Lefka

For a taste of local taverna food, this place is well worth trying. The house rose wine was great, and the food was excellent. I especially liked the moussaka and tartitzio, along with the grilled calamari. If you eat meat, the lamb chops are worth ordering too.

The sardines were the star for us, roasted just right and so good the kids ate them straight away. They were the day's recommendation, and one of the best sardine dishes in Kolymvari. The pastitsio the owner suggested was another surprise: a tender mix of minced meat and macaroni with a thin, creamy, broth-like sauce, finished with a cheesy, crunchy breadcrumb top. The fish soup my wife ordered looked unusual at first, but tasted smooth and full of fish flavor. We also loved the roasted bread with garlicky tomato sauce and olive oil, and the tamarosalata had the most intense taste and pink color of any we'd tried. The garden terrace is quiet and cozy, with a kids' playground. The owner served us himself and was so friendly, always ready for a laugh; his wife, preparing the food at the back, was lovely with the kids. We arrived just before noon, before they were open, but my wife knocked and they welcomed us warmly. I'm so glad we went on our last day in lovely Kolymvari. If you skip the tourist traps and don't eat at Lefka, you'll regret it. Go!

We'd definitely come back. It's a lovely spot to sit under the vine branches, with the feel of a traditional Greek taverna. The menu was small, just 10 dishes during Corona time, but everything was cooked perfectly and fresh. Portions aren't very big.

The owner was really friendly, the food was outstanding, and the prices more than reasonable. We just had lunch here with the family, and it's places like this, authentic and locally owned, that make Crete special. We're already making plans to come back.