Tavern The Aptera — Restaurant in Municipality of Chania

We were very much looking forward to our last dinner in what we expected to be the best Taverna in Crete. It ended up being one of the worst experiences of our 10-day holidays with a waitress not concentrating on our order. It took us time to decide what we were going to eat as I had to do a lot of translations and we were discussing which starters and sides we could share so we could enjoy different flavours and not waste any food. Being undecided doesn't make a bad customer.

The waitress was distracted by her regulars and missed 2 of our mains. It turned out to be for the best as the lamb had 3 pieces of meat on the plate and the kids had 3 large chicken kebabs on each plate too. So we ended up having leftovers. They also forgot one of the drinks, only had 1 cold bottle of prosecco in the fridge which the waiter left on the table without serving us. But we are in a taverna, we don't know the etiquette and there is no service charge. No need to say that we didn't leave a tip for the service at the end of the dinner... We were a family in a family Taverna which sounded good apart from the loud kids playing with a worm right behind my brother's chair. I mean, if he were going to get up, he would have kicked the child... And yes, a real-life worm... but then we are outside and insects live outside. I had to call the waiter to clear the table and order desserts as it seemed that everyone forgot about us and were once again more concerned about their regular customers... We finally ordered some desserts and also were brought some complimentary desserts which we weren't aware of. This is a lovely thought but then we had far too much food and ended up wasting some of it....

We are not so accustomed to the Cretan Tarvernas so we don't know what the expectations should be but we know the service was poor and made me feel like we shouldn't be there which is a massive issue for a restaurant. The food was fresh, some dishes were more flavoursome than others. It felt like good home-cooked food. And the prices are super reasonable, especially for...

Absolutely love this place! Have been coming here since 2014, when we first discovered Western Crete. Situated in the small village of Aptera also known as Megala Chorafia, not far from the resorts of Kalami & Kalyves, up a steep, windy road, there you'll find my ideal family run Greek taverna. You are guaranteed a warm welcome from the ebullient Elina & gorgeous George!

The fantastic Cretan dishes using fresh local ingredients, never fail to please. The stuffed courgette flowers are something you rarely see on other menus, with other specialities like boureki, dolmades & delicious dishes with chicken, lamb & sometimes rabbit cooked with herbs & wine. Great bbq meats too! There is a good small wine list but we always enjoy the local white wine, served in copper pitchers. A complimentary dessert of a light, fluffy lemon cake is also served at the end of your meal along with a small glass bottle of raki! I can recommend the thick sweet 'metrio' Greek coffee with sugar too.

It's a pleasure to return here, year after year, to be remembered d always given a warm welcome. Whether you've been before or trying for the first time, you won't be...

I recently visited Tavern The Aptera and was blown away by the experience. The staff was incredibly kind and welcoming, accommodating us even though we arrived late in the evening. Throughout our meal, they continued to provide friendly and attentive service, making us feel right at home.

The food was outstanding, with each dish prepared to perfection. The quality of ingredients was evident, and each bite was bursting with flavor. The prices were also very reasonable, and we felt we received excellent value for our money.

Overall, I would highly recommend Tavern The Aptera to anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience. The staff's hospitality and the quality of the food are truly unmatched. I would gladly return to this restaurant and can't wait to have another meal there...