Amphora Taverna — Restaurant in Municipality of Chania

Our group of six recently dined at Amphora Restaurant by the beautiful harbor in Chania, lured in by a cheeky sign boasting, "We do not bother you here. We have been recommended in Lonely Planet and 40 more guidebooks." With a claim like that, how could we resist?

First off, let’s talk location. While Amphora has a charming spot by the water, it's worth noting that it's not vastly superior to its neighbors. In fact, those who enjoy basking in the sun might find the other side of the harbor more appealing for a longer stay.

The atmosphere at Amphora was bustling, which added to the charm—though it seemed the staff might have been a bit swept away by the tide of patrons.

The food? It ranged from "alright" to "really good," according to our diverse tastes. One dish was a bit of a miss, but hey, nobody’s perfect! The portions, however, were generously large, ensuring none of us left hungry.

Service had its quirks, and you can argue that it is a bit pricy. We had a couple of mix-ups with our drink orders—apparently, "we don’t bother you here" also means "we might surprise you with a different beverage!" But it was all part of the fun, and the staff remained friendly despite the flurry of activity.

Would we recommend Amphora? Absolutely! Just come with an appetite, a sense of humor, and maybe double-check your drink order. The location and vibe make it worth the visit, and you might even get a story to tell along...

We were in Chania for a week, and this was the only restaurant that we liked enough to visit twice. My teen daughter was pulled in by the claims of all of the good reviews, which almost made me leery to try. But as it turned out, the good reviews are warranted. We opted not to sit in the first line closest to the water (which people clamor to get), because we didn't want passers-by looking over our plates. But even in the second or third line, the view of the harbor is not diminished. The food is excellent - among other things, we tried the pork risotto, shrimp risotto, fried calamari, stuffed peppers, meatballs - portions were generous (we never finished our plates) and tasty. I would call it Greek "comfort food" - something you would expect a local yia-yia to make for you. Being from the Southeast U.S., we'll eat anything fried, but their fried zucchini was a standout...light and crispy and perfectly salted. The baklava (enough for the three of us) was to die for and the best we had in our 3 week trip to Greece. Not overly sweet, with buttery pastry and tons of fillings. I would fly back just for that! The staff is well coordinated, and even though they stayed busy, we never lacked for service. If we come back to Chania, we will definitely...

First of all, the view is beautiful and the team is ambitious. But in the end, it's a restaurant — and what really matters is the food. We visited twice. On our first visit, we ordered meat dishes and they were excellent. Unfortunately, our second experience — when we tried the fish and seafood options — was a disaster.

The meal came with a sauce that was neither mentioned on the menu nor explained in advance, and it had a very distinct taste. My dish consisted of three components, and the sauce was poured over every single one of them. After doing some research, I found out it’s a common Greek sauce made with eggs — something that should absolutely be labeled due to potential allergies.

I can’t understand why restaurants don't follow their own menus and add ingredients without clearly informing guests, especially when allergies or food preferences might be an issue. I disliked the sauce and sent the dish back. I received a new one, but this time the octopus was burnt. My partner’s fish was dry — and again served with the same sauce that wasn’t listed on the menu.

These were among the most expensive dishes available, and the experience was truly...