over restaurants and typical dishes.

Along with the traditional Greek recipes, Kefalonia restaurants, usually offer a good choice of fresh fish and seafood dishes. Kefalonia’s culinary scene has had many influences over the years. For example, due to its past and proximity to Italy, you will often find common Italian dishes, such as seafood risotto or linguine, fried calamari and squids. You will also find that many places serve English breakfast and other English puddings.

Let’s see if I manage to make you drool! Check these places out!

• NICOLAS TAVERNA
• ELLI’S RESTAURANT
• LAGOUDERA
• TAVERNA FOKI
• MELINA PATISSERIE
• KLIMATIS-TAVERNA
• LOVIDIS-TAVERNA
• MARIA’S-TAVERNA

TYPICAL PRODUCTS NOT TO BE MISSED OUT

• TRADITIONAL KEFALONIAN MEAT PIE. The most popular Kefalonian dish. This meat pie is a rich, well-spiced pie and traditionally made with three different types of meat: pork, goat and beef. The meat is cooked  with a bit of tomato sauce and red wine and its spiced flavours derives from the use of marjoram, bay leaf, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
• OCTOPUS PIE. Octopus is a typical dish of the island. You will find it often grilled, in a stifado or in a pie. This pie made of octopus cooked with rice, parsley, tomatoes, onions and cinnamon.
• ROBOLA WINE: this is a local white wine which accompanies best fish dishes but it also works well as aperitif. It has a round taste with a fruity aroma of citrus peaches and apple.

WHERE TO EAT IN KEFALONIA: BEST RESTAURANTS AND TAVERNAS

BEST RESTAURANTS AND TAVERNAS IN FISKARDO

BEST VALUE FOR MONEY: NICOLAS TAVERNA

Away from the crowd of Fiskardo, Nicolas taverna is nestled on a hill in a perfect position to enjoy fabulous views over the harbour. Nicolas taverna is a family-run business and you will be welcomed by a friendly staff. Nicolas taverna offers a large selection of fresh fish which can vary every day.

A portion of fresh fish is 17 euro which is a really good price. Although I was impressed by the homemade hamburger of the mixed grill: the best hamburger I have ever had! I also loved the homemade liqueur that they offered us: lemon flavoured raki.

I can definitely recommend you trying this taverna: prices are fair considered the view, the food is nice and the staff friendly and polite.

Apparently, they also organize one night of traditional dances. Shame I didn’t know this earlier and I missed it.

ROMANTIC RESTAURANT: ELLI’S RESTAURANT

Elli’s is a chick restaurant in Fiskardo harbour, with tables lined up literally by the sea. Elli’s is perfect for a romantic dinner. Savour your dinner while watching the clear waters and the lights of the harbour reflecting on the sea. They provide a first-class service and excellent food.

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We had two starters and two mains that I would recommend. Fried squid and grilled octopus, then seafood risotto and linguine. The grilled octopus was cooked to perfection, soft and tasty and the main were rich in mussels, clams and shrimps. At the end of our meal, we were also offered a crème caramel to share. Prices are a little bit higher because of the location: total bill 80 euro.

TYPICAL TAVERNAS: LAGOUDERA & TAVERNA FOKI

LAGOUDERA

This is a typical Greek taverna,  in the heart of Fiskardo. You will be sitting below luscious flowers in a narrow and colourful street. It’s not along the seafront promenade, that’s why you will find prices a little bit below the average. I wouldn’t include this place among the best restaurant we tried, but still, they make a delicious and tender tuna filet which I really recommend trying.

We wanted to try the tuna souvlaki but unfortunately, it wasn’t available, so we tried the swordfish souvlaki which wasn’t bad, but a bit dried out.  Zucchini and fish balls as starters: nice although I couldn’t quite taste much difference between the zucchini balls and the fish ones!

TAVERNA FOKI

The best pork souvlaki ever! we came here for lunch on the day of our arrival, exhausted from the journey. We had a Greek salad of generous proportions and a portion of pork souvlaki. I am telling you guys, I had to come back and have that pork souvlaki again because it was to die for! So succulent and tasty, perfectly cooked. The best souvlaki ever! And then the bill! One salad, 1L beer, one pork souvlaki with fries and 2 coffees for 18.90 euro. What’s not to like?

An acquaintance of ours recommended this place and it is indeed a good place to stop by. It’s the classic Greek taverna, simple and a bit rustic, in a good way, as the people who run it! It is right above the beautiful Foki beach. The kitchen closes between 5 and 7 pm but I am pretty sure they won’t send you away if you show up in between these hours. 

HAVE BREAKFAST AT MELINA PATISSERIE

Melina patisserie is a fine café in Fiskardo harbour. All I can say about it is YUMMI!! You can find everything you want here. From English breakfast to traditional cakes, from mouth-watering pastries to croissants, from omelettes to fluffy pancakes. The choice is hard to be made! However, I would recommend trying the pancakes accompanied by Greek yoghurt, fruit salad, maple syrup, crumbled peanuts and jam. That is a hell of a breakfast! The only problem is to find a table!

WHERE TO EAT IN KEFALONIA: TYPICAL TAVERNAS AT LOURDAS BEACH

KLIMATIS TAVERNA

The oldest taverna in Lourdas. The perfect Greek atmosphere.  You will be sitting below a ravishing, splendid vineyard listening to the waves. This taverna is one of the best we stopped by. I had a feta saganaki with honey and sesame which I already knew, and I loved it, stuffed wine leaves, and meatballs. But what really blew our mind was the tuna souvlaki, literally to die for!

It was cooked to perfection, tender, tasty and succulent. Every time I walked in front of this taverna it was full! If you don’t want to be disappointed it would be better to book a table. The bill was 47 euro including tip, plus house wine and water.

LOVIDIS TAVERNA

We came here twice. If you want to eat your fill but make your wallet happy, order a gyros, which comes with fries and tomatoes for just 6.80 euro. Ensure you try the fried squid: fresh, light and crispy for 7.20! We came once for lunch and then we were back for dinner. We ordered the grilled halloumi, stuffed vine sleaves and the fried squid again as the main course! Both times was spot on so it’s a must-have!

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WHERE TO EAT IN KEFALONIA: KATELIO BEACH

MARIA’S TAVERNA

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Romantic dinner on the beach. Come here at sunset and grab the front line seats for a sunset by the sea! You will find friendly staff and tasty food. Fish and local dishes. You can start with a tasty fried saganaki cheese and zucchini balls and carry one with the traditional moussaka and a swordfish garnished with oven-baked vegetables. Just beware that when it gets dark you will struggle a little to see what’s in your plate! 🙂