Ntounias — Restaurant in Municipality of Chania

We wanted to try some genuine cretan food while visiting Crete and a friend of ours who lives in Chania recommended we rent a car and go visit Ntounias taverna up in the mountains. After an approx 40 minutes drive we arrived at the tranquil farm situated way up in the mountain side with a great view of the valley below.

We were greeted and seated by a friendly waitor and shortly after we sat down the chef arrived at our table. He explained that this is a farm and not a restaurant and that this means the menu will change on a daily basis according to what ingredients are available for him at any given time.

After receiving a compliment for my beautiful eyes (who doesn't love that 😍), he continued to ask if we would like vegetarian dishes, meat dishes or a mix of both and we decided to go for a mix.

We had no idea what we would be served and boy did they come through! The first dish on the table was some smoking hot bread straight out of the owen paired with some olive oil mixed with herbs, followed by a massive cretan salad with some sort of vinagrette/balsamic drizzle on it and this is by far the best salad I have ever had. It was full of ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, different types of lettuce, onions, olives, potatoes, beets, raisins, bread, freshly boiled eggs and topped with a massive chunk of local cheese.

Next up was the baby lamb, followed by some baked aubergine with couscous, then we got some baby goat with zucchini and potatoes and to finish it off we got a place of potatoes and zucchini covered in delicious melted cheese and local herbs. The goat was my personal favorite of the meat dishes and the potatoes, zucchini and melted cheese rocket my world ❤

Some wasps arrived immediately after they served the meat but shortly after the waitor lit some greek coffee grounds on fire and just a few minutes later the nosy insects disappeared.

I cannot give enough praise to the chef and owner for this wonderful meal. I have, hands down, never had such delicious tasting cretan food before and none of the other restaurants we have visited in Crete over the years measures up to this level of quality.

If you have time and opportunity you should definitely go there.

Remember to book a table in order to be ensure they have enough food when you arrive. They do accept drop in customers but if you arrive late in the afternoon you might not get the served as supply is restricted.

By the way, there is no bus service going to this part of Crete so you must either go by rental...

If I could give 6 stars for this restaurant and our experience, I would! I couldn't wait to write this review, especially after reading some of the poor reviews written, unfortunately by other Americans.

This is one of the most authentic experiences I have ever had! First off, where this place is located is absolutely magical! I felt like I was in a village in Nepal. The restaurant sits on the farm where all the food comes from. Simply stunning!

When we arrived Stelios was out front getting the pots ready for what turned out to be a mouth-watering array of meats, vegetables, wine...whatever your tastes buds desired. With his limited English, his young daughter, who we were told was 11, but had the maturity of an adult, took over, sat us at our table and treated us like family.

Stelios came over to see what we wanted to eat, then proceeded to escort us into his kitchen, where nothing is run off electric, it's all wood-fired stoves and ovens and began opening pot after pot of lamb, goat, pork, steamed vegetables, and more. He asked if we liked meat or veggies. He then said, I will decide for you what you will eat. Love it!

I've never eaten goat before and it now might be my new favorite meat. It literally fell off the bone and melted in your mouth. My wife had a chestnut and potato stew and a spinach pie with bread from the wood-fired oven. Amazing!

To Americans, or anyone else not from this country, leave your ideas of what you feel should be the right experience at home. This is not your home, you are a visitor. Every country does things uniquely their way and you should respect that. If you can't, then don't come here. Stay back home where you can be served the way you want, pay extremely high prices, and pay tips that probably costs as much as this entire meal costs.

It's sad to me to see anyone give this beautiful family a bad review. But all you have to do is visit here, wait to see the locals pour in, and you'll know how much this family is loved, along with their food.

Thank you Stelios and family and crew for such a beautiful, wonderful experience. We most certainly will return! I am even more interested in returning for the Educational...

If there’s a restaurant on Earth that can make you rethink everything you thought you knew about food, it’s Ntounias in Crete. Tucked high in the hills just a 20-minute drive from Chania’s old town, this family-run treasure feels like stepping into another world, a world where every bite is pure, soulful, and deeply connected to the land it comes from.

From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted with warmth that feels less like service and more like family welcoming you home. Stelios, the passionate owner, isn’t just a chef, he’s a storyteller, a guardian of tradition, and an ambassador for Cretan cuisine. He takes the time to walk you through his philosophy: fresh, seasonal ingredients from his own farm, cooked entirely over wood fire, just as his ancestors did. It’s farm-to-table in the truest, most authentic sense.

The menu is served family-style, and the only correct way to order is: everything. The homemade feta is impossibly creamy, tangy, and alive with flavor, while the eggplant—smoky, tender, and kissed by the fire, is nothing short of life-changing. Each dish arrives like a gift, and every bite carries the essence of Crete’s rugged mountains, olive groves, and pure sunshine.

The setting is as unforgettable as the food. Rustic wooden tables, the aroma of wood smoke drifting through the air, and views that stretch across the island’s wild beauty. It’s like dining inside a time capsule of Greek history and culture. No gimmicks. No shortcuts. Just honest, extraordinary cooking that will stay with you long after you’ve left.

Ntounias isn’t just a meal…it’s a pilgrimage. It’s the kind of place you’ll measure every future dining experience against, and it will win, every...