Steriá — Restaurant in Municipality of Chania

I have a problem with restaurants that try to be something they’re not. You won’t get bad food here in terms of quality of the ingredients. They are fresh (the homemade pasta was good) but the overall attitude feels pretentious and overpriced. Portions are very small for the prices. With every plate you got the impression that presentation mattered more than taste. It’s also unclear what on the menu is a starter and what’s a main. We had a normal Greek salad (€9.50!), fish carpaccio, pasta with veal ragout (you can see the tiny portion on the photo. The meat was tender but there was no real sauce as a ragout should have), and grilled green beans (€9.50 - you can see the tiny plate on the photo. Nice idea but poorly done - hard outside, mushy inside). With sparkling water and some bread with olive oil, we paid €25 per person. A nice touch at first glance was the 100ml bottle of olive oil that came with the bread (€2 per person) and which you can take home. But even this gesture reflects the overall pretentiousness: €4 (two persons) for 100ml translates to €40 per liter—while high-quality extra virgin olive oil in Cretan supermarkets costs between €11 and €14 per liter. Even adding the cost of four pieces of bread and a fair profit margin doesn’t justify that price. Also, the bread served was a dark one—badly chosen for tasting olive oil where white bread would let the flavor come through more clearly. The manager explained -in a quite pretentious way-at the beginning that everything is fresh and local and the menu even lists the producers. To make things worse, they also run a bar that plays very loud music, dominating the space and making it hard to enjoy your meal. Service was professional, but not particularly warm. Authenticity and trying to appear authentic are two different things—and this place falls unfortunately into the second category. For the same prices you can eat far better anywhere in Crete. Overall a poor...

Steria redefines what it means to eat with intention. Their kitchen transforms Crete's finest ingredients into dishes where every element sings with purpose - the kind of food where you taste the sunshine in the olive oil and the care in every preparation.

What truly sets them apart is how seamlessly their zero-waste philosophy elevates the dining experience. This isn't just sustainability as an afterthought, but as the foundation for remarkably flavorful compositions that honor both tradition and innovation.

The space hums with genuine warmth, where knowledgeable staff guide you through a culinary journey that's as ethically satisfying as it is delicious. A rare establishment that proves conscientious dining can be the most rewarding...

If you're tired of the local cuisine, but still want to enjoy authentic flavors, Stería is the place for you. Located in front of the Church of St. Nicholas, this restaurant offers unique dishes, reinterpreted with taste and sophistication, making each bite a memorable experience. The menu is limited, but every dish is exceptional, prepared with fresh, local ingredients that highlight the best of Cretan tradition in a modern way. The courtesy and hospitality of the staff are flawless, adding a warm touch to the already charming atmosphere. Overall, Stería is a culinary gem that deserves a 10/10 for its originality, quality, and overall experience. A must-visit for anyone seeking something different yet...