Mitsaras — Restaurant in Icaria Municipality

I want to be very clear, this is my only negative review ever, but I want to post this to prevent people from going there. Honestly, the only bad restaurant I have been in Ikaria (stayed there for 7 days and I am from Cyprus so Greek food is native to me) and the worst dine-in experience in my whole life.

Service: I don't even know where to start. The service was horrific, they never brought us plates and even basic cutlery like knives, although we asked repeatedly, and they claimed the dishwashers were busy (!!!). The food TOOK AGES to arrive and we weren't even given menus to select the food or see the prices, while the waiter said that "he was the menu". We also ordered water which never came, even though we asked for it three times and they said it was coming right away. The waiters kept finding excuses saying it was busy etc but they were just moving around like headless chicken and I don't feel 3 waiters for 12 tables is the busiest job in the world. Completely unorganised, kept blaming the management and the kitchen to the customers and they were also arguing between them in front of the tables.

Food/cooks: The food (pork souvlaki) came very salty and most importantly RAW. Worth mentioning that the waiters and cook claimed the pork souvlaki was the best of the island and the best they ever had. And this was not just for us, I saw numerous people complaining on how raw the food was. When I personally went to the cook to tell him that it was completely raw, he said that it should and meant to be cooked this way, as the meat was fresh and would dry out. I repeat, it was not a bit pink, it was completely pink and raw in the middle and couldn't even get off the skewer. I believe it was because they took so long to prepare the food that they rushed to cook it quickly and serve it. I insisted that the food was not eatable and the cook eventually said "ok next time it will be better". Unbelievable. (I wish I took a photo to show how DANGEROUSLY raw the food was).

Management/Prices: The owner was an old lady who was smoking inside the restaurant and she was not doing anything. We weren't shown menus or prices and we paid 47 euros for a soft drink, a glass of wine, 2 starters and 2 pork souvlaki portions, which is very expensive, compared to all other places we've been to Ikaria - we stayed for 7 whole days so we have visited many places. Both the waiter and the cook asked me if I was going to tip - after all the complains we did for the service and the food quality - and when I said no, they said that they were asking as they are not showing the tips because the owner does not give them to the staff (!!!). We were not given a receipt even though I asked for it. Lastly, when I said I want to pay by card they said that the internet was down and I had to pay in cash. I insisted that I want to pay by card because I realised what was going on, and surprise surprise the visa worked perfectly. The table next to us said that they did exactly the same to them too, so this is a recurring practice, it was not one-off.

Do yourself a favour and...

If you find yourself on the magical island of Ikaria, do yourself a favor and make a beeline for Mitsaras. This is not just a restaurant, it’s a portal into the heart of Greek hospitality. The moment you arrive, you’re welcomed like family, and the warmth of the place lingers long after your last bite.

Now let’s talk about the grill, it’s nothing short of divine. Whatever magic they’re working back there, it deserves a shrine. Perfectly charred, juicy, and deeply flavorful, every bite tastes like it was made with love and generational skill. From the tender lamb to the smoky pork chops, they can do no wrong. Seriously.

The food is both home-cooked and expertly grilled, a rare and glorious combination. It’s hearty, honest, and soul-satisfying. And the family that runs the place? Pure gold. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely warm, they make you feel like you’re at a relative’s house - if that relative happened to be a master chef.

Mitsaras is the kind of place you dream about long after your trip ends. A must-visit. A place you return to. A place that...

An average experience with above average prices.

The toilet was in a terrible state. We would have never gotten a receipt if we hadn't asked for it, also the POS was 'broken'. Their signature 'toumpano' dish was nice but nothing exceptional. Even though the aforementioned dish is reasonably priced the rest of the menu is rather overpriced.

On the plus side the food was tasty, especially...